All aboard! Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in the revamped ToonTown at Disneyland. The new family-friendly attraction officially opened on January 27, 2023 as part of the Disney100 Celebration at Disneyland. The ride is very similar to the version that opened in 2020 at Walt Disney World, though, the Disneyland version has a completely unique and […]
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You’ll see all sorts of things on social media these days. But blindly following an influencer to do potentially dangerous things can hurt more than just yourself. And that’s exactly what’s happening at “Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!,” where the stupid actions of a some guests have resulted in a safety crackdown by […]
The post Disneyland Cracks Down on Stupid Guest Trick at Guardians of the Galaxy Ride appeared first on MiceChat.
A new Main Street Electrical Parade pullover sweatshirt is available at Walt Disney World as part of the 50th anniversary Vault Collection. It can be found in the Main Street Cinema at Magic Kingdom.
The sweatshirt is solid black, with one float pictured on the front and another on the back.
The images are made up of just dots so it looks like the floats are lit up against the night. The “Alice in Wonderland” mushroom float, with a giant butterfly on top, is on the front.
The float of a turtle with glasses and a tie is on the back.
Main Street Electrical Parade debuted at Disneyland in 1972 and ran until 1996. The Magic Kingdom version first ran from 1977 to 1991. It has returned to both parks at various times, with its most recent run at Disneyland from April to September 2022.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The post New Main Street Electrical Parade Pullover Available at Walt Disney World appeared first on WDW News Today.
CITIZEN has unveiled a new collection of timepieces that will tell the story of the Walt Disney Company while celebrating Disney100. What’s Happening: CITIZEN is proud to unveil a new collection of timepieces that will tell the story of The Walt Disney Company throughout the decades to celebrate Disney100. Through their Alliance and Licensing relationship […]
The post Citizen Launches a Collection of Timepieces Celebrating Disney’s 100th Anniversary appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 takes place in London this April, however we’ve just found out that there will be no event in 2024, with it instead planned to return in 2025. What’s Happening: Hidden rather subtly in an article on StarWars.com about Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023, it was revealed that the event will be taking […]
The post Star Wars Celebration Taking 2024 Off, Will Return in 2025 appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
The 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival will kick off on March 1st and run through July 5th.
The Flower & Garden Festival Is Almost HERE!
Thus far, Disney has shared that there will be NEW Encanto-themed topiaries, the return of the Garden Rocks Concert Series and dining packages, food booths, merchandise, and more. We even saw a NEW food booth pop up in the park. But now we’re sharing ALL the details you need to know about the booths that will be available at the Flower & Garden Festival.
Disney already revealed that there will be more than 15 outdoor food kitchens at the Festival this year and they’re still keeping that full list a secret. But we’ve started to see some food booths pop up in EPCOT for the Festival already, giving us a clue as to which ones you’ll be able to experience this year. So let’s go through the FULL list of food booths we’ve seen in the park so far, indicating their return to the 2023 Flower & Garden Festival.
First up, we have a brand NEW booth — Brunchcot! Based on its name, we expect this could serve up some brunch-inspired eats, but we’ll be on the lookout for a full menu.
Brunchcot!!
Other booths that will be making an appearance at the 2023 Flower & Garden Festival include Jardin de Fiestas by the Mexico pavilion…
Jardin de Fiestas
…Pineapple Promenade (typically home to a DOLE whip during the Festival)…
Pineapple Promenade
Honey Bee-Stro
Trowel & Trellis
…Northern Bloom (by the Canada pavilion)…
Northern Bloom
…Bauernmarkt by Germany…
Another Booth!
…Hanami in the Japan pavilion…
Hanami
La Isla Fresca
…Magnolia Terrace at the American Adventure pavilion…
Magnolia Terrace
…and Primavera Kitchen in the Italy pavilion.
Primavera Kitchen
Disney also previously confirmed that The Citrus Blossom booth would be returning, but would be at a new location at The Odyssey and it will have “fresh new menu items.”
Blocked Off
That brings us to a total of 12 confirmed booths so far, but with over 15 set to join the Festival, it seems we’re still missing a few. Disney has yet to reveal the full booth list and hasn’t shared the Festival menus yet either, but we’ll be on the lookout for updates on ALL of that.
For more tips and tricks to help you plan your 2023 trip to the Flower & Garden Festival, see our links below.
And stay tuned for more Disney news!
Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including a full schedule of events at the Festival and a printable Outdoor Kitchens Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World!
Pre-Order your 2023 edition today! Don’t miss a moment of the fun!
It’s a good thing there are plenty of attractions in each Disney park because this gives guests other options when one happens to close.
Hollywood Studios
We see plenty of unexpected closures, like when a ride suddenly breaks down due to technical issues, but these are often fixed the same day. Attractions see a lot of daily use though, so sometimes they need to close for extended periods of time to allow Disney’s teams to do some maintenance. These fixes take a bit longer and one ride has just CLOSED as part of an extended maintenance closure in Disney World.
Back in December, Disney announced that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster would be closing on February 20th, 2023, for refurbishment.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster sign
However, things didn’t go quite as planned. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster actually remained open on February 20th, and the closure was delayed to February 21st. This gave guests some extra time to get one last ride in.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Poster
Now that February 21st has finally arrived, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster has in fact CLOSED for its extended refurbishment. The website does not show any operating hours for the ride today and instead indicates that the ride is closed and won’t reopen until the summer of 2023. That’s a pretty extensive closure.
©Disney
Signs were up in Hollywood Studios reminding guests of the closure.
Signage is up in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to remind guests that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is temporarily closed for refurbishment
pic.twitter.com/4wgobu3ucx
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) February 21, 2023
Hopefully, this refurbishment can help cut down potential issues in the future with this ride. Again, note that an exact reopening date for the ride has not been shared, but it is expected to open sometime in the summer this year.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
We’ll be sure to keep an eye on this closure and keep you in the know when it reopens. Stay tuned to our site for updates!
If you’re looking for something else to do in Hollywood Studios, another popular ride to try is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. You can also dine at one of their popular restaurants like 50’s Prime Time Cafe or try out the upcoming Roundup Rodeo BBQ when it opens in March!
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!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 
What’s your favorite ride in Hollywood Studios? Comment below!
The post A Popular Coaster Is Now CLOSED for a LONG Refurbishment in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.
Are you going on a Disney cruise soon? You might want to consider leaving the little ones at home! No, we’re not heartless monsters — there are just some ages that are generally better than others when it comes to cruising with Mickey and his pals (although note that every Disney cruise ship has spaces just for babies, kids, tweens, and teens on board).
Set Sail with Disney Pals!
So who would really enjoy a Disney cruise, and when should you decide to wait a couple more years or leave the kiddos with grandma and grandpa? We’ve got all the information you’ll need to make the best decision.
Of course, the best choice for your group will depend on the personalities and preferences of your kiddos. But you should also consider what activities are available to them on board the cruise ships and where kids of certain ages are NOT allowed to go. Based on our experiences from years of cruising with Disney, we’ve compiled the pros and cons of taking kids of all ages on Disney cruise ships.
When you see videos of babies meeting Mickey and Minnie for the first time and being completely delighted with the experience, it’s hard to resist immediately booking a Disney trip for your own littles. And there are some pros to bringing your babies on a Disney cruise! For example, you can meet lots of characters with much shorter waits than you’ll see in the Disney parks.
Captain Mickey
In Magic Kingdom, the Mickey Mouse meet-and-greet often has a wait time of 45 minutes or more, but the line to meet Mickey on a cruise ship is almost always MUCH shorter. And there are usually plenty of other meet-and-greets close by, including Minnie, Disney princesses, and other characters.
Belle aboard the Disney Wish!
You might be nervous about the idea of having your baby with you 24/7 on a cruise ship, but don’t forget that they can go to the “it’s a small world” nursery for a few hours to give you a bit of “me” time.
Nursery on the Disney Wish
Although many excursions and port adventures have a minimum age requirement of at least 3 years old, there are still a few experiences that are open to kids of all ages, such as museum tours and some speedboat trips. And a trip to the beach to enjoy the sand and water is often more than enough to entertain the littles!
Castaway Cay
If you’re dying to take the babies on a Disney vacation to get that coveted picture with Mickey, a cruise might be the easier option compared to a Disney park. Whereas Disney parks often require hours of walking out in the heat, a cruise offers more flexibility and potentially a much more relaxing experience. You can enjoy the activities on board, always knowing your stateroom is just an elevator ride away (and not miles away like in Disney World) just in case you should need to run back for a nap or to collect a forgotten item.
Disney Dream stateroom
It’s easy for little kids to get overstimulated and exhausted in Disney World with so much going on around them, but a cruise can have a much slower pace to accommodate their preferred schedules.
As fun as it is to see your littles meet Mickey, there are a few warnings we have to give before you start to pack their suitcases. First, most port adventures have a minimum age requirement of at least 3 years old. If you were planning to go snorkeling, rent bikes, or swim with the dolphins, your baby won’t be allowed to come along.
Castaway Cay
You also can’t bring the littles into adults-only areas, such as certain fancy restaurants on board or the adults-only swimming pool and deck.
Adult only pool
The “it’s a small world” nursery offers babysitting for these little ones, but you’ll have to pay by the hour and reservations at the nursery do run out quickly. Space in the nursery is very limited, so you’ll want to book your child’s stay as soon as possible. Here’s a schedule of when you can book reservations, which depends on your Castaway Club status:
Disney notes that “reservations can also be made on a first-come, first-served basis during the open house on Embarkation Day or anytime throughout your cruise.” The nursery costs $4.50 per half-hour for the first child and an additional $4 per half-hour for any additional children in your family.
It’s a Small World Nursery
Also, remember that swim diapers are not permitted in any Disney cruise ship pools. There are splash areas on each ship where kids in swim diapers can play instead. Some pools and water attractions have height and age requirements. Here’s a full list of those restrictions:
Toy Story Splash Zone
In addition, having a little one with a strict nap schedule might make it harder for the adults and older kids to do all the activities they want to do on board. And don’t forget that most of the rooms on board Disney’s cruise ships (and all cruise ships, for that matter) are smaller than your average hotel room, which means tight spaces with little ones.
Lots of the same pros of bringing a baby on board a Disney cruise ship also apply to 3- to 10-year-olds. You can meet characters with shorter wait times, the trip will likely be more relaxing than a Disney parks vacation, and it’s not hard to entertain them with just a visit to the beach.
Goofy
In addition, some of these kids might be old enough and tall enough to ride on the water slides, and, as long as they’re potty-trained, they can swim in the pools on board.
Pool and a movie!
There are a lot of activities for the kids to participate in at the Oceaneer Club. There’s an Oceaneer Club on every ship, and each has different themed lands, such as a Star Wars area, a Marvel superhero area, a pirates area, and a princess area. (The themes may be different on the different Disney cruise ships.)
Oceaneer Club
The Oceaneer Club is free, and parents are allowed to drop off the kids and go do their own thing while the little ones hang out there.
Star Wars Cargo Bay in the Oceaneer Club
In addition, kids this age may be old enough to skip nap time, which means they’ll have more time to enjoy the ship and their schedules won’t interrupt the rest of the family’s plans.
Just like the babies, the little ones aren’t allowed in adult-only areas on board the ship. If you wanted to enjoy those spots, you’d need to do so while your child was being taken care of by another member of your group or while they were playing at the Oceaneer Club.
Adult-only beach
Also, there are some port adventures that kids this age are not able to go on, such as some Segway tours and certain animal encounters (like swimming with the stingrays, which is only for ages 10 and up).
Kids ages 11 to 14 years old are able to enjoy the ship’s character meet-and-greets, pools, and (as long as they meet the height requirements) water slides and attractions.
The AquaMouse
They can also visit Edge, which is a tween hangout space on board each Disney cruise ship. This space has a dance floor, a lounge area, and “the latest high-tech music, video, and gaming systems.” There’s also karaoke, scavenger hunts, themed nights, and other events. Kids this age would likely think it was cool to be able to have some independence on vacation (parents don’t need to check them in or out of the club) and hang out with other kids their own age without their parents around.
Edge
At this age, they’re able to participate in most port adventures and excursions. Plus, kids ages 13 and up can enjoy the Chill Spa, which is a spa just for teens on the Disney Dream, Fantasy, and Magic.
Edge
At 11 to 14 years old, some kids are still into the “Disney Magic,” and others may be less interested in Mickey, superheroes, and princesses. A cruise offers options for both Disney-related activities and normal vacation activities, so the kiddos might be more interested in it than in a Disney Parks visit.
At ages 11 to 14 years old, the kids can’t go into adult-only areas, and they also can’t visit the Oceaneer Club. However, they do have the Edge Club, which provides lots of fun activities.
Disney Cruise Edge
We know how much tweens and teens value their phones, so the limited phone service on board may cause a problem if your kiddos need their social media fix. In a pinch, you can always pay for the onboard internet service, but that can add quite a bit to the bill for your vacation.
We think that kids ages 14 to 17 would really enjoy a Disney cruise. The main reason is that they can head over to Vibe — the club for teens ages 14 to 17 with music, movies, video games and more — to hang out with other kids their age and get away from the parents. They can enjoy their independence and the parents can rest easy knowing that a Disney cruise ship is a relatively safe environment for the kids to be on their own.
Vibe
When you might not let the kids go out on their own in an unfamiliar city or even in the Disney theme parks, it seems much safer for them to be away with friends on a Disney cruise ship.
How cool is this deck?
In addition, kids ages 14 to 17 years old can do almost every excursion at the ports. They can also go to the Chill Spa on the Disney Dream, Fantasy, and Magic for a relaxing spa day.
The cons for taking kids ages 14 to 17 years old on a Disney cruise ship are similar to those for kids ages 11 to 14. They’re still not able to go into the adult-only pool areas or restaurants, although they have their own spaces to enjoy and the parents can enjoy the adult-only spots while the kids chill at Vibe.
Adult-only area
Also, any teens who can’t live without their phone might have trouble with the limited service onboard a Disney cruise ship. Onboard internet service is available at an extra cost, so you may need to factor that into the budget.
In addition, some teens might think they’re way too cool for Disney, so they might not be super excited about the “magical” elements on board. That really depends on the individual kid, though!
So what about bringing your adult kids on a Disney cruise? Finally those kids are old enough to enjoy the adult-only areas on board with you, such as the Palo and Remy restaurants and the adult spa.
Palo Steakhouse
Although a Disney cruise might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it can certainly make those older kids feel like a little kid again. And being able to get your photo with Mickey and indulge in free ice cream cones all day but still relax at the adult-only pool and book a massage at the Senses Spa sounds like the best of both worlds
Your adult kids might want their own space more so than the younger ones, which is tough in those small staterooms. And if they’re not big fans of Disney, it’s possible that they’ll think they’re too old for a Disney cruise (hopefully they’ll learn better soon).
There’s something for everyone on a Disney cruise, but it might not be a super chill trip if you bring young kids on board with you. There are some places where they can go to give you “me” time, but cruising with older kids only might be the way to go if you want a truly relaxing experience. However, a Disney cruise might be easier for the littles than a visit to the Disney theme parks, as it’s less exhausting for them but still has Disney magic!
The Disney Wish
The sweet spot for taking kids on a Disney cruise might be ages 14 to 17. They get all the independence of going out on their own with friends while still being in a safe environment. They can enjoy almost all of the port excursions and activities on board, excluding the adult-only areas.
Disney Magic
However, the best option will ultimately depend on your group and your specific kids, so talk with them to see how they’d feel about sailing with Mickey. You can explain what they will and won’t be able to do and let them be part of the decisioin (provided they’re old enough, of course. Probably the 6-month-olds won’t contribute much to the planning process).
Want to learn more about Disney cruises? Check out these posts!
Keep following DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney Cruise Line news.
Follow Along As We Explore Disney’s NEW Mega Cruise Ship – The Wish
We Ate EVERYTHING on Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship — The Disney Wish
Learn About Disney Cruise Line’s COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Policies
10 Things You NEED on Your Next Cruise (That You Won’t Think to Pack!)
A Look at the COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Policies For EVERY Major Cruise Line
What age do you think is best for a Disney cruise? Let us know in the comments!
The post What Is the Best Age for a Disney Cruise? first appeared on the disney food blog.
Something WEIRD happened in EPCOT today.
Spaceship Earth
Strange and unexpected things can happen sometimes in the Disney parks — whether that’s sudden weather changes, surprising ride closures, or major delays. But today’s event relates to something truly near and dear to our hearts — FOOD.
When we stopped by around 11:46AM ET, a Cast Member at Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue (in the American Adventure pavilion) told us they were not open yet. The Regal Eagle operating hours were supposed to be 11:45AM-9PM on the day we visited (Tuesday, February 21st).
Uh Oh!
The Cast Member indicated that they could open soon (in just about 5 minutes) or it could be a few hours. They were, at that point, waiting for the “signal” to open.
Pretty Empty
Another Cast Member informed us that their grills went down and they were working to get them back up but they did not have an estimated opening time yet.
If you were hoping to grab lunch at Regal Eagle Smokehouse, you’ve got a problem! The grills are currently down, and cast members don’t have an estimated time for them to be running again! pic.twitter.com/XT5BdB2ma7
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) February 21, 2023
©Disney
While this is a strange occurrence, it still serves as a good reminder that ANYTHING can happen in Disney World. If you have a very strict plan where everything is timed down to the second, a disruption like this could seriously mess up your day.
New Loaded Fries
So what can you do to plan for the unexpected? First, make a schedule that is flexible enough to accommodate sudden changes like this. Add in lots of wiggle room so you can make changes on the fly but still get your must-dos done.
Second, have backup options in place. Lunch at Regal Eagle isn’t going to work out? Okay, what’s our next go-to? Fish & chips in the UK pavilion? A few snacks scattered throughout the pavilions? Having a backup plan in place can help that adjustment not feel so harsh.
What’s Your Backup Plan?
It’s not always easy to adjust to these sudden changes, particularly if you have your hopes set on trying a certain thing, but adding flexibility to your plan can help you make the most of your day. Our final tip is to keep checking for updates. Sometimes an incident like this will be resolved quickly, or it could take hours. Check on the My Disney Experience app for any updates and speak with Cast Members near the restaurant to see what they might know.
Regal Eagle eats
We’ll continue to look for updates like this and let you know what we find!
Have you had something like this happen to you in EPCOT? Tell us in the comments.
The post Something STRANGE Happened in EPCOT Today first appeared on the disney food blog.
D23 is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Disney-Pixar’s Finding Nemo with D23 Beyond the Sea, a two-night event this April. D23 members will get the chance to venture “beyond the sea” with D23 during their undersea celebration of Finding Nemo’s 20th anniversary. Guests will join D23: The Official Disney Fan Club at the Aquarium of the Pacific in […]
The post D23 Celebrating 20th Anniversary of “Finding Nemo” with D23 Beyond the Sea appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
