Pacific Wharf at Disney California Adventure is poised to officially become San Fransokyo Square on August 31, 2023. During our Friday visit, crews were adding the final touches of paint to the torii gate bridge that will act as the land’s main entrance.

Torii Gate Bridge

The bridge was originally a light blue color but was painted international orange like San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge early this year. In June, it closed for the installation of the two torii gates. Now in the final week before the land’s official opening, crews are completing the paint job of the gates.

Two pairs of crew members were in lifts at the tops of each torii gate. They are both now completely orange, although there are still some yellow ties around a crossbeam and column.

Concept art indicates string lights will run from the bridge’s railings up to the tops of the gates.

Other recent advances in the construction of San Fransokyo Square include the installation of a Ghirardelli sign with “chocolate” written in Japanese.

San Fransokyo Square

Pacific Wharf will officially become San Fransokyo Square on August 31, when the rest of the venues will open and the Torii gate bridge will potentially be complete.

Pre-existing Pacific Wharf locations like the Cappuccino Cart and The Bakery Tour will now be decked out in street art and colorful banners celebrating the “Big Hero 6” team. Baymax Bread will also be available at the Boudin Bread Cart.

Guests will be able to interact with Hiro and Baymax (who will talk) outside the Hamada Bot Shop. Nearby will be the San Fransokyo Maker’s Market, a storefront stocked with unique apparel, homewares, and more featuring Baymax and friends.

Across from the Maker’s Market, vending machines will offer golden medallions featuring Baymax and other San Fransokyo images.

Pacific Wharf Café is being transformed into Aunt Cass Café, the second bakery café operated by Hiro’s aunt. It will serve soups in freshly baked Boudin sourdough bread bowls and more inspired by Japanese cuisine. 

An old fishing net tannery across from the café is Rita’s Turbine Blenders, a giant drink dispenser offering margaritas and icy beverages. This refreshment stand is owned by and named after the repair technician who maintains the floating wind turbine, resembling a giant koi fish, that sits atop the structure. Be sure to read our recent Rita’s Turbine Blenders review.

New “Big Hero 6”-inspired items were added to the menus of Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill and Lucky Fortune Cookery, which serves a Baymax macaron. The Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería with Karl Strauss drinks and pinwheel chips also recently opened.

During Oogie Boogie Bash, Yokai will appear in San Fransokyo Square.

Check out more recent San Fransokyo Square construction updates below:

• New ‘Big Hero 6’ San Fransokyo Square Trash Cans Arrive at Disney California Adventure
• PHOTOS: Koi Fish Wind Turbine Installed Atop Rita’s Turbine Blenders in San Fransokyo Square
• New San Fransokyo Street Art Added, Bakery Tour Covered in Scrim at Disney California Adventure
• More San Fransokyo Square Street Art Appears, Torii Gate Bridge Adds Decorative Supports at Disney’s California Adventure
• PHOTOS: Bakery Tour Silo Uncovered, More Decorative Paneling Added to Torii Gate Bridge for San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure

For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.

The post PHOTOS: Painting Complete on Torii Gate Bridge in San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure appeared first on WDW News Today.

You’ve got the theme park tickets. You’ve got the park pass reservations. You’ve even got your flight details all figured out. But what you NEED to secure now is a Disney World hotel room. Out of all the different options you have to choose from, which resort is actually the BEST of the BEST?

We’ve stayed at every single hotel in Disney World, and we’ve figured out which one is right for YOU!

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The best Disney World hotel for you will depend on your priorities for your vacation — are you trying to stick to a budget? Looking to splurge for a special occasion? Traveling with a big group? Pretty much only here for the food? No matter what you’re after, we know the right hotel for you.

Best “Bang-For-Your Buck” Hotel: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort

If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, check out Disney’s Port Orleans — Riverside Resort or Disney’s Port Orleans — French Quarter.

These twin resorts are pretty affordable (rooms start around $280 per night) since they’re moderate resorts, but they have some great benefits.

One of our favorite things about these hotels is that you have boat access to Disney Springs! After a day in the parks, you can hop on a boat to visit the shopping and dining district, grab a bite to eat, and pick up a souvenir. And at the end of the evening, you don’t have to wait for a bus to take you home!

The food options at Port Orleans are pretty good, with the Riverside Mill Food Court, Scat Cat’s Club — Café and Lounge, and Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory. The food courts feature dishes inspired by New Orleans cuisine, and Scat Cat’s is where you’ll delicious beignets!

We love the atmosphere of both hotels as well.

Click here for a room tour of Port Orleans — Riverside.

Best Hotel For a Family on a Budget: Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Disney’s Pop Century Resort is our favorite value resort for budget-friendly vacations because it’s one of the cheapest options in Disney World and it still has some great perks.

Rooms start at just $174 per night! The hotel has fun decorations, with each area themed to a different decade. You can walk across Hourglass Lake to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, which gives you access to even more amenities.

Pop Century is also on the Skyliner route, so you’re able to get to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios faster (plus the Skyliner is practically a ride in itself).

Click here to learn more about the Disney Skyliner.

Best Hotel for “Bougie on a Budget”: Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

If you’re gonna be spending the money on a Disney World resort, you might as well be getting the best bang for your buck, right? So let’s talk about a Disney hotel with DELUXE offerings at a moderate price. Rooms here start at around $250.

The Gran Destino Tower opened at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in 2019 but it has a very different vibe than the rest of the hotel. It feels more luxurious and fancy than the rest of Coronado, with great views from the guest rooms (including some with water or fireworks views!), incredible dining options, and the option to book a club-level room.

Toledo: Tapas, Steak, and Seafood is located at the top floor of this tower, with very tasty Spanish food like the The Toledo Tapas [Candy] Bar Dessert, the Filet of Beef (with a date jam and sherry vinaigrette), and the artisanal Charcuterie and Cheeses board (meant to share between two people).

If you stay at the tower, you’re still within walking distance of the main Coronado Springs resort, giving you access to even MORE dining, like El Mercado de Coronado Quick Service, Rix Sports Bar and Grill (with TONS of TVs for sports-ball watchin’), and, my personal favorite, Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa de Lago.

If it’s storming out, use Gran Destino’s hidden passageway that connects the tower to Coronado’s El Centro lobby (via a short, covered walkway).

Although it feels deluxe, remember that the Gran Destino Tower is still considered a moderate resort, so you won’t really get access to the extra deluxe-level perks like Extended Evening Hours.

Click here for five HIDDEN tips about the Gran Destino Tower.

Best Hotel Worth Splurging On a Room Upgrade: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

We’re BIG fans of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This deluxe hotel has beautiful theming, incredible dining options, and the BEST views of any other resort on property. That’s because the resort surrounds a Savanna area, where giraffes, zebras, and other animals hang out all day! In fact, there are over 200 African wildlife species here.

Paying the extra cost for a Savanna View room is totally worth it at this resort. The Savanna View rooms will give you the ability to look out your balcony each day to watch the animals grazing about. Go on a mini safari from the comfort of your room!

There are lots of great activities to do at this resort, too. You can grab a Wildlife Field Guide from the front desk and head outside to one of the many Savanna viewing areas, book a Starlight Safari tour for after the sun sets, take part in face painting and musical demonstrations, and more. Just ask the front desk for a copy of the resort’s schedule.

Some of our favorite restaurants are located at Animal Kingdom Lodge, like Sanaa, Jiko — The Cooking Place, and Boma.

The rooms here are definitely on the pricey side, though, starting at $469 per night. Note that you’ll also sacrifice in the transportation department if you choose to stay here — because it’s located close to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it’s pretty far away from the other three parks. The only transportation option is buses (no Monorail or Skyliner).

Click here for the complete guide to eating at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Best Hotel For Pool Fans: Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts

The BEST pool in Disney World is definitely Stormalong Bay, which is really more of a water park than a pool. It’s so good that it can’t even be contained in one resort — guests at both Disney’s Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts can use it.

Stormalong Bay has three acres of activities for families to enjoy, including one of the highest hotel pool slides in Disney World, a sand-bottomed pool, a lazy river, and three whirlpool spas. If your priority is pool time, there’s no better place to be.

Both the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are in the deluxe category, so rooms are pretty expensive, starting at $543 a night. Make sure you keep in mind the long closure planned for Stormalong Bay from January 2025 to May 2025. Although other pools at the resorts will still be open, you really don’t want to plan your visit for that time and miss out on the awesome water park/pool experience.

Click here to learn more about the Stormalong Bay CLOSURE.

Best Hotel For Easy Access to Magic Kingdom: Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Although any of the Magic Kingdom-area resorts give you pretty good access to the most popular Disney World theme park, there’s one that stands out above the rest: Disney’s Contemporary Resort is about a 10-minute walk away from Magic Kingdom’s front entrance (if that)!

Guests walking from the Contemporary to Magic Kingdom even have their own security station, so they don’t have to go through the main security at the front gate.

Don’t want to walk? You can hop on the Monorail (which has a station INSIDE the Contemporary) and ride it straight to the park without any stops in between.

The location of this hotel makes early mornings, afternoon naps, and late nights much easier to manage. While everyone else waits in long lines for buses back to their hotels after the Happily Ever After fireworks show, you can stroll straight to your hotel room.

A location like that isn’t cheap — rooms at the Contemporary start at around $550 per night.

The other Magic Kingdom Monorail Resorts also have walking paths to the park, but none are as close as the Contemporary.

Click here to tour the new Incredibles-themed rooms at this hotel.

Best Hotel for Easy Access to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT: Skyliner Hotels and EPCOT-area Hotels

But what if your favorite Disney World park ISN’T Magic Kingdom? If you’re a big fan of Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT, make sure you stay in one of the Skyliner hotels. (For those Animal Kingdom fans out there, the best option will of course be Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge!)

The Skyliner has stations at Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts. (There’s one station located between Pop Century and Art of Animation, within easy walking distance of both.) That means you have your choice of value resorts (Pop Century and Art of Animation), a moderate resort (Caribbean Beach), or a deluxe resort (Riviera).

From any of these hotels, you can hop on a Skyliner gondola and ride it to Hollywood Studios or EPCOT. The main hub station is at Caribbean Beach, so if you’re not staying at that hotel then you’ll need to ride the Skyliner there and switch gondolas to get to your destination.

We’ve found that the Skyliner is generally quicker and has a shorter wait time than the Disney buses, plus it’s unique and fun to ride. Keep in mind that it will close if there’s bad weather in the area (you do NOT want to be up in the air in one of those gondolas during a storm), and in that case, Disney will offer buses instead.

The EPCOT-area resorts — Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club — provide an added level of convenience with their location (since they’re only STEPS away from EPCOT’s International Gateway, which is the back entrance to the park). You can also walk to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from these hotels, but you’ll want to factor in an extra 20-ish minutes of travel time, which could end up feeling even LONGER at the end of the day when your feet are aching and all you want to do is teleport home.

The Swan and Dolphin AND Swan Reserve Hotels also have the convenience of being within walking distance to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios (as well as a water taxi service that comes by to pick up guests every 20 to 25 minutes) — but their big downfall lies in their transportation to the other two parks.

Swan and Dolphin, and the Swan Reserve, use buses to take you to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, and their buses can be slower than Disney’s bus system (not to mention that if you take a bus over to Magic Kingdom from the Swan and Dolphin or Swan Reserve, you’ll be dropped off at the Ticket and Transportation Center instead of the front gate of the park, meaning you’re still going to have to take a ferry boat or Monorail the remainder of the way to Magic Kingdom).

Wait. Is It OK That We’re Doing This on the Disney Skyliner?

Best Hotel For Kids: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort has hands-down the best Disney theming of all the hotels. Some other hotels have great subtle Disney decor, but Art of Animation has huge, larger-than-life statues of Disney characters, a giant mural of sketches done by Disney animators in the lobby, and bright, colorful decor in all the rooms.

There’s a big Finding Nemo-themed pool in the center of the resort as well!

There are four sections of the resort, themed to different Disney movies: Cars, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Finding Nemo.

This is the most expensive value resort, but standard rooms still start at around $200 per night. Family suites at the Cars and Finding Nemo sections are more expensive but much roomier (plus they have little kitchenettes).

Art of Animation is even dog-friendly, so your WHOLE family can join in on the fun!

Click here to tour a Lion King-themed family suite at Art of Animation!

Best Hotel For Non-Theme Park Activities: Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds

If you’re looking for a hotel with TONS of fun activities, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds is it. There’s so much to do here that doesn’t require a park ticket, like horseback riding, archery, trail walking, bike rentals, golf cart rentals, fishing, campfires, and more.

Here’s a list of the outdoor activities:

• Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long
• The Archery Experience
• Pony and Wagon Rides (Tri-Circle-D Ranch)
• Fishing
• Canoe and Kayak Rentals
• Basketball and volleyball courts
• Pools
• Segway tours
• Bike and Golf Cart Rentals
• Jogging Trails
• Playgrounds
• Movies Under the Stars

This spot also has some solid dining options, including the recently revamped Trail’s End Restaurant, Crockett’s Tavern, and the popular Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue dinner show.

Cabin rentals start at about $450 per night.

The cabins at Fort Wilderness are getting major MAKEOVERS!

Best Hotel Worth the Splurge: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

If you’re looking to splurge — and we mean really SPLURGE, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa can’t be beat when it comes to luxury.

This hotel is within walking distance to Magic Kingdom, and it has Monorail and boat access to that park as well.

There are some truly fantastic restaurants here, such as Narcoossee’s, Citricos, and the extraordinarily fancy (and expensive) Victoria & Albert’s. (If you want the truth, though, our favorite thing to eat might be at the quick service Gasparilla Island Grill — their mac and cheese is to DIE for.)

The rooms feel luxurious and boast great views, especially if you get a beach-view room. The lobby is stunning, and in the wintertime, it’s home to a life-sized gingerbread house!

Rooms start at $794 per night, so it’s not budget-friendly at all. But even if you don’t stay here, we highly recommend visiting just to dine at one of the restaurants or visit the beautiful lobby.

Click here to tour the new resort studios at Grand Floridian!

Best Hotel For Foodies: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

We all know that the best thing about Disney World is the food, right? So why mess around with all these other hotels when there’s one resort that’s CLEARLY the best when it comes to food?

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is GREAT for food fans because of the variety of spots where you can get a treat or full meal as well as their unique island-themed eats. You’ll find Kona Cafe, ‘Ohana, Pineapple Lanai, Tambu Lounge, and (of course) Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto.

‘Ohana is a must-try at least once, and make sure you taste the famous ‘Ohana noodles and bread pudding while you’re there. Here’s a hot tip: You can get both of those dishes at Tambu Lounge if you’re not able to secure a reservation for ‘Ohana!

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is a super fun bar that serves light bites and themed drinks in a lively, exciting atmosphere.

Rooms at this hotel start at $662 per night.

Other hotels with excellent dining options include Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (with Jiko — The Cooking Place, Sanaa, Boma, and The Mara), Disney’s Contemporary Resort (with Contemporary Grill and Steakhouse 71), and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, French Quarter and Riverside.

The Complete Guide to Eating at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Best Hotel For Character Dining: Disney’s Riviera Resort

The Polynesian Village Resort is the best for dining in general, but if you want the best CHARACTER dining, we’d stay at Disney’s Riviera Resort!

Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera is an upscale Italian restaurant by night, but by day it’s a character breakfast meal!

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy are dressed as artists of the Riviera: Mickey is a painter, Minnie is a poet, Daisy is a dancer, and Donald is a sculptor.

Our favorite breakfast eats are the Quiche Gruyère and Smoked Salmon, but the pastries that come in a little paint can are usually a big hit with the kids.

This is the cheapest deluxe resort, with rooms starting at around $440 a night, but the rooms in the tower are very small, so keep that in mind if you’re traveling with a larger group!

Go inside a tiny and expensive Riviera Resort tower room!

Best Hotel For Easy Walking Access to the Parks: Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

There are Monorail resorts and Skyliner resorts, but how about those WALKING resorts? The king of all walking resorts has to be Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. From this hotel, you can be in EPCOT in about five minutes (via the park’s International Gateway), or take the longer 15- to 20-minute stroll over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Not only is it super close to two parks, but the BoardWalk is undergoing some MAJOR renovations to the rooms and lobby area, bringing a more light and airy feel. There are lots of new and upcoming restaurants too, like Carousel Coffee, the BoardWalk Deli, The Cake Bake Shop, and Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs.

The BoardWalk is home to some super fun nightlife, too, at the AbracadaBar and JellyRolls Dueling Piano Bar.

Rooms at this hotel start at around $600.

Look inside the NEW rooms at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn.

Best Hotel For Gorgeous Views (Inside and Out!): Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

The lobby at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge never ceases to take our breath away. There’s SO much to explore in this hotel!

There are fun details all around — check out the fireplace, upper walkways, totem poles, and even the REAL stream running through the lobby! (As an added bonus, you can sometimes find Disney characters greeting guests in the lobby!)

When you step outside, the fantastic views continue with gorgeous outdoor areas, including a working geyser.

Rooms here start at around $450 a night, and don’t forget that it has boat access to Magic Kingdom.

Click here to tour a room at Wilderness Lodge!

Best Hotel For Golfers: Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

This is a very specific category, but we know there are some golfers out there who want a relaxing time on the course while everyone else rushes to the parks!

Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course is located at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, making this resort a great one if you’re looking to spend some of your mornings or afternoons out on the course and want easy access.

Click here to tour a room at Saratoga Springs!

Hotels to AVOID

We’ve talked about the BEST hotels…but what about the ones you should AVOID?

Avoid If You Want Easy Access to the Lobby and Other Hotel Amenities: Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Disney’s Old Key West Resort is an incredibly large hotel that is very spread out, so much so that you’ll likely need to use a car or theme park buses just to get from your room to the main lobby or to other neighborhoods within the resort.

The sprawling nature of the resort makes it very quiet and quite beautiful across the grounds, so if you don’t mind waiting for a bus (or taking a long walk!) this could be perfect for you.

However, it can be a pain if you want to get somewhere quickly or need to be at a restaurant at a certain time for reservations.

Click here to learn more about Old Key West.

Avoid if You Want a Strong “Disney” Feel to Your Hotel: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

While Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is beautiful in its own way, the theming is less in-your-face “Disney!”. So, if you’re looking for Disney characters to be everywhere and have that strong sense of whimsy, this isn’t the spot.

The resort is popular for conventions and other more “adult” events, making it a good pick for guests seeking a more “adult” vibe.

Click here for the complete guide to eating a Disney’s Coronado Springs.

Avoid If You Want Peace and Quiet: Disney’s All-Star Resorts

All three of the All-Star Resorts — Movies, Music, and Sports — tend to get incredibly busy with lots of families due largely to their relatively low prices (these are definitely the cheapest hotels in Disney World, with rooms starting at $128 per night).

These hotels are also top picks for school cheer and sports competitions when they take place, making it extra noisy at times.

While the theming is fun and many rooms have been nicely remodeled, if you’re looking for a relaxing resort stay, the noise may be worth avoiding here.

Click here to learn more about the All-Star Resorts.

There are so many different hotel options at Disney World, and truly the best option will depend on your group’s priorities. We hope this helps you narrow down your top picks!

Stay tuned to DFB for more planning tips and updates on all the latest Disney news.

Click here for even MORE information about all the Disney World hotels!

Which Disney World hotel is YOUR favorite? Let us know in the comments!

The post We’ve Stayed at Every Disney World Hotel. These Are the BEST. first appeared on the disney food blog.

Any excuse to add a little extra Disney magic into our home decor and you know we’ll take it. New Disney dishes? Yep. Disney artwork? Absolutely. Disney mugs? Our collection is overflowing but we could always use just one more.

These amazing personalized Disney signs that we found online are exactly what we’re talking about!

The personalized signs look just like the iconic Disneyland sign, or you can get them in pastel colors reminiscent of “it’s a small world.” They’d be a great addition to a kids’ room!

Get the Personalized Disney Name Signs!

You can get the personalized Disney name signs on Jane.com. The personalization can be up to nine letters long.

There are three design options to choose from: the classic blue, the pastels, or the bold colors.

You can mount the sign to the wall or have it stand alone on a shelf or desk! Right now it’s on SALE, so be sure to grab yours soon!

View on Jane.com

Which of the three designs is your favorite?

Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the newest Disney merchandise!

Check out more Disney merchandise online at our DFB Amazon storefront!

The post It’s Embarrassing How Fast We Hit “Add To Cart” When We Saw This Disney-themed Item first appeared on the disney food blog.

After being missing for quite some time, the Rocket Air mailbox has returned to its rightful place in Port of Entry at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, looking brand new.

Rocket Air Mailbox Returns to Port of Entry

The Port of Entry mailbox is back at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and appears to have received some refurbishment.

A new mailbox was needed, which is likely why the prop was missing for some time.

Though now that it’s back, it looks entirely brand new.

The themed rocket mail prop around the mailbox got a total refresh, and all of the paint and décor looks very bright and nice.

This is an actual working mailbox, which guests can use while visiting the park. It’s a fun way to send yourself or someone else a unique souvenir from your trip. Mail is collected from the mailbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

In addition to this mailbox, guests can also send letters or postcards from the Owl Post in Hogsmeade, Scribbulus in Diagon Alley, or the Hello Kitty Shop at Universal Studios Florida. Those locations also give letters a unique ink stamp.

Here’s a look at one of those stamps, specifically from Hogsmeade.

Some guests have been known to send out wedding or party invitations this way, just to have them stamped.

The mailbox has other decorative aspects to it, like this Rocket Express Mail letter bag.

Despite its weathered appearance, the colors on this Rocket Air Mail metal sign look vibrant and clear.

Have you ever sent a letter from Universal Orlando Resort using one of their mailboxes like this one? Or have you ever received a letter with a special Universal Orlando stamp? Let us know in the comments.

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 PHOTOS: Rocket Air Mailbox Returns to Port of Entry at Universal’s Islands of Adventure with Refreshed Look appeared first on WDW News Today.