Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall in the southern part of the west coast of Florida on Wednesday, September 28th. The storm is then projected to move through Central Florida before leaving the state sometime on Thursday.

In response to the hurricane, many businesses have shut down on Wednesday and Thursday. The Disney World parks are closed, Universal Orlando also shut down, and the Orlando International Airport has paused commercial activities. Now, Publix has announced that some grocery stores will be closing as well.

In preparation for Hurricane Ian, many Publix grocery stores in Central Florida have already closed. Several closed at 10PM on Tuesday, September 27th, and plan to reopen on Friday, September 30th.

Some stores will remain open until 6PM on Wednesday, September 28th, before closing until Friday morning. If you need to get more supplies to prepare for the incoming hurricane, you should do so immediately.

To check the hours of a specific Publix location, you can visit the map on the Publix website. Over 400 stores have adjusted hours to prepare.

We’re following the news of Hurricane Ian carefully. To learn more about the storm and its effect on Disney World, check out the following links:

• Disney World Parks CLOSE Due to Hurricane Ian
• Step-by-Step Guide to Hurricane Cancelation Policies and Refunds in Disney World
• Hurricane Warning In Effect for Disney World
• 6 Items You Need for a Hurricane in Disney World

Keep following DFB for all the latest updates.

Click here for the latest news about Hurricane Ian.

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

The post Most Central Florida Publix Grocery Stores Have CLOSED Due to Hurricane Ian first appeared on the disney food blog.

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

We’re always on the hunt for the best Disney merchandise!

Items for snack lovers, princesses, galactic heroes — there’s merchandise for every kind of Disney fan! And, if you’re one of those fans who are in-the-know (ya know?), these shirts are for you!

The DFB Store is full of items, but today we’re focusing on merchandise like the Sonny Eclipse Shirt for $25.99. It comes in white, cream, and light blue, with sizes ranging from small to 3XL.

Of course, Sonny Eclipse is the singer inside Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. Those in-the-know will catch the reference!

Click here to buy the Sonny Eclipse Shirt

There’s also The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness Shirt for $26.99. It comes in deep royal, navy, and red, with the ability to grab sizes small through 5XL.

It’s a nod to, well, the wildest ride in the wilderness – Big Thunder Mountain! 

Click here to buy The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness Shirt

And check out the Main Street Florida Shirt for $26.99. It comes in a wide variety of colors, and sizes range from small through 3XL.

It features the iconic quote, “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.” It also says “32830” which is the zip code for Lake Buena Vista!

Click here to buy the Main Street Florida Shirt

And over on shopDisney, you can grab the Star Wars Shirt for $36.99. The sizes range from XS to 3X.

“May the force be with you” is featured on one shoulder of the shirt, which is a fun detail for fellow Star Wars fans to spot!

Click here to buy the Star Wars Shirt

And there’s also a yellow Pegasus Shirt for $39.99. It comes in sizes XS through 3X.

It features the recipe for the perfect sidekick — Pegasus!

Click here to buy a Pegasus Shirt

And those are some shirts for Disney fans in-the-know! And speaking of Disney shirts, when are you headed to Disney World next?

Have you checked out our full line of fun graphic tees to wear on your trip? We’ve designed some for the whole family – from infants to adults!

Click here to shop our FULL DFB STORE!

And, as always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news.

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!

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.

Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today!

Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!

Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.

Which one of these shirts is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.

The post In-The-Know Disney Fans Are All About These Disney Shirts first appeared on the disney food blog.

Hurricane Ian has quickly strengthened from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane, and various areas of Florida are expected to be impacted.

A state of emergency has already been declared for the state, and we previously saw hurricane warnings and flood advisories issued. Now, there’s another update as to the warnings in place for counties in central Florida.

According to WESH 2 News, a Tornado Watch has been issued for 4 counties in Central Florida, including Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole. Orange County and Osceola County are the 2 counties within which Disney World is located.

The watch is in place until 5PM ET on September 28th (Wednesday).

The National Weather Service points out that a Tornado Watch indicates that individuals should “be prepared.” Tornados are possible in and near the watch area, so people within that space should review emergency plans, check their supplies, and be ready to act quickly if a Tornado Warning is issued.

Here’s a full look at the warnings and watches currently in place for Orange County, Florida:

1. Tornado Watch — Until 5PM ET on September 28th (applies to Osceola County too)
2. Flood Watch — Until 5PM ET on September 30th (applies to Osceola County too)
3. Hurricane Warning — Until 12PM on September 28th (applies to Osceola County too)

Additionally, an Airport Weather Warning is in place for Orlando International Airport until 5:30AM ET on September 29th. The Airport is set to close starting at 10:30AM on September 28th. It is expected that operations will resume at some point on Friday.

As of the morning of September 28th, 2022, Hurricane Ian was a Category 4 storm with winds just 2 miles per hour short of being a Category 5 storm. It is forecast to make landfall along southwest Florida late this afternoon as a “powerful major hurricane.” Its track will then take it through interior counties of east central Florida (according to current forecasts).

Significant to extensive wind impacts are expected, and about 8 to 15 inches of rain are expected which could cause major flooding. There is also an “increasingly favorable environment” for tornado development that will spread “northward from Lake Okeechobee and the Treasure Coast across the remainder of east central Florida today.”

Disney World’s theme parks, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld have all announced closures. Disney World’s theme parks and water parks will be closed Tuesday, September 28th, and Wednesday, September 29th. Disney Springs will be closed on September 28th, and it is expected that it would be closed on the 29th as well.

If you are in Orlando or the surrounding areas at this time, please stay alert and stay safe. We will work to provide you with more updates.

For more information, check out the links below:

• The latest updates on Hurricane Ian  We are continually updating this post with more hurricane updates
• What you need to know about cruising during hurricane season
• Disney Wish sailing CANCELED due to Hurricane Ian
• 6 items you need for a hurricane in Disney World
• Florida hotels offering discounted rates for hurricane evacuees
• Disney World crowd levels ahead of Hurricane Ian
• With Hurricane Ian approaching, Disney World hotels are showing no available rooms
• State of Emergency declared in Florida ahead of Hurricane Ian

What To Do If You’re in Disney World During Hurricane Ian

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

Are you visiting Orlando right now? Tell us in the comments.

The post Tornado Watch in Effect in Disney World Counties As Hurricane Ian Gets Closer first appeared on the disney food blog.

On Tuesday morning, we checked out Universal Studios Florida to check out their preparations for Hurricane Ian.

As we were walking in, we noticed tarps covering many of the construction areas to prevent water damage due to Hurricane Ian. This was the first of many changes we noticed in the park, as well as with the decorations and set pieces for Halloween Horror Nights. Not long after our visit, both Wednesday and Thursday’s events were canceled.

We noticed the register gone for this food truck, as well as many other venues unavailable or gutted of their internal parts.

The interior of most food booths seem to be stripped, making it unlikely this will reopen until after Hurricane Ian.

The food booth was blocked off in order to prevent guests from thinking they could purchase.

The banner on The Tribute Store, as well as most banners around the park, were removed or rolled up to prevent damage.

Registers were removed from food stands throughout Universal Studios Florida, as well as food displays from this particular stand.

Many areas for Hollywood Horror Nights seemed to be closed off, with booths being shut and protected for the hurricane.

Areas seemed to be stripped back to what was not possible to remove in order to minimize any potential damage.

The Meetz Locker area for Hollywood Horror Nights was stripped nearly bare.

Banners throughout the park were rolled up to prevent damage.

Some of the scare zones were intact, with decorations still permeating the landscape of the park.

Scarecrow: Cursed Soil was still full of props when we left, but the overnight and ride-out crews have likely removed props.

Large items such as umbrellas were stored away safely.

Sandbags were made available for when the park closes.

Most of the booths were closed, and all of the bar carts were removed.

Showtime signs for Halloween Nightmare Fuel Wildfire showtime remained up, at least for the moment.

All outdoor registers were removed throughout the park.

Flags were rolled up similarly to the banners.

Some of the scare zones appear to be intact, including the Pumpkin Lord’s throne.

The pumpkin-filled netting in the Horrors of Halloween remained intact, though it was likely taken down soon after.

On our way out, we noticed the food booths being dismantled and prepared for Hurricane Ian.

They were making quick work of dismantling the booths around the park.

Decals were being taken off the booths and being put in storage.

As we were leaving, we got the news that Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and CityWalk Orlando would be closing throughout the duration of Hurricane Ian for the safety of Team Members and guests. As of the writing of this article, all three sites are expected to reopen on Friday, September 30.

For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.

The post A Look at Universal Studios Florida’s Preparations for Hurricane Ian appeared first on WDW News Today.

September is coming to an end, which means the Holiday season is just around the corner. EPCOT has the most wonderful holiday celebration, from music, storytellers, shows, and, most importantly, food.

This year, a brand new Holiday Kitchen will appear at the festival. I am excited about this new booth Nochebuena Cocina because it will be a plant-based Holiday Kitchen. Let’s look at all the Holiday Kitchens coming this holiday season.

American Holiday Table – American Adventure Pavilion
Enjoy a seasonal salute—dig into traditional dishes reminiscent of grandma’s cooking at the American Adventure Pavilion.

Bavaria Holiday Kitchen – Germany Pavilion
Willkommen—help yourself to heartwarming holiday dishes and refreshing beverages at the Germany Pavilion.

Chestnuts & Good Cheer Holiday Kitchen – Near Test Track Presented by Chevrolet
Join in on the festivities when you visit this new location offering cinnamon-glazed nuts and holiday beverages.

The Donut Box – Near Test Track Presented by Chevrolet
Enjoy a classic dessert dressed up in a little holiday cheer when you try one of our seasonally-themed donuts!

Holiday Hearth Desserts – The Odyssey Pavilion
Discover the hearth you’ll call home, with holly jolly desserts, hot cocoa and so much more.

Holiday Sweets & Treats – Near Port of Entry
Rock around the Christmas tree with tasty desserts and festive sips sure to top the “nice” list.

L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen – Between Morocco and France Pavilions
Propose a toast to life—sink your teeth into classic deli noshes with a side of New York flair.

Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen – Mexico Pavilion
Feliz Navidad—celebrate with mariachi dancing and south-of-the-border fare at the Mexico Pavilion!

Le Marché de Noël Holiday Kitchen – France Pavilion
Feast on très magnifique fare, wine and specialty cocktails from the France Pavilion.

Mele Kalikimaka – Near Port of Entry
Savor the flavor of fabulous, festive food and beverages from the islands of Hawai’i.

Nochebuena Cocina – Near Port of Entry – NEW!
Delight in a delicious plant-based offering while celebrating the happiest season of the year!

Shanghai Holiday Kitchen – China Pavilion
Have yourself a merry little meal—tempt taste buds with popular plates and potables from the China Pavilion!

Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen – Japan Pavilion
Please your palate with an array of festive dishes and drinks served at the Japan Pavilion.

Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina – Morocco Pavilion
Travel to the Morocco Pavilion for delicious kebabs and cocktails.

Tuscany Holiday Kitchen – Italy Pavilion
Mangiare—savor a seasonal take on some of the world’s best-loved food and beverages at the Italy Pavilion!

Yukon Holiday Kitchen – Canada Pavilion
Jingle your bells with delightful dishes and libations from the Great White North—at the Canada Pavilion.

Is anyone else excited about the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays? I know I am! Which booth from this list are you most excited about?

Welcome back to the last Wednesday of the month, where we like to take a moment out of our busy Disney lives to appreciate the history of the place we love. A Brief History of Disney is a series that takes a deep dive into the origin story of park attractions, exploring how they came to be, one at a time. This month, we are taking a better look at one of the newest attractions we have tackled so far, Toy Story Mania, known as Toy Story Midway Mania in Disneyland.

It all began in 2005, at the beginning of Disneyland’s 50th-anniversary celebration, when two Imagineers, Kevin Rafferty and Robert Coltrin, worked together on the new Radiator Springs Racers attraction. The pair had recently ridden the Buzzlight’s Astroblasters attraction in Disneyland and were brainstorming ideas to add an interactive experience to California Adventure in a similar fashion. The approach couldn’t be implemented in the Cars Land ride they were building, but that didn’t stop the two creators from working on their masterpieces.

While they continued developing their concepts, a simple walk through what was then known as Paradise Pier sparked a brilliant thought. One of the midway games in the area inspired Rafferty and Coltrin to base the attraction on simple carnival-style games and incorporate the new ride into this park area; it was later decided to have it directly beneath the resident rollercoaster, California Screamin’.

Development on the project moved very quickly, with Disney execs like Bob Iger and Pixar’s John Lasseter coming on board to greenlight the proposal. Initial drafts of the storyline saw Toy Story characters hosting games that the guests could ride through. Plans for the games were unanimously praised, leaving the two Imagineers little time to work out the specifics of turning their dream into a reality. Ride vehicles that could spin a full 360 degrees, and the interaction with each game that was conducted through the use of screens was a departure from the original inspiration of Buzzlight’s Astroblasters, resulting in a truly unique attraction that would mark a turning point for Disney’s creativity.

The placement of the attraction in its Paradise Pier location required some construction changes to the surrounding area, allowing time for the creative forces at Disney-MGM Studios (Hollywood Studios) to make their move. It was decided that for the first time, Disney would try its hand at building the same attraction in two locations. Sure, we had already seen a repetition in ride instruction and theming, but installing the same attraction in two places simultaneously had never been done before. Luckily, the design fits perfectly within a vacant area of Pixar Studios.

The next step was honing in on the perfect series of games, bringing those ideas to life in a way that was easy for guests to follow in the less than a minute they had to experience each one. Imagineer Sue Bryan took the lead on this portion of the project, heading up a team responsible for the interactive game creation. Challenges arose at every turn, one of which was designing a shooter mechanism that could be easily adjusted for guests of all heights and shapes. A customizable safety barrier system was developed, allowing guests to use the device at a comfortable height and distance from their person based on where the safety bar was locked.

Finding the sweet spot for difficulty took longer than anticipated, with regular testing of each game showing the need for a more intuitive structure. Targets were multiplied, and an element of magnetism was added to them, aiding guests in making successful shots and thereby improving overall satisfaction. Multiple iterations of the games were created until the final version was completed.

In late May of 2008, the first 3D interactive attraction Toy Story Mania! debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 31, 2008, beating the Disneyland team to opening day. Disney California Adventure Park’s edition, located in Paradise Pier, wasn’t far behind, opening its doors on June 17, 2008. The attraction opened to rave reviews, not only for the ride itself but also for the detailed queuing area and the addition of My Potato Head, who was able to greet guests and tell jokes in a way guests had never seen before.

Both versions of this ride have remained relatively the same, except for the entrance to the east coast location that underwent significant redevelopment for the introduction of Toy Story Land, which opened in 2018.

This attraction is right up there with the longest I have ever waited in line. That infamous day when the overhead sign said 45 minutes, and we ended up waiting well over two and a half hours was a doozy.

What are your first memories of this attraction?