Month: May 2024

REVIEW: “I’ve Got a Nightmare” – The Snuggly Duckling Restaurant Disappoints in Tangled Kingdom at Fantasy Springs

Step into the world of “Tangled” with The Snuggly Duckling restaurant, part of the new Rapunzel’s Forest area in Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea.

The Snuggly Duckling

A small stage with barrels as the floor, featuring a wooden desk and chair, against a backdrop of red curtains and a painted village scene.

The quick-service location is decorated with tons of details and Easter eggs. Hook Hand’s piano is on a stage overlooking one of three dining rooms. You won’t have trouble finding a place to sit.

Two wooden high chairs for children are placed side by side against a stone wall. The chairs feature armrests and a small footrest.

The adorable Snuggly Duckling logo is on props and furniture throughout the restaurant, including these highchairs.

A rustic wooden fireplace with a metal grate displaying glowing red embers inside, surrounded by stone and wooden details.

It’s also on the fireplace grate.

Barrels with yellow duck symbols, a stuffed toy, and a sack are stored on a wooden shelf below a wood-paneled ceiling. An iron chain and a lantern are attached to the wall on the right.

Look up and you may spot Pinocchio.

Wooden shelf with a small puppet theater scene featuring a horse and a chameleon on strings. The background includes a barrel, pottery, and wooden instruments. The setting includes wooden walls.

He’s joined by puppet versions of Pascal and Maximus. Check out more photos of The Snuggly Duckling.

A hand holds a tray with "The Snuggly Duckling" written on it. The tray features a duckling illustration and the text "Hosted by Calbee.

The Snuggly Duckling is sponsored by Calbee, Inc. The snack company also sponsors the Royal Banquet of Arendelle and Camp Woodchuck Kitchen at Tokyo Disneyland. Their logo is below The Snuggly Duckling logo on the restaurant’s themed trays.

A tray holds five wrapped sandwiches, a small cup of fries, a frosted beverage with a red straw, a fruit-topped dessert in a skillet, and a frosted cupcake on a wooden table.

The Snuggly Duckling mostly offers burgers. You can buy them individually or as a meal set with a salad or French Fries and a soft drink.

A chicken sandwich on a paper wrapper, a cup of french fries, and a cold drink are on a wooden table.

For an additional ¥440, you can change the soft drink to Rapunzel’s Magical Milk Tea, which is what we did. For an additional ¥390, you can swap the soft drink for draft beer. The venue also has two desserts: the Caramel Duckling Muffin and Lemon & Strawberry Sweets Ever After in a frying pan.

Duckling Dream Burger Set – ¥1,440
Duckling Dream Burger Single Item – ¥900

A hand holding a cheeseburger with a yellow bun, beef patty, tomato slice, mayo, and ketchup against a wooden background.

These burgers are topped with tomato, a giant slice of ham, and slaw. They don’t look appetizing and they don’t taste great either. We never like Tokyo Disney Resort’s burgers. They aren’t inedible. The bun is mushy. The surprising slice of ham actually helps but barely. The burger is the most okay a burger can be. It’s below the quality of most American fast food restaurants.

Rating out of 7: 1

Duckling Dream Cheeseburger Set – ¥1,490
Duckling Dream Cheeseburger Single Item – ¥950

A close-up of a cheeseburger with a single patty, cheese, shredded lettuce, and sauce, wrapped in a brown paper wrapper.

The single slice of barely melted American cheese didn’t save it.

A close-up of a hand holding a burger with a yellow bun, beef patty, slice of processed meat, tomato, purple cabbage, and sauce.

Rating out of 7: 1

Fried Shrimp Burger Set – ¥1,490
Fried Shrimp Burger Single Item – ¥950

A person holds a sandwich with a fried shrimp patty and purple coleslaw in a yellow bun, wrapped in brown paper.

This is the most okay of the bunch. It has a nice sauce, which we think is tartar. The fried shrimp patty isn’t bad. It’s not too fishy and it’s a good size.

Rating out of 7: 3

Plant-Based Burger Set – ¥1,490
Plant-Based Burger Single Item – ¥950

A cooked burger with a yellow bun, meat patty, and a small amount of toppings held in a brown paper wrapper.

There’s a potent sauce on this that tastes like a bad Thousand Island. The plant-based patty is fine. It’s better than the hamburger patty. Still, if you need something plant-based, go elsewhere in the park.

Rating out of 7: 2

Rapunzel’s Magical Milk Tea – ¥800

A plastic cup with a layered cold beverage, featuring dark liquid on the bottom, white foam on top, and yellow granules sprinkled over the foam, with a red straw inserted. Placed on a wooden surface.

This drink has no description, which is frustrating because there’s a fruity taste that we can’t identify. A classic milk tea is sweetened black tea, milk, and tapioca balls. We think the yellow balls on top of this drink are standard tapioca.

A plastic cup filled with a frothy, layered beverage garnished with yellow crumbs and a red straw, placed on a wooden surface.

It’s sweet and milky. We like it.

Rating out of 7: 5

Caramel Duckling Muffin – ¥600

A hand holding a small cupcake with creamy frosting and a duck-shaped cookie on top, set in a decorative wrapper with a duck motif. The background shows a warmly lit interior with various decor items.

This muffin is topped with a Snuggly Duckling cookie and comes in a Snuggly Duckling wrapper, for a cute presentation. The cookie is a good shortbread.

Close-up of a half-eaten cupcake with light brown frosting on top, being held in a hand over an orange patterned paper wrapper.

This is phenomenal. It’s the right amount of sweet. The caramel filling is rich and light so it doesn’t weigh down the muffin. The cake is soft and moist. It tastes like a spiced cake.

Rating out of 7: 7

Lemon & Strawberry Sweets Ever After – ¥700

A small cake with custard, strawberry, blueberry, and flower-shaped decorations in a black dish alongside a drink and food items on a wooden table.

This is also lacking a helpful description. It has a cute presentation with the frying pan. There’s a fresh strawberry and blueberry on top. There’s a lemon cream with an artificial tartness but it works. The strawberry chunks on top and inside taste real. The pastry isn’t hot but it’s soft, light, and airy. It’s not as good as the muffin but it’s good.

Rating out of 7: 5

Overall

Guests enjoy meals at a wooden table in a themed restaurant with fairy tale murals on the wall.

Only the desserts and milk tea are worth getting at The Snuggly Duckling. Everything else is bad.

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PHOTOS: Inside Interactive ‘Puss in Boots’-Themed Mama Luna Feline Fiesta at DreamWorks Land

Check out the interactive elements of Mama Luna Feline Fiesta at DreamWorks Land at Universal Studios Florida.

Mama Luna Feline Fiesta

Entrance to the Maya Grill restaurant with people standing at the door, surrounded by trees and decorative stonework, feels like a portal straight into DreamWorks Land.

Mama Luna Feline Fiesta is an interactive screen-based area themed to “Puss in Boots 2: The Last Wish.” The covered location is designed to look like Mama Luna’s retirement home for cats. Inside are plenty of elements for guests to interact with.

An art display featuring multiple vibrant paintings and decorative items in a room with terracotta tile flooring and beige walls. Several circular stone tables stand in the foreground, evoking the essence of Mama Luna's Feline Fiesta.

Bells, buttons, levers, and maracas each trigger different objects on the screens, kicking off an interaction with the cats of Mama Luna’s. Guests can spot Puss in Boots in some of the interactive elements.

An indoor space with colorful tiled artwork on the walls depicting various scenes, reminiscent of a Mama Luna Feline Fiesta, and several pedestal tables with decorative items arranged on a tiled floor.

The interactive elements are on podiums and counters in the building.

Children interacting with a colorful, interactive exhibit featuring various paintings and digital displays on a wall in a room with warm-toned decor and tiled accents, reminiscent of the enchanting atmosphere found in DreamWorks Land.

In addition to the screens, on the walls are portraits of different cats, just like Mama Luna has in her home.

A brightly colored indoor display features a large animated screen depicting various household items, including a blue piano and animal figurines, set against a backdrop reminiscent of DreamWorks Land with framed art pieces on a warm-toned wall.

The screens act like windows and doors looking into other rooms of the house. Cats are pictured lounging on various furniture.

A colorful room in DreamWorks Land features murals of an indoor scene with staircases and framed pictures. There are three round stools and a tiled archway leading to another room.
Several interactive game stations on a tiled floor with colorful circular bases, adding to the magical atmosphere of DreamWorks Land. Some people are in the background, engaging with the games, bringing the whimsical world to life.

The interactive props are on bases decorated with mice silhouettes and circles of light.

A countertop with three large, brightly colored buttons in blue, yellow, and green sits against the backdrop of a patterned tile wall and a mural depicting DreamWorks Land with its whimsical rooms filled with furniture and objects.
A yellow cup-shaped object on a black stand is centered on a circular blue base with directional labels, placed on a wooden table against a tiled, patterned wall. It looks like an attraction in DreamWorks Land. People are in the background.

Check out our full tour of DreamWorks Land and the DreamWorks Imagination Celebration show.

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.

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REVIEW: Trying NEW Yoo-Hoo Bread from Oaken’s OK Foods in the Frozen Kingdom of Fantasy Springs

During your visit to Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea, don’t miss Oaken’s OK Foods. The kiosk offers one unique treat: Oaken’s Yoo-Hoo Bread.

Oaken’s OK Foods

Exterior of a themed restaurant with moss-covered wooden roofs and rustic stone pillars, under a clear sky, in an amusement park setting.

Oaken’s OK Foods is located outside Arendelle Castle.

A wooden sign outside Oaken’s OK Foods displays an image of a meal along with the text "Glacier Ice Time Bread (Cinnamon & Maple)." Opening hours are listed as 9:00 - 20:30. Visitors are seen in the background.

Oaken’s Yoo-Hoo Bread – ¥850

Cardamom bread, meat, and lingonberry jam

A long, oval-shaped fried pastry filled with a red filling, placed on a decorative paper tray with geometric patterns. The tray is on a textured stone surface.

The sign doesn’t say what the meat is and we couldn’t really tell. But this is a good snack. The bread is soft and hot.

A hot dog topped with dark red sauce, served on a decorative paper tray, placed on a rough, textured surface.

The sauce, which tastes like cranberry, provides a nice sweetness over the meat. There are good proportions of the sauce and meat. There’s a hint of cardamom at the end that gives it a wintry spice flavor.

A long, oval-shaped pastry with a filled center, placed on a decorated paper wrapper, rests on a rocky surface.

This is one of our favorite food items at Fantasy Springs, if not our definitive favorite.

Rating out of 7:6

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WATCH PARKSCENTER — Disney Investing More in IP in the Parks, Tiana Previews Coming, and a Look at Fantasy Springs

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens on June 28th, and previews begin on June 2nd!

Join us live tonight, Sunday, May 19th, at 9:00 p.m. ET, or watch ParksCenter anytime on WDWNT.TV.

We are updating you on all of the big things happening in the Disney Parks each week! We cover the top stories in Disney Parks news and discuss the topics that are top of mind for the Disney community. All in 60 minutes! Join us live and chat along at 9 p.m. ET.

We were off last week, so there’s a lot to cover!

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure finally has an actual opening date – June 28th! After teasing a “Summer” opening, Disney dropped the news on Mother’s Day, but a little sooner than the expected American Idol reveal. They also rolled out previews for Cast Members, Passholders and DVC Members as well as Club 33 and D23 Gold. Passholder park reservations went fast, but even that isn’t a guarantee that people will be able to ride early. We’re excited to discuss it all!

Then over in Japan, Fantasy Springs has started doing some soft openings well ahead of their June 6th grand opening. We’ve seen some amazing footage of the new attractions, merchandise, and the land itself. Could this be Disney’s best land ever? Our panel has some thoughts, but we’ll want to hear from you, too!

We’re halfway to Halloween, and Disney rolled out news of Mickey’s Not-So-Scarry Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom and the Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland Resort. We also got a sneak peek at some of the merch and more!

During a question-and-answer session at the MoffettNathanson Media and Communications Summit on Wednesday, May 15, Disney CEO Bob Iger stated that nearly all future investments into the Disney Parks will be based on intellectual property (IP). We will talk about the pros and cons of this and what the future of the parks will look like. Are you for it?

There was drama at Gideon’s, the DVC Polynesian expansion has an official name, more Magicband+ effects are popping up, Dreams That Soar drone show launches this week, and so much more to discuss!

Join us for all of this tonight on ParksCenter!

Watch PARKSCENTER Live at 9:00 P.M.

Also, our WIGS members receive an interactive post-show each week, exclusive to our Patreon program.

Check out a recent episode of the show below.

ParksCenter is broadcast live on YouTube every Sunday, now at 9:00 p.m. ET.

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Could “Auteurs” Fix Disney’s Live-Action Slate?

I might be the lone dissenting voice on the matter, but I’m quite intrigued by Mufasa, the live-action follow-up/prequel to Jon Favreau’s The Lion King. While I’m well aware that the remake didn’t do anything different. In fact, some choices they did make were, in fact, worse. However, there’s something about hearing Barry Jenkins’ name […]

The post Could “Auteurs” Fix Disney’s Live-Action Slate? appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.

Disney Merch Update: The Duck, Pride, Patriotism, Wonder & Sugar

The Disney Merchandise Update rides again! This edition is all about celebrating birthdays and holidays, checking in on the latest Wonderland fashion, and digging into a few sweet surprises. We’ll be exploring Disney merchandise from the Disney Parks and beyond. Here we go… Donald Duck is Turning 90! Donald Duck turns 90 next month, but […]

The post Disney Merch Update: The Duck, Pride, Patriotism, Wonder & Sugar appeared first on MiceChat.

REVIEW: “It’s Like a Willy Wonka Creation” – NEW Roast Beef Popcorn from Fantasy Springs

Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea soft opened this week. First on our list of new food to try was the Roast Beef Popcorn from the Popcorn Wagon.

Popcorn Wagon

Pirate ship-inspired popcorn wagon in Fantasy Springs

The Popcorn Wagon is located in Peter Pan’s Never Land. It resembles a pirate ship built out of found materials and decorated with doodles by the Lost Boys.

Rustic food kiosk with wooden sign displaying menu items and prices, lit by hanging lanterns. Striped canopy partially visible above, with people gathered around.
A window with a sign displaying "Roast Beef Popcorn" in English and Japanese against a blue, paint-like background. Trees and an outdoor setting are faintly visible in the reflection.

The roast beef popcorn was described as having a “robust flavor” with “aromas of roasted meat and gravy.” It’s seasoned with salt and black pepper.

Roast Beef Popcorn – ¥400

A hand holding a red popcorn container with text "Where dreams come true," in front of a wooden shack and a person in the background. A line of people is visible on the left.

This is so gross. It tastes like something Willy Wonka would make. It has everything you would expect from a roast beef meal — the saltiness, the flavor. It’s weird but you have to try this if you visit Fantasy Springs, just to say that you did. We’re giving it a high rating for uniqueness.

Rating out of 7: 5

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REVIEW: New Shrekzel, Swamp Dogs, Waffle Sandwiches, and More at DreamWorks Land in Universal Studios Florida

DreamWorks Land at Universal Studios Florida has “Shrek”-inspired food available at Swamp Snacks. The menu includes the “Shrekzel,” “Far Far a Waffle” sandwiches, “Swamp Dogs,” ice pops, and more.

Swamp Snacks

People standing at a wooden snack stand labeled "Swamp Snacks" in the heart of DreamWorks Land, waiting to place orders on a sunny day.

Swamp Snacks is located near the entrance of DreamWorks Land. In addition to themed snacks, it serves bottled water, Powerade, Monster Energy, 20 oz. draft beer, and canned beer.

A spread of snacks on a bench: a Mickey-shaped pretzel with green dip, a bacon-wrapped sausage, and two pieces of waffles, near a garden area.

Shrekzel – $12.29

A Shrek-themed pretzel with salt sprinkles is held in one hand, while a small container of green dipping sauce is held in the other. The background features greenery and a concrete surface.

This was horrible. The green cheese gets a big no from us.

A hand holding a Shrek-shaped pretzel decorated with white sugar granules, with a rustic wooden window and tree in the background.

The pretzel didn’t taste fresh. It was dry as the desert. We don’t recommend this.

Ham & Cheese Far Far a Waffle – $11.49

A hand holding a folded waffle wrapped in a colorful paper with an outdoor setting in the background.

This waffle is full of tiny diced ham, which we liked. It also has cheese but it was hard.

A hand with a white watch holds a waffle on a patterned napkin in an outdoor setting with trees and buildings in the background.

The waffle sandwiches are definitely over-priced. We would rather make our own.

Pepperoni Far Far a Waffle – $11.49

A hand holds a folded waffle sandwich wrapped in decorative paper with a path and trees in the background on a sunny day.

The pepperoni sandwich is dry and hard. It reminds us of cheese fries.

A person holds a sandwich made of waffles with a filling, wrapped in patterned paper in an outdoor setting. Several people can be seen in the background.

Overall, we were unimpressed and will be keeping far far away from these waffles.

Swamp Dog – $9.49

Oozing green cheese hot dog wrapped in pizza tree bark

Close-up of a person holding a sausage roll in a napkin with a colorful pattern. The background shows an outdoor setting with trees and people walking around.

Our group was mixed on the hot dog. It’s oily with odd green stains. We think the actual meat is a Nathan’s hot dog. It was kind of small compared to the breading.

A hand holding a grilled sausage wrapped in a partially sliced baguette, garnished with herbs. Greenery is visible in the background.

Despite our mixed feelings, this is the best hot food at Swamp Snacks.

Mud Puddle Pudding – $5.99

Chocolate pudding, cookie crumbs, cookie cake, and gummy bugs

A hand holds a small cup filled with chocolate-crumb dessert, decorated with gummy worms and small white chocolate balls, with a tiny black plastic shovel as a spoon. Enjoying this whimsical "shrekzel" creation in an outdoor setting amidst people in the background.

There’s nothing special about this — it’s standard worms and dirt. It comes with a plastic shovel spoon that isn’t very helpful in scooping up bites. The cake is a typical Universal cupcake.

Hand holding a dessert designed to look like soil, with chocolate crumble, two gummy worms, and white candy spheres in a small square container—one might say it's fit for an ogre's feast. Blur of people and greenery in the background enhances this whimsical Shrekzel treat.

It’s sweet. There are some harder rock-like chocolates. Kids will enjoy this.

Frozen Ogre Sour Apple Ice Pop – $6.99

Person holds a green ice cream shaped like an ogre character labeled "Froǵen Ogre Shrekzel." The background shows a tree-themed structure and people walking.

This is one of the best things we ate in DreamWorks Land. It’s refreshing, especially on a hot Florida day.

A person holding a green Shrekzel popsicle, shaped like an animated character, stands in front of a building with a tree-like structure and abundant greenery.

It’s not too sweet but not sour at all. It has a HI-CHEW green apple flavor.

A hand holding a colorful box featuring a green ogre face and text. The background shows a green, leafy structure and other people at an outdoor location, all enjoying the excitement of Shrekzel festivities.

The packaging is hard to open and the ice pop comes on a weirdly shaped stick. But other than that, it’s the perfect treat.

Chonkey Donkey Chocolate Ice Pop – $6.99

A hand holding a packaged chocolate ice pop shaped like a cartoon donkey outside in a park, reminiscent of the whimsical world of Shrekzel.

The Donkey ice pop is just as delicious as the Shrek one. It tastes similar to a JELL-O pudding pop.

A hand holds a chocolate bunny-shaped ice cream bar on a stick in an outdoor area with greenery, people, and pathways visible in the background, reminiscent of a whimsical Shrekzel fairytale setting.

It’s so cold that you can see ice crystals on it, so it has a popsicle feel with chocolate pudding flavor. We love it.

Two hands holding character-shaped ice cream pops; one is a chocolate bunny, and the other is a green shrekzel-shaped ogre. A themed outdoor setting is in the background.

Check out our DreamWorks Land full tour and Shrek’s Swamp Meet.

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.

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