Could you use a little pick-me-up in the middle of a long week? I could too, so as I was scrolling through some of the Disney images I have amassed over the last twelve months, I came across these from last year and simply had to share them. Last Halloween, the animals of Disney were enjoying their own celebrations with Halloween pumpkins hand-delivered to many. Take a look at some of these adorable little critters, and tell me your day didn’t just get better!

‘Twas the night before Halloween and from the Lodge to the Park, pumpkin enrichment continued from dawn until dark.

Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment

If these don’t make your day, nothing will!

The post Disney Animals Eating Halloween Pumpkins Will Make Your Day first appeared on DIS.

When you’re staying at a Disney World resort, you’re sometimes in a rush to grab breakfast before you hit the parks!

Many hotels offer quick service restaurants with Mobile Order, but sometimes that can cost you valuable minutes when you’re hurrying to make the bus. So what’s the solution? Well, the grab-and-go spots, of course! And recently, we stopped by one of those places to give you a look at what it’s like.

For this review, we’re taking you along with us to Cafe Rix at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort!

The quick service spot is located in the older part of the resort, right off of where the lobby used to be before Gran Destino Tower was built.

It’s designed as a walk-through where you enter through one doorway, pick out your food and drinks, then checkout before exiting. Typically, it’s open from 7AM-12:30PM so you’ll mostly get breakfast and lunch.

So what can you order? Let’s check out the menu!

Menu & Food Options

When you first step into the restaurant, you’re greeted by a case filled with baked goods. They have assorted doughnuts and bagels during breakfast hours, which are a great option for a grab-and-go meal.

We also spotted a few different pastries, including a few different danishes and Cronuts.

And of course, it wouldn’t be breakfast without muffins and cinnamon rolls!

Next to the baked goods is a refrigerated case with fruit cups and yogurt parfaits, as well as some lunch items. We spotted a few different varieties of pre-made sandwiches and salads.

The online menu lists a Smoked Turkey and Bacon Sandwich, a Smoked Ham and Swiss Sandwich, a Tuna Salad Wrap, a Chicken Caesar Salad, a Blue Cheese Wedge Salad, a House Salad, and a Chef Salad. Each ranges between $10-$12, which is about the cost of a cheap quick service meal elsewhere in Disney World.

The next section of the restaurant has a coffee bar that serves Joffrey’s coffee and teas. There used to be gelato here as well, but the case was empty when we stopped by and we were told that they no longer serve the frozen treat. Bummer!

You can get regular or decaf coffee, as well as a variety of artisanal drinks. One of the highlights of the menu is the smoothies, which come in Tropical Mango Splash, Strawberry Banana Dream, and Wildberry Explosion.

But that’s not all! Since this is a grab-and-go location, you can also get a bunch of pre-packaged brand-name snacks from the shelves on the back wall.

There are bags of chips, granola bars, cookies, candy, chocolate, and little cups of dry cereal. They’ve got a lot of the options that you would find in a hotel gift shop or vending machine outside of Disney World.

They have quite a few options here, but keep in mind that these will likely be more expensive than what you could get if you had groceries delivered to your hotel. It’s nice to have them if you’re in a pinch though!

Also on the back wall are the self-serve drink machines, as well as the dispensers for regular and decaf coffee.  You can get your resort mug refilled here, so keep that in mind if you purchase one for your visit.

And of course, there’s a table set up with utensils, napkins, and various sweeteners for your drinks near the checkout.

Now that we’ve taken a tour of the options, let’s review some eats!

Eats

Since the coffee options are simply the typical things you get at Joffrey’s and the pre-packaged snacks are your regular brand-name treats, we’ll be skipping out on those for this review. Instead, we ordered a smoothie, a cinnamon roll, and the most popular item in the bakery case according to a Cast Member, which turned out to be the Pink Donut.

First, let’s talk about that smoothie! We ordered the Tropical Mango Splash for $7.39. When it was first handed to us, it was thick and VERY very cold. It’s blended fresh right in front of you, which was a nice little bonus.

It’s pretty smooth, and they have recycled agave straws here, which made it much easier to drink the smoothie than it would’ve been with a paper straw.

It’s pretty thick at first, but melts into a consistency that was easier to drink. The mango flavor tasted pretty real, but it kinda gets loaded down with a lot of sugar. We didn’t mind the sweetness too much, but you might want to drink this one slowly to avoid a sugar overload.

After the smoothie, we tried the Pink Donut for $5.50. It’s a pretty simple yeast donut with pink icing and sprinkles. It didn’t look like it was going to taste very good because it was kind of stiff, but once we bit in, it was SO fluffy.

It pulled apart really easily and it was very soft on the inside. The pink icing on top is sweet and add a fun little bit of depth in the flavor. Honestly, it tasted very similar to the donuts that you get from Joffrey’s in Disney World, although it seemed to be a bit smaller. Since Cafe Rix sells Joffrey’s coffee it’s likely that it could be from the same donut supplier — Donut King.

The Cinnamon Roll was also $5.50, but unfortunately, it wasn’t anywhere near as delicious as the donut. We could tell that it was dry from looking at it, but it was confirmed when we had a tough time pulling it apart. It was quite stiff.

It was softer in the very middle but still pretty dry throughout. The roll had a decent distribution of cinnamon but not enough icing in our opinion. The icing that it did have was hard and fell off the roll in little chunks.

If we had to make a recommendation, we would say to skip this and get the donut instead.

So what are our overall thoughts on Cafe Rix?

Overall

When it comes down to it, this is a great place to stop and grab some quick breakfast on your way to the parks or before your catch your departure flight. We spotted many people inside the restaurant doing exactly that during our visit. It’s a great way to avoid the long lines for pastries and coffee once you get to the parks.

It’s a convenient spot, but we really wish that it was open in the late evening hours as well. It would be nice to come here after the parks close and grab a late night snack. On top of that, the breakfast options seem to be sufficient, but there aren’t as many choices here for a substantial lunch unless you want to buy an overpriced pre-packaged sandwich.

Nosh or Not

Make a pit stop at Cafe Rix if…

• You need something quick to eat on your way out the door. The time it took to get our order together was relatively short, even with a line of people waiting.
• You have a group with varying breakfast tastes. They have a good variety of options here, from pastries to cereal to parfaits. Most people in your group could find something they like!
• You need some snacks for your park bag. With the variety of chips, cookies, snack bars, and candy, you’re sure to find something to fill your bag for the long park day ahead!

Grab your food elsewhere if…

• You’re looking for a delicious lunch. The sandwich and salad options here are pretty basic and a little overpriced. You could find more unique eats elsewhere.
• You want some really amazing baked goods. The donut was pretty good, but it’s essentially the same as what you get at any Joffrey’s location. We’ve definitely had better cinnamon rolls elsewhere on property!
• You need to eat in the afternoon or evening. Since this spot is only open in the morning, you’d be out of luck!

We’ll continue to share our dining location thoughts with you, so stay tuned to DFB! We’ve been to every restaurant in Disney World and we have so many tips and tricks to help make your food experience in the parks amazing!

With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off!

This Disney World Hotel Has Shockingly Good Food — Click Here!

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

Have you ever been to Cafe Rix? What did you order? Tell us in the comments!

The post Try This Disney World Hotel Spot When You Need to Grab Breakfast and Go first appeared on the disney food blog.

There’s a LOT that goes into planning a Disney World vacation.

We do our best to prepare you for your trips with all the latest news and updates from the parks, but that’s a TON of posts! Our readers have recently reached out about the thing that blindsided them in Disney World, so we’ve compiled a list to save you from surprises!

Gratuity At Table Service Meals

Now, we’re not talking about the choice of adding gratuity (which we always think you should do and support those cast members!), but if you have a party of 6 or more, many table service restaurants in Disney World will automatically add on 18% gratuity to your meal.

Our DFB reader that recently shared this with us was not aware of this when she dined at Boma, so the bill was a bit of a surprise! Keep this in mind when you’re dining with a big party in the parks. If you’re traveling with a group of 6+, always check the restaurant’s page on the Walt Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app before booking your dining reservation to see if an automatic gratuity will be added to your bill!

Staying in Magic Kingdom After Closing

Don’t misunderstand, we’re not saying you can stay for a WHILE.

You can mobile order a snack from the Main Street Confectionery BEFORE the park closes and sit on a bench on Main Street while you wait for some of those exiting crowds to die down! It’s a good way to avoid the mad rush for the monorails and buses, and take a quick breather at the end of your day.

Outdoor Rides CLOSE in Bad Weather

Yep. If it’s raining or storming on your Disney day, outdoor rides will likely close.

Rides may continue to run in light rain, but once it really starts, outdoor rides will close until it’s deemed safe again. This means that you really need to take a look at the weather before and during your park day and make a plan of what you’d like to ride before potential rain hits.

After Hours Events WILL Close Parks Early

In early 2023, Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom both have after-hours events on select nights.

This means that if you haven’t bought a special after-hours ticket, the parks will close EARLY. It’s so important to check the park hours before you book your park pass reservations so you can work around any special events. You want as much time in each park as you can get!

Virtual Queues For Rides

There are a few rides in Disney World that do NOT have a standby line.

Currently, these rides are:

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT
• TRON Lightcycle / Run in Magic Kingdom (when it opens to the public on April 4th)

This means that the ONLY way you can ride these rides is by getting a spot in the Virtual Queue, or by purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane selection. We’ve got guides to both of those on our website, so you can do all your research ahead of time!

• Our Guide to Virtual Queues
• Our Guide to Individual Lightning Lanes

Whew! We know that planning a Disney World trip is A LOT. And this Genie+ thing can be so confusing – which is why we bring you posts like this so often. But we’ve also put together a complete guide in ebook format that gives you all of the info you need, all in one place! Use code WDW2023 for 25% off our DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World.

Not All Rides In The Parks Open Early

If you’re staying at a Disney-owned resort or Good Neighbor Hotel, you have access to Early Theme Park Entry.

However, it’s important to note that not all sections of the parks are open for this extra time. In Magic Kingdom, you can only head to Tomorrowland and Fantasyland to ride rides before the park officially opens. When in doubt, just ask a cast member!

And now that you’ve read the post, these things won’t catch you off guard anymore. As always, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news!

Check out our ULTIMATE guide to planning your Disney World vacation here!

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 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!

With more than 900 pages, the 2023 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!

You’ll get a Reference Guide, a 101 Plan, and a Printables and Resources Guide! 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 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 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2023 to save 25% off the cover price today!

Use code WDW2023 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.

Did you know about any of these? Tell us in the comments!

The post The One Thing That Could BLINDSIDE You in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.

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We recently spotted two new sets of ears you’re going to want to add to your collection!

Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder Celebration is now in full swing at Disneyland Resort, and along with the festiviteis, we’re getting more merchandise drops!

First up we spotted these new Steamboat Willie ears in the Emporium on Main Street USA.

Different scenes from the short are printed on each of the ears, which nods to the Disney 100 Years of Wonder celebration of Walt Disney Animation. They ears are outlined in white stitching and set against a solid black headband. There are even a few decorative grey music notes to really make the design pop!

The back also carries over the design patterns with different scenes from the front. We’ve seen these online at shopDisney already but this was the first we have seen them make their park debut. These ears are priced at $39.99 (both in the parks and online).

Click here to buy the Steamboat Willie ears from shopDisney.

We are stunned at these beautiful new purple sequin ears! The bright color and flashy sequins make these ears very different from the classic Steamboat Willie design — which one is more your style?

These lavender sequin ears were also spotted in the Emporium gift shop and are a great alternative to showing off for the 100th celebration. These gorgeous ears and center bow are completely covered in purple sequins. The ears have a herringbone design to the sequin stitching, and the bow also adds a bit of flare as the light hits those sequins and gives off an iridescent look.

These ears are currently not yet available on shopDisney online and are priced at $34.99 in the park.

As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest in Disneyland merch updates!

Check Out the CHANGE Revealed for Disneyland’s Newest Ride

Will you be picking up these ears in Disneyland? Tell us which pair you’re after in the comments!

The post Classy or Flashy: Weigh In on This Disney Ears Battle! first appeared on the disney food blog.

Last year Disney World opened its most unique hotel to date — the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.

This new resort is like living inside of a Star Wars movie, but if that movie were acted out on a cruise ship. The two-night experience includes your meals, your lodging, and 45 hours worth of interactive story elements that you can explore, but the big thing deterring guests from booking is the price. It’s a pretty hefty cost, but now there’s a new way for select guests to save!

Disney has just announced a Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser discount for Cast Members and eligible retirees. With this new rate, Cast Members can save on voyages that “depart” on March 22nd, March 24th, April 19th, April 23rd, April 25th, April 27th, May 7th, May 11th, June 10th, and June 22nd.

The sample rates for those dates are as follows:

• For 2 adults $2490 total
• For 2 adults and 1 child $2670 total
• For 3 adults and 1 child $2960 total

These rates are significantly lower than the sample rates listed on the Disney World website for regular guests. The ones currently online apply to departure dates most weeknights in the fall and show prices from $4809 total to $5999 total.

To take advantage of this offer, the eligible Disney employee or retiree must book and stay in the cabin during the voyage. You will be required to show your company-issued ID at check-in, and Disney recommends that you carry it with you while onboard. The offer is valid for the employee and up to the number of guests that are indicated on the back of their Main Entrance Pass.

The number of voyages available for this offer is limited, and Cast Members are not allowed to discuss the details of their discount or the price that they paid with any other guests during their Starcruiser voyage. The offer excludes the Galaxy Class Suite and Grand Captain’s Suite, and is only applicable to new bookings.

For more information on this discount, make sure to check the hub for Cast Members. There, you’ll also find information on how to book. We’ll make sure to let you know if any more discounts for this experience are announced, so stay tuned to DFB!

Click Here to See Our FULL Guide to the Galactic Starcruiser!

Would you stay at the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser if you could get the discounted price? Tell us in the comments!

The post HUGE ‘Star Wars’ Hotel DISCOUNT Announced for Disney Cast Members first appeared on the disney food blog.

The vote on the zoning permit for the new family-oriented Universal theme park planned for Frisco, Texas, has been delayed for a second time.

The Frisco city council and the planning and zoning committee were originally scheduled to vote on the permit on February 7. The vote was postponed to February 21. It has now been postponed a second time to March 7, Kera News reports.

Some Frisco residents are concerned about the new theme park and the effects it will have on crime and traffic. Resident Melinda Preston said, “I do not want my city to become a destination city. Can you name one city that is a destination city that does not have high crime?”

Several residents who have been speaking out against the new park live in the Cobb Hill neighborhood, near the park’s proposed location. Steve Cone, a member of the planning and zoning committee and Cobb Hill resident, said it’s important to educate Frisco’s citizens about the theme park as well as listen to their concerns.

“Universal is asking us to do something really big,” he said, “to be the research and development city for where they’re going to try this big, bold project.”

More information about the park will be made available during a public presentation at the following city council meeting, Mayor Jeff Cheney said.

A traffic analysis regarding the new park was released and updated this month.

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 Zoning Permit Vote Postponed Twice for Frisco, Texas Universal Theme Park appeared first on WDW News Today.