Park hopping in Disney World might not be the best option for everyone!

EPCOT

When planning a Disney World vacation, guests have the option to purchase a Park Hopper add-on to their theme park tickets, which allows them to visit multiple parks on the same day. But just because it’s an “upgrade” doesn’t mean it will be the best fit for every guest! Here are some reasons you might NOT want to splurge on a Park Hopper upgrade for your next Disney World trip.

Limits On Park Hopping Hours

As of right now, guests with Park Hopper tickets can only visit their second park of the day AFTER 2PM. So, for example, if you had a Park Pass Reservation for EPCOT on a particular day, but wanted to hop to Magic Kingdom next, you wouldn’t be able to enter Magic Kingdom until 2PM or later.

Magic Kingdom

If you’re traveling with a group of early risers who tend to be tired out and ready to head back to the hotel by the early afternoon, Park Hopper tickets might not make sense since you would only be able to take advantage of the hopping benefits for a short time frame before your group is ready to call it a day.

Tree of Life

But, good news, there is an “end date” for this potential Park Hopping hang-up! Beginning on January 9th, 2024, ALL-DAY Park Hopping is returning to Disney World! If the current time restriction is the only thing keeping you from upgrading to a Park Hopper ticket, that concern will soon be a thing of the past.

Learn More About Disney World Park Hopping Here!

Saving Time By Avoiding Traveling Between Parks

Unlike Disneyland Resort, where the entrance gates to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure are right next to each other, the entrances to the four Disney World parks are all pretty spread out. That means if you plan to park hop in Disney World, you’ll need to account for the time it takes to travel from park to park.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The amount of time it takes to travel between parks can vary based on your method of transportation, which parks you’re traveling between, and any unexpected delays that might pop up on your commute.

Disney Bus

Depending on the specific scenario, it can take over an hour to get from one park to another, all of which is time taken out of your activities for the day. Even more direct park-to-park transportation, like the Monorail or Disney Skyliner, can experience unexpected delays or long lines on busy days.

Disney World Skyliner

If you want to maximize every second of your park days, it’s important to consider how much the travel time between parks could cut into your plans!

The Disney World Skyliner Has Changed And We LOVE IT

Leaving Space for Late Starts or Early Nights

We’ve learned the hard way that as amazing as a Disney World vacation can be, it can also be an equally exhausting experience! Our days in the parks typically include LOTS of walking, hot and humid weather, and plenty of disruptions to our daily routines. And despite the magical memories we create along the way, it can still be pretty physically and mentally draining.

Magic Kingdom

To help avoid exhausting-induced meltdowns, we typically suggest leaving some flexibility in your Disney World itinerary, rather than scheduling every moment of your trip. If you think your travel group could benefit from sleeping in during the mornings or calling it an early evening, you might not need a Park Hopper add-on since your park days will be shorter.

Expedition Everest

This is a case where it’s extra important to consider the unique needs of the people in your travel party when making your planning decisions!

6 Places Where DFB Reporters HIDE When They Need a Break in Magic Kingdom

Spending Time at Our Disney World Hotel Instead

Speaking of late starts and early evenings, catching up on our rest isn’t the only reason we sometimes prefer to head back to our Disney World hotel a bit early!

Polynesian Village Resort

The Disney World hotels have a lot to offer, including unique activities, dining options, themed pools, and more. If you’re on the fence about whether or not a Park Hopper ticket is right for you, be sure to consider what your hotel has to offer to see if you’d rather leave time to explore the amenities!

Lazy River at Stormalong Bay

From sunrise yoga to horseback riding, you might be surprised at all the activities you can find at Disney World hotels!

The Best Disney World Hotels for 2024

Exploring Underrated Parts of the Parks

Even if you’re planning to stay in the park for rope drop to close, there’s still a great reason you might want to stick to one park per day. By spending a full day in a single park, you can take a deep dive into some of the more underrated areas that you might have missed by just sticking to the highlights before hopping somewhere else.

Mitsukoshi Department Store

For example, on a full day in EPCOT, you can take the time to explore deep inside the World Showcase Pavilions and check out the cultural exhibits, unique shopping locations, and hidden gems that you otherwise might have walked right by!

China Pavilion in EPCOT

Whether you decide to explore the animal trails at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, or finally carve out the time to watch a lengthy live show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there are plenty of under-the-radar things to do that often get overshadowed by the marquee attractions!

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When planning a dream Disney World trip, it can be tempting to splurge on all the upgrades you (reasonably) can! But from avoiding burnout to exploring new areas of the parks, there are several reasons you might NOT want to opt for a Park Hopper add-on for your next vacation! No matter how you prefer to travel, we’re here to help with all of the tips and tricks for a magical vacation, so stay tuned to DFB for all your planning needs!

How Early Should You Plan Your 2024 Disney World Vacation?

Do you usually buy a Park Hopper ticket when you visit Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

The post 5 Reasons We Won’t Be Buying a Disney World Park Hopper Ticket first appeared on the disney food blog.

Disney World is a place full of magic, love, and special memories.

Cinderella Castle

However, sometimes things go wrong that break the magic a bit. Now, we here at DFB have plenty of tricks up our sleeve to help you out of these pickles, but there are some things even we can’t fix. We’re about to give you a secret tip to help avoid issues on your vacation, and you may not believe us (or like us for it), but we promise, it’s worth it!

Have you ever been somewhere with a friend or family member and they have zero interest in it? Maybe you’re thrilled to be at a concert for a band you love, or you’re shopping at a store you adore, and your partner in crime couldn’t care less, and you just feel that negative energy constantly? Yeah, that also applies to Disney World — don’t bring your friends or family members who couldn’t care less about the whole experience.

Magic Kingdom

Now, we say the whole experience because some people aren’t a fan of Disney or theme parks, but they love watching their family members or friends have the best time. We’re not talking about them, we love them! We’re talking about the people who you’re dragging through the park by their ear to get them to do anything.

Magic Kingdom

And this can be a person of any age. A teenager, a parent, a grandparent, a best friend — whoever it is, even if YOU love Disney and you can’t see how someone could dislike it, don’t drag them along if you have the choice not to. Why? Because you and your whole party will feel that negative energy your whole trip, and it just might make you miserable.

Tree of Life

Don’t believe us? We’ve literally BEEN THERE. We’ve taken trips with family members who did nothing but complain and make the whole group fall into a bad mood. We know you may want to take that family trip with multiple generations and get all those amazing pictures, but is it really worth it if it makes everyone wish the trip was over before it’s even begun?

Expedition Everest

And if you’re a person who doesn’t like Disney or theme parks, that’s okay! However, you should be upfront with the people in your life who may be planning this trip and be honest with them about how you feel. Even if that means honestly telling them you’d rather stay at the hotel all day. And if you’re the one planning, respect your friend or family member’s wishes if they say they don’t want to go on the trip or don’t want to do something. We know it may be a bummer for the trip to not look as picture-perfect as you wanted it, but it’s worth it for everyone to have a better time overall.

Galaxy’s Edge

This may sound like it’s an easy thing to remember, but it can be really hard in the moment, or when you’re stressed about planning! Disney World is already so wildly expensive you want to make as much magic while you’re there, but for some people, Disney just isn’t the vacation spot for them, and that’s okay. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news, tips, and tricks!

This is one of the MAIN problems you need to worry about in Disney World!

Do you agree with this? Tell us why or why not below!

The post You Won’t Believe This Disney World SECRET – But You Will Thank Us for It! first appeared on the disney food blog.

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has canceled their contract with Freddie Figgers for an improved 911 network after facing criticism for not opening the project up to bidding.

CFTOD Cancels Contract with Figgers Communication

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the District said the contract will be opened to bids at Figgers’ request.

“They [Figgers Communication] do not wish to continue under the current atmosphere and wish to participate in a bidding process instead,” Matthew Oberly, director of external affairs, said Tuesday. “Which is unfortunate as now we will have to start over.”

Figgers requested open bidding in a letter to the District, wishing to “err on the side of caution” and ensure the “best value” for taxpayers.

“We welcome the opportunity for an open bidding process and are confident that it will reveal that our proposal to implement the 911 wireless and VOIP emergency services was very reasonable, with no intention of taking advantage of the District,” Figgers wrote.

District Administrator Glen Gilzean stated the District was investing a million dollars in the new 911 network. The no-bid contract with Figgers Communication was reportedly for $242,500.

WFTV reported earlier this year that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers picked up 80.5% of 911 calls within 10 seconds in June, which is short of the 90% required by state guidelines.

Figgers Communication was able to meet the District’s 120-day timeline to improve the system.

Before canceling the contract, Oberly defended it by saying, “It follows all of the procurement guidelines. It was a critical urgent need.”

Figgers is a member of the Florida Commission on Ethics, appointed in July by Governor Ron DeSantis. At the time, Gilzean was chairperson of the commission, but he resigned in late August after it was discovered had violated a rule of the Commission by taking his job with the District.

Ben Wilcox, research director at Integrity Florida, told Orlando Sentinel that the original deal raised questions about favoritism.

“It’s always better to have a bidding process,” Wilcox said. “I don’t know if this is the only company that could provide these services. You can’t find that out unless you put it out there for a competitive bidding process.”

When Governor Ron DeSantis took over the District formerly known as Reedy Creek, the Government vowed to end “no-bid procurements.” A DeSantis spokesperson declined Orlando Sentinel’s request for comment on the 911 network deal.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Cancels No-Bid Contract for Updated 911 Network appeared first on WDW News Today.

Amid menu updates, Disney quietly removed the signature Cheesy Barbecue Brisket from the Geyser Point Bar & Grill menu at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

Geyser Point Bar & Grill Menu

We noticed the missing dish during our visit to the restaurant this week. Geyser Point Bar & Grill first opened in 2017 and the Cheesy Barbecue Brisket, with a side of house-made chips, immediately became a fan-favorite dish.

When we reviewed the dish upon the restaurant’s opening, we said it was a must-order when visiting Geyser Point Bar & Grill.

Disney announced in early October that new dishes would be coming to Geyser Point, Three Bridges Bar & Grill, and Banana Cabana. Disney made a point to say Geyser Point’s iconic Bison Burger would still be available but made no mention of the Cheesy Barbecue Brisket going away.

The new dishes are the Crispy ‘Peking’ Ribs, Thai Chili and Sriracha Buffalo Geyser Chicken Wings (in addition to the Teriyaki), Charcuterie Flatbread, Turkey BLT Sandwich, Macaroni and ‘Cheese’ Bites, Vegetable Burger with ‘Cheese,’ and Multigrain Salad with Tofu. The Pineapple Mule also became a permanently available drink after a limited-time run during Black History Month.

How do you feel about the loss of the Cheesy Barbecue Brisket at Geyser Point Bar & Grill? Let us know in the comments.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post Signature Cheesy Barbecue Brisket Removed From Geyser Point Bar & Grill Menu at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge appeared first on WDW News Today.

Some of our favorite Disney merchandise is discounted right now as part of an EARLY Black Friday sale!

©BaubleBar

These items are usually pretty expensive, so we’re super excited to see a 20% off DISCOUNT. But if you want to take advantage of the sale, you’ll have to hurry, as it’s only available for a limited time.

From now through Cyber Monday (November 27th), you can get 20% off custom BaubleBar merchandise by using the code “HURRY” at checkout. Let’s see a few Disney items that qualify for this discount!

Get the Mickey Mouse Custom Slider Bracelet

©BaubleBar

This is one of BaubleBar’s top-selling items. The Custom Slider Bracelet has a Disney twist with the addition of a little Mickey head.

©BaubleBar

You customize the bracelet by adding your own initials, name, or favorite phrase, which appear in a “chic retro font and decked in hundreds of gorgeous crystals.” With a pull-tie closure, it’ll be the perfect fit.

Shop on BaubleBar here!

Get the Disney Custom Tennis Bracelet

©BaubleBar

Another option is this Custom Disney Tennis Bracelet! You choose a name, initials, or a phrase to add to the classic tennis bracelet, and a gold and pavé Mickey bead is added as well. It’s available in five different color options.

Shop on BaubleBar here!

Get the Sensational Six Disney Custom Blanket

©BaubleBar

We’re getting into the winter months, so you can stay cozy with this custom Sensational Six blanket!

©BaubleBar

The blanket features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto in a neutral color scheme. You can add a name, initials, or a phrase.

Shop on BaubleBar here!

Get the Mickey Mouse Checkerboard Custom Blanket

©BaubleBar

The Custom Checkerboard Mickey Blanket comes in beige and neutral tones, and you can add your initial to the bottom right-hand corner. This blanket would match just about any room!

Shop on BaubleBar here!

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

Looking for more Disney merch online? Check out our DFB Amazon storefront!

The post The Secret Code You Need To Get 20% OFF Custom Disney Souvenirs first appeared on the disney food blog.

Move over Halloween Horror Nights — Disney has some scares of their own!

Headless Horsemen statue

While the Disney Parks are known for not-so-scary Halloween bashes, there is a well-kept, spooky secret most of the general public is unaware of. No, we’re not talking about Disney attraction ghost stories. Instead, this scary secret is a Cast Members-only event that takes place one night every year.

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort is typically a sort of spooky but mostly wholesome time at the parks. However, for one night in October each year at Disney California Adventure, the park hosts a slightly more sinister event.

On this creepy night, Redwood Creek Challenge Trail turns into an exclusive scare maze experience just for Disneyland Resort Cast Members!

©Disney

Part of the Grizzly Peak Halloween Carnival, a Cast recognition event with food and after-hours fun, this event celebrated its 13th anniversary this year. The maze is operated by a volunteer team and sponsored by resort entertainment host Forrest Orta, attractions host Anthony Olivares, and former Cast Member Ross Woods.

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A post shared by Disneyland Resort Ambassadors (@disneylandambassador)

Volunteers for the maze attend a Scare School to train and prepare for this one-night event that has built a positive reputation over the years. Disney has lauded the carnival as a whole, stating that it embodies “the spirit of creativity and camaraderie of its imaginative, dedicated volunteers.”

©Disney

We love that Disney is rewarding their hardworking Cast Members with this Halloween event! Stay tuned right here at DFB for all kinds of Disney holiday event news as well as everything Disneyland.

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How do you feel about scare mazes? Are you a big fan or are they not your cup of tea? Let us know in the comments!

The post Did You Know that Disney Has a SECRET Halloween Scare Maze? 😱 first appeared on the disney food blog.