Y’all, Genie+ is COMPLEX.

We’ve spent a TON of time learning about this skip-the-line service so that we can make sure that you’re prepared for any Genie+ experience you may encounter on your trip. We’ve told you about all of our tips and tricks, how to maximize your day and even all of the changes that have happened to it since it was announced. However, there is one MISTAKE that we have seen people making in the parks, and we have to talk about it!

Genie+ is Disney’s new skip-the-line service that is available for guests to purchase on the day of their visit. This service allows you to select a designated return time for a specific attraction. Once it reaches your return time, you can hop in the Lightning Lane line and skip the (often much longer) standby wait!

We should also take a moment to define the “Individual Lightning Lane” terminology. Certain (a.k.a. the newer, more popular) rides in Disney World are NOT available on Genie+. Instead, if you want to skip the line for these popular attractions, you must purchase an Individual Lightning Lane. The prices will vary from day to day, and Individual Lightning Lane access can only be used once per person per day. That means you can’t use the paid Lightning Lane to ride Cosmic Rewind more than once per day!

Picture this: You’re in Disney World using Genie+ like a pro. All of a sudden, the ride you had a Lightning Lane booked for has to shut down…right before your arrival window. How could they?!

We’ve all been there, and it can be so frustrating — especially if it’s a ride you’ve been looking forward to all day. Well, there is no need to worry! When this happens, you’ll receive a Multi-experience Redemption Pass — a free Lightning Lane pass that you can use at any time for select attractions. 

Problem solved, right? Well, maybe not so much. The big mistake that we’ve been seeing people make with these Passes is that they don’t look at the attractions that the Redemption Pass is eligible for. In fact, we watched Cast Members turn away a whole line of people who thought they could use their Multi-experience Redemption Pass at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train after Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed. Trust us — Cast Members are BEGGING you to read the fine print on those special passes!

When you receive one of these passes, there is some IMPORTANT information included. The Pass tells you where you are allowed to use the Lightning Lane and other important details so you can set yourself up for success while using it. 

Recently, we have been seeing a lot of guests get turned away when trying to use these Multi-experience Redemption Passes at rides that utilize the Individual Lightning Lane system. That is because those specific rides do not apply to the Multi-experience Redemption Pass, so keep that in mind when choosing where to use it!

Keep in mind that with these Multi-experience Redemption Passes, you can only use them in the park where your original Lightning Lane was booked. For example, if you book a Lightning Lane for The Haunted Mansion and it closes down during your return window, you will have to select another ride at Magic Kingdom to use the multi-experience redemption pass for, even if you’re planning to hop to another park later.

We know there are so many nuances when it comes to Genie+. We’re always keeping our eyes open for tips and tricks for this service, so keep checking in with us to see what we find next!

The Big Disney Genie+ Rule That EVERYONE Gets Wrong!

What Disney ride do you always want to skip the line for? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The MISTAKE Cast Members Want You to Stop Making with Disney Genie+ first appeared on the disney food blog.

There’s no doubt that a trip to Disney can be expensive. But even as experienced Disney-goers, we STILL got sticker shock from these souvenir prices!

There are TONS of different souvenirs to choose from around the Disney parks. From Minnie ears to tumblers, there’s something for just about everyone. But if you’re planning on doing some shopping around Disney, beware — we’ve seen some SUPER expensive souvenir prices lately!

One of the standard souvenirs that you’ll see all over the Disney parks are pins, featuring all kinds of different characters, attractions, and more. But if you’re planning on doing some pin collecting in the parks, you might want to budget a little extra cash. Because the prices on those cute little pins are getting out of hand!

We recently stopped by Westward Ho Trading Company in Disneyland Park where we spotted this Disney Villains pin set for a whopping $34.99! To be fair, it does include four pins. But still, it’s hard to swallow that price tag for four relatively small pins!

And those weren’t the only pricey pins we found. Like this Sleeping Beauty Pin that’s $19.99 — and this one DOES just have one pin included!

Plus, check out this Donald Duck Pin…

…and this Snow White Pin, which are both priced at $17.99 each!

We love a cute Disney pin as much as the next person, but the prices of some of them are a bit rich for our blood!

We’ll continue to report back with more souvenir finds from around the Disney parks, so keep an eye on DFB to help keep your wish list up to date!

5 Stupidly Expensive Disney World Hotel Rooms That Might Actually Be Worth It

How many Disney pins do you own? Let us know in the comments!

The post These Disney Souvenir Prices Are Getting Out of Hand first appeared on the disney food blog.

We know what you’re thinking. You probably read the title of this post and thought, “Well, every week at Disney World is practically perfect, if you ask me.”

You’re not wrong, my friend. However, there were some things that we saw and did in the parks this week that had us thinking we’d officially hit PEAK perfection. From a great hotel experience, to seeing the first hints of an upcoming EPCOT festival, to finally checking out an iconic Magic Kingdom souvenir, it’s safe to say we had a GREAT week. Let’s talk about it!

We’ll start over at at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.

We went horseback riding! 

This week, we headed out for an early morning horseback trail ride at the Tri-Circle D Ranch after being invited by Disney to check it out. These recreational rides are hosted here at the hotel and campground and are offered at various times throughout the day. You can book these recreational rides on the My Disney Experience app or by calling Disney directly to make a reservation.

This is a great family-friendly experience that could be especially great for kiddos who love animals. Our guides were fixed at the front and very back of our group as we were guided through the mile-long trail. The whole experience took about 45 minutes and the entire trail brought us around the side of the property, by the existing wilderness cabins, and rounded back. Along our trail ride, we talked with our guides about the wildlife found around the campgrounds as well as the care and nature of the horses. It was truly one of the best experiences we’ve partaken in at Disney World and can’t recommend it enough.

Click here to see what else is new at Disney World’s hotels

Next, let’s head over to Magic Kingdom!

We remembered that some ICONIC souvenirs existed. 

One of the most iconic souvenirs that you can get at Magic Kingdom is SILHOUETTE ART! This classic souvenir has been around for decades, but it often gets overlooked as an option. Over the years, we’ve seen people get silhouettes made of their family, friends, children, and even their pets! You either need to be present for the portrait session or have a photo of the person (or pet) who you’d like a silhouette made of. Honestly, I want one for my whole entire family.

Prices for an individual silhouette start at $14, and there are several places you can get one done in Disney World. Magic Kingdom has two locations — one on Center Street (off of Main Street, U.S.A. right outside the Crystal Arts shop) and one in Liberty Square. You can get a silhouette portrait for $14 or a pet silhouette for $18. Disney also offers oval frames for an additional $13.95. Keep in mind that those prices are excluding tax.

There are also silhouette stands in Disney Springs in The Marketplace area and at EPCOT in the France Pavilion. This is such a timeless souvenir that you can appreciate or years to come. While this totally isn’t anything new, we think that these souvenirs could get a lot of attention soon with vintage home decor trends on the rise.

Click here to see what is new in Magic Kingdom!

For the last stop of the day, we’re headed to EPCOT. 

We saw a BRAND NEW topiary!

EPCOT’s 2024 Flower and Garden Festival will kick off on February 28th and run through May 27th. This is one of our FAVORITE festivals, as it brings in gorgeous blooms and topiaries along with some fresh springtime eats. Lately, we’ve been giddy as we’ve watched the first topiaries of the year be placed around the parks. A NEW one just arrived, and we were thrilled to see that it’s of FIGMENT!

He can be found in the all-new World Celebration Gardens. Since this is an all-new land in EPCOT, this is the VERY FIRST topiary to ever be featured here. We think it’s pretty neat that it gets to be Figment. PhotoPass photographers are stationed in front of the topiary, so you can snag a photo with Figment and his flowers in front of Spaceship Earth.

Click here to see what else is new in EPCOT. 

Of course, that’s not all that happened this week. New things pop up at Disney World seemingly every few MINUTES. Be sure to click through the links below to see all of that for yourself.

We’re at Disney World every day, so we’ll be sure to keep you updated with more news that comes our way. Make sure to follow along for more so that you never miss a thing.

Click here to see what’s coming SOON to Disney World

Will you be visiting Disney World soon? Let us know in the comments!

The post 3 Things That Made Our Week at Disney World Practically Perfect first appeared on the disney food blog.

A measles outbreak is currently under investigation in Florida, just ahead of the start of spring break season.

The spring break season typically means a huge influx of visitors in Florida, as crowds of people travel to the state for vacation. And now, a potential health concern has arisen in the state, just as spring break travel prepares to begin.

According to CNN, the Florida Department of Health in Broward County is investigating multiple cases of measles as part of an outbreak at an elementary school in Weston, a city in south Florida. At least six cases have been reported at the school in the past week.

Family physician and public health specialist Dr. George Rust commented, “Most kids in our public schools have had the vaccine, although there’s been some slippage in that in recent years. The kids who are not vaccinated, if they’re exposed to measles, 90% of them will get measles. So it’s a highly infectious disease, very contagious.”

On Tuesday, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo wrote a letter about the outbreak to parents and guardians, stating that it is “normally recommended” for people who have been exposed to measles and who are not vaccinated against the virus or who do not have a history of infection to stay home for up to 21 days, the length of the incubation period for measles.

However, in the letter, Ladapo wrote that the state health department is “deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance.” This contradicts guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which states that “unvaccinated children, including those who have a medical or other exemption to vaccination, must be excluded from school through 21 days after their most recent exposure.”

The CDC advises that measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to complications and turn deadly. Symptoms may include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a rash of red spots. In rare cases, it may lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, or death. It can also weaken the immune system and may “delete” its immune memory.

Experts recommend that children get the measles, mumps, and rubella or MMR vaccine in two doses. One dose is about 93% effective at preventing measles if you come into contact with the virus. Two doses are about 97% effective. According to a 2023 report, nationwide, about 92% of US children have gotten the MMR vaccine by age 2.

Measles cases have emerged in several states this year. As of Thursday, 35 cases have been reported by 15 jurisdictions: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. In comparison, a total of 58 cases were reported for all of 2023.

We’ll be on the lookout for more updates as the spring break season gets closer, so stay tuned to DFB for more news.

I Travel Full Time. Here Are the Things I ALWAYS Do When I Get to My Hotel Room.

 

The post Measles Outbreak in Florida Makes Headlines Right Before Spring Break Season Begins first appeared on the disney food blog.

We love staying at Disney World hotels! Don’t you?!

Listen, the Disney World parks aren’t the only way to be immersed in the magic. You’ll find the Disney World hotels to be lovely bastions of Disney magic immersion no matter which one you choose. One of the team members was a previous Cast Member and they thought they’d share some Disney World hotel “secrets” with you, so let’s go!

You might think that your hotel is only the place where you lay your head down at night, that all the excitement is just at the parks, but you’d be surprised! Here’s one “secret” you should know about and a couple others sprinkled in too!

Secret #1: Surprise Character Encounters!

Picture this: you’re enjoying a relaxing day by the pool, and suddenly, your favorite Disney character, say Goofy, strolls by, ready to greet you with a warm hug or a high-five.

Yup! Disney magic truly knows no bounds, and characters often make surprise appearances at hotels. Keep your eyes peeled, especially during special events or holidays!

Secret #2: Pin Trading – Beyond the Parks Edition!

Don’t stop your pin-trading fun just because you’re not in the parks. You’ll find that many hotel lobbies and shops have pin boards just waiting to be explored.

While you’re there, you can trade with fellow guests and Cast Members (they might have special limited-edition pins!), so, don’t forget to pack your pins and keep an eye out for those hidden gems during your stay.

Secret #3: Activities Galore!

Don’t fall for the misconception that Disney hotels are only comfy beds and Mickey waffles. They offer so much more than that! There are loads of fun activities at your Disney hotel that you can enjoy!

For example, at several of the hotels, you can make s’mores and hang by a campfire, watch movies under the stars, do horseback riding, do archery, make a lei, or do some tie-dying. Also, many of these activities are free or very little cost.

The more ya know! We’ll be sure to keep you updated with more Disney news and even fun behind-the-scenes facts we learned while working at Disney World. Make sure to follow along for more so that you never miss a thing.

Looking for more Cast Member secrets? Click here! 

Did you know this about Disney World? Let us know in the comments! 

The post I Was a Disney World Cast Member, and I’m Letting You In On a HOTEL SECRET first appeared on the disney food blog.

One of the most unique ways to experience the Disney parks is by attending one of their exclusive after-hours events!

Last year, Disney announced the 2024 dates for the Disneyland After Dark events. The events have several different themes, including a few Disney Channel-themed nights for guests craving some serious nostalgia!

There’s a Disney Channel Nite scheduled on both March 5th and 7th, 2024, and tickets are currently on sale!

Disney previously announced a few of the festivities that will be part of Disney Channel Nite, including:

• A Phineas and Ferb dance party
• Camp Rock karaoke
• The Ultimate Disney Channel Trivia Challenge
• Special photo opportunities and snacks

But that’s not all! We’ve got even MORE details about what you can expect at these after-hours events! Other offerings at Disney Channel Nite will include:

• Descendants Musical Journey at the Rivers of America
• DescenDance
• Disney Channel Rocks
• High School Musical / Zombies Pep Rally

And for guests who love a character experience, you’re in luck too! The following characters will also be meeting during the event:

• Kim Possible
• Baloo, King Louie, and Don Karnage
• Lilo, Stitch, and Experiments
• Chip, Dale, and Monterey Jack
• Darkwing Duck and Launchpad McQuack
• Goofy and Max
• Rapunzel and Flynn Rider
• Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Scrooge McDuck
• Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse

We’ll continue to keep an eye out for any more updates to the Disneyland After Dark events, so stay tuned to DFB to stay in the loop!

NEW MAP Shows Layout of Disneyland’s $1.9 Billion Resort Expansion

Are you attending one of the Disneyland After Dark events? Let us know in the comments!

The post NEW Details Announced for Exclusive Disney Channel Night at Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog.