PHOTOS: Paint and Patch Work Near Completion at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is currently under refurbishment and we checked in on the construction work when we visited for breakfast at Ale & Compass Restaurant.

We noticed that the flower beds were empty at the main entrance to the resort.

Most of the refurbishment is taking place on the back.

There was lots of paint and patch work being done, but it seems most of it has been completed.

The area around this door was still being worked on, as evidenced by the blue painter’s tape.

As we noted a few days ago, scaffolding is currently up on the sides of the resort’s towers.

A cherry-picker construction vehicles is parked next to the pool on pieces of wood, with net fencing around it.

The flower bed in this area is also empty.

Some of the siding on the towers is not the same color.

We didn’t see any crew members working this morning.

We spotted another construction vehicle parked nearby for working on the second tower.

More scaffolding covers some of the room balconies.

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The post PHOTOS: Paint and Patch Work Near Completion at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort appeared first on WDW News Today.

REVIEW: Disneyland Resort Gave Hot Chocolate a Glow Up for Lunar New Year

Happy Lunar New Year, everyone! We’ve been visiting Disney California Adventure Park a lot recently for the celebration, checking out all of the food, entertainment, and special merchandise for the occasion.

Mulan Sipper for Lunar New Year!

The celebration lasts from January 21 through February 13, 2022 as Disney rings in the Year of the Tiger. We’ve already tried some amazing food, like a Mickey Chinese Hot Dog Bun and some Shrimp Fried Rice with Garlic Bacon Edamame. But, we’ve still got more to eat, so come with us to try out a fun food item over in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail!

There’s a seasonal food cart in Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, and this year it’s themed to Raya and the Last Dragon to go along with the meet and greet that’s also available on the trail!

Hi, Raya!

The cart has 3 items available, the Brown Sugar Steam Bun for $6.75, the White Hot Chocolate for $6.25, and the Warm Apple Cider Cocktail for $16.

A look at the menu

We recently tried out the new White Hot Chocolate, which is blue white chocolate topped with toasted marshmallow whipped cream and purple sugar. This drink is non-alcoholic.

It’s a fun blue color!

While this drink does look pretty cool because of the blue coloring, it basically just tastes like a regular hot chocolate! We did notice a bit of a marshmallow aftertaste from the whipped cream though, which was nice. It’s a fun spin on the traditional hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Some nice hot chocolate to warm you up on a cold day

So, if you’re a chocolate fan and want a decent hot chocolate that has a little something extra, check it out! If not (and you’re 21 or older), try out that Apple Cider Cocktail. And, stay tuned to DFB for more Disney food news and reviews.

Click here to see ALL of the food at Disneyland Resort for Lunar New Year!


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The post REVIEW: Disneyland Resort Gave Hot Chocolate a Glow Up for Lunar New Year first appeared on the disney food blog.

How Supply Chain Issues Could Impact Your Next Disney World Trip

“Supply chain” seems to be the hottest buzzword as of late. Supply chain problems are a hot topic in the world right now. Labor and material shortages mean that some products are getting more difficult to find.

No Merchandise Here

But you might not know that those supply chain issues can also impact your Disney World trip. We’ve seen shortages of merchandise and some food items, and there have been some transportation issues that could impact your trip as well. We’re taking a look now at all of the ways that supply issues could affect your next Disney World vacation.

We’ve already reported on a few of the issues we’ve seen in Disney World that are related to the current stocking/supply problems, but now we’ve got all of the updates in one place. Let’s start with an obvious one: less merchandise in the gift shops.

Merchandise Shortages

There’s evidence of merchandise shortages on a number of levels in Disney World, including closed gift shops, limited merchandise, fewer re-stocks, and late arrivals.

Closed Gift Shops

One gift shop in Disney’s Hollywood Studios closed down last November and has not reopened since. Beverly Sunset Boutique (which used to house souvenirs like t-shirts, backpacks, and toys) is still not open to guests.

Beverly Sunset Boutique is Closed Right Now

We asked a Cast Member about the closure, and they told us that there simply weren’t enough items to keep the store stocked. Instead of having a lot of empty shelves, Disney likely dispersed any remaining items to other gift shops and closed the doors of Beverly Sunset Boutique (for now). Welp, one store down!

Beverly Sunset Boutique

Other gift shops have remained open with some areas closed off. For example, at one point we saw the the Mitsukoshi Department Store in EPCOT’s World Showcase with a room closed off and mostly empty. Later, however, this area was restocked and reopened, so it could have been a stock issue or simply a planned re-design.

No merchandise here

Additionally, over at Tatooine Traders in Hollywood Studios, the build-your-own lightsaber area has been closed for some time now. Instead of lightsaber supplies, you’ll find pin trading available in this spot.

No Lightsabers Here

When we asked about this, Cast Members indicated that it was closed due to shipping and supply issues. Guess those pins will just have to be one with the Force for now.

Limited Merchandise Inside Stores

Other gift shops in Disney World are open, but the merchandise can be very limited. You might find an empty spot on the shelves or notice that a few shelves (that likely otherwise would have been empty) have been removed so as to not make things look too strange.

In some cases we’ve seen shelves (that likely would have otherwise been empty) filled with things you might not have been used to spotting in that store before.

Not a lot of merchandise in here

Most souvenirs are also limited in terms of number of purchase to two per customer, meaning you cannot buy more than two of the same souvenir. This restriction was put in place several months ago, but has continued in many places.

A Peek at the Sign Advising Guests About the Purchase Limit

Other souvenirs that are in high demand can sell out, so it might be a while before you see them on the shelves again. When Disney does re-stock these items, guests can grab them up quickly.

One example where supplies have been short is Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Typically, this is the spot where you can find the Legacy Lightsabers of Jedi (like Rey) or Sith (like Darth Vader).

Rey’s Lightsaber is Right in the Center

During some recent trips there have been very few lightsabers available. On some of our past trips into this store, we’ve found that there were no lightsabers available at all. More recently, they’ve had 4-5 lightsabers in stock, so that situation might be changing. In any event, you’ll want to keep in mind that supplies can be limited, so you might not be able to get the specific lightsaber you want on this trip.

No Lightsabers

Another lightsaber option has been experiencing some supply issues too. You can still build your own lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop in Galaxy’s Edge, but lately the carrying cases that come with the lightsabers have been unavailable due to supply issues. Instead, guests have been getting a 10% discount and are being offered a plastic bag.

Guests are being given plastic bags to carry their lightsabers

Droid building at Droid Depot experienced a similar issue with the carrying boxes typically offered, though we’ve recently seen some guests with access to the droid boxes so, again, it’s a reminder that things can change.

Droids in bags

Even if you’re not after a lightsaber or droid, there are several other kinds of merchandise that might be tough to find. More elaborately designed popcorn buckets is one example. The 50th Anniversary balloon popcorn buckets are very popular and tend to sell out. There have been restocks sometimes though, so you’ll want to keep those eyes peeled!

50th Anniversary Popcorn Bucket

The moral of this story is that if you see a souvenir that you really want in Disney World, you might want to get one quickly before they sell out!

Click here to see all of the popcorn buckets you can get in Disney World right now.

Fewer (and Sometimes Random) Re-Stocks 

As we sort-of mentioned in the last section, Disney World’s re-stocking game can be a bit iffy, since the merchandise might not always be readily available. Some new merchandise might be released immediately, sell out, and then never return after the initial stock runs out or it might take a LONG time to reappear.

Re-stocks might take a while

In other cases, items might sell out and then be quickly restocked (like what we saw at least initially for the new 50th Anniversary HARVEYS bags).

Again, the moral of the story here is that if you see something and you want it, you might not want to wait! It might not be there when you come back and you might not be able to find it again during your trip.

50th Anniversary Merchandise

Since some new items might not be available (due to supply chain issues), it seems like Disney might be turning to slightly older merchandise. At least from what we’ve experienced, it feels like Disney is almost digging through the back rooms to find things to fill the shelves.

We’ve seen some old merchandise on the shelves

We’ve seen some items for sale now that we haven’t seen in a while, like this cute little Mickey Mouse sipper at Magic Kingdom’s Emporium.

It’s been a minute!

So this problem might actually work in your favor if you’ve been waiting for some older Disney merchandise to make a comeback!

Click here to see all of the 50th Anniversary merchandise you can get online

Late Merchandise Arrivals

Sometimes Disney World merchandise does make it to the shelves, but it’s a little late to the game. We’re seeing that especially with holiday items, which seem to highlight potentially late shipments since that merchandise is very time-dependent.

Still holiday merchandise

We’ve seen some new or newer Christmas souvenirs arriving in Disney World now, even though it’s been a couple of weeks since that holiday’s end.

Um…It’s January

In fact, we just recently found a new set of holiday ears in the parks! 

Would you wear these after Christmas?

We’ve even seen HALLOWEEN items on the shelves well past the end of that celebration! We love the spooky season as much as anyone, but Halloween items in December might be taking things a bit far.

What are THOSE doing here?

We even saw a Jack Skellington popcorn bucket arrive in Disney World in January. Were you meant to visit us in October little guy?

He’s Happy!

We saw one particularly interesting situation take place with the VERY popular Mickey Mouse Mummy Popcorn Bucket. These initially arrived at Disney World in October and were selling FAST!

Mummy Mickey Popcorn Bucket

The line was LONG to get this little friend when it was originally released in Disney World.

Waiting for our bucket

But, just a few months after Halloween ended, we spotted a lot of the Mummy Popcorn Buckets on SALE at an outlet store in Orlando. It’s possible that Disney’s additional shipment of these buckets, which was meant to arrive in time for Halloween, simply arrived a little late. That’s an assumption on our part, but still it is interesting to see an item which was popular when released be discounted so quickly.

Want to Bring One Home?

We’re also seeing quite a few Gold Christmas Tree Popcorn Buckets in the parks now. It’s possible that packages holding restocks of this tree also arrived a little late to the festivities, so Disney is making the most of it by selling it now. Again, just an assumption, but it is interesting to see these out well into January.

Shinyyyy

But our favorite story about late merchandise arrivals is probably the situation that took place with the prizes for Olaf’s scavenger hunt at last year’s Festival of the Holidays in EPCOT

Olaf hiding in World Showcase

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition is a scavenger hunt around World Showcase in EPCOT where guests can look for Olaf in all the pavilions and learn about holiday traditions around the world at the same time. If you complete the map, you can take it back to an EPCOT gift shop for a prize. 

Olaf hiding in a World Showcase country pavilion

At the beginning of the festival, the prize options changed a LOT, ranging from pins, lanyards, and lanyard pouches…

Prizes

…to the Mickey-themed mini kitchen sink — a dessert option on the menu at a few different Disney World restaurants. We couldn’t even say that Disney was giving out “everything but the kitchen sink” as the prizes, because there was actually a kitchen sink available!

Well, That’s…Unique

The official prizes for this scavenger hunt FINALLY arrived in mid-December, way after the Festival’s start date. These prizes made a lot more sense, since they were Frozen holiday-themed plates.

Prize Plates for Olaf’s Scavenger Hunt

When new merchandise makes its way to Disney World, it can sometimes run late. If you were hoping to grab a newer item, keep an eye out, because you never know when it might pop up!

Click here to see all of the Minnie ears you can buy online!

Disney’s Probably Not Loving This Either

We know it stinks to be on the consumer end of this issue since the products that you want to buy might not always be available. But we also want to acknowledge that this is probably not fun for Disney either.

Inside the Emporium

According to the New York Times, the “world has run short of a great many products.” The disruptions go back to early 2020 when factories in certain parts of the world where a lot of supplies are made (like China, South Korea, and more) were hit by the spread of COVID-19. Some factories had to shut down or had to reduce their production to deal with the situation. That then caused shipping companies to reduce schedules (anticipating a drop in demand for transporting goods). Demands went down for some things, but demand was then redirected to certain goods. Factories then tried to produce more in response, but pieces required from other parts of the world and impacts on those factories complicated things. In other words, it’s a bit of a mess.

And Disney isn’t immune to it. In all likelihood, Disney, like other companies, is paying more now to acquire the items it needs as the world tries to adjust to what’s going on, not to mention all of the issues with inflation. That can equal unhappy customers stuck waiting for things they wanted, people upset that things sell out and don’t get restocked, and restocks that arrive too late to get items on the shelves.

Merchandise

With late holiday merchandise on their hands, Disney has to decide whether to immediately discount it (like they did by sending the Mummy popcorn buckets to outlet stores) or try to sell it in the parks. To sum up, it’s a tough situation for everyone involved.

Click Here to See Every 2022 Disney Item You Can Get Online Right Now

Food Shortages

To our great dismay, the supply chain issues have also affected the food in Disney World. In some situations, food items have simply not been available because of the ingredient shortages. Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs announced that their Red Velvet Cake would be going away for “a while” since the national cream cheese shortage impacted their ability to make a treat with so much cream cheese frosting.

Gideon’s Bakehouse

Be sure to check if the situation has changed during your next trip.

Red Velvet Cake

During some EPCOT festivals, we’ve noticed that a few food booths have run out of ingredients and menu items. At one point, the Italy booth during the Food & Wine Festival last year was sold out of two of their three dishes on the menu.

This isn’t the first time they’ve been sold out of this item!

Some food items are also getting harder to find and thus more expensive (in general, not just in Disney World). We’ve seen supply issues and other problems impact things like beef, a breakfast drink, and chicken tenders, just to name a few. These shortages (and other factors) might have contributed to the HUNDREDS of price increases we recently saw in the Disney World parks and hotel restaurants.

The Carrot Cake Cookie used to be $3.99.

So even if your favorite snack is available in Disney World, it might cost a little bit more on your next trip. Now where’s that piggy bank we’ve been storing for emergencies… .

Click Here to See the Recent Price Increases in Disney World

Transportation Issues

Beyond the theme parks, the supply chain problems are causing issues with several forms of transportation.

Driving to Disney World

According to The Washington Post, the supply issues have contributed to a lack of rental car availability, which drives up the prices for the limited number of available cars. In some cases, renting a car could cost MORE than Disney World tickets.

©Kayak

Rental car sales plummeted at the start of the pandemic, causing rental car companies to sell large amounts of their fleets. Now, some essential car parts are in limited supply, so the rental car companies have smaller fleets at their disposal and getting new cars is difficult. With a surging demand for rental cars, there’s a big discrepancy in the supply and demand balance.

If you’re looking for a rental car, you should expect higher prices than you were previously used to.

Rental cars are getting pricey!

Reuters reported that airlines are having a similar problem in terms of issues with supply and demand. A limited supply of airplane parts means that fewer planes may be available to fly, so the cost of airfare could go up. As Insider notes, airline companies are also dealing with the same labor shortages other companies are facing, many due to COVID-19.

Airlines are having supply problems too

Air travel costs are predicted to increase, even as some flights get canceled due to labor shortages caused by the spread of COVID-19 and other factors.

It’s getting more expensive to fly

Just in case you encounter these issues during your trip, think about plan B options before you head out. If your flight gets canceled, when is the next best available time to fly? Check out rideshare (Uber, Lyft, and similar companies) prices at your destination to see how they compare with rental cars. Even if everything goes wrong, you’ll feel better if you have a plan for how to fix it.

Find Out What You Should Do If Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled

Positive Note?

So far this post seems kind-of doom-and-gloom, with a bunch of problems that might take a long time for the world to sort out. But there might be a silver lining to this issue (at least for shoppers). Some merchandise that arrives late to the party might go on sale or discounted at outlets or other spots, and you never know when a new (or old!) item will come back in stock.

You never know what you’ll find

Keep an eye out for discounted merchandise in Disney World and at their outlets. Since the souvenirs are sometimes coming in late, you might be able to find the Disney item of your dreams at a lower price than normal.

Mickey’s of Hollywood

Also, watch for old Disney merchandise that you missed the last time it came out. You might find some nostalgic treasures in the parks. And with the re-stocks, you really never know what you’ll find on the shelves.

Stock issues in Disney World

The main thing here is to be prepared. If you see an item and absolutely, positively MUST have it — consider whether you should buy it quickly (before it sells out and you’re left waiting for a potential restock). Keep in mind that things might be more limited during your trip — you might not find as many options when it comes to lightsabers, merchandise, etc. And note that price increases could impact food items or parts of your travel experience. The goal here is to know what’s coming and be as prepared as possible so you can adjust accordingly throughout your trip and still have a good time.

Keep following DFB for more of the latest news, tips, and tricks from Disney World.

Click Here to See the Re-Stocked Item in Disney World That Caused Us to SCREAM (in a Good Way!)

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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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What supply chain issues have you noticed in Disney World? Let us know in the comments.

The post How Supply Chain Issues Could Impact Your Next Disney World Trip first appeared on the disney food blog.

REVIEW: Are Personal Pies One of Disney’s BEST Snack Ideas Yet?!

We’ve had some pretty delicious treats in the Disney parks recently!

Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure

Between the Festival of the Arts at EPCOT and the Lunar New Year Festival at Disney California Adventure, plus the return of some of our favorite snacks, we’ve been eating pretty well the past few weeks. And this weekend, we got the chance to try yet another dessert that you may be interested in for your next trip!

At the Lunar New Year Festival, we stopped by the Cappuccino Cart to check out something that was really calling our name — the Mango-Pineapple Pie! It’s a little personal-sized pie filled with (you guessed it!) mango and pineapple topped with sugar crystals and a Mickey-shaped piece of crust.

Isn’t it cute?!

It’s a simple-looking dessert, but the taste is definitely a crowd-pleaser! It’s incredibly refreshing and the fruit inside tasted really fresh. It was definitely tropical, and we could just imagine ourselves enjoying this pie on a beach somewhere.

We love the little Mickey on top.

The texture was nice too — the fruit inside wasn’t too mushy, still keeping its shape, and the sugar crystals on the top added a nice crunch that we really enjoyed. 

Ready to dig in?

So who should get this one? Well, fruit lovers and pie fanatics for starters! If you’re looking for a sweet dessert that isn’t too rich, this is a solid choice. You may want to stay away if you’re not into tropical flavors.

If you want to try the Mango-Pineapple Pie for yourself, you can pick it up at California Adventure for $6.50. It’s only available for a limited time, so you’ll want to hurry and visit while the Lunar New Year Festival is going on!

Click Here to Get All the Details on the Lunar New Year Festival!


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Have you ever been to a California Adventure food festival? Tell us in the comments!

The post REVIEW: Are Personal Pies One of Disney’s BEST Snack Ideas Yet?! first appeared on the disney food blog.

REVIEW: Should You Pay $10 for This Lemonade in Disneyland? Actually…Maybe Yes.

Recently, we visited the Lunar New Year Festival at Disney California Adventure in Disneyland.

Lunar New Year Festival in Disneyland

We went to ALL of the food booths there to check out the options and let you know which snacks should be on your must-try list this year. Now, we’re heading back into California Adventure to try out a couple more festival offerings. How will these eats and drinks measure up? Let’s find out!

First up, we visited Studio Catering Co. to get the Fried Tamales! These are fried masa filled with chicken, then topped with salsa verde, sour cream, pickled onions, and cotija cheese.

Fried Tamales

These were SO yummy! The chicken was our favorite part for sure. It had a little bit of a spicy kick, so if you don’t like any spice then this might not be for you. But it wasn’t overpowering, and we really enjoyed the flavor! The pickled onions and lettuce added some great texture, too.

Fried Tamales from Studio Catering Co.

The masa was pretty thick around the filling, so it was a little bit difficult to cut into these tamales. Make sure you grab a knife if you get this snack to make cutting into them a little easier. We wish the ratio of the tamales would’ve been a little more of the filling with a little less masa, both because of the difficulty in cutting them open and because we just loved that chicken so much.

So yummy!

If you enjoy tamales or traditional Mexican food, we think you’ll be a big fan of this dish. You can get the Fried Tamales for $8.49.

Fried tamales cut open

We hopped over to the nearby Hollywood Lounge and picked up a new festival drink to wash down those delicious tamales.

Ginger Lychee Lemonade

We had the Ginger Lychee Lemonade, which is lemonade flavored with ginger and lychee, topped with mint leaves and a lotus glow cube. You can get one for $10.49. For a non-alcoholic drink, we thought that price was a little bit high, but let’s see how the flavors measure up. (Unfortunately, they were out of the lotus glow cube when we visited, so we got a regular glow cube instead.)

Ginger Lychee Lemonade from Hollywood Lounge

This drink was very refreshing, and we thought the ginger and lychee pairing worked really well! The lychee was fresh, and the ginger added some earthiness to it. The ginger flavor was very strong in this drink, but as ginger fans we enjoyed it. If you aren’t into ginger, you may want to pass on this one.

Ginger Lychee Lemonade

But if you enjoy ginger and lychee flavors and want a refreshing drink on a hot Cali day, we think you’ll love this take on a classic lemonade. And don’t forget to check out our Best of the Fest list to see other snacks and drinks that we recommend at the 2022 Lunar New Year Festival!

Click Here to See Our 2022 Lunar New Year Best of the Fest 

Keep following DFB for more reviews of all the latest eats at Disneyland and Disney World.

Click Here to Check Out the Entertainment at the 2022 Lunar New Year Festival


Want to Learn More About Disneyland?

Check Out the Links Below!

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Would you try the fried tamales in Disney California Adventure? Let us know in the comments.

The post REVIEW: Should You Pay for This Lemonade in Disneyland? Actually…Maybe Yes. first appeared on the disney food blog.

REVIEW: Simple but Delicious Breakfast Buffet Returns to Ale & Compass Restaurant at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Good morning from Walt Disney World! The breakfast buffet returned to Ale & Compass Restaurant this morning at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and we swung by to start our day with a (hopefully) delicious meal.

Ale & Compass Interior

Ale & Compass reopened for breakfast back in August 2020, but the buffet has not been available again until now.

Ale & Compass Breakfast Buffet – $23

The breakfast buffet is available from 7:30 a.m. through 11:00 a.m. It’s a little different from other Disney buffets in that no eggs or breakfast meats are available on the buffet line. Instead, you get to choose one entrée off the menu to accompany your buffet selections.

Seasonal Fruit

Today’s seasonal fruit options were pineapple, mixed berries (strawberries and blackberries), and grapes.

Parfaits

Two parfait options were available.

One had Greek yogurt with blueberries.

Another had strawberry yogurt with strawberries.

While situated between the parfaits, these were actually chilled overnight oats with strawberries.

Granola with nuts is also available to add to your parfait.

Cheddar Biscuits and Sausage Gravy

Warm Cinnamon Rolls

Condiments

A small selection of condiments is available near the pastries.

Butter balls are available.

Pictured above is grape jelly, and below is strawberry jam.

Croissants

The sign advertises multigrain and regular croissants, but only one platter of butter croissants was available.

Assorted Muffins

Blueberry and chocolate chip muffins were available.

The fruit is fresh cut, basic fruit.

The pink parfait is strawberry and is essentially a plain yogurt with toppings. You can add more from the fruit section if you want, which is nice. The same can be said for the vanilla parfait. The overnight oats parfait is delicious. It’s slightly sweet and well-balanced. The fresh granola added a nice crunch to all of these.

The cinnamon roll is slightly warm and a little tough. The blueberry and chocolate chip muffins are basic. They were still moist, but the chocolate chip could have used more chips. The blueberry had a nice, crispy strudel topping.

The croissants were advertised as multigrain, but they were mostly butter. The jams are grape and strawberry and are basic jellied jarred jams.

It was slightly warm but a little hard from being out.

The cheese biscuits were amazing. They were soft, warm, and buttery. They also had a butter brush to baste them with. The sausage gravy is a nice accompaniment. We were worried it would be too salty, but it wasn’t. It’s nothing special, and the two are good together, but the biscuits are also wonderful on their own.

Entrées

We ordered these entrées as part of our breakfast buffet, but they are also available without the buffet for the prices listed below.

Dark Chocolate Waffle – $15

Dried Cherry Compote, Espresso-Mascarpone Cream, Chocolate Shavings, and choice of Sausage or Bacon

These waffles are thick, and the edges are flaky and crispy.

They were rich without being overly chocolatey.

We had them with some of the strawberries from the buffet, which was delicious.

They are great for sharing or for a solo meal. We recommend them.

Breakfast Flatbread – $14

With Sunny–side Egg, Applewood-smoked Bacon, Ham, Provolone, and Arugula

This was delicious. It was being made while we were in the buffet line, so it was fresh.

It’s a hearty pizza you can easily share.

The egg was cooked perfectly and runny over the pizza.

The crust was crispy, and the meats were not in short supply.

There was a good balance of cheese to meats, and the arugula added a peppery freshness.

We would definitely recommend this option.

Overall

We enjoyed this buffet and recommend it to others looking for a nice breakfast at Walt Disney World. There is a great variety of dishes, from savory to sweet. The buffet itself is an accompaniment to the entrées, providing guests with many sides to add to their meal. The entrées themselves were delicious and had great portions.

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The post REVIEW: Simple but Delicious Breakfast Buffet Returns to Ale & Compass Restaurant at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort appeared first on WDW News Today.

Disney Parks Exclusive Pandora Jewelry Featured on New Signage Outside of Uptown Jewelers, 50th Anniversary Golden Tinker Bell Statue Flies into Bonjour! Village Gifts, & More: Magic Kingdom Photo Report 1/29/22

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Royal Greetings from Magic Kingdom. It’s a chilly and windy day in The Most Magical Place on Earth. Grab your jackets and gloves, and we’ll get going.

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Uptown Jewelers recently added new signage to display advertisements for Disney Parks exclusive Pandora jewelry. Now, they have started using the windows for the new arrivals of Pandora jewelry.

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More canopy pieces have been added to TRON Lightcycle / Run. We hopped on the PeopleMover for a closer look.

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Water drawings by Cast Members are magical!

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Another 50th Anniversary statue has been released. This time, a golden Tinker Bell figurine.

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We found ours at Bonjour! Village Gifts.

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Paint the town in polka dots. A new Minnie Mouse collection has dropped into the Emporium.

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Choo Choo! A new wooden train set pulled into the Emporium.

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We are heading to Disney Springs.

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At World of Disney we discovered new EARidescent youth leggings.

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Get your littlest Disney fan dressed for the parks in these all-new onesies.

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Another Minnie Mouse tank was spotted in World of Disney.

“A Goofy Movie” powerline shorts have shot into Disney Style. They match the t-shirt we recently found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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We are ending our day on a “sweet” note. A new Dulce de Leche Churro arrived today at Sunshine Churros.

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This churro was delicious, and we highly recommend it. You can read our whole review here.

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For more Disney Parks news from around the world, follow WDWNT on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram.

The post Disney Parks Exclusive Pandora Jewelry Featured on New Signage Outside of Uptown Jewelers, 50th Anniversary Golden Tinker Bell Statue Flies into Bonjour! Village Gifts, & More: Magic Kingdom Photo Report 1/29/22 appeared first on WDW News Today.

Monday Merch Meeting: Pura Vida, Arribas, Funko Pop!, V-Day and More!

Fancy seeing you here! This week was pretty slow on the exciting merch front, but I do have a handful of pieces, all handpicked from in between the flood of t-shirts just for us to take a peek at them together. Are you ready?

Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Express O-Gauge Ready-to-Run Electric Train Set by Lionel

I love a train set. I bought one for my niece a few months ago, and I honestly can’t say which of us spent more time playing with it. I have been waiting for the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Express O-Gauge Ready-to-Run Electric Train Set by Lionel, $499.99, ever since word hit the street it was coming.

2022 Frames and Photo Album by Arribas

I have already gravitated toward frames with the year and place marked on them because it helps you remember that exact experience amongst the many you might have on the wall. These photo frames and photo album by Arribas are sure to do the trick.

New Shirts for Adults & Juniors

Did I mention the flood of t-shirts that came out this week? Most were you run-of-the-mill usual Disney merch, but these three below I thought had a little something extra to offer.

Tiana Dress for Women – The Princess and the Frog

I was thrilled this week to see a new dress shape for the latest Disney Dress Shop release. I love a fit and flare as much as the next girl, but it’s time for some variety in those outfits! Enter the Tiana Dress for Women – The Princess and the Frog, $128, perfect for those warmer months ahead with a flair we have not seen before.

Cinderella and Prince Charming Pin – Valentine’s Day 2022 – Limited Release

Share your love this Valentine’s Day with the Cinderella and Prince Charming Pin – Valentine’s Day 2022 – Limited Release, $17.99; a great gift for any collector.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse Collectible Key Set – Valentine’s Day

The latest collectible key set has a Valentine’s Day theme with a cute set of two to share or gift together. Mickey and Minnie Mouse Collectible Key Set – Valentine’s Day, $19.99.

Disney Princess Sequined Ear Headband with Tiara

What can you do to step up your Minnie Ear Headband game? Add a tiara, of course! See the new Disney Princess Sequined Ear Headband with Tiara, $29.99, below.

Disney Princess Cozy Robe for Women

A good robe can be the most rewarding item of clothing you own. Enjoy the Disney Princess Cozy Robe for Women, $59.99, yourself, or gift it to the Princess in your life to spread the love.

Disney Princess Knit Sweater Pajama Set for Women

The worst thing about PJ sets is when they have no stretch, and they end up making you feel uncomfortable. Something tells me that won’t be the case with the Disney Princess Knit Sweater Pajama Set for Women, $59.99, featuring longer sleeves in a two-piece design.

Gingerbread Captain America Funko Pop! Vinyl

I’m not sure if I like the Gingerbread Captain America Funko Pop! Vinyl, $12.99 because it’s awesome, or because it makes me hungry and I want to eat it. Either way, he’s pretty cute.

New Jewelry by Pura Vida

It always seems to be the simple jewelry designs that catch my eye. I love the look of these bracelets, and my first instinct would be to layer a couple of them at the same time. Of course, at $20 each, they are much more affordable than most of the other jewelry we see, so grab a few while you can. Also, those earrings are cute as!

New MagicBands

I might not be a huge Mandalorian-lover, but the Gus MagicBand and the Tiana MagicBand make me happy. Let me know which of the three is your favorite. I honestly don’t know how to choose between those last two.

Star Wars Spirit Jersey for Adults

From a Galaxy Far, Far Away comes the new Star Wars Spirit Jersey for Adults, $74.99. I dare not say any more.

Coming Soon


That’s it! We are done and dusted for another week. Did you find something you like? Let me know what made it onto your shortlist this time around.

I’m off to bed as Monday comes to a close here in Australia. Good luck to all the Aussie kids starting the new school year this week! I hope you all have a great few days ahead; I will see you soon.

Meeting Adjourned!

Disclosure: Some of the links contained in this article are affiliate links, which means that our site will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

Why You’ll Pay MORE to Get LESS Now in Disney World

Disney World just keeps getting more and more expensive.

Disney World Gets Price Increases Regularly.

Price increases are a pretty common occurrence in Disney World. We see them across the resort pretty much every year, oftentimes popping up in response to rising demand. Now, it seems like a Disney trip is more pricy with fewer perks. So, here’s why you’ll pay more to get less in Disney World.

Food Changes

For starters, we spotted HUNDREDS of price increases on food and beverages around the Disney World resort in early 2022. DOLE Whips, popcorn buckets, popcorn refills, bottled soda, Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bars, mickey waffles, and MORE all saw bumps in price.

Mickey Waffle

Price increases like these tend to come once a year or so, so it’s not shocking to see them. But we will say that these have been some of the most extensive and far-reaching price increases we’ve seen recently. Some of these changes could be due to supply chain shortages and issues being experienced around the country and the world.

On top of this, Disney is dealing with the issue of high levels of inflation. To deal with those increased costs, they’ve shared that they’ve looked at a number of options, including making portion sizes smaller in the future.

How Much Would You Pay for Disney Snacks?

In addition to all of this, some Disney restaurants have yet to reopen. While many are serving guests again or will be serving guests soon, some popular spots still haven’t become available, like Victoria & Albert’s or 1900 Park Fare.

You might also find menus limited at some spots or certain favorites unavailable (we’re looking at you Citrus Swirl!). And some restaurants, while open, have changed the way they operate — i.e. you might find a family-style meal in place of the typical buffet you were used to. Prices might have also changed to reflect that but it’s still something to keep in mind. You might also find meals unavailable at some spots (like how breakfast is still unavailable at Be Our Guest) or other changes (like how lunch is now Table Service and prix fixe at Be Our Guest).

Kobe Short Rib with Romanesco and Cauliflower Puree from Victoria & Albert’s

Couple this with the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and you’ve got a recipe for guests paying MORE to get LESS. It’s possible that you’ll find yourself paying for these price increases AND having less food options than you did before.

Click here to see more about the food price increases in Disney World!

Lightning Lanes

Perhaps the most high-profile way that you’ll find yourself paying more is with Lightning Lanes. In the past, Disney World’s skip-the-line offering was the FREE Fastpass+ system. Now, to skip the line, you’ll need to purchase either Disney Genie+ or Individual Attraction Selections to access Lightning Lanes at participating rides.

Genie+ ©Disney

Guests have to pay $15 per person per day for Genie+. That’s undoubtedly a LOT more than paying…well…nothing for FastPass+ previously. Otherwise, the Genie+ system is relatively similar in concept to FastPass+ in the sense that it is a system designed to help you skip the standby lines. But it has its own set of unique rules — like how you can only make 1 Lightning Lane selection at a time, or the 120 minute rule — that you’ll want to know about before you dive in.

Lightning Lane

And you have to keep in mind that select rides aren’t available through Genie+. You’ll have to pay even MORE if you want to skip the line at any of those not-included (and very popular) attractions. Rides like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure are only available through Individual Attraction Selection. Your $15 per day won’t cover these through Genie+. Instead, you’ll have to pay individually to skip the lines at these rides. And those prices can vary depending on the park, ride, and day. Yes, surge pricing IS a thing so you might just find yourself paying MORE during one vacation than you did the last trip.

Rise of the Resistance Lightning Lane

Depending on how you use the service, you could end up skipping fewer lines than you might have expected, even though you pay more money. Some of our readers have had a good experience with Genie+ and have felt like it was totally worth it (and helped them get on a LOT of rides) in select parks. But others have not been pleased with the service, so a lot will depend on your own experience with it.

Want to learn more about Genie+? Click here!

Holiday Events

Next up, holiday events could very well be a place where you’ll pay more for less in Disney World. In the past, Disney World holidays meant parties like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Tickets to these parties were typically priced at around $100 to $145 for adults and lasted five hours.

Very Merriest After Hours

Last year, these parties were replaced with significantly MORE expensive After Hours events — Disney After Hours BOO Bash and Disney’s Very Merriest After Hours. Tickets to these events cost ranged from around $130 to $250. They were also only three hours and generally had fewer entertainment offerings (though there were more offerings at Very Merriest as compared to BOO Bash). So, that’s more money for WAY less.

There are a number of factors that could have played into how these offerings were conducted in 2021, however. The global pandemic could have greatly impacted what offerings were made available, so we could see entertainment offerings in particular change in future years if these events are offered again. Added entertainment options could make them a better value.

Boo to You!

We also have to note that if your focus was just riding attractions with short waits and stocking up on Disney snacks (the After Hours Events included select bottled drinks, popcorn, and ice cream novelties for FREE), then these may have been something you really enjoyed. Plus there were some unique offerings like ride overlays, fun character costumes, and more.

Click here to see our FULL thoughts on whether BOO Bash is worth the cost, and see our thoughts here on whether Very Merriest is worth the price. If these events continue in their same form with more limited offerings, however, you could find yourself paying more for less.

To see more about the pricing for Very Merriest After Hours, click here!

Airport Transportation

If you’re flying into Orlando and staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you’ll be paying more for less when it comes to airport transportation. In years past, Disney World hotel guests could take the free Disney’s Magical Express shuttle between the airport and the hotel at the beginning and end of their trips. In the past Disney’s Magical Express also offered a complimentary luggage pickup and delivery service, which many guests enjoyed.

Mears Connect

Now, Magical Express has been discontinued. So, to get to/from the airport and your Disney World hotel, you’ll have to pay for a similar service with Mears Connect, another new shuttle service — The Sunshine Flyer, or opt to use rideshare, rent a car, get a taxi, or look for another option. In the future, the Brightline train from the airport to Disney Springs might also become an option.

Right now, neither Mears Connect nor The Sunshine Flyer offer a luggage service, though both sites note that it is something they might look into and will alert guests if they begin to offer the service in the future.

©The Sunshine Flyer

At the end of the day, instead of getting to your Disney World hotel for free, you’ll have to factor an added transportation cost into your budget now.

Click here to see our readers’ first reactions to the Mears Connect service!

Hotel Perks

Speaking of hotel perks, the Walt Disney World Resort hotels continue to see expensive nightly rates while there are sometimes fewer perks. Whatever level Disney World hotel you book, you may find that you now have fewer perks than would have been available in years past.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Now, not only is the Magical Express perk gone but the Disney Dining Plan is currently unavailable (though it is set to return in the future), and extra park hours are different (and in some ways more limited) than they used to be. Currently, ALL Disney World resort hotel guests (and guests at select other qualifying hotels) can enter any Disney World park they want (provided they have a Park Pass for it) 30 minutes BEFORE that park’s official opening time — this is called Early Theme Park Entry.

Want extra time in the parks at night? Only select guests get that! In fact, only the on-site guests willing to shell out the MOST money per night on rooms, in general, get this perk now. (Remember when ALL Disney World hotel guests had these Extra Magic Hours included. Those were the days!) Right now, only Deluxe Resort guests and those staying at Deluxe Villas have access to Extended Evening Hours — which is where those qualifying guests can spend extra time in select parks on specified nights.

Grand Floridian

It’s not quite the extra magic hours of old. Some restaurants at the hotels are also still closed, package delivery from the parks to the hotels is not available, and you might find other limitations as things continue to head back to “normal” in Disney World. So those are all things you’ll want to consider ahead of your next trip.

Want to see more about extra park hours? Click here!

Still-Closed Experiences

Finally, on a more general level, your park ticket and trip fare, in general, doesn’t buy you quite as much as they used to. There are plenty of still-closed restaurants, missing entertainment offerings, and yet-to-return offerings.

Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

If you’re still holding out for traditional character meet-and-greets (modified meet-and-greets are back but there are no hugs and no autographs), the return of some fan-favorite restaurants, or to see Fantasmic! again; your park ticket still doesn’t capture everything you might want to do.

But some things will be coming back to Disney World soon. Fantasmic!, the Festival of Fantasy parade, the Finding Nemo musical in Animal Kingdom, and other offerings will be returning in 2022. It’s not a return of everything that’s gone missing from the parks, but it’s a start. And new things will be arriving too like the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster. But you’ll have to time your trip right to see them all!

To learn more about what’s CLOSED in Disney World, click here!

There are still ways to have a great time in Disney World, but you might have to navigate some missing offerings and price increases during future trips, so that’s something to keep in mind. As always, keep an eye on DFB for all the best tips to have a wonderful trip.

Click here to learn more about Disney World price increases!

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

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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Headed to Disney World soon? Tell us in the comments!

The post Why You’ll Pay MORE to Get LESS Now in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.