Mel’s Drive-In at Universal Studios Florida has reopened after a months-long closure with an updated look and a new menu.

Mel’s Drive-In Reopens

The exterior is the same as before the refurbishment.

The Team Members received updated uniforms as well, eliminating the pink and blue aprons and bandanas.

A new marquee hangs above the new red counter. The original register counters have been removed, and the venue is primarily mobile-order only. There is one register for guests who need assistance. Unlike Minion Cafe and Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous, which are also mobile order restaurants, the food here is not delivered to your table and must be picked up at the counter.

The menu boards have a new look as well.

The jukebox is now near the counter instead of near the next dining room.

Some of the new benches and chairs have a dual-toned design.

The center dining area has solid red benches with black bases. These are similar but not the same as the previous style.

The Coca-Cola Freestyle machines are now themed to match the 1950s style.

The back dining area is very different. The yellow walls and dark benches have been replaced with blues and reds.

Parts of vintage automobiles are still on display.

Era-appropriate records are also on the walls.

Stay tuned for our review of the new menu at Mel’s Drive-In.

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: Mel’s Drive-In Reopens at Universal Studios Florida appeared first on WDW News Today.

The 2024 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival kicks off on February 28th, 2024, and runs through May 27th!

We’ve been keeping up with all the latest details about the Festival (like the FULL FOOD BOOTH MENUS!), and we’ve seen all the booths popping up around the parks. But, now the menus have been rolled out and we’ve officially got prices!

We’ve started seeing the menus with prices pop up around the World Showcase and beyond for the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival! It kicks off on February 28th and will run through May 27th, so you’ve got a few months to experience it all. So far, we’ve seen menus pop up for Primavera Kitchen in Italy…

…Magnolia Terrace…

…La Isla Fresca…

…Bauernmarket in Germany…

…Northern Bloom in Canada…

…the Honey Bee-stro…

…and Pineapple Promenade! These are just a few of the menus for the food booths available at this year’s event. In total, there will be around 20 different options — that’s a lot of eats. Disney also confirmed that over 70 new menu items are coming this year, and you know we’ll be trying them all on the first day of the festival!

In addition to all the exciting food booths, there will also be plenty of entertainment like the Garden Rocks Concert Series, along with Butterfly Gardens, gorgeous topiary displays, festival merchandise, the Garden Graze, and even a scavenger hunt! Check out everything you need to know right here.

Stay tuned as we continue to bring you everything you need to know about the 2024 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival! We’ll be bringing you live coverage on the first day of the event, so check back for more!

Check Out ALL the Food Booths & Menu Items for the 2024 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival

Are you heading to the Flower & Garden Festival this year? Tell us in the comments.

The post BREAKING: Food Booth MENUS and PRICES Arrive Ahead of the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival first appeared on the disney food blog.

Avoiding the crowds in Disney World is like an Olympic sport.

Okay, maybe it’s not quite that intense, but it can be daunting and very challenging nonetheless. So how do you deal during the peak vacation season? If you’re visiting during Spring Break, summer, or the holidays, what’s the strategy? Well, let me tell you our favorite method for avoiding the masses!

Extended Evening Hours, Baby!

One of Disney World’s BEST hotel perks is Extended Evening Hours. This perk is exclusive to Deluxe Resorts and Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, but it can help you accomplish so much in the parks!

Basically, on select nights each week, Disney World will keep one park open an extra two hours for those staying at Deluxe Resorts, and you’ll be able to hop around to some of the park’s top rides, enjoying them with incredibly short wait times and low crowds.

We’ve been to Extended Evening Hours several times, and our team agrees that it’s one of the most efficient ways to do a theme park. We’ve been able to get quite a few rides and attractions accomplished in short amounts of time, and there’s something relaxing about being in the Disney parks after dark with very few people around.

The Problem…and the Solution

However, to stay at a Deluxe Resort or a Disney Vacation Club villa, you’ll need to shell out the big bucks. These rooms are often upwards of $400, $700, or $1000 per night. And for many people, that’s simply not in the Disney budget!

The good news is that there are some great ways to save on your stay! First of all, we ALWAYS recommend checking out the Special Offers page on the Disney World website before you book your stay. They often have discounts for Annual Passholders, Florida residents, and even the general public that can help you save on a hotel room.

But one of the best ways to save big is by renting Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points. We’re big fans of using David’s Vacation Club Rentals for this. Essentially, you’ll use their system to rent points that DVC owners can’t use. By doing that, you can cut down the cost significantly for a Disney Deluxe Villa Resort.

You don’t have to be a DVC member to stay in a DVC room, and the rooms are often nicer than your standard hotel rooms, with a bit more space and a kitchenette that can come in handy. Plus, the DVC hotels in Disney World are some of the nicest places to stay, with great transportation, locations, and restaurants.

So staying at a Deluxe Resort doesn’t always have to break the budget! In fact, getting that extra time in the parks can often make the cost so much more worth it. Who doesn’t love running from ride to ride with minimal lines?!

Stay tuned to DFB for more tips on how to successfully navigate Disney World during your upcoming vacation. We’ll keep you in the loop on all things Disney!

The ONE Way You Can Beat Disney’s High Hotel Prices — Click Here!

Have you ever been to Extended Evening Hours in Disney World? Tell us in the comments!

The post My SECRET to Overcoming Disney World Crowds During Peak Vacation Season first appeared on the disney food blog.

When you work at Disney World, you go to the parks all the time, and you start to see things that you never noticed as a theme park guest.

After working at Disney World, there are things that I never do anymore during my park day, but there are also rides I always SKIP. We’re here to tell you about those rides!

We’re not here to judge you for what you choose to ride in Disney World. Nope, we’re just here to let you know which rides we think you should skip.

Journey Into Imagination With Figment

Alright, so let’s talk about this quirky little ride tucked away in EPCOT‘s World Celebration — Journey Into Imagination With Figment. Picture this: you’re hopping on a colorful adventure through the power of imagination with our buddy Figment. It’s all about creativity, exploration, and a whole lot of Figment antics. Sounds fun, right? Well, here’s the thing.

While Figment himself is as cute and mischievous as ever, the ride itself can feel a bit…dated. I mean, it’s been around since ’83, with a revamp in 2002, but you can still kinda tell. The animatronics are showing their age, and the storyline might not hit the mark for everyone.

Sure, it’s a classic, and if you’re a first-timer or if you’ve got a soft spot for Figment then go for it, but if you’re looking for something that’s more of an interactive and visually stunning imagination fix, maybe head over to Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Peter Pan’s Flight

You might have guessed that this one was coming, so let’s get right into it. Peter Pan’s Flight in Magic Kingdom is one of those classic rides that everyone knows about. Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to love about this ride. Flying over London, and swooping through Neverland, it’s like stepping right into the movie. But… (you knew there was a “but” coming)

First off, the lines. Oh boy, the lines. They’re consistently crazy long. I mean, we’re talking waits that can stretch for over an hour, even on what you’d think are slower days, and for a ride that’s over in just a few minutes, that’s a big chunk of your day spent standing around.

Sure, the nostalgia factor is real and yes, those classic animatronics and scenes bring back all the feels. But let’s be real, they’re not exactly cutting-edge compared to some of the newer stuff in the park. So, if you’re all about the latest and greatest, Peter Pan’s Flight might not quite hit the mark for you.

Now, don’t get me wrong, if you’re a first-timer or you’re absolutely obsessed with Peter Pan, then yeah, go for it. It’s a piece of Disney history, after all. But if you’re looking to maximize your time and get the most bang for your buck, you might want to consider whether waiting in line for Peter Pan’s Flight is really worth it, or if there’s something else nearby that’ll give you a similar thrill without the wait like Pirates of the Caribbean.

Slinky Dog Dash

When you stroll through Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and you see this giant, adorable Slinky Dog coaster weaving through the air, it’s hard not to get excited, right? Well, that’s Slinky Dog Dash for you.

Now, I’m not gonna lie, hopping on Slinky Dog Dash is like stepping into Andy’s backyard and embarking on a wild adventure. The twists, turns, and drops make it a total blast, especially for families. Plus, those views from the top of the coaster? Absolutely unbeatable. You can see Toy Story Land in all its glory, and it’s pretty darn cool.

But here’s the thing: everyone else thinks it’s cool too. And that means the lines can get crazy long. No, like really, REALLY LONG! Even with all the Individual Lightning Lane options, you might still find yourself waiting for what feels like forever.

Slinky Dog Dash is a hoot, but when you’re staring down a wait time that’s longer than your favorite Pixar movie, you start to wonder if it’s worth it. Sure, the ride’s fun, but is it “stand-in-line-for-two-hours” fun?

Personally, if I’m in the mood for similar thrills with shorter waits, I head over to Magic Kingdom and hop on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Na’vi River Journey

Let me set the stage for this one: You stroll into Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, ready to be blown away by the wonders of the Na’vi River Journey. You’re promised an immersive journey through the bioluminescent forests of Pandora. Sounds pretty epic, right? BUT.

As someone who’s been there, done that, I gotta be real with you. While the queue line gives you a taste of Pandora’s beauty, the ride itself left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. Sure, it’s visually stunning and all, but it lacks that certain spark of excitement and engagement that I crave in Disney attractions.

Don’t even get me started on the wait times. I mean, this ride has been open for several years, and yet it still draws crowds like nobody’s business. So the question becomes, is it really worth it?

Sure, if it’s your first time in Pandora, go ahead and check it out. But if you’re after some serious thrills, you might want to look elsewhere. Maybe splurge on an Individual Lightning Lane for Avatar Flight of Passage for a truly immersive experience.

Frozen Ever After

If you’re a fan of Anna, Elsa, and the gang, you’re probably itching to hop on this boat ride in EPCOT’s Norway Pavilion. Hey, I get it. The idea of cruising through Arendelle, belting out “Let It Go” along the way, sounds like a blast. But here’s the scoop from someone who’s been there: It’s not always a must-do for me.

Sure, there’s a lot to love about Frozen Ever After. The animatronics are top-notch, the music is catchy as ever, and the attention to detail in recreating the movie’s scenes is seriously impressive. Plus, the queue line itself is like stepping right into a winter wonderland. BUT.

The wait times can be brutal. Even years after its debut, this ride still draws crowds like crazy. Unless you’re willing to shell out for Disney Genie+ (we’ve got a video on using Genie+ in EPCOT right here for you!), you might find yourself stuck in line for what feels like an eternity. If you’re looking for a similar Arendelle adventure with less of a wait, sing along to “Let It Go” during the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

This family roller coaster in Magic Kingdom takes you to work with the Seven Dwarfs — down in the diamond mine. I love the amazing views at the top of the hill on this swaying ride and the fun features in the queue line. BUT.

The wait for this ride is long every day. It has been open for nearly 10 years (!!), and it is still crazy popular. In fact, it’s still an Individual Lightning Lane ride — one where you can purchase a return time to ride it with little to no wait. But is it worth forking over the extra money to avoid waits of an hour or more? Maybe if it’s your first ride. But if you’re looking for thrills, you can get similar ones with less wait (usually) on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. And if you’re looking for a serious roller coaster, spend that Individual Lightning Lane money on TRON Lightcycle / Run instead.

Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Let’s talk about the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. It’s the high-speed indoor coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios where you basically become a roadie for Aerosmith. Now, don’t get me wrong, this ride is like a shot of pure adrenaline. You’re catapulted from 0 to 60 mph in the blink of an eye, all while jamming out to some classic Aerosmith tunes. It’s a wild ride through the neon-lit streets of LA, and it’s definitely got that “wow” factor. BUT.

For some, the intense launch and inversions may be a bit too much to handle. The darkness of the ride combined with the loud music can be overwhelming for those sensitive to sensory stimuli. Additionally, the single rider line can sometimes be a hit or miss in terms of wait times, making it a gamble if you’re trying to skip the queue.

For a thrilling coaster experience with a different flavor, test your bravery on Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom or scream your heart out on Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom!

Well, we hope that you now have a few extra ideas of which rides you could skip on your next Disney World trip. We’ll be sure to keep you updated with more Disney news, so follow along so that you’re always in the loop!

Looking for more Cast Member tips and secrets? Click here!  

Which rides do you always skip at Disney World? Let us know in the comments! 

The post I Was a Disney World Cast Member. These Are The Rides I Always SKIP. first appeared on the disney food blog.