The new live-action film The Little Mermaid has hit the headlines with a splash this year, ruffling feathers and fins over the casting choice for Halle Bailey as the lead character. The Ariel that we will see debut on the big screen later this week has some slightly different coloring to the original animated version, though as long as she doesn’t give away her trademark purple shell bikini, I’m all in. (Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula is also sporting a new skin tone, moving away from the bland grey of the animated character appearing to take on a more whimsical purple and pink highlight –I’m just sayin’…)
In both cases, I am excited to see this new path of inclusion, which is why I was thrilled to see the product launch for some of the official new merchandise, which kept this new representation in mind.
Aside from some of the dolls, figures, books, and plushes that we have seen so far in the merchandise stakes, I was delighted to see a few new products introduced that aren’t traditionally seen in your average Disney merch release. Specifically, these two items are a sunscreen designed for darker skin tones and a special hair care product for mermaids with different hair textures.
Other highlights included products created in collaboration with Black-owned and founded brands that celebrate the power of Black joy, including Black Girl Sunscreen, a 30 SPF lotion formulated for women of color to protect skin without leaving behind a white cast, and Carol’s Daughter, a pioneer of natural hair products created to let your curls sing.
Having had a little girl who would do anything to transform into her favorite Disney Princess, and also having been one myself, I completely understand how much of a difference these products that are culturally mindful of different needs are appreciated.
While The Villas at Disneyland Hotel will ultimately contain up to 344 separate villas, not all of those rooms are initially available for booking using Disney Vacation Club points.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Knott’s Scary Farm, and the park is already preparing with a series of in-person auditions scheduled for next month. What’s Happening: Knott’s Berry Farm is seeking energetic and dynamic performers of all types to provide Halloween themed entertainment for the 50th year of Knott’s Scary Farm. Performers should […]
Disney Channel has debuted another new Chibi Tiny Tales short featuring the characters from the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic, Lilo & Stitch, that can now be seen on their YouTube channel, as well as peppered throughout the programming of the cable network. What’s Happening: The latest in a set of new Chibi Tiny Tales shorts […]
And it doesn’t stop there! Once you arrive at Disney World, you have to decide which attractions and rides to prioritize! And we’re here to help you through every step of that process.
Now, we’re gonna dive into some of the details of Disney’s rides and attractions so you can decide which ones to prioritize during your trip.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Welcome to the Ultimate Guide to EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride & Attraction!
Are you ready to jog your brain with a little SAT logic prep? At Disney World, every ride is an attraction, but not all attractions are rides. Do you follow? Are you ready? That’s right, we’re not just discussing RIDES, though they are super important and a big component of this post. We’re looking at all of the attraction varieties you can find in Magic Kingdom:
Rides
Character Meet & Greets
Shows
Character Meet & Greets
Just like the heading sounds, Character Meet & Greets are where you can come face to face with your favorite Disney friends. You can get an autograph, a hug, a high-five, and pose for photos with these friends. Some Meet & Greets have designated locations and specific times when characters are available, and you might also find some varied Character interactions throughout the park. For a full list of characters that will be in Magic Kingdom, you’ll want to check out your My Disney Experience App on your phone.
Mickey Mouse in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A.
Ariel in her Grotto in Fantasyland
Donald Duck at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Fantasyland
Goofy at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Fantasyland
Daisy Duck at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Fantasyland
Minnie Mouse at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Fantasyland
Merida at the Fairytale Garden in Fantasyland
Cinderella & Various PrincessGuests at Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland
Hey, Mickey!
As mentioned above, other characters have locations they will be available to meet guests. If there is a particular Disney friend that you absolutely HAVE to meet, then we recommend reviewing the times in the app when that character is meeting guests, and plan to be at that location at least 10 minutes in advance, as lines form quickly!
Here are the characters you’ll want to check for specific times for their availability:
Aladdin & Princess Jasmine at Agrabrah Bazaar in Adventureland
Anastasia & Drisella near the Cinderella Fountain in Fantasyland
Big Al, Liver Lips McGrowl, Shaker, and Wendell near the Country Bear Jamboree in Frontierland
Buzz Lightyear near Buzz Lightyear Exit Courtyard in Tomorrowland
Captain Jack Sparrow outside Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar in Adventureland
Chip & Dale near Storybook Circus in Fantasyland
Peter Pan at the Neverland Map in Fantasyland
Snow White at the Town Square Theater Porch on Main Street, U.S.A.
Stitch at Rocket Tower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland
Tigger and Winnie the Pooh at the Thotful Spot in Fantasyland
To Infinity and Beyond
If there is a big fan of one (or more!) of these popular Disney friends in your travel party, you’ll definitely want to strategize and make time in your day to get a hug and a photo with your best Disney pal!
Some of the most classic Disney attractions are shows and not just rides. Let’s look at all of them and see which ones you may want to add to your itinerary during your Magic Kingdom day. All of these are indoor and air-conditioned with seating, so if you’re visiting during one of the hotter months in Orlando, you may want to visit more than one during your trip for a break from the heat!
Walt Disney’s Enchanted TikiRoom in Adventureland
Country Bear Jamboree in Frontierland
The Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square
Mickey’s PhilharMagic in Fantasyland
Enchanted Tales with Belle in Fantasyland
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress in Tomorrowland
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor in Tomorrowland
Bonjour, Lumiere!
Most shows run between 18 and 22 minutes long. Little tykes seem particularly engaged with the fun and characters at Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, and Enchanted Tales with Belle. The Carousel of Progress and Hall of Presidents provides a mellow vibe with dim lighting and comfy chairs that may lull a little one (or complete grown-ups) into a nap. And beware of the Tiki Room. It’s all fun and laughs until the Tiki gods summon the storms, and noise-sensitive folks have a less-than-magical time.
You can experience some other shows in the parks throughout the day, just check your App for exact show times.
Dapper Dans
Let the MagicBegin Castle Stage at Cinderella Castle
Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire Castle Stage at Cinderella Castle
Casey’s Corner Pianist at Casey’s Corner on Main Street, U.S.A.
Dapper Dans on Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street Philharmonic on Main Street, U.S.A.
Festival of Fantasy Parade through Frontierland, Liberty Square, and Main Street, U.S.A.
Flag Retreat at the Flag Pole on Main Street, U.S.A.
Happily Ever After fireworks show in Magic Kingdom
It can be tempting to skip the shows in favor of some thrills, but some of your favorite memories might just be made singing along in Carousel of Progress, or laughing with “That Guy” in Monsters, Inc Laugh Floor!
Ok, we’re here! We made it to the meat of this post. All of the RIDES. And there’s no easy way to categorize these guys. Do we sort by their iconic status? Their age? Their popularity? Well, we’re gonna break it down by height restriction — because that’s the most objective way to do it!
Main Street Vehicles
Here are the rides that anyone can experience, no height requirement listed!
Main Street Vehicles on Main Street, U.S.A.
Walt Disney World Railroad on Main Street, U.S.A.
Swiss Family Treehouse in Adventureland
Jungle Cruise in Adventureland
Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland
Liberty Square Riverboat in Liberty Square
Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel in Fantasyland
Peter Pan’s Flight in Fantasyland
“it’s a small world” in Fantasyland
Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid in Fantasyland
Dumbo the Flying Elephant in Fantasyland
Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Fantasyland
Astro Orbiter in Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover in Tomorrowland
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland
it’s a small world
Now, just because there’s no height requirement doesn’t mean these rides are for everyone. Haunted Mansion may be too spooky for kiddos who are sensitive to the dark or ghoulish delights. Swiss Family Treehouse requires quite a bit of stair climbing, so if there are little legs in your party, you might end up carrying them! Even able-bodied folks might get queasy on the Mad Tea Party’s spinning tea cups. And though Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is a super fun ride, some kiddos may feel left out of the fun or frustrated if they don’t have the coordination to shoot the laser gun through the ride, and might require some parental assistance.
All aboard!
And now, for the last section of rides that do have height requirements or health warnings.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland has a height requirement of 40 inches or 102 centimeters
The Barnstormer in Fantasyland has a height requirement of 35 inches or 89 centimeters
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Fantasyland has a height requirement of 38 inches or 97 centimeters
Tomorrowland Speedway in Tomorrowland has a height requirement of 32 inches or 81 centimeters
TRON Lightcycle / Run in Tomorrowland has a height requirement of 48 inches or 122 centimeters
Space Mountain in Tomorrowland has a height requirement of 44 inches or 112 centimeters
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Since these rides carry the most thrills, they are often also the most popular. And Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON are also the newest additions to Magic Kingdom, so their popularity is even more enhanced. These are rides you’ll want to prioritize if you’re seeking some thrills! These attractions also have Rider Swap options which means that if a member of your party is unable to ride (or just unwilling to) the rest of the group can experience the attraction. At the same time, someone keeps the non-riding guest company, and then they can ride the attraction once everyone is back without having to wait in the long standby queue again.
Get ready to enter the Grid!
Check with the Cast Member at the attraction entrance for your Rider Swap options!
So there you have it! All of the Magic Kingdom attractions and what you need to know to pick your MUST-DO attractions during your vacation! Keep checking back with DFB as we sort through all of the attractions for the other Disney Parks, too!
Which of these rides & attractions made it on your list? Let us know in the comments below!
In today’s latest filing for the ongoing lawsuit between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the Court has ruled no actions regarding the case or other recent filings will be addressed or acted upon until the pending motion by DeSantis to disqualify Judge Mark Walker is addressed.
This Notice acknowledges receipt of the parties’ ‘Joint Stipulation Regarding Briefing Schedule and Service of Process,’ ECF No. 34, in which Defendants request (and Plaintiffs do not oppose) a proposed briefing schedule for forthcoming motions to dismiss. This Court will take no action, scheduling or otherwise, in this case until it rules on the pending motion for disqualification.
Yesterday, the defendants (DeSantis and the CFTOD leaders) stated their intention to seek a dismissal of the entire case, and mutually agreed with Disney on dates and deadlines for this process.
All Defendants intend to file motions to dismiss the amended complaint. Defendants request, and Plaintiff does not oppose, that the Court set the following briefing schedule for the motions to dismiss: • Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss: Due 6/26/23 • Plaintiff’s Responses: Due 7/26/23 • Defendants’ Replies: Due 8/9/23
Under this new order, everything is on hold until the decision to keep or replace the current judge is made. A different arbiter, Martin Fitzpatrick, already recused himself of his own volition late last month, citing a “third degree” relation to someone employed by one of the parties.
According to Reuters, Governor DeSantis wants Mark Walker off the case because he questions the judge’s impartiality.
DeSantis’ lawyers argued on Friday that the judge overseeing that case demonstrated potential partiality while handling separate cases in which the judge mentioned Disney as an example of state retaliation.
Outside of this federal proceeding, the Governor is also counter-suing Disney in the Florida courts. Disney has already sought to have that case dismissed.
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Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars, Dole Whips, Churros — we could spend all day talking about the tasty treats you can find in the parks (we ARE the Disney Food Blog, after all). However, some of Disney’s iconic snacks are pretty divisive. Enter the Turkey Leg. Listen, not everyone loves this hunk of meat — but it still deserves a spot in Disney’s most popular food lineup. It has a LOT of fans. And now, it has a brand new makeover. There’s a new twist on this classic snack in Disney’s California Adventure (DCA), so we had to give it a try.
In DCA, at the snack cart near Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, you can now find the new Sriracha Glazed Turkey Leg for $15.
Sriracha Glazed Turkey Leg
If you’re a fan of Turkey Legs, you’ll probably really like this version. It didn’t taste a whole lot different than the usual version — it just had a little bit of a sweet and spicy flavoring to it from the glaze. That being said, it really wasn’t as spicy as we thought it would be. It was actually pretty mild.
This was pretty mild!
Since the Sriracha addition was pretty mellow, the turkey leg mostly tasted salty and smoky. So, if you’re not a fan of turkey legs, this one might not be unique enough to give it a shot. Our reporter isn’t a huge fan of this snack to begin with, so he thought that it was just…fine. That being said, sriracha isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (just like the Turkey Leg), so this salty-sweet variation might be even more divisive than the original.
Even Disney MAGNETS have thoughts on these turkey legs
On the other hand, if you love this iconic meaty snack and are excited to try even a slightly different version — give it a go! We’ll keep bringing you reviews on all the latest Disney snacks, so stay tuned to DFB for more.
As we were enjoying our stroll through Africa around Harambe Village, we got a bit hungry and went in search of a snack. Since the Harambe Fruit Market was nearby, we decided to check out their menu and look for something to eat.
Harambe Fruit Market
If you haven’t visited Harambe Fruit Market before, it’s a snack stand that typically sells chips, fresh fruit, pretzels, and even grilled ears of corn on the cob. The stand also serves small bags of Babybel cheese wheels in a pack, and when we took a closer look, we discovered that the packaging is now different! Disney has swapped out the normal packaging for Disney100 touches to celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary. You can pick out a few Disney characters on each of the individual cheeses.
Babybel cheese bag
It was an interesting choice to update the Babybel packaging, but it did put a smile on our faces when we noticed the small detail. Hopefully, you’ll get a chance to pick up a pack on your next Disney World visit.
Animal Kingdom
We’ll also be watching to see if these are spotted in the other parks soon, but for the latest in Disney snack updates, stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog.
Okay, we know Disney World’s 50th anniversary has come and gone (although the decorations have been taking their own sweet time coming down). But, one 50th anniversary snack was a DFB favorite, and we were thrilled to still be able to order it after all the festivities had ended. Unfortunately, that won’t last forever — we recently got word that this beloved treat would be leaving the menu SOON.
No, we’re not talking about the Pastrami Spring Roll (although we are watching that one closely). Today, we’re here to give you the sad, sad news that the Wendell’s Bear Claw’s days are numbered.
We were in Magic Kingdom recently when we noticed that this delicious treat from Westward Ho Refreshments was no longer listed on the menu in the My Disney Experience app. Concerned, we hustled over there to see for ourselves — and were happy to find out that they were, in fact, still selling them. But, a Cast Member confirmed that the treat will be retiring soon.
Still on the Westward Ho physical menu
She mentioned that if it is no longer on the online menu, fans of the snack should head to Westward Ho ASAP. They will likely remove it from the menu altogether in the coming days.
HURRY to Westward Ho in Magic Kingdom to get Wendell’s Bear Claw! A cast member let us know that this VERY popular treat will be leaving the menu real soon!
Like us, she was sad to hear the news and said that guests had really liked this treat. Hopefully, we will get something delicious in its place. In the meantime, you can catch us getting out last Bear Claws in while we can.
We love you, Wendell’s Bear Claw
Is this the beginning of the end for some of our favorite 50th anniversary-era snacks? We’ll keep an eye out for any further changes, so stay tuned to DFB for more.
McDonald’s just announced a NEW lineup of Happy Meal toys, all featuring characters from the upcoming film. Yep, you can get The Little Mermaid toys in each Happy Meal! Let’s check them out.
There are eight different figurines, all inspired by characters from the upcoming The Little Mermaid movie.
What do you think? Will you be headed to grab a Happy Meal soon? In the meantime, we’ll continue to keep you updated with all things Disney news, so make sure to follow along for more!
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
