Walt Disney World has confirmed its normal operating hours will resume beginning Saturday, October 1, although Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is set to remain closed for a bit longer.

The four Walt Disney World parks will be open their standard hours for the resort’s 51st birthday on October 1.

• Magic Kingdom: Early Entry from 8:30a.m., Open from 9:00a.m. to 11:00p.m.
• EPCOT: Early Entry from 8:00a.m., Open from 8:30a.m. to 9:00p.m.
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Early Entry from 8:00a.m., Open from 8:30a.m. to 9:00p.m.
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Early Entry from 7:30a.m., Open from 8:00a.m. to 8:00p.m.

Additionally, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park will reopen on Sunday, October 2 from 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.

This seemingly concludes the vast majority of the phased reopening post-Hurricane Ian. Walt Disney World seems to haave survived with relatively minor damage, and we appreciate the Cast Members hard at work to bring the magic back to life after the storm.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post Walt Disney World to Resume Normal Hours October 1, Typhoon Lagoon Reopening October 2 appeared first on WDW News Today.

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It has been a BUSY week for Disney, mostly due to the arrival of Hurricane Ian in Central Florida.

The theme parks closed and the resorts cut back operations significantly to focus on taking care of the guests already in place, and many travelers had to cancel their trips due to the storm. If you’re in that boat and you’re in need of a little Disney magic, then check out the latest Disney merchandise we found online!

Amazon Exclusive Loungefly Collections

Looking for some new bags to take to Disney World? Amazon has you covered with new Loungefly collections. First up, there’s the Encanto-inspired collection, featuring bags with Antonio and his animal friends. 

Or if you’re a fan of the Disney classics, check out the Aladdin collection instead. It comes with bags inspired by Iago — that’s a character who doesn’t often get his own merch!

You can order the Loungefly backpack, as well as the matching wallet. That’s definitely a look!

Click Here to See the Aladdin Backpacks!

Plushes

If you’re looking for something to snuggle up with at night, there are several new Disney plushes available online. First, we’ve got the Cuddleez Disney pillows from Target, that come in versions of your favorite characters. How cute!

Besides those, we’ve got a set of Jungle Cruise plushes from Amazon Treasure Truck. The four-count set features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy in true skipper fashion, wearing khaki.

How adorable are their little outfits?! You can buy the set for $49.99.

Click Here to Buy the Jungle Cruise Plushes!

Halloween and Holiday

Multiple new merch items dropped this week for the ongoing and upcoming holiday seasons. Let’s start out with the Halloween options, which include this amazing Haunted Mansion Chess Board.

If you’re pumped for the release of Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+, then you NEED this new collection from ColourPop Cosmetics. It has everything from lip glosses to eye shadows — all the essentials for creating an amazing Halloween look.

And finally, we’ve got some Christmas and holiday merchandise to share! If you’re already shopping for decor this year, then you’ll want to see these tree toppers and snow globes.

And that’s all the new Disney merchandise we found online this week! We’re just a few weeks away from Halloween, so you’ll want to make those “spooky season” purchases ASAP. After that, we’re stepping into FULL holiday mode!

While you’re in the shopping mood…have you checked our DFB exclusive graphic tees and merch?

It’s super fun stuff to wear to the parks, or repping your happy place at the grocery store! Click here to visit the DFB Merch Store!

Click Here to Shop More Halloween Merch Online!

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

Which items will you be buying this week? Tell us in the comments!

The post Disney Released Halloween Merchandise, Loungefly Bags, and MORE Online first appeared on the disney food blog.

EPCOT is about to turn 40 years old and Disney will be celebrating with new foods, merchandise, and more!

We’ve already tried the new Figment Sponge Cake released in honor of EPCOT’s 40th Anniversary and now there’s another treat to try! This one is a spin on a permanent menu item and it’s only around for a few days!

We visited the Starbucks counter at Connections Cafe to try the 40th Anniversary Liege Waffle for $4.25! It’s the regular Liege Waffle menu item with some added goodies.

The Liege Waffle is made of fresh Brioche dough, pressed in pearl sugar, and baked in a cast iron, and the 40th anniversary version adds colorful sprinkles and a white chocolate medallion featuring EPCOT Pavilion symbols.

Another treat is out ahead of EPCOT’s 40th anniversary tomorrow! This is the EPCOT 40th Liege Waffle – find it at the Connections Cafe! pic.twitter.com/pda2jMzi9Y

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) September 30, 2022

Like the regular Liege Waffle, this one is sweet, and it has heavy vanilla flavoring. The sprinkles don’t add any flavor but they did add a nice crunch!

It’s only available through October 3rd so make sure you stop by Connections Cafe sooner than later! Note that it’s not available via Mobile Order.

If you’re a fan of this waffle, you might want to give Connection Cafe’s Liege Waffle a try too! This one is made with Brioche dough with pearl sugar, strawberries, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce. You can Mobile Order it, too!

We’ll be giving more EPCOT 40th Anniversary treats a try so stay tuned for more reviews!

Check out the 11 NEW eats coming to EPCOT for the 40th anniversary!

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

Are you visiting EPCOT for the 40th anniversary? Tell us in the comments!

The post The EPCOT 40th Anniversary Treat You Can Get for UNDER first appeared on the disney food blog.

The Walt Disney Company is planning to expand their board of directors from 11 to 12 with tech executive Carolyn Everson.

Everson has been a top executive at Facebook and Instacart.

Disney’s move to expand the board is supported by Third Point LLC, an investor that took a large stake in Disney in August. Third Point made suggestions that include spinning off ESPN and folding Hulu into Disney+.

“We have a productive and collegial relationship with Third Point, with whom we share a deep commitment to continue building on Disney’s many successes and increasing shareholder value,” CEO Bob Chapek said in a prepared statement.

Source: Variety

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post Disney Planning to Expand Board with Addition of Tech Executive Carolyn Everson appeared first on WDW News Today.

Hi friends, we made it to Friday, which means more than normal this week. This week has been stressful, to say the least. As all of you know, Florida got hit by a major hurricane, Hurricane Ian. A lot of the news and articles on the site this week were related to this storm. We also had some positive articles, and we played some fun games to pass the time during the storm, so let’s take a look at what we did this week.

Monday Disney Headlines: New Merch, Dreamlight Valley, and a Facade Fell at Hollywood Studios

We started Monday like we do every week with a merchandise update with Zoe. This Monday, she showed us the coolest chess board we’ve ever seen. Then we looked into what this new Disney game, Dreamlight Valley, is and what the point of the game is. This is also the day that we woke up to the news that a facade at Hollywood Studios had collapsed.

• Monday Merch: Chess, Pets, Fall, COACH & More!
• Walt Disney World Hurricane Cancellation Policy
• What is Disney Dreamlight Valley?
• A Facade Has Collapsed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Tuesday Disney Headlines: Pixie Dust at WDW, Candlelight Processional Narrators, DuckTales World Showcase Adventure, New Disney store, and Hurricane updates.

Tuesday was a busy day, but before we let it get to us, we chatted with Contributor Stephanie about the problem with pixie dust at Walt Disney World. Then Disney announced the Narrators for EPCOT Candlelight Processional, and there are some fabulous new narrators this year. We also got an announcement that DuckTales World Showcase Adventure will be coming to EPCOT very soon.

We also looked at the Orlando Airport’s new Walt Disney World Store. We also got an update on Hurricane Ian and what Orlando could feel. Disney Cruise Line announced they would drop COVID vaccination requirements very soon. We also got the news that After Hours Events will be making a return in early 2023. Later in the evening, Disney announced that the parks would be closing Wednesday and Thursday because of Hurricane Ian.

• The Problem With Pixie Dust at Walt Disney World
• Celebrity Narrators for EPCOT Candlelight Processional Revealed
• Disney’s DuckTales World Showcase Adventure is Coming to EPCOT!
• Orlando Airport Opens New Walt Disney World Store
• UPDATE: Hurricane-Force Winds Expected in Central FL by Wed. Morning
• DCL to Drop COVID Vaccination Requirments Next Month for Most Sailings
• After Hour Events are Coming Back to Walt Disney World in Early 2023
• Walt Disney World Closing due to the Arrival of Hurricane Ian

Wednesday Disney Headlines: Toy Story History, Food Booths for Festival of the Holidays announced, Hurricane Ian Closures

Wednesday was not the most day we’ve had here. Hurricane Ian started to make landfall, and the whole state could feel it. We started our day off lighthearted by meeting with Zoë to learn about the history of Toy Story Mania. We also got a list of the Holiday Kitchens that will be appearing at the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, there’s a brand new booth coming, and it looks great.

Then we took some time to stop watching the news and play two games. We did a round of the Ultimate Disney Questionnaire and a round of Would You Rather.

• A Brief History of Disney: Toy Story (Midway) Mania
• Current Disney Wish Cruise Extended; Next One Cancelled
• Castaway Cay Day Cancelled Wednesday Due to Hurricane Ian
• Holiday Kitchens for 2022 EPCOT Int’l Festival of the Holidays Have Been Announced
• Take a Break & Answer the Ultimate Disney Questionnaire – Part II
• StormWatch: Would You Rather – Cinderella Suite or Wish Royal Suite?

Thursday Disney Headlines: Goodbye KiteTails, This or That Disney Edition, DCL Wonder Tickets, Orlando Airport Update, Walt Disney World after Hurricane Ian

Thursday, Hurricane Ian started to leave Florida, and we started seeing the aftermath of the west coast. To distract ourselves, we met with Contributor Ashley to reminisce about KiteTails as its last show approached. We also took a much-needed break from the news and played a round of This or That Disney edition.

Then we looked at Disney Cruise Line, specifically the Disney Wonder, now that it’s on sale! Then I ventured out once it was safe to check on Disney and see what Ian left us with. Disney then announced their reopening plans. Then we got a sad but understandable update on DIS Con; we hope to see you all soon.

• Remembering Disney KiteTails Before It Ends
• StormWatch: This or That Disney Edition (You Can Only Pick One)
• Tickets Now on Sale for the Wonder Down Under!
•  Orlando International Airport Set to Reopen Soon
• Walt Disney World After Hurricane Ian
• Walt Disney World to Reopen in Phases After Hurricane Ian
•  DIS Con Event Update 

Friday Disney Headlines: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Orlando Airport Opening, Disney Springs Reopens, New DCL Itinerary

Today Central Florida woke up to 66-degree weather, clear skies, and no more Hurricane Ian. Many areas here still have evidence of the hurricane, but it’s a new day. To start this new day, we met with Contributor Stephanie so she could share a magical experience she had on her most recent trip to Disney.

We also got the news that the Orlando International Airport would reopen today, allowing visitors to go home. Disney Cruise Line added a new Caledonia itinerary to the Disney Wonder. I hopped over to Disney spring as it started to reopen after being closed for the storm. No damage over here, just a lot of lines.

• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Walt Disney World – A Steal of a Deal!
• Orlando International Airport is Opening!
• UPDATE: Walt Disney World Phased Reopening Schedule
• New Caledonia Itinerary Added for the Disney Wonder
• Disney Springs Reopens After Hurricane Ian Passed Through Walt Disney World

I hope this week was a good week for most of you. For anyone affected by Hurricane Ian, our hearts go out to you. We will see you next week; hopefully, it’s a much better week. Have a great weekend, everyone.

It’s been quite the week for Disney World.

Hurricane Ian complicated things for a few days — shutting down the Disney World theme parks and causing a phased reopening, plus we’ve gotten huge news about returning offerings and EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays. After a stressful few days, you could probably use a little mental escape (we know the feeling). So why not take a second, find a quiet spot, and join us on a virtual trip through the parks and resorts for all the latest Disney news.   It might just be the 5-minute break you desperately need this week.

First, we just want to say that our heart goes out to all those in Florida who have been impacted by Hurricane Ian. We are keeping you all in our thoughts and are sending you all the pixie dust in the world to help you along during this difficult time.

1 — Hurricane Ian & Disney’s Reopening

Well, Hurricane Ian really threw a wrench into some plans this week all across the state of Florida, including for all those who were in Disney World. The storm barreled through the state of Florida, greatly impacting parts of the west coast, but also bringing some damage and flooding to parts of Central Florida and other areas within the state.

For a while, Disney World’s counties were under a hurricane warning, and we’ve also seen flash food warnings put in effect, as flooding continues to be a big concern from this storm.

The storm also caused theme parks to close. Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and others closed for at least September 28th and 29th.

Disney World conducted a “phased reopening” on September 30th.

This phased reopening approach includes extended early entry time for resort guests at the start of the day, adjusted hours for the parks (with many of them opening later than normal), and other modifications.

Click here to see FULL details about Disney World’s reopening

We went to Disney World during the phased reopening to see what had been impacted by the hurricane. Click here for our FULL post of details about what Disney World was like following Hurricane Ian.

Keep in mind that for the time being, Disney is not enforcing dining cancelation fees or cancelation fees for certain special experiences.

Also, note that Disney appears to be LIMITING new hotel reservations for the next few days (likely to adjust to the changing situation post-storm). When it comes to existing hotel reservations, cancelation fees will be WAIVED into next week.

Universal Orlando is set to reopen on September 30th, but will limit its initial reopening on that date to resort guests. SeaWorld has extended its closure for the time being.

Orlando Interantional Airport also closed due to the storm, but will resume passenger flights after 12PM on Friday, September 30th. You can click here for more details on that.

For more of our Hurricane Ian coverage, check out the links below:

Remember that hurricane season continues through November 30th, so it’s important to be prepared if you’ll be visiting Disney World during that time. Click here to see what Orlando and Disney World looked like ahead of and during the storm, and click here to see our list of 6 items you NEED for a hurricane in Disney World.

Click here for our step-by-step guide to hurricane cancelation policies and refunds in Disney World

2 — EPCOT Festival of the Holidays News

Over at EPCOT, the Food & Wine Festival is going on right now, but we’re already getting ready for our next festival — the Festival of the Holidays! This week, Disney revealed the FULL list of food booths that will be available at the Festival.

There will be a number of returning favorites, but there will also be 1 NEW booth to check out — click here for all the details on that!

Click here to see a FULL list of the menu items that have been confirmed for the Festival so far!

Love cookies? Well, you’re in luck! The Holiday Cookie Stroll is coming back to the Festival and we’ve got the FULL list of cookies that will qualify here.

But the Festival is about so much more than food. There’s also some stellar entertainment available. This week we got the FULL list of Candlelight Processional narrators (which include a Marvel star and someone from Shark Tank!), plus we got pricing and details on the restaurants that’ll be available for Candlelight Processional dining packages.

And if you want to say “hey” to Santa or check out the amazing storytellers throughout World Showcase, you can click here to see the list of performers that will be available and their showtimes.

The Festival of the Holidays begins on November 25th (the day after Thanksgiving) and we cannot wait to see everything it has to offer. Stay tuned for full reviews of ALL of the booths and all kinds of other details.

Click here to see everything we know about the Festival of the Holidays this year

3 — Reopenings & Returning Experiences

If you loved Disney’s After Hours events (which allow guests to buy a separate ticket to spend time in the parks after they’ve closed to the public, enjoy shorter wait times, and grab complimentary snacks), then you’ll be thrilled to know that After Hours events are returning to Disney World in 2023!

Specifically, After Hours will be returning to Magic Kingdom on select nights starting January 9th, 2023. Prices range from $129 to $159 per person. At Hollywood Studios, After Hours will return on select nights starting January 4th, 2023, and the prices similarly range from $129 to $159 per person.

If you’re ready to buy your tickets, mark down these dates! Guests of select Disney World hotels (which include Disney Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green) can buy their After Hours tickets on October 4th, 2022. Tickets will open to everyone else on October 7th, 2022.

Click here for full details about the return of After Hours!

Aside from the return of After Hours, the Disney World website has also hinted at the possible reopening date for Kona Cafe in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Click here for more details.

4 — Amazon Prime Day News

Start making those Christmas lists because you’re about to knock out all that shopping AND get discounts too. Amazon Prime Day is essentially coming back this fall through a new savings event called Amazon Prime Early Access Sale. On October 11th and 12th, you’ll get to grab deals on all kinds of products!

Ahead of Prime Day, you’ll get to enjoy another sale over at Target with the return of Target Deal Days!

This sale will be held from October 6th through the 8th and will feature deals on hundreds of thousands of items.

Click here to learn more about the return of Prime Day 

And click here for more details on Target Deal Days

5 — BIG COVID-19 Changes for Disney Cruise Line

As things change with the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a number of modifications made to cruise lines’ COVID-19 requirements, and now Disney is changing its rules in a BIG way.

Soon, COVID-19 vaccines will NOT be required for guests looking to sail on Disney Cruise Line.

Starting October 14th, 2022, guests going on the Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish will NOT be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This change goes into effect starting November 7th, 2022, for those sailing on the Disney Magic.

COVID-19 testing will still be required, however, for those 5 and older who are not fully vaccinated. These are important changes to know about ahead of your trip or if you were waiting to book a trip.

Click here for full details about this COVID-19 change

Of course, other news was also shared this week. Check out those stories below:

• 11 new eats are coming to EPCOT for its 40th Anniversary
• Hurry to Amazon for a Disney 50th Anniversary Carousel of Progress item or Country Bear Jamboree items!
• A new walkway is now open between Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• The DuckTales Scavenger Hunt is finally coming to EPCOT
• Dining reservations are now open for Thanksgiving in Disney World
• A Figment movie (?!) is in the works at Disney!
• McDonald’s will soon offer Happy Meals for adults

Hold up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, you’re going to need this discount code – WDW2022. Use it to save 25% when you buy our DFB Guide Everything Bundle here.

You will get ALL of our best-selling eBooks with details on Disney World Dining, EPCOT Festivals, the BEST snacks in each park, and soooooo many tips and tricks we’ve learned over decades of visiting our happy place. 

Click here to check it out!

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

What news from this week are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments.

The post Phased Reopening After Hurricane Ian, Festival of the Holidays Food Booths, and More HUGE Disney News first appeared on the disney food blog.