Fantasy Springs is FINALLY here, and so are its NEW RIDES. We’ve been lucky enough to get a preview of the new land, so we’re taking you INSIDE!

Rapunzel’s Forest, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

Tokyo DisneySea’s highly anticipated new land, Fantasy Springs, is opening on June 6th; but we’re getting the chance to ride the land’s three BRAND NEW RIDES, including one based on a beloved Disney film that’s NEVER had a ride before. Welcome to Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival!

Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

This is pretty much everything I dreamed it would be! And while we’re not riding until a little later this week, Disney released a bunch of photos that we couldn’t help sharing!

The newest attraction is based on Tangled, Disney’s 2010 telling of the story of Rapunzel; and Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival is based on one of the film’s most iconic sequences. Let’s head inside!

Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

In Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, we’ll climb into a gondola that seats about 16 guests (whom we get to share our romantic adventure with LOL)! We’ll find Rapunzel in her tower at first, singing “When Will My Life Begin.”

Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

But who’s that? Flynn Rider?! Of course it is! And his trusty steed Maximus!

Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

Oh, and of course you’ll be able to spy Pascal throughout the ride. What else is a sidekick for?

Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

Soon, Rapunzel escapes, and we get to follow along the seriously beautiful and epic and energetic scenes (can you tell how much I love this ride already?!) to watch while she falls in love!

Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

Seriously, the lighting is perfect, isn’t it?! Tokyo DisneySea just can’t miss!

But wait. It’s about to get SO MUCH BETTER.

Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

Are you crying? I’m crying. This scene of Punzie and Flynn amidst zillions of floating lanterns is simply everything any Tangled fan has ever dreamed of.

Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

Kinda makes you believe in love a little bit more, doesn’t it? This is where they sing “I See The Light,” of course!

OK, so there are just a few of the pics Disney released. But stay tuned ’cause we’re actually going to be riding this very soon and taking you along with us! Are you following us on social media? Now’s the time! (Please and thank you very much please and thank you.)

Rapunzel’s lantern Festival FINALLY brings Punzie a Disney ride in spectacular fashion. And don’t forget to keep hangin’ with us this week for TONS more Fantasy Springs goodness! We’re pulling the all-nighters on both sides of the world to bring you so much content you won’t even believe it!

EVERYTHING in this new land opens on June 6th, 2024. Are you ready?

Read This Before You Try To Visit Disney’s NEW Theme Park Expansion; Fantasy Springs

Do you wish Disney would replicate this new Tangled attraction in one if the U.S. parks? Let us know in the comments below. 

Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ

The post FIRST LOOK INSIDE Disney’s NEW Tangled Ride: Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival in Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs! first appeared on the disney food blog.

Helloooo from Tokyo DisneySea and its absolutely incredible new land, Fantasy Springs! We’ve been invited by Disney to preview the land, and we’re about to go inside for the FIRST TIME. So stay tuned for a whole bunch of LIVE experiences eating, riding, and exploring the Peter Pan, Tangled, and Frozen themed areas of the land!

Rapunzel’s Forest Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

But first, we have to share THESE! Disney released a bunch of media photos of the new land, including inside the restaurants and rides. And of course, we have to show you inside the real live Snuggly Duckling Restaurant in the Rapunzel’s Forest area of the park!

Snuggly Duckling, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

Now, if going inside an honest-to-goodness real life version of one of the restaurants we’ve been begging Disney to create for years isn’t enough, let me assure you…it does NOT disappoint!

This restaurant is based on Tangled, Disney’s 2010 telling of the story of Rapunzel. It’s a rustic counter-service restaurant that makes you feel like you stepped right into the film. (Do you have your frying pan?!)

Snuggly Duckling, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

There seems to be plenty of room in here — enough for 620 guests according to Disney. And one of the focal points is the Rapunzel and Maximus mural!

Snuggly Duckling, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

Wood and flagstone flooring (are those flagstones?! someone correct me if they’re not…) is punctuated with massive, thick wooden columns which are topped in turn with a wooden beam ceiling. We are definitely in the forest here, my friends!

Snuggly Duckling, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

Another focal point is, of course, the STAGE. Because we ALL HAVE OUR DREAMS here at the Snuggly Duckling! The stage is held up with ale barrels and holds a rustic-looking, but still “grand” piano! The whole thing is very makeshift and depicts the scene from the movie perfectly.

The details are impeccable, though. Check out this puppet show featuring Pascal and Maximus!

Snuggly Duckling, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

Around the beams and lanterns, you can see Rapunzel’s stamp on the place, too, of course. Look at the whimsical paintings she’s done! They kind of look like strands of her hair!

Snuggly Duckling, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

The last focal point mural showcases all of our friends, including Flynn Rider, Rapunzel, Ulf, and more!

Snuggly Duckling, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs

But what can you get for grub here? Well, like I said, our review is coming up soon. But Disney has showcased a couple of items like the Ducklings Dream Cheeseburger…

Ducklings Dream Cheeseburger

…and the Sweet Ever After Dessert!

Sweet Ever After Dessert

Some great news for those of you visiting Fantasy Springs soon: The Snuggly Duckling will take MOBILE ORDER!! Be sure to download the Tokyo Disneyland app before you go and familiarize yourself with how to use it. It’s a huge help!

The Snuggly Duckling, and all of the restaurants and rides in the new Fantasy Springs in Tokyo DisneySea, will officially open on June 6th, 2024! Stay tuned to DFB for more live coverage of our media preview this week!

Read This Before You Try To Visit Disney’s NEW Theme Park Expansion; Fantasy Springs

Oh, and by the way — did you know we have a whole guidebook for Tokyo Disney?!? Yep, we sure do! Check it out below!

Do you wish Disney would replicate this new Tangled restaurant in one if the U.S. parks? Let us know in the comments below. 

Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ

The post FIRST LOOK INSIDE Disney’s Brand New Snuggly Duckling Restaurant in Tokyo DisneySea’s Fantasy Springs! first appeared on the disney food blog.

Just a month away from the grand opening of Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea, Tokyo Disney Resort has shared in-depth photos of the land’s attractions — including Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey.

Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey

Exterior

Cast Members at Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey will wear Arendellian-inspired garb, with green pants and skirts and purple patterned vests.

Winter coats will also be an option on the colder days.

The attraction’s exterior looks like the entrance to the Kingdom of Arendelle.

Elsa’s ice palace can be seen on the North Mountain in the distance.

Queue

The queue takes guests from the exterior of Arendelle Castle through its many halls.

Olaf can be spotted waving to guests from various windows throughout the queue.

Signs of Anna and Elsa are sprinkled throughout the castle.

Load

At load, guests will board sleighs and head out on their journey.

On Ride

This family boat ride retells the story of “Frozen,” starting with Grand Pabbie sharing stories of Anna and Elsa’s childhood, all the way to “Let It Go” and the sisters’ final confrontation aginst Hans of the Southern Isles.

What do you think about this first look at Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey? Sound off in the comments.

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

The post FIRST LOOK at Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey Queue and Ride in Fantasy Springs appeared first on WDW News Today.

Dates announced for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2024, a price increase for Not-So-Scary tickets, and 2024 Disney Halloween merchandise revealed — all this and more in today’s daily recap for Monday, May 6, 2024.

Daily Recap for 5/6/2024

Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

• Walt Disney World has announced the dates for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2024.
• Disney has also shared five new or changing offerings for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2024.
• Earlier today, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure appeared on a list of attractions that would be open during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this fall.
• However, later this afternoon, the attraction was removed from that list.
• A new decorative section of pavement in the queue for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has been revealed.
• Six months after we first reported extensive filth buildup on the exterior of TRON Lightcycle / Run, the attraction was finally cleaned.
• The new “Smellephants on Parade” experience now has a prize fro “Whiff-sistants” who complete the scavenger hunt.

Disney Springs

• We were recently invited to attend a media preview of the new VIP “Page to Stage Signature Experience” for Cirque du Soleil’s “Drawn to Life” at Disney Springs. Check out our report.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• New awnings have been installed on the Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs kiosk at Disney’s BoardWalk, as the structure nears completion, and hopefully, opening.

New Merchandise

• Disney has shared a sneak peek at the Halloween merchandise that will be available this year, including Haunted Mansion apparel and more.
• We also got a first look at some of the merchandise for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2024.
• D-Tech MaDe kiosks at Walt Disney World have new “Star Wars” designs available for May the 4th and the 25th anniversary of “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace.”

Other Walt Disney World News

• A ticket price range has been revealed for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, showing the cost is slightly higher than last year.

Disneyland Resort

• Disney also announced the dates for this year’s Oogie Boogie Bash, the separately ticketed Halloween event at Disney California Adventure.
• Disneyland Resort shared a first look at the merchandise collections that will be available for Halloween Time and Oogie Boogie Bash 2024.
• A new Big Al statue with MagicBand+ interactivity has been installed near Grizzly River Run at Disney California Adventure.
• The Pixar Fest sculpture near Carthay Circle at Disney California Adventure now features sound effects activated by MagicBand+.

Tokyo Disney Resort

• Tokyo Disney Resort has released the first look inside Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, the first-ever ride inspired by “Tangled,” coming to Fantasy Springs.

Disney Cruise Line

• Disney Cruise Line has revealed more details about the Haunted Mansion Parlor bar on the Disney Treasure.
• We also got a first look at new costumes for Mickey, Minnie, and Donald for Halloween on the High Seas 2024.

Entertainment and Media

Disney+

• A new teaser trailer for the Disney+ four-part animated special “LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy” has been released, showing Darth JarJar Binks.

WDW News Today

Halloween Party Dates & Details, New Haunted Mansion Scenes

That’s it for today; we hope you enjoyed this Daily Recap. Thanks for stopping by, and we’ll see you tomorrow!

The post Dates Announced for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2024 & More: Daily Recap (5/6/24) appeared first on WDW News Today.

Tokyo Disney Resort has shared extensive photos detailing Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure, one of the new attractions in Fantasy Springs, which opens this summer.

Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure

Exterior

Cast Members will wear costumes inspired by Never Land, featuring pirate-like waistbands, straw hats, and colorful vests.

Queue

The queue travels from outside to inside, taking guests through a series of caves full of detritus and shipwreck parts before leading to the Lost Boys’ hideout.

On Ride

This 3D attraction will have guests join Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, and the Lost Kids as they rescue John from Captain Hook and his band of pirates.

Are you excited for the opening of Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea? Let us know what you think of this first look at Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure in the comments.

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

The post FIRST LOOK at Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure in Fantasy Springs appeared first on WDW News Today.

A new chapter of a story told a long, long time ago is finally getting ready to emerge from the deep, dark sea.

Ursula

Yes, we’re talking about Ursula, but not in The Little Mermaid movie. We’re talking about Disney’s new trading card game, Lorcana! A new chapter is set to debut soon and Ursula is the star of the tale. Let’s take a peek at what you can expect soon!

What is Lorcana?

Since August 2023, Disney and Ravensburger have released three collections of this trading card game — The First Chapter, Rise of the Floodborn, and a Disney100 collection. Then, in March, a new set was released, Into the Inklands. Now, an all-new chapter will be debuting — Ursula’s Return! The game combines the thrill of strategy with the whimsy of Disney storytelling.

Into the Inklands ©Disney

The story goes that players are “Illumineers” who have landed in a new realm, Lorcana. You must go on quests to search and find the “lore” that was spread out during Rise of the Floodborn when a flood of mixed ink was accidentally unleashed. Your goal in the game is to collect 20 lore (points) before the other players. Your quest to gain lore and challenge your opponents to slow them down.

©Disney

Put simply, the game is a race to get 20 points by using the actions that are on each card. You can challenge your opponent and eliminate (banish) their cards that are in play to limit their opportunities to gain points. It’s a game of strategy with a bit of luck of the draw.

Ursula’s Return

Ursula is returning from the murky depths of her sea cave in the new chapter Ursula’s Return! An Ursula glimmer is ready to put plans into motion after being unleashed from the Great Illuminary. We’ll find out just what she’s willing to do for power when the new set releases in May.

©Disney

The new cards will be for sale in hobby stores starting May 17th and everywhere else on May 31st. But don’t worry, we got a sneak peek at these new cards and just had to show you!

Two new starter sets, along with other items, will be available to purchase so you can build your deck.

2 new starter decks!

A new Amber and Amethyst deck will feature the Madrigal family and more!

The Madrigal family!

While the Sapphire and Steel set has a mix of powerful characters such as Anna and Hercules!

Anna and Hercules

Two new foil cards will come with each starter set. Anna and Hercules are in the Sapphire and Steel set.

Anna and Hercules

And Bruno and Mirabel foil cards are in the Amber and Amethyst set. (Yes, we’re talking about Bruno!)

Mirabel and Bruno

Location cards were a new feature in Into the Inklands, and they have been continued in Ursula’s Revenge. We didn’t have particularly strong feelings one way or the other about location cards, and that remains true.

In the Sapphire and Steel set, you can visit the land of the gods — Thebes.

Thebes

But in the Amber and Amethyst set, you can visit Casa Madrigal!

Casa Madrigal

The difference is this set and the others is that you now have new actions, songs, locations, and characters to use in the game! Otherwise, the game is played the same with the same goal — race your opponent. It’s still a lot of fun with only two players or with a whole group. Plus, now you can plus up your deck even more!

©Disney

Game Play

To play the game, you need your own deck of 60 cards. You can use one of the starter decks or mix-and-match cards from any of the different chapters. If you’re going for strategy, you can design a stacked deck of masterful items, characters, locations, actions, and songs. You do not need The First Chapter or Rise of the Floodborn to play the game; the new Ursula Returns cards can work independently. You can also get booster packs that gives you an additional 12 cards to help you customize your deck! New Ursula Returns booster packs will be available.

©Disney

10 Steps for Playing Lorcana

Setting Up

1. Determine the first player by flipping a coin, rolling a die, or so on.
2. Shuffle your deck. You can only have 60 cards in your deck.
3. Set your lore tracker to 0.
4. Draw 7 cards for your starting hand. You can look at the cards in your hand, but not anyone else’s hand!
5. Alter your starting hand if you choose.

Beginning Phase of a Turn

1. Ready — Ready your exerted cards by turning them upright. (Exerted cards were used the previous turn which means they end up sideways.)
2. Set — Check for effects that happen at the start of your turn and follow their instructions.
3. Draw — Draw a card from the top of your deck. The first player skips this step on their first turn.

Main Phase of a Turn

1. Once per turn, you can put a card facedown into your inkwell at any time. (Your inkwell is basically like your bank and ink is the currency.)
2. You can take any actions listed below, any number of times, in any order you want. This allows you to take full advantage of what your cards do in combination with other effects.
   • Play a card. You must pay a certain amount of ink for your character to be played, but you have to wait for the “ink to dry” (your next turn) before you can use their abilities (unless the card specifies differently.)
   • Use a character ability that doesn’t require them to exert. (Exert means turn sideways and be in position to be attacked by opponents.)
   • Use an item ability.
   • Use a location ability.
   • Quest
   • Challenge an opponent’s location or exerted character.
   • Use an ability that requires them to exert.

There are detailed instructions for these steps in the quick start rules book that you get with a starter deck.

Game Play

Overall, I love this game! I will continue to play it so I can enjoy the new plots and lore. I hope you all can enjoy this game as much as I do!

For more Disney news, keep following DFB!

FULL REVIEW of Disney’s NEW Lorcana: Into the Inklands Card Game, Online Now!

Do you enjoy playing Lorcana? Let us know in the comments!

The post FULL REVIEW of Disney’s NEW Lorcana: Ursula’s Return Card Game — Coming Soon! first appeared on the disney food blog.

To celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Disneyland Resort has launched several new special menu items, including a number of offerings at Aunt Cass Cafe in Disney California Adventure.

Aunt Cass Cafe

Aunt Cass Cafe is located in San Fransokyo Square in Disney California Adventure, the reimagined land themed to “Big Hero 6.”

• California Roll Sandwich – $11.99
• Yuzu Bread Pudding – $7.29
• Yuzu Lemonade Coffee – $6.99

California Roll Sandwich – $11.99

Shrimp crab salad, wasabi mayo, and yakisoba sauce in a milk bread bun, served with garlic chips

Rating out of 7: 4

The flavors of this roll work well together for us, with a slight lean to the sweeter side. The shrimp is super fresh and well-cooked. The seaweed salad and cucumbers are nice and crispy. However, the roll does not work as the vehicle to serve this sandwich; our bread was a little too hard and crusty, and far too messy to enjoy eating.

We would have preferred this be served on a pile of yakisoba noodles or wrapped up as a spring roll. The menu also says that this sandwich is served with a wasabi mayo, but we didn’t get that flavor at all, and mostly tasted eel sauce as the condiment. The garlic chips were great, as always.

Yuzu Bread Pudding – $7.29

Yuzu bread pudding with yuzu lemon curd and blueberry compote in a graham cracker crust with whipped topping

Rating out of 7: 6

The bread pudding at Aunt Cass Cafe doesn’t usually disappoint, and this is no exception. No one in our group was a fan of blueberries, but we ate this entire serving. The bread pudding itself was delicious; lightly crispy on the outside and super moist and soft on the inside. The lemon curd was just sweet enough, and the acidity of the lemon cut right through the heavy bread pudding.

Our serving also came with a hefty portion of whipped cream, but it tasted light and airy. The blueberry compote tasted like a combination of raspberries and blueberries to us, and we thought it paired with the other flavors at play. This is a very large dish, and we think it’s well worth your money for the price and easy to share.

Yuzu Lemonade Coffee – $6.99

Yuzu lemonade layered with cold brew coffee

Rating out of 7: 1

We only award points to this cold brew because it is served in a Baymax cup. This drink does not sound great on paper and, unfortunately, is also disappointing in practice. We would rather not have lemonade mixed in our cold brew. The acidity of the lemonade and bitterness of the cold brew just do not work together here.

Have you tried any of these new items from Aunt Cass Cafe? If so, let us know what you think in the comments.

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

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