As Hurricane Ian continues to threaten Central Florida, all park passes are currently blocked out for Walt Disney World theme parks on Friday, September 30.
In the Soop: Friendcation will be streaming exclusively on Disney+ starting October 19th. This spin-off travel reality series features Park Seo-jun, Peakboy, Choi Woo-shik, Park Hyung-sik, and V of BTS and gives viewers a close-up and personal look at the lives of five celebrity friends as they unwind away from the spotlight. What’s Happening: This fall, prepare […]
Last week’s three-episode premiere of the new live-action Disney+ series Star Wars: Andor gave us a handful of fresh faces to familiarize ourselves with from A Galaxy Far, Far Away. And today’s fourth installment, entitled “Aldhani,” already steers away from most of those personas, providing viewers with another round of new characters to get to know […]
In this week’s season finale of Eli’s Places on ESPN+, we got a bit of a teaser for the upcoming Halloween special Peyton and Eli’s Spooky Adventure. While we learned about this special a couple of weeks ago, this was our first look at what’s to come. It didn’t give us much, but we do […]
Hello everyone! We are all on StormWatch together for the next few days, and here at The Dis, we thought a little fun might be in order to take everyone’s mind off Hurricane Ian. Ian, let’s call him Buzzkill, roaring up the Floridian coast, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun while we wait to see what happens from here.
So, what better way to kick off the Storm Watch Shenanigans than with a flashback to our Would You Rather days? Are you ready to play?
Would You Rather: A night in the Magic Kingdom Cinderella Suite or a few nights in a 2-story Royal Suite with Private Verandah on the Disney Wish?
You know the rules, no fence-sitting or questions, gut-feeling decisions only. The Cinderella Suite is virtually impossible with no option to book or reserve; on the other hand, the 2-story Royal Suites on the Disney Wish are an unattainable fortune. Which will you choose?
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House, menus for meal kits can be found by the refrigerated section in The Mara, though when we visited, the full menu was still being offered. Options include a boxed meal for breakfast for both adults and kids, while lunch and dinner offers a variety of sandwiches for $7.00 each, including roast beef and cheddar cheese, tuna salad, chicken salad, egg salad, ham and American cheese, as well as a vegetarian wrap. Each meal kit also comes with carrots, fresh fruit, potato chips, a chocolate chip cookie, and a bottle of Dasani water. For kids, there’s a ham and cheese and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich kit for $6.00 each.
Mobile Order has also been affected by the hurricane plans. In some locations, like Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, only snacks were available before the restaurant was listed as closed on the My Disney Experience app.
With the theme parks and Disney Springs closed, hotels are stepping up with plenty of activities for guests. At Animal Kingdom Lodge, in addition to games like “Zazu Says” and “Nala’s Notable Quotables,” screenings of “Aladdin” and “The Lion King” are taking place on Wednesday. Offerings will vary from hotel to hotel.
Timon and Rafiki were visiting with guests as well.
This souvenir cup looks like Donald dressed as a candy corn and holding a trick-or-treat bag. The back opens with a straw for your drink. You can get one now for $13.
We rode the PeopleMover to get a look at the construction happening over at TRON: Lightcycle Run in Tomorrowland. There are some new concrete areas on the ground, and it looks like more walls have gone up as well.
At Uptown Jewelers (the home of some of Disney World’s fanciest souvenirs), we saw an announcement that you can get a free Disney Villains poster if you spend $175 or more on Pandora jewelry.
Free Villains Poster
We also spotted a Princess Jasmine necklace for $150…
Jasmine Necklace
…and a Snow Whiteand the Seven Dwarfs purse for $39.99. The purse looks like a picnic basket, which fits Snow White’s vibe.
There were a LOT of new holiday ornaments and figurines at Crystal Arts. All of these are handmade using Swarovski crystals. We saw reindeer figures for $165 each…
Reindeer
…crystal ball Christmas ornaments with figures inside for $115 each…
Christmas Ornaments
…holiday cookie ornaments for $75-$85 each…
Holiday Cookie Ornaments
…some adorable puppy figures for $85 each…
Puppy Figures
…toadstool figures for $75 each…
Mushrooms
…snowflake ornaments for $80-$85 each…
Ornaments
…a realistic reindeer figure for $165…
Reindeer Figure
…and a starburst ornament.
Sunburst ornament
There was also an Olaf ornament for $145…
Olaf Ornament
…more snowflake ornaments, these for $55 each…
Snowflake
…a figure of Mary for $199…
Mary Figure
…a large Christmas tree for $250…
Christmas Tree
…smaller Christmas trees for $95…
Trees
…an angel ornament for $145…
Ornaments
…a Christmas village scene for $430…
Holiday village
…a house and Christmas tree set for $175…
Christmas scene
…a little reindeer for $145…
Reindeer Figure
…another angel ornament, this one for $55…
Angel Ornament
…some figures of Santa, elves, and a snowman for $75 each…
Santa, the Elves, and a snowman
…and a little angel for $40. If you want some more budget-friendly ornaments, we spotted some of those too! There were 50th Anniversary ornaments for $19 each…
Ornament
…or a red Cinderella Castle ornament, also for $19.
Red ornament
Don’t worry — we have even MORE ornaments coming up later on.
Big Top Souvenirs
There were a couple of new Mickey ear hats at Big Top Souvenirs in Storybook Circus. There was a Toy Story alien hat for $24.99…
Toy Story Alien Hat
…and rainbow Pride ears for $24.99.
Pride Mickey Ears
We’ve seen both of these in Disneyland, but now they’re on the east coast as well.
Bonjour! Village Gifts
This Fantasyland gift shop had the 2nd series of the 50th Anniversary Vinylmation figures. One box costs $14.99 and comes with a mystery figure inside.
Vinylmation Figures
We also saw some new art here, including a Little Mermaid painting for $399…
‘Little Mermaid’ Art
…and a Beauty and the Beast castle painting for $199.
‘Beauty and the Beast’ Art
On to the next shop!
Fantasy Faire
Here, we found some Disney Villain sweatpants for $49.99.
Whew! We made it through that MAJOR shopping spree. With over 60 new souvenirs in this park, we hope you were able to find one that you like. However, if you’re still not quite sold on any of that merchandise, we have some other options for you over at the DFB store! Check out all the new, fun Disney-themed graphic tees and more in our merch store by clicking here.
Rides. Drinks. Snacks. Say more!
We’ll be watching for more updates from Disney World, especially as we continue to monitor the situation with Hurricane Ian. For the latest news and updates on this storm, check out our post here.
Keep following DFB for all the latest Disney news!
Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
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We may not talk about Bruno, but we’re going to talk about some magical merchandise.
Look at all those bags!
We’ve recently seen some royal ears, cuddly pillows, and Minnie’s new collection. But today, we’re showing you items you can only get on Amazon. And, if you’re an Encanto fan, you’ll want to get your wallet ready.
Loungefly has Encanto items you can only get on Amazon! First up is the Loungefly Antonio and Parce Backpack! How colorful is this thing?! It has a front zipper compartment, side pockets, and adjustable straps.
The bag features Antonio and Parce (his jaguar). Of course, they’re not alone — other friends from the animal kingdom have joined in on the fun. The lining on the inside of the bag is blue and showcases some more animal friends.
Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
This district has essentially allowed Disney to act as its own county in many ways, giving it huge amounts of control over decisions regarding the land on which it operates in Florida. It also provided taxing authority and other powers to Disney. But, in 2022, a law was passed by the Florida legislature (and signed by the Florida governor) that will DISSOLVE the RCID by June of 2023, unless a new agreement is reached. The clock is ticking and 2023 is rapidly approaching, so what’s the status of the RCID right now? Here’s what we know.
Getting Caught Up
Just to get you up to speed, here’s a look at the background of this situation. If you’re not familiar with the RCID, it was a special district established way back in the 1960s. It has allowed Disney to operate essentially as its own county government all these years. The district has its own fire department, special taxing laws, and more power over the land it controls.
Lawsuits have been filed regarding the dissolution of the RCID and concerns about what will happen if the district is dissolved. Specifically, there have been concerns about the tax burden (including almost $1 billion in bond debt) that could fall on local county residents.
Not much has been shared in terms of what that successor district will look like, but Rep. Daniel Perez (R-Miami) has said that we may get an update soon. According to Representative Perez, “the conversations of Reedy Creek have always been there, and they’re still continuing today. We’ll try to put a bow to that conversation in the near future…There is some progress to be made, but we will definitely, I think, we’ll reach a solution sometime soon.”
Reedy Creek Trash Cans
So what’s going on now? Here’s what we know.
Reedy Creek Replacement Details & Disney’s Unique Power
WFTV 9 shared a video with a bit more of that conversation from Representative Perez about the discussions that are happening regarding Reedy Creek. In that video, Perez noted, “I think since we left session, it’s safe to say that the conversations between the Governor’s office and the interested parties of Reedy Creek have continued, and Disney’s included in that obviously.”
While we knew that conversations regarding the RCID had been going on, it is interesting that he pointed out how Disney specifically has a seat at the table. It’s not unusual or unexpected that this is the case, but still interesting to note.
According to WFTV 9, some lawmakers have indicated that these conversations have been ongoing since as early as May.
Dr. Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida, shared that if Reedy Creek just goes away without any replacement, local taxpayers would be “on the hook.” This is in reference to the $1 BILLION in bonds that are expected to fall on local taxpayers if a new arrangement is not put in place by 2023.
Jewett shared that his “gut” tells him a new special district will likely be created with a different name.
But it’s not as though the Florida government has unlimited power over the situation. Jewett has pointed out that Disney has unique leverage here.Because Disney is the sole landowner in the district, they’d have to agree to any new terms. That gives them at least some power over what the future could look like.
The Florida Governor’s office has indicated that an update could be coming, but no timeline for that has yet been shared.
Reedy Creek Is NOT Stopping
Despite a feeling of uncertainty over the future, Reedy Creek hasn’t stopped moving forward when it comes to activities in the district. According to the Orlando Business Journal, the RCID has filed for and completed various permitted projects from January 2022 through September 2022.
These projects include dewatering for the 7-Eleven coming to the Flamingo Crossings shopping area, World Drive Phase Two dewatering, redevelopment dewatering for the Magnolia Golf Course, and dewatering at Typhoon Lagoon for a repair project.
Typhoon Lagoon
And the work continues. According to the Orlando Business Journal, as of September 12th, the RCID has filed 25 notices of commencement with Orange County, FL for different projects.
The projects include things like some replacement activity on EPCOT Center Drive, a replacement of a central energy plant roof and exhaust fan in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, cable repairs, and fiber optic expansion. They’re also working on road improvements and design service contracts to streamline traffic.
In fact, RCID’s notice of commencement activity for 2022 is UP 127% compared to the same timeframe in 2021! So basically, the RCID has not allowed an impending dissolution, continued talks about a replacement district, and uncertainty about the future to slow it down at all.
The RCID may have a bit more certainty about what the future could hold since Disney appears to be involved in discussions about a replacement plan. And, of course, projects continue to pop up and issues need to be taken care of, so it’s not as though the RCID can simply sit back until 2023 and not do anything until a resolution has been reached.
But still, it is interesting to note that they are going strong (even stronger than before) when it comes to filing notices of commencement. With all of the potential projects in Disney’s future, we expect this activity will only continue.
A Surprising Bond Situation
With the high level of uncertainty, you might think that tax bond purchases would be low for the RCID, but it’s been quite the opposite. The Orlando Business Journal reports that Reedy Creek’s bond purchases have nearly DOUBLED, despite uncertainty about the future.
There was actually a surge in ad valorem tax bond activity for the RCID when you look at the period between January 1st and September 13th, 2022. During that period, 614 RCID ad valorem bonds were bought. That’s an increase of 91.3%(!) compared to the 321 bonds bought during the same period in 2021.
During two months, in particular, there were high numbers of bond purchases — April (118 sales) and May (103 sales). Interestingly enough, those were 2 months when a lot of uncertainty surrounding the bonds arose, given the conflict between Disney and Florida Governor DeSantis. That ultimately led to the passage of the bill that will dissolve the RCID in 2023 — that bill was passed in April 2022 and was signed into law just a few days later in April 2022.
So what’s going on there? According to Jacob Schumer, a government law expert, the legal change in the situation with the RCID actually “means the value of the bonds is subject to speculation in a way that’s atypical for such bonds. With such speculation comes attention from investors who take a more negative view of the bonds, and also speculators who believe they can obtain good bonds at a discount.”
EPCOT
Schumer shared, “It would not surprise me if Reedy Creek bonds continue to trade at an abnormally high volume until the legal matter is settled, with spikes in activity when there is major news on the legal front.” Keep in mind, however, that back in April, Fitch Ratings placed the RCID’s credit rating under a “negative watch,” indicating that there could be a possible downgrade in rating.
Still, while uncertainty continues, the RCID plows forward with construction project work and is getting the advantage of increased bond activity too.
The Reedy Creek Lawsuit
What about the lawsuit that was refiled in May? That case (EDUARDO FORONDA ET AL VS RON DESANTIS ET AL — Case No. 2022-009114-CA-01) is still pending in Miami-Dade County. The most recent activity that took place was that a motion to withdraw was filed, with one attorney submitting a letter of notice of resignation as Deputy General Counsel for Governor DeSantis.
The main activity before that was all surrounding a motion to dismiss. Governor DeSantis and 2 other state departments named in the lawsuit filed a motion for the case to be dismissed in August of 2022. They argued that the complaint should be dismissed completely or transferred to Tallahassee’s Leon County.
Following this, the Plaintiffs filed a motion and response to the Defendants’ motion to dismiss. In it, the Plaintiffs agree to transfer their complaint to Leon County. That response was filed on August 25th.
Thus far, it does not appear that a hearing has been set for this motion (at least according to the court docket) and further documents on the motion have not been filed. As of right now, the case status shows as “open” in Miami-Dade, but we expect that an update on that could be coming soon.
Upcoming Activity to Be on the Lookout For
So, what’s next? Well, as we indicated, the RCID continues to move forward with its work. The next meeting of the district’s Board of Supervisors will be held on October 3rd, 2022.
The agenda shows that some of the issues this meeting will address include a building permit fee schedule, an authorization of a letter of credit, the approval of the budget rate for the RCID for Fiscal Year 2023, and approval of the proposed budget for the RCID utilities division for fiscal year 2023, among other things.
Hollywood Studios
Beyond that, we’re still pending updates from the Florida Governor’s office regarding what could replace the RCID. But, if Representative Perez’s statements are any indication, we could get some BIG updates soon.
We’ll continue to look for more news about the Reedy Creek District dissolution and let you know what we find.
Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
A reader reached out to us (@StrategyGoddess) and said that Disney housekeeping came to their villa at their hotel and removed their outdoor furniture, while also giving them extra towels and toiletries.
@DisneyFoodBlog@TouringPlans mousekeeping just came into our villa and removed our outdoor furniture. They loaded us up with toiletries and extra towels
