Orlando International Airport (MCO) has already broken passenger traffic records during the 2023 spring break season and expects to break more this weekend, FOX 35 Orlando reports.
There were more than 95,000 departures on Saturday, March 11, breaking the previous 90,000 record set in March 2019. Saturday, March 18, reached 94,000 departures, while Sunday, March 19, had slightly less than that.
Today, Saturday, March 25, could be the busiest travel day this quarter. Officials expect about 173,000 people to pass through Orlando International Airport this weekend.
During the entire spring break travel period from March 8 to April 18, officials expect a total of 7.3 million passengers. That’s about a million more than the same period last year.
Have you seen Disney’s new Dooney and Bourke handbag line created especially for Flower & Garden? It features a true classic. Dooney & Bourke Disney Collabs It is no secret that Disney Dooney and Bourke handbags have their own fan following. These beautiful handbags combined with Disney magic are the perfect recipe for magical glamour. In […]
If you didn’t get a chance to watch the “Disney100: The Exhibition – Making the Magic” that aired March 23 on ABC-owned television stations and other outlets, we have it here for you to enjoy. About the Special The special was produced by 6abc/WPVI-TV Philadelphia, and featured its Alicia Vitarelli and TaRhonda Thomas taking viewers… Read More »‘Disney100: The Exhibition – Making the Magic’ Special Now Available to Watch Online
Disney’s Beach Club Villas are receiving refurbishments that will run through most of this year. Initial projections suggested the work would be done by early April 2023, but the timeline has been extended to “late fall.”
Disney’s Beach Club Resort Refurbishments
According to a detail notice posted to the official site for Disney’s Beach Club, the updates taking place at the villas that began January 7, 2023 will run through most of this year. It was initially believed the changes would be completed by early April.
The official statement reads: “From January 7, 2023 through late this fall, Disney’s Beach Club Villas will undergo refurbishment. During this time, Resort amenities will remain available for your enjoyment. While you may see or hear construction during daytime hours, you should not hear noise from guest rooms between dusk and 9:00 a.m.”
The current refurbishments focus on interior details, including flooring, wall coverings, décor, and installing sofa beds to increase room space for guests. With the official announcement stating the changes will last into “late fall,” this could place construction and updates going as late as November or December of this year.
There are over 200 villas in Disney’s Beach Club inventory that need to be updated before refurbishments are complete. According to DVCNews.com, work has temporarily paused for spring break crowds, and only the fourth and fifth floors have been completed.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort is in the EPCOT Resort Area, next to sister resort Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. It is also across Crescent Lake from Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. Modeled after nineteenth-century Newport, Rhode Island, the resort opened to guests on November 19, 1990. The last time it received renovations was in 2016.
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Also Refurbishing
In addition to the work at Disney’s Beach Club, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is also currently receiving refurbishments. These improvements are happening in the lobby, but include guest rooms as well. Refurbishing both properties simultaneously could possibly place a strain on available Disney Vacation Club rooms available to guests later this fall.
The official site describes Disney’s Boardwalk Inn as being “strung like saltwater taffy along the shimmering Crescent Lake.” It’s modeled after turn-of-the-century Atlantic City. The resort property features a pool, a fitness center, carnival games, and “unique dining and exciting nightlife on the Coney Island-style boardwalk.”
While the official site for Disney’s BoardWalk Inn continues to advise guests of ongoing refurbishments, there is no end date stated at this time.
Why not check out some of our other articles about Disney Vacation Club properties?
Are you excited about seeing the refurbished spaces? Do you typically stay at a Disney Vacation Club property? We’d love to hear your opinions in the comments below!
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Lettering has been added to the Villain-Con Minion Blast entrance at Universal Studios Florida, plus a gift shop sign was installed further down the building.
The giant letters “AIN-” have been installed between “Illumination’s” and “Minion Blast” over the red “V” at the entrance.
We should be seeing “VILL” and “CON” in the next few days.
Villain-Con Minion Blast is expected to open this summer.
Down the building is a new “Evil Stuff …this way!” sign.
The sign is orange with a purple arrow pointing to the gift shop, which is not yet open.
Evil Stuff is right across from the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem gift shop, Super Silly Stuff.
With the pre-existing attraction, Villain-Con Minion Blast, and Minion Cafe, this entire section of Universal Studios Florida will become the Minion-inspired land Illumination Avenue. The new theming may even extend to the Betty Boop store near the park’s entrance.
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.
Capt. Cook’s is a quick-service restaurant in the Polynesian Resort that is known for its unique island-inspired breakfast, lunch, and dinner — but they also serve some classic American eats as well as delicious pastries in their bakery case. We stopped by for lunch, so follow along to see what we got!
Atmosphere
You’ll find Capt. Cook’s on the first floor of the Polynesian’s Grand Ceremonial House, and it fits right in! The whole resort has great island-inspired vibes, and this restaurant is no exception.
Capt. Cook’s
The restaurant has two indoor seating areas, both of which are inviting with golden lights and warm tones. To the left, you’ll find a larger area with fun Polynesian posters on the wall…
Seating area
…and to the right, there is a smaller seating area next to the beverage station and full of natural light.
Seating area
There is plenty of seating outside, as well.
Outdoor seating
After you enter the restaurant, you’ll be able to head to the counter to place your order with a cast member.
Order here
But don’t forget, you can also Mobile Order here so you don’t have to stand in line!
Mobile Order
If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat or something sweet, they have a variety of grab-and-go snacks, drinks, pastries, and ice cream in the cooler to the left.
Grab-and-go
Once you’ve placed your order, you’ll find a self-serve section to grab what you need for your meal, like utensils…
Utensils
…condiments…
condiments
…a soda station…
Soda
…a coffee and tea station…
Coffee and Tea
…and more sauces.
Sauces
Now that we have everything we need, let’s take a look at the menu!
Menu
Capt. Cook’s has a pretty large selection on their menu, starting with the 50th Celebration Resorts Refillable Mug, Polynesian Favorites like the Thai Coconut Meatballs, and American Entrees.
For kid’s meals, there are some classics like Chicken Breast Nuggets or Macaroni & Cheese, as well as some Disney Check Meals like the Chicken and Pineapple Skewers for a healthier option.
With so many options on the menu, you should be able to find something for everyone in your family to enjoy!
Eats
After we finished ordering, the Cast Member gave us a tracker. Once it started buzzing, we headed to pick up our food…
Table Tracker
…at the pickup station next to the registers.
Pick-up window
Since we ordered “for here,” it was served on a tray, but keep in mind that to-go orders will be served bagged up.
Our order
For our entrees, we tried three things: the Pan-Asian Noodles and Vegetables, the Aloha Pork Sandwich, and the Pulled Pork Nachos.
Full spread!
First up is the Pan-Asian Noodles and Vegetables for $9.99.
Pan-Asian Noodles and Vegetables
This is a refreshing salad with Rice Noodles, Mandarin Oranges, Mixed Vegetables, and Candied Cashews served with Honey-Miso Dressing. We thought that this was a really fresh salad with lots of crunchy, colorful vegetables and some bold flavors.
Such vibrant veggies!
While we enjoyed this salad as a whole — the noodles did have a pretty unusual texture — almost chalky. Keep that in mind if you are sensitive to different textures.
Candied Cashews!
The Mandarin Oranges, Honey-Miso Dressing, and Candied Cashews also made this pretty sweet for a salad, which we enjoyed — but it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Overall, we thought this was a nice option for those looking for a vegetarian-friendly meal, but it is pretty unique, so it might not be for everyone.
Next up was the Aloha Pork Sandwich for $11.29. This is Pulled Pork with Cheddar, Asian Slaw, Cucumbers, and Tomatoes on a Brioche Bun served with French Fries.
Aloha Pork Sandwich
This is a pretty solid option that those who love pineapple on savory dishes should enjoy! The pulled pork was tender, sweet, and plentiful, and it paired well with the pineapple pieces in the slaw. There was a perfect amount of cheddar on the bottom that didn’t overpower the rest of the sandwich.
Aloha Pork Sandwich
The Asian slaw, cucumbers, and tomatoes were all very fresh and also added a nice crunch to the sandwich. Unfortunately, the fries on this meal were just okay. They were pretty plain and could have been a little crispier in our opinion.
Mediocre fries
Overall, this was still a good solid option for those looking for a fun island take on a pulled pork sandwich, and we would get it again.
For our last entree, we got the Pulled Pork Nachos for $10.29. These are topped with Cheese, Spicy Mayonnaise, Pico de Gallo, and Pineapple Salsa.
Instead of tortilla chips, these are more like homemade potato chips — and they are perfectly fried and crispy! The cheese melted into the chips perfectly and there was plenty of pork that was tender, tangy, and sweet.
so crispy!
The spicy mayo added a nice kick without being too spicy, and it paired well with the sweetness of the pineapples. There were also a good amount of fresh veggies in the mix — red onions, green peppers, and tomatoes. Overall, this was SO GOOD and we are already dreaming about the next time we get to have them.
Lastly, we tried a new-ish dessert on the menu — the Pineapple Cupcake for $6.49. This was added to the bakery lineup recently to replace the 50th Celebration Cupcake(quite a few 50th anniversary items have gone missing from Disney World lately!). But we wanted to give this new cupcake a shot. This is a Vanilla Cupcake with a DOLE Whip® Pineapple Cheesecake center, Pineapple Buttercream, and White Chocolate Décor.
Dole Whip + cupcake = this beauty! Find the Pineapple Cupcake (white cake and pineapple buttercream) at Captain Cooks! pic.twitter.com/CbpOtC39G9
This cupcake was FULL of pineapple flavors, so pineapple lovers will really enjoy this one! The vanilla cupcake was simple but moist and delicious, and the pineapple cheesecake filling was SO GOOD.
Pineapple Cupcake
It had the perfect sweetness from the pineapple and a nice cheesecake-style-tanginess that balanced it out perfectly. There was a good amount of it in the center of the cupcake, which we appreciated.
Pineapple Cupcake — look at that filling!
The buttercream icing also had a lot of pineapple flavor to it, and while it could have been a tad creamier, we still loved it. The pearl sprinkles on top also added a nice crunchy texture, and the white chocolate leaves are very thin and melt in your mouth.
Overall this cupcake was a pretty solid choice from the bakery case, and we would get it again!
Overall
The staff was friendly, the food was tasty, and the island ambiance was on point. Overall, we really enjoyed eating here and will definitely come again (did you hear how much we loved those nachos?).
Capt. Cook’s
In general, the food wasn’t mind-blowing, but it was still great — and we thought the convenience of this quick-service spot made it well worth the visit.
Nosh or Not?
You should head to Capt. Cook’s if…
You’re looking for a restaurant that has something for everyone in your group. This place has a TON of options ranging from classic American food and grab-and-go snacks to fun island-inspired eats.
You want a nice meal outside of the parks. This is only a short monorail away from Magic Kingdom, so it won’t take away too much time out of your park day and it’s worth the stop!
You’re looking for some aloha-inspired eats quickly and for a reasonable price.
Skip Capt. Cooks if…
You’re hoping for a little quiet during your meal. This location is very close to the Polynesian pool, so there are quite a bit of families enjoying their day, which makes this place a tad noisy at times.
You’re looking for a fine-dining experience. This is pretty solid for quick-service food, but it’s not the most elevated food or experience you’ll find at the parks.
You’re looking for something inside the parks. While this isn’t a long way from Magic Kingdom, it does require you to leave the parks, so it might not fit into a busy schedule.
That’s all for Capt. Cook’s today! We’ll continue to review all the Disney food, so stay tuned to DFB for more.
Hey, friends! We’re back with another DFB Video covering all the latest Disney news!
It’s open!
You can ride TRON RIGHT NOW, visit Disney’s newest reopened water park, and meet a character for the very first time in Disneyland. We’ve got a lot of Disney news to cover including NEW restaurants, so let’s get started.
Check out all the big Disney news of the week in our latest DFB Guide Video!
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So check out the video and then let us know: Which Disney news of the week are you the most excited about?
These ears are SO perfect for Moana, too. Look at all these beautiful tropical flowers on it. If you’re feeling like spreading some island joy, these are the ears for you! Wouldn’t these be fun to wear around Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (which also has a very Moana vibe these days)?
Love all those flowers
Here’s a closer look at the ears — they have a Moana-inspired pattern on them, and each ear is outlined with orange trim. There are orange, purple, and red flowers, along with some pretty greenery that really makes those flowers pop.
Closer look at the flowers
You’ll even find a flower on the back of the ears. These are making us want to take a vacation in Hawaii! The back of the ears also has that same Moana ocean-inspired pattern.
Back
A purple flower with more greenery is on the back of the headband, while the padded headband is cream in color on the outside and orange in color on the inside.
Closer look at back
If you’d like to nab these ears for yourself, we found them at Emporium in Magic Kingdom for $34.99. However, there were only a few pairs left when we visited so you’ll have to hurry! If you’re a big Moana fan, get to Magic Kingdom ASAP.
We’ll also keep an eye out for these if and when they go online and let you know, so stay tuned to DFB for more!
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 to rep your happy place at the grocery store! Click here to visit the DFB Merch Store!
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.
The newest Disney Munchlings plush available at Disneyland Resort is inspired by Daisy Duck. We found the Tripleberry Compote Cheesecake Daisy Duck at EngineEAR Souvenirs at Mickey’s Toontown, just steps away from Café Daisy.
This plush is a winking Daisy Duck cheesecake topped with a red glaze, fresh strawberry patches, a dollop of whipped cream, and a pink bow with a purple flower at the center.
This plush is limited edition, so grab it while you can.
Another Daisy Duck Munchling was released as part of the Fruity Finds Munchlings Collection, reimagining Daisy as a pineapple-topped tropical drink. The Fruity Finds collection was released simultaneously with a Garden Finds Munchling Collection that featured Disney and Pixar characters as garden-variety vegetables.
For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.
