REVIEW: Rancho Del Zocalo ‘Fantasmic’ Dining Package Beats Blue Bayou

“Fantasmic!” returned to Disneyland last week and guests can enjoy priority seating with a “Fantasmic!” dining package. Guests can book their dining package online, with premium packages available at Blue Bayou Restaurant and River Belle Terrace, and standard packages at River Belle Terrace and Rancho Del Zocalo Restaurante.

We already reviewed the Blue Bayou package and are now reviewing the more affordable Rancho Del Zocalo package.

‘Fantasmic!’ Dining Package Details

A sign for Fantasmic! Dining Experience reads: "Ignite the Night with Extraordinary Offerings. Fantasmic! Dining Packages. Check-In located to the left through the dining room.

The Ranco Del Zocalo Restaurante package is $35 for adults and $35 for kids. A Magic Key discount is available. Guests can choose lunch (11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) or dinner (3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.) but the meals are the same. They include an entrée, fountain beverage, and dessert. Guests get a voucher for reserved viewing at one of that evening’s “Fantasmic!” performances.

Rancho Del Zocalo Check-In

People standing in line inside a themed indoor attraction with rustic decor, stained glass windows, hanging lights, and themed uniforms.

Guests check in for the dining package with a Cast Member stationed at the barrel podium inside the restaurant. They will find your name, then give you a menu and a slip of paper with your party size. You then get in line to pay.

A hand holding a show ticket for a 9 PM performance with the words "Party of: 2" and an image of a dragon and a person on stage.

The piece of paper notes your “Fantasmic!” viewing time (9 p.m. for us) but this is not the voucher you will use to enter the viewing area.

Close-up of a hand holding a paper with "FANTASMIC!" text, informing it is not a valid ticket and instructing to present it to a Rancho cashier for a ticket voucher for a Fantasmic! reservation.

Present this paper to the cashier when you pay for your package and they will then give you the FastPass voucher for “Fantasmic!”

A hand holding a Disneyland park ticket for reserved viewing of Fantasmic on May 26, 2024, at 9:00 PM. The ticket is valid for one guest and needs to be redeemed at Harbour Galley by 8:45 PM.

The voucher lists the performance time, date, where, and when you should go for your reserved viewing.

Rancho Del Zocalo Dining Package Menu

A hand holds a menu titled “Fantasmic! Premium Experience” featuring entrees like Chile Verde Riblets, Sweet and Spicy Shrimp Taco, Potato Tacos, and Carne Asada, and a dessert called Cortadillo.

The entrées of the adult menu at Rancho del Zocalo are:

  • Chile Verde Riblets with Spicy Tomatillo Salsa
  • Sweet and Spicy Shrimp Taco: Marinated Grilled Shrimp
  • Potato Tacos (plant-based) with Picante Aioli and Guacatillo
  • Sweet and Savoury Carne Asada: Marinated Short Rib
A display showing a plate of food with greens and sauce, a whole orange, and a slice of layered cake with sprinkles on the side.

All entrées come with radish slaw, cilantro-lime rice, Korean potato salad, refried beans, and a beverage of choice. They can make substitutions, however — one of our party didn’t want beans so Cast Members gave her two portions of rice instead.

It also includes dessert, which is the Cortadillo, a.k.a. Mexican pink cake.

A hand holds a kids' menu from a restaurant. The menu lists riblets, potato tacos, and mac & cheese as main options, with beverages including various sodas, bottled water, juice box, chocolate milk, and more.

The kids’ menu offers these entrées:

  • Kids’ Riblet
  • Kids’ Potato Taco (plant-based)
  • Kids’ Mac and Cheese

These are served with a Cuties Mandarin Orange, Cortadillo, and a beverage choice.

Sweet and Savoury Carne Asada

Marinated short rib

A plate with grilled meat, green rice, and a side of salad garnished with a wedge of lime.

The flavor of marinated short rib was amazing. It was just a tad sweet, reminding us of teriyaki. The texture was perfect. It wasn’t overcooked or chewy.

A plate with grilled beef steak, two scoops of green rice, and a portion of vegetable salad, garnished with cilantro and lime wedge.

The sides are average but fine for the price of a quick-service restaurant package. The cilantro-lime rice is sticky. The flavors aren’t overpowering. The beans are a bit runny but what you would expect from average refried beans.

A plate with grilled beef steak, two scoops of green rice, a portion of salad with diced vegetables, and a lime wedge garnish. The food is served on a green ceramic plate on a wooden table.

The potato salad doesn’t have much flavor other than cilantro. It’s a creamy mix of white and sweet potatoes, corn, and zucchini. It’s fresh but missing any wow factor.

Rating out of 7: 6

Sweet and Spicy Shrimp Taco

Marinated Grilled Shrimp

A plate of three tacos topped with green herbs, a side of green rice, refried beans, and a potato salad.

As promised, these are spicy, but also super flavorful. The mole sauce is amazing. It reminds us of an Asian fusion peanut sauce but with spice. It’s probably too spicy for the average guest but we enjoyed it.

A plate with two tacos topped with lots of greens, alongside a small portion of potato salad and green rice.

The shrimp was cooked well. Some avocado drizzle helped cool it down. There were three tacos with massive serving sizes.

A plate of shrimp tacos topped with cilantro, served with a side of guacamole, beans, and ceviche on a green and yellow plate.

There was a lot of cilantro, which we don’t mind, but there was more than necessary.

Rating out of 7: 4

Cortadillo

Jam-filled Pan Dulce with vanilla frosting and rainbow sprinkles

A slice of white cake with frosting and colorful sprinkles on top, featuring a layer of red filling in the middle, placed on a black plate.

This isn’t life-changing but it’s a solid dessert. The cake itself is vanilla. It’s light and gives us birthday cake vibes. The small ratio of frosting on top means it isn’t too sweet. The strawberry jam in the middle adds some nice acidity.

A rectangular piece of white frosted cake with colorful sprinkles on top, placed in a black plastic tray, held up outdoors in sunlight.

Rating out of 7: 5

‘Fantasmic!’ Viewing

People sitting on the ground outdoors near a waterfront, waiting for an event to start. Trees, street lamps, and a boat are visible in the background. It is early evening with a clear sky.

For our 9 p.m. show, we presented our FastPasses at Harbour Galley between 8 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. The viewing location was right next to that of the Blue Bayou dining package.

Overall

Mickey Mouse wearing red pants and tuxedo jacket stands on a stage with sparklers shooting from each hand. A wooden structure is in the background.

The Rancho Del Zocalo dining package is much cheaper than the “premium” Blue Bayou package. We got essentially the same view of the show and the quality of food was the same, if not better — not to mention the large portions of food. The experience was supposed to be a fusion of Mexican and Korean fare, which we think it nailed.

We were big fans of the Hungry Bear package that was available before the “Fantasmic!” hiatus and think this is an even better option for the same price. We feel it’s definitely more worth your money and time than the $89 Blue Bayou package.

Watch our video of “Fantasmic!” below.

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

The post REVIEW: Rancho Del Zocalo ‘Fantasmic’ Dining Package Beats Blue Bayou appeared first on WDW News Today.

REVIEW: There’s a NEW Disney Choco Taco, But You’ve Gotta Eat It FAST

Ah, the Choco Taco. It’s the stuff of childhood, neighborhood ice cream truck nostalgia.

©FoodBeast

The Choco Taco is (according to it’s label) a “Dessert Taco! It’s Genius!” After disappearing from ice cream trucks and grocery shelves in 2022, the Choco Taco is back in 2024 at some Taco Bell restaurants. Which is, also, genius. Now a brand-new restaurant in Downtown Disney has introduced a fancy, grown-up “Choco Taco,” and, well, you just know we were gonna try it for ya!

Click here to subscribe

Tiendita is the NEW quick-service restaurant in Downtown Disney from Michelin Starred Chef Carlos Guytan.

Tiendita

The restaurant opened in late April, and we have enjoyed the tacos, nachos, and ceviche we’ve tried there.

Tiendita full spread

But now we’re back to try a dessert — the Ice Cream Taco.

Ice Cream Taco from Tiendita

Yep. It looks like a Choco Taco — but it’s been taken up a notch. Or SEVERAL notches, actually. First up, that’s a chocolate-covered waffle rolled like a taco. But inside, rather than the vanilla ice cream you might be expecting, there is salted caramel banana ice cream — looks like we’ve got a little Bananas Foster-flavored action happening.

Ice Cream Taco from Tiendita

All of these flavors worked really well to make for a higher quality version of the classic Choco Taco. The waffle was sweet and fresh with a layer of rich chocolate on the inside as well as on top of the waffle/taco. The salted caramel banana ice cream was absolutely our favorite part. It added hints of salted caramel which went perfectly with the chocolatey flavors, while the banana flavor was so fresh and natural.

There’s just one thing wrong with this dessert…it’s gonna melt on you!

Yeah, it’s a tad messy.

So keep in mind that you’ll want to eat this Ice Cream Taco quickly, because we are still mourning all those drops of that delicious salted caramel banana ice cream that were lost to the California heat.

Ice Cream Taco

This dessert cost $8, and we felt like it was a great value for the quality of dessert we got. We love that this fancy dessert is available at a pick-up window in Downtown Disney, so that we can go back again and again for this treat without having to have a reservation.

Read our full review of Tiendita right here.

Keep following us here at DFB for more Disney ice cream news — and the latest on everything else happening in the parks, too!

Have you tried Tiendita yet? Tell us what you think in the comments!

The post REVIEW: There’s a NEW Disney Choco Taco, But You’ve Gotta Eat It FAST first appeared on the disney food blog.

REVIEW: Should You Try Fancy French Fast Food in EPCOT?

Whoever popularized the phrase “you can’t have your cake and eat it too” clearly never tried the crepes from the France pavilion in EPCOT at Disney World.

Our full meal!

There’s so much to explore in the France pavilion between a royal meet and greet with a Disney princess, some of our favorite dessert and quick service food spots, and one of EPCOT’s most popular rides. But, even with all of that, you can STILL want (and get) more than you ever thought possible!

Click here to subscribe

If you’ve ever found yourself headed back through the France pavilion on a mission to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, chances are you’ve glanced over and seen a line waiting patiently for crepes on your way to and from the ride.

Who’s headed back to ride Remy’s?

On a recent trip out to EPCOT, we just couldn’t resist stopping anymore and decided to hop in line and try out a few of their menu offerings!

Atmosphere

What you see is what you get with this restaurant, quite literally! It’s built as a smaller offering just off from its neighboring La Creperie de Paris which is a more extensive dining experience indoors.

Crepes A Emporter

Crepes A Emporter at La Creperie de Paris is a permanent snack stand restaurant built to serve its patrons at the next window after you’ve placed your order. The closest tables to sit and enjoy your meal will be found in a very small alcove at the front of the Ratatouille expansion or entrance of the France pavilion of EPCOT.

Menu

The menu here isn’t terribly extensive, but it doesn’t have to be to draw the crowd. This popular snack stop serves everything from savory and sweet crepe options…

Menu

… to ice cream for dessert, hard ciders, sparking drinks, wines, and a few soft drinks with water as an alternative.

Drink

Let’s start things off with what we ordered to drink. After browsing the menu, we settled on ordering the Cidre Doux for $6.75.

Cidre Doux

This was definitely a sweeter cider and quick to lose its fizz after it sat out in the open for a little bit. This one is best enjoyed fresh from the pour but tastes like sparkling apple juice. It was sweet with just a little acidity, to it making it a great choice if you’re looking for an alcoholic drink that doesn’t have a hard flavor behind it.

Eats

Then it was time to move on to our meal. We actually ordered three different crepes to try out this visit — the Cream of Brie Cheese Galette, the Butter & Sugar Crepe, and the Housemade Hazelnut & Chocolate Spread Crepe.

Our full meal!

Speaking of the Cream of Brie Cheese Galette first, this beauty has such a beautiful presence about it and cost us $11.95.

Cream of Brie Cheese Galette

This was probably the most interesting of the bunch. Nothing about this dish is sweet, but you get a tangy taste to your bite when you get some of the brie cheese on the inside.

Cross section

For a savory option, this delivers well and doesn’t make you super full. (It also paired really well as a savory option with the sweetness of the cider)!

Cheese!

This it was time to try out the Butter & Sugar Crepe. This one cost us $6.95.

Butter & Sugar Crepe

This one tasted like a very thin, sweet pancake with several layers to it. The extra sugar that’s coated on top crumbles in your mouth like sugar cubes used in tea.

Cross section of the crepe

We absolutely loved how everything seemed to work well together for this crepe but it’s definitely a lot of sweet so we could see some folks finding this one to a sweetness overload.

Looks like a thin multilayered pancake

Finally, we were able to focus all our attention on the Housemade Hazelnut & Chocolate Spread Crepe which cost just $8.95.

Housemade Hazelnut & Chocolate Spread Crepe

This was another sweet crepe option but it definitely shares the flavor spotlight with the housemade hazelnut spread.

All the hazelnut drizzle!

The hazelnut mimics a milk chocolate consistency but you’ll instantly taste that it’s not milk chocolate but rather a distinct hazelnut flavor. We enjoyed this crepe very much, but it’s also worth noting that it was the messiest of all that we tried out this visit.

So sweet!

Since we were good and saved room for dessert, we decided to pick up a Soft Serve Ice Cream in a Waffle Cone for $6.95. Here you’ll be able to choose from chocolate, vanilla, or a swirl of the two flavors so we decided to grab the swirl this time.

Soft Serve Ice Cream in a Waffle Cone

HOLY COW! This soft serve may have been the fastest ice cream to melt ever! We’re not sure if it was the flavor or just the temperature of the soft serve when it was served but literally within seconds this one was a melted mess right before our eyes.

Too melty!

Eventually, we opted to clean up a bit of the mess with a spoon and try to finish it as fast as we could. In terms of flavor, it “served” as good as any other soft serve ice cream in Disney where we got a healthy mix of the crisp vanilla flavor mixed in with the light chocolatey taste of the other side of the swirled soft serve.

Overall

Overall we really enjoyed our crepe meal and could totally see ourselves getting everything we ate today all over again!

That was a great meal

It’s always a good thing when we’re able to find a reliable place to grab a quick snack so to add this restaurant to our list of trusted locations really speaks volumes for its quality.

Nosh or Not?

You should grab food here if…

  • You’re looking for something that’s totally grab-and-go. There’s no seating here for this restaurant so if grabbing a snack and heading out is for you, this would be perfect!
  • You’re looking for something shareable! These crepes are plenty to be enjoyed between two people and ideal for those looking to stretch their budget.
  • You’re looking for a sweet snack. Most of the crepes here will be a sweeter option so if that’s what you’re craving you may find it curbed easily by stopping by.

You’ll probably want to stop somewhere else if…

  • You want to take your food and sit down to eat. There’s absolutely no seating for this restaurant and that tends to shock people so if you’re looking to sit and enjoy your meal you’ll be walking a distance away to find a table to sit and eat.
  • You’re looking for more French cuisine. This restaurant is truly meant to be a limited crepe stand with a few pairing options. If you’re looking for something more extensive, try the restaurant right next door!
  • You’re in the mood for savory over sweet. While there are a few savory options here, there are only so many when it comes to variety. Most of the menu items here will be sweet (even down to the drinks)!

Stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog for everything you need to know about Disney eats, treats, and everything in between!

REVIEW: You Need a SPECIAL Membership To Qualify for This Exclusive EPCOT Treat!

Which is your favorite crepe to order here? Leave us your pick in the comments below!

The post REVIEW: Should You Try Fancy French Fast Food in EPCOT? first appeared on the disney food blog.

George Lucas Doesn’t Want the Theatrical ‘Star Wars’ Films Re-Released

George Lucas hopes that the theatrical versions of the “Star Wars” original trilogy will never be restored or re-released.

George Lucas Speaks Out on Possibility of ‘Star Wars’ Theatrical Re-Releases

A still from "Star Wars: A New Hope," in which Greedo points a blaster at Han Solo inside Mos Eisley cantina.

If you’ve watched “Star Wars: A New Hope” since 1997, you’ve probably seen Greedo shoot first at Han Solo in the Mos Eisley cantina. But anyone who saw “Star Wars” in theaters in 1977 will tell you Han shot first.

It’s the most famous change George Lucas made to the original three “Star Wars” films in the decades after their theatrical release. Starting with the 1997 “Special Edition,” Lucas added scenes and changed special effects, tweaking elements of the films pretty much until Disney acquired them in 2012. However, even Disney adjusted Greedo and Han’s duel slightly, adding a line of dialogue (“Maclunkey”) to the 2019 Disney+ version of “A New Hope.”

Fans have debated the “Han shot first” scene in particular, but also raised issues with some of Lucas’ other changes and have petitioned for the original theatrical versions to be re-released in some way.

But Lucas reiterated at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival that he hopes that never happens.

Mark Hamill, George Lucas, and Harrison Ford filming Star Wars.

“I’m a firm believer that the director, or the writer, or the filmmaker should have a right to have his movie be the way he wants it,” he said, comparing it to Michaelangelo’s process of painting and repainting the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

“We did release the original one on laserdisc and everybody got really mad,” Lucas added. “They said, ‘It looks terrible.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I know it did.’ That is what it looked like.”

The initial LaserDisc re-release was in 1993. The theatrical versions were later included alongside the altered versions on special limited-edition DVD box sets released in 2006 and 2008. For those releases, the 1993 LaserDisc masters were not re-transferred, making them non-amorphic — i.e. in the wrong aspect ratio.

At Cannes, George Lucas was awarded with an honorary Palme d’Or. He also commented on artificial intelligence (AI) use in film, calling it “inevitable.”

“It’s like saying, ‘I don’t think these cars are going to work… let’s just stick with horses,’” he said. “You can say that, but that isn’t the way the world works.”

Source: Inverse

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

The post George Lucas Doesn’t Want the Theatrical ‘Star Wars’ Films Re-Released appeared first on WDW News Today.

Former “General Hospital” Star Johnny Wactor Passes Away at Age 37

Johnny Wactor, an actor who appeared in ABC’s General Hospital from 2020-2022, has passed away at the age of 37, according to Deadline. Wactor passed away in unfortunate circumstances, with three suspects attempting to steal the catalytic converter from his vehicle. When he confronted them, the suspects shot him and fled the scene. Wactor was taken […]

The post Former “General Hospital” Star Johnny Wactor Passes Away at Age 37 appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.

These Disney Tiki Mugs From Target May Just Change Your Life – Or At Least Up Your Drinking Game

If you drink any sort of liquid and love Disney, you need to check out these souvenirs from Target! And since we all need water to survive and this blog is dedicated to all things Disney food, that likely means these tiki mugs would be great for you. 

Check out these Target souvenirs!

Drinking anything out of a tiki mug automatically makes it taste better. There is something about the tiki vibe that just works. Now if the tiki mug is ALSO Disney-themed, you are pretty much drinking liquid gold!

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

A Disney-themed tiki mug could make medicine taste better (it probably still won’t taste great, but you will definitely feel happier drinking it out of the mug!) We want everyone to be able to experience the happiness of a tiki mug, so we are rounding up EIGHT Disney tiki mugs from Target that will have you sipping your drink in style! You can grab all of these mugs online at Target, so no need to even change out of your pajamas.

Get this Boba Fett Tiki Mug

©Target

We are starting off with the perfect tiki mug for Star Wars fans. This mug features Boba Fett and is ready to bring some Star Wars charm to your next beverage.

 

Shop this Boba Fett tiki mug here!

Grab this Miguel Tiki Mug

©Target

This next tiki mug is stinkin’ adorable and features Miguel from Coco. He even has his guitar and is painted a bright red color. We can already imagine singing along to “Un Poco Loco” while drinking out of the Miguel tiki mug. 

Shop this Miguel tiki mug here!

Snag this Kermit the Frog Tiki Mug

©Target

We couldn’t make this list without including some characters from The Muppets. And we have not one, but two different Muppets tiki mugs. The first one features Kermit the Frog in a bright green color. 

Shop this Kermit the Frog tiki mug here!

Grab this Fozzie Bear Tiki Mug

©Target

Next up, you can grab a tiki mug featuring Fozzie Bear! He is ready for the island life for sure. Fozzie has on a pair of sunglasses, a straw hat, and has his suitcase in tow. 

Shop this Fozzie Bear tiki mug here!

Get this Mike Wazowski Tiki Mug

©Target

You can also grab this Mike Wazowski tiki mug. Yes, that is Mike with one “i,” who is ready to hold your favorite beverage. 

Shop this Mike Wazowski tiki mug here!

Grab this Haunted Mansion Inspired Tiki Mug

©Target

We also have a couple of tiki mugs inspired by the Haunted Mansion. This first one is a Haunted Mansion Grandfather Clock tiki mug with lucky number 13 displayed on the clock face. 

Shop this Haunted Mansion tiki mug here!

Snag this Madame Leota Tiki Mug

©Target

You can also get a Madame Leota tiki mug. While this mug may not be conducting a séance, it is more than ready to hold your favorite beverage!

Shop this Madame Leota tiki mug here!

Get this Phantom Opera Singer Tiki Mug

©Target

Our last tiki mug is this Phantom Opera Singer tiki mug. This ghostly opera singer is poised and ready for your drink. 

Shop this Phantom Opera Singer tiki mug here!

There are lots of options for Disney-inspired tiki mugs, and we are already dreaming of sipping our iced tea out of these mugs. We are always on the lookout for the best Disney merchandise, so stay tuned to DFB for even more finds!

Find even more Disney essentials on our Amazon storefront!

The post These Disney Tiki Mugs From Target May Just Change Your Life – Or At Least Up Your Drinking Game first appeared on the disney food blog.

Disney World Menus Can Be Flat Out Wrong. Here’s How We Find the Truth.

You spend a LOT of time planning your Disney World trip, and often Disney World food is a big part of that (which is probably why you’re reading this!). You may have even planned a day around a reservation at a certain restaurant, or a hop to a park at just the right time for a special snack.

Strawberry Dole Whip with Orange Fanta Float

But sometimes things don’t always go as planned. A lot of disappointment can happen when you’ve spent a lot of time planning your trip and maybe you find out that a menu item you had been dreaming of ordering is no longer there. 

 

Click here to subscribe

Disney World menus change on the daily, which is SUPER frustrating for us and for you! We try our best to keep our posts updated with the latest menu changes, but sometimes they slip past us for a day or two. Here’s what we do to try and verify menus in Disney World without being there in person.

Don’t Trust The Disney World App or Website For Independently Owned-Restaurants

Some restaurants in Disney World aren’t owned directly by Disney. This is especially the case for restaurants in EPCOT’s World Showcase, Disney Springs, and some Disney World Hotels.

Yak & Yeti

We spoke to a Cast Member at The Basket at Wine Bar George in Disney Springs who informed us that there have been times where new items are added to the restaurant’s menu, but the Disney World website/app doesn’t show them for WEEKS after they’ve been added!

The Basket

So how can you combat this? Find the restaurant’s website online (that’s NOT connected to Disney) and check out their menus listed there. Or, you can call the restaurant directly to verify if an item is or isn’t on their menu.

Seasonal Menus

Some signature restaurants at Disney World have menus that change with the seasons. You can expect this at restaurants like Citricos, Topolino’s Terrace, and Hollywood Brown Derby, just to name a few.

Citricos

To see what menu is currently being served, you can keep up with our posts here on DFB, but you can also check out the restaurant pages our friends at AllEars.net create and keep updated! To be 100% prepared, you can call the restaurant, or take a look at their different menus and have a second choice at the ready.

Disney Dining Plan Confusion

We know that a lot of you plan your meals especially when you are using the Disney Dining Plan, and some restaurants have confusing rules about it.

Look for that Disney Dining Plan Snack symbol!

We were recently surprised at Chicken Guy when we discovered that you can get chicken tenders and a soft drink or milk shake as a dining plan meal, but the combo meals there aren’t included – you have to buy your fries separately.

Chicken Guy

We had a reader send in a question about whether a half-liter of beer in Biergarten can be ordered on the dining plan. We chatted with Disney Guest Services and got a confusing answer, so we physically went to Biergarten and tracked down the answer for our reader. (Yes, a half liter of beer can be ordered on the dining plan, but a full liter cannot).

Biergarten

The good news is that we let you know IMMEDIATELY when we find strange stuff like this, so keep an eye out for DFB posts, or you can get our Disney Dining Plan guide to really help you learn the ins and outs of what’s included.

Here’s how to maximize your Disney Dining Plan credits!

Unexpected Changes

Just like everywhere else, sometimes menus change unexpectedly.

Ale & Compass Menu

We’ve had the experience of a fryer being broken at Topolino’s Terrace and us not being able to order our beloved Vegetable Fritto Misto because of it. We’ve been told by Cast Members that the Rib Eye Beef Puff at Baseline Tap House is off the menu because of an issue with the oven needed to prepare it. Loaded Burnt Ends Fries at Regal Eagle Smokehouse were on the menu because it was a way to use up brisket trimmings, and now, they’ve gotten more efficient at how much brisket to make, and they aren’t being served every day. The list goes on, and on, and on!

Topolino’s Terrace

Unfortunately, there really isn’t a great way to solve this issue, but if you’re looking to order a certain thing, ask the Cast Member before you sit down at a restaurant if it’s being served that day. And again, it’s good to have a Plan B in mind just in case your first option isn’t available. Being flexible can be hard, but it’s important!

S’mores Brownie at Regal Eagle

We’re always here to keep you updated on the latest Disney World news as fast as we get it, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest menu news and beyond!

Check out this recent menu change that made us VERY sad 🙁

What’s the most disappointing menu change you’ve encountered? Tell us in the comments!

The post Disney World Menus Can Be Flat Out Wrong. Here’s How We Find the Truth. first appeared on the disney food blog.

REMINDER: EPCOT’s American Adventure Pavilion Is Partially CLOSING Tomorrow

Something new is coming to the American Adventure Pavilion in EPCOT, which means that part of the EPCOT World Showcase pavilion will soon be closing.

American Adventure Pavilion

The American Heritage Gallery inside of the American Adventure Pavilion will be welcoming a new collection soon, but that means part of this pavilion will have to close in order for Disney to prepare. We’re sharing all the details you need to know so you’re not caught off guard by this closure!

Click here to subscribe

The American Heritage Gallery inside of the American Adventure Pavilion will be welcoming a new collection. The Disney World website shows that the American Heritage Gallery will be closed for refurbishment beginning May 28th, 2024!

 

Disney World previously announced that a new exhibit will be coming to the American Heritage Gallery, which will feature 60 oil paintings by President George W. Bush. The paintings feature service members and veterans who have served since 9/11 that the President has gotten to know personally. The collection Is called Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors.

©Disney

Based on the operating times, it looks like the American Heritage Gallery will be closed from May 28th through June 6th. The website currently lists operating hours beginning on June 7th, although the exhibit is planned to have its grand opening on June 9th. Visitors may be able to view the paintings early, beginning June 7th (ahead of the grand opening), but we will keep an eye on the times as we get closer and see what announcements Disney World makes.

©Disney

EPCOT has been going through quite a few changes and it’s all part of the EPCOT Transformation. The entire transformation will be complete when CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza open on June 10th.

If you haven’t visited EPCOT since all these changes, you have a lot to look forward to, including a new fountain in front of Spaceship Earth and some impressive new nighttime lighting on Spaceship Earth. We even got a new quick service and Starbucks location with Connections Cafe and Eatery. The Japan pavilion got a new table service restaurant, Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya. You can also have a meal in space at Space 220, now.

CommuniCore Hall

EPCOT also got a new nighttime show, Luminous: Symphony of Us, which replaced Disney World’s 50th Anniversary show, Harmonious.

Luminous

Make sure you check out these changes on your next EPCOT trip, and don’t forget to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World news!

Watch Out: This Die-hard EPCOT Advice Isn’t True Anymore

The post REMINDER: EPCOT’s American Adventure Pavilion Is Partially CLOSING Tomorrow first appeared on the disney food blog.

You Can Attend an EXCLUSIVE Disney’s Little Mermaid Celebration

Disney is making a splash with its new event set to celebrate one of its iconic films next month!

Journey of the Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid has captivated hearts for years since its release on November 17th, 1989. Adults and kids of all ages have watched Ariel on screen, captivated by her journey and wishing that they could be part of her world. The story and the beloved songs that accompany it have solidified this film as a Disney classic. Now to celebrate the 35th anniversary, Disney is hosting a different kind of screening for the film: a “swim-in screening”!

On June 8th, 2024, D23 (The Official Disney Fan Club) & Street Food Cinema are presenting a screening of the film inside Hansen Dam Aquatic Center in Los Angeles. This new presentation will allow guests to channel their inner “little mermaid’ by “flipping their fins” in the country’s largest pool (it can fit 3,000 swimmers at once!). The event will also feature food trucks and snack stands, a special pre-screening presentation, and a commemorative event gift.

The Little Mermaid 35th Anniversary Celebration

Tickets are available for D23 members for $35 (+$5 Processing Fee) as well as general tickets available for $41 (+$5 Processing Fee). Tickets for this event can be purchased by D23 members who are allowed to reserve tickets for themselves and up to 5 guests. Important to note that members who purchased the tickets must be present with their physical or digital D23 membership card at the time of redemption, or guests will not be admitted to the event.

Children under 5 years old do not require a ticket to attend, however, only guests with D23 tickets are eligible to receive the commemorative event gift. The film begins at 8PM PT. But D23 Members get early entry to the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center starting at 5PM PT, and will also enjoy exclusive beach access and premium seating near the movie screen.

©D23

D23 (the name referring to Disney and the year 1923, when Walt Disney founded the company) is The Official Disney Fan Club that offers its members various benefits, including exclusive events, merchandise, and publications. For more information or to sign up to become a member, check out the official D23 website. And for more information about the “swim-in” including event rules, and ticket purchases, check out the event’s official website.

Under The Sea: Journey of The Little Mermaid at Magic Kingdom

We are stoked for this fun new way to celebrate one of our favorite films! Stay tuned as we continue to give you all the latest Disney events and news here at DFB!

Everything You Can Do at Disney’s H2O Glow After Hours Event

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.


Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

Are you planning on attending the ‘swim-in’? Let us know in the comments!

The post You Can Attend an EXCLUSIVE Disney’s Little Mermaid Celebration first appeared on the disney food blog.