After all the announcements at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, we’re gearing up for some BIG changes coming to Disney World.

With additions like a Villains Land and a Monsters, Inc. Land on the horizon, there’s going to be quite a bit to explore in the future. Unfortunately, it’ll likely take some time for these projects to be completed. The good news is that one of Disney World’s big updates is already underway, and it’s set to open next year!

Test Track in EPCOT closed in June of this year to receive a major overhaul. This isn’t your regular ride refurbishment — nope, the attraction will be getting a new storyline and new ride vehicles before its reopening in 2025.

During the Disney Experiences showcase at D23, we got a little more information about the changes coming to the ride. The updated version of Test Track “will celebrate today’s innovation while highlighting the past, present, and future.” The queue is getting six different exhibits that celebrate the vehicles (and the people behind the vehicles) that “push the envelope and help get people to our next chapter in our motion journey.”

New show scenes will be added throughout the ride to celebrate transportation technology and how this age of mobility connects everyone. Disney says we will, “Enjoy a joy ride through scenes focusing on onboard technology, customization and personalization.” At the end of the ride, you’ll take a trip through a “scenic outdoor route reminding us all of the joys of driving, taking in the world around us, and spending quality time with friends and family.”

It’s that last description that has fans of the old version of Test Track getting worried. If you’ll recall, the ride used to take visitors on a “sim car test” where you would design a car and then go through a course to test things like the capability and efficiency of your vehicle. The ride ended with a climactic “power test” where you’d reach top speed as you did a lap around the outside of the ride building. 

But with this new description of a “scenic outdoor route” where we’re reminded of the “joys of driving,” it doesn’t exactly sound like a high-speed thrill ride. In fact, it sounds more like Disney’s describing a Sunday afternoon drive. You know, the kind where you roll slowly through your hometown with the windows down on a nice day? Yeah, that’s not really the same vibe as the old Test Track.

Ultimately, Disney hasn’t given specifics yet on the top speed of the ride or what EXACTLY will happen during that final lap around the building. We’ve got our fingers crossed that we’ll get to keep the speed element, but we’ll have to wait and see. And maybe one of those “joys of driving” is going 65 mph in an open-top car? We sure think so!

We’ll continue to bring you more news and updates about ongoing projects in Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest.

Click Here to Learn More About the Test Track Changes!

What do you think about the changes coming to Test Track? Tell us in the comments!

The post Is Test Track Getting SLOWER? Disney’s NEW Hints Have Some Fans Worried. first appeared on the disney food blog.

Where do you go when you need that midday caffeine pick-me-up or the morning cup of Joe?

For Disney World fans, you typically have two choices — either Joffrey’s or Starbucks. And if you’re one of those Starbucks fanatics, we’ve got some exciting teasers about seasonal drinks coming soon. Bring on the falltime treats!

Starbucks has been posting some rather cryptic things on Instagram that we think need decoding! Three different videos have appeared in recent days that seem to tease fall flavors.

First up, we’ve got this strange video of two people grilling corn…except it turns into candy corn? People in the comments are very intrigued by the possibility of candy corn-flavored beverages coming to Starbucks.

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The other teaser features the same two people playing croquet…but with apples? Seriously, what’s going on with these promos? Starbucks has done apple-flavored drinks in the past so it’s possible that old flavors could be returning, or we could get new iterations.

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Along these same lines, Starbucks also posted a video a few days ago of this pair playing beach volleyball. But (you guessed it!) the ball isn’t a real ball — it turns into a pumpkin. This is likely a nod to the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks that many fans look forward to each year. 

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Alas, Starbucks hasn’t yet released details about when these new fall drinks could drop or what they will be. We can’t wait to check out the lineup! Typically, these seasonal beverages will also be offered at Starbucks locations in the Disney parks — what’s more magical than a delicious coffee on Main Street, U.S.A.?

We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for an official announcement from the company, so stay tuned to DFB.

Click Here to Check Out One of Our Starbucks Reviews!

What do you order at Starbucks? Tell us in the comments!

The post Uhhh Starbucks, Is This Announcement Something We Need to DECODE? first appeared on the disney food blog.

Hey, friends! Are you looking to take your little on to Disney? Do you feel like you have 1000 questions and 2000 worries about what to do and what could go wrong?

Don’t worry — I’ve been in your shoes, and I’m here to HELP! Not only have I been working here at DFB for over 5 years but I also used to be a Cast Member. So, I happen to know Disney like the back of my hand. BUT I don’t live right next door to Disney. I actually live all the way in Texas. So, I only get to go to the parks every now and then. Because of that, I have to pack and prepare for a Disney trip like most of you likely have to do as well. SO, when I took my then 10 month old to Disneyland for the first time, I had so many questions and stresses. And honestly, I learned quite a few lessons the hard way. I’m here to share some of those struggles so you can avoid then when you take your little(s) to Disney!

Expect the Unexpected

If you’re a parent, then you obviously know that babies and children can be pretty unpredictable, especially when they are in a new place. Will they want to ride in the stroller? Who knows. Will they want to be held? Who knows. Will they want to crawl or walk around? Probably because that happens to be pretty darn stressful for us parents at Disney. Going in with the mindset that things might not go as planned and knowing that your little is going to have plans of their own is the best way to set yourself up for success!

I seriously wasn’t prepared for Emmitt, my son, to want to be down trying to explore at Disneyland as much as he did. He wasn’t walking at the time but was a very quick crawler. He also loved pulling up on things and standing as much as he could. For some reason, I thought he was going to be so chill and just would want to snuggle in the stroller and look around at all of the pretty scenery. Well, I was WRONG. Very wrong. And if you know Disney, you know there aren’t too many areas where it’s easy for a baby to crawl around. This lead to quite a bit of frustration and was something that I wish I would have planned for a bit more.

Lesson: Expect your littles to really want to get down and explore. This is all so new to them. They will want to look but they might want to touch and feel as well.
What I learned: If I were to take an infant to Disney again, I’d bring a few more pairs of shoes/socks so they aren’t caught barefoot when they want to explore. I’d also bring a travel blanket or picnic blanket so there’s a nice cozy spot for them to explore. We spent a lot of time in Toon Town on the grassy area but in the mornings, the turf was really wet and Emmitt would end up soaking wet!

Clean Those Hands!

So, on the last day of our trip, Emmitt became really fussy. I thought he was likely just exhausted from all the go, go, go. But NOPE. When we woke up to head home the next day, we figured out that he had actually caught a really bad tummy bug that had my entire family sick for a week after we got back home.

He had been touching all kinds of stuff throughout our trip, and I honestly hadn’t done the best job at making sure his paci and hands were squeaky clean.

The next time we go to the parks, I plan on washing my hands and Emmitt’s every time someone in our group stops for the bathroom, even if we don’t need to go. I am also going to set a few little alarms to remind me to clean his paci and to put on some hand sanitizer just to add an extra layer of caution. The days are so fast paced, so I’m hoping little alarms will really help remind me to clean his paci and will help keep those germs away!

Lesson: Germs exist, even at the Happiest Place on Earth. (No duh, I know. But my baby getting sick was the last worry I had on my mind when taking him to the parks.)
What I learned: Overdo it when it comes to keeping your babies hands and paci clean!

You might spend a lot of time at the Baby Care Center

I expected to be at the Baby Care Center every now and then but I truly felt like I lived at the Baby Care Centers on my trip. This was OK because the Baby Care Centers truly are nice but I got pretty lonely. Of course, I could have nursed and changed Emmitt elsewhere but this was just the most private and cleanest spot to do it. Also, at Disneyland, you don’t feel like you’re walking forever and ever to get the Baby Care Centers since the parks aren’t insanely huge.

But if you are planning to feed and change your baby at the Baby Care Center, maybe download a few Disney movies on your phone or something. Then you can still feel connected to the magic while you’re having to step away for a bit!

What I didn’t realize and wanted to share for any moms that are needing to pump while in the parks is that Disney cannot store your milk. So if you are needing to keep milk cool, you’re going to need to find a way to preserve it on your own!

Lesson: Bringing a baby to the parks can feel kinda of lonely.
Lesson I learned: Find other ways to feel connected to the magic while you’re feeding your little. Listen to some Disney tunes or watch a Disney movie on your phone. Oh, and if you’re a pumping mama, have a plan for your milk!

These are just a few of the lessons I learned about taking my little to Disney for the first time. I’m taking him to Disney World for the very first time this fall, so I can’t wait to come back to share all my takes and all the lessons I learn!

What tips do you have for taking a baby to Disney World? Let us know in the comments below! 

The post 3 Lessons I Learned the Hard Way About Taking a Baby to Disney first appeared on the disney food blog.

As you can imagine, the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event dropped some massive Disney parks news and left us shook!

I mean, we were all “ready” and waiting for the Horizons — Disney Experiences Showcase on August 10th, but truthfully, we weren’t ready. But instead of recapping everything that went down, we want to focus on Magic Kingdom right now as it got a LOT of announcements. We found out about projects like the new nighttime parade, Villains Land, and even Cars Land and they’re all coming to Magic Kingdom sooner than you think! Speaking of the Cars Land, once we found out about where it would be located, you could say that Disney fans are quite divided on the HUGE Frontierland overhaul that’s a coming!

So, just to catch us all up to speed, Disney did officially announce where the brand-news Cars land will be located in Magic Kingdom.

Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America and will be transformed into this brand-new land coming to the park. That means that Cars land will be located in Frontierland and that makes sense as Disney will, and I quote, “put our guests in the driver’s seat as we—quite literally—explore a new frontier in Frontierland.” We tried to figure out the exact location by zooming into current Magic Kingdom map and comparing it to the concept art released by Disney. We circled with a red line where we expect the new Cars area to be.

As further confirmation, there is this one building near the bottom of the concept art that looks a lot like the current Liberty Square Riverboat building.

Moving right along, the new Cars Land in Magic Kingdom will include have two Cars attractions. The first one will have us racing through the mountains and along wild terrains, all while trying to dodge geysers and splashing through mud holes.

And the second attraction will be more family-friendly (more appropriate for our smaller racers).

So, as we were saying, all these announcements have DEFINITELY sparked some emotions in Disney fans and left many divided. For example, DFB reader @masenmotivates shared, “Turning Tomorrowland Speedway into a Cars themed space makes a lot more sense to me.”

@dradisney shared the same sentiments and expanded them with, “So many problems. First: Cars theme doesn’t fit at Frontierland TIMELINE. Second: With so many land available, why not beyond Thunder Mountain? Third: why not place the cars rally at tomorrow land, where tomorrow land speed way is? Don’t tell me we will get a new brand rally attraction but speedway will still remain on TOMORROW land? Tomorrow land wasn’t suppose to bring the freshness of tomorrow? Why place race cars in a time where there were horses, wagons and nostalgia? Where is the Magic Kingdom that doesn’t mix storylines and has an underground tunnel made initially to don’t mess with the immersion? Why not place this in Hollywood Studios?”

@vincent_devecchis agreed with, “This is gonna ruin a thematic cohesion of the land. You’re gonna walk out of haunted mansion and boom there’s gonna be talking cars plus the river area kind of cools down the park. If it’s just cement it’s gonna get super hot.” I’m sure that is something that Disney will have to consider as that river does naturally help cool down that side of the park.

Then @letsplayschool shared, “Super sad about what’s being replaced and taken away. Excited for the new – just wish it wasn’t taking away such classics…. ”. That’s always the unfortunate thing about projects like this — something old tends to give way for something new.

Lastly, we have @anthonynunzioviscuse who shared, “This is horrible. Walt not only enjoyed but intended for areas of the park to be passive enjoyment. He loved the west. He loved the stories of America. Tom Sawyer island is a much needed “respite” from the crowds and stimulation of the works themselves. It’s a quiet reflection and place to spend some family time. It’s also a huge piece of living history in the Magic Kingdom. That matters. It isn’t just an add on to the Disney World experience, it IS Disney world. On a personal note, my wife and I said our vows in a cavern of Tom Sawyer island and it means so much to us to be able to take our children to a beautiful, nature filled nostalgic area that I myself grew up visiting with my father. I’m so sad about this.”

We do know that the construction on this new land is to begin in early 2025, so if you would like to take one more trip on The Rivers of America or explore all the goodness of Tom Sawyer Island one last time, the clock is ticking!

We’ll be watching for more details as this new project begins at Magic Kingdom and all the other new projects around the Disney World parks. Keep following DFB for all the latest Disney news!

NEWS: Disney Files First Permit for Tom Sawyer Island Cars Land Transformation at Magic Kingdom

What are your thoughts on the new Cars Land in Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments!

The post “So Many Problems.” Disney Fans Are DIVIDED On Magic Kingdom’s HUGE Frontierland Overhaul first appeared on the disney food blog.

With only four months to go until the opening of Disney Vacation Club’s new Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, we spotted Moana’s outrigger boat in what will be a splash pad inspired by the animated film.

DVC Island Tower Construction

We spotted crews working on the balcony railings on the far right side of the Island Tower. The connecting wall to the main building has been entirely painted since our last update.

There is now scaffolding surrounding the porte-cochère. These steel frames offer crews better access to work on the roof of the porte-cochère.

Balcony railings have been added to some of the rooms on the far right side of the tower. Ten more have been added above the main entrance since our last report.

The steel framework we previously reported on has now been covered in paneling and painted about halfway down from the top of the building. This unique column is located near the elevator tower, which remains unpainted and still has secured supports for potential future work.

Near the unpainted portion of the elevator tower, work has been completed on the roof. It is now covered and painted.

A new concrete pathway has been poured from the port-cochère back toward the Island Tower’s elevator tower. A gray door replaces a wooden one in the concrete wall opposite the path entrance.

Different types of trees have been planted in front of the north wing. Crews have also added a walking path. The walking path between the Polynesian to Magic Kingdom remains closed to guests.

The other side of the Island Tower is visible from boats crossing the Seven Seas Lagoon, the dock, and nearby buildings. While most of the building has received its final paint, the south wing still has exposed concrete.

We spotted crews working on the roof at the top of the tower. Other workers were painting at the top center.

A closer look at the overhanging roof in the center shows that they have added more infrastructure before what will likely be the final covering.

Crews have been working on the pathway near the pool and hot tub area. The most exciting update here is that Moana’s life-size outrigger boat has been added to what will be a “Moana” inspired water play area.

New concept art of this area and the tower were shared at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event earlier this month.

The canopy was added to the framework we previously covered in our last update.

Here is a closer shot of Moana’s outrigger boat. If it follows the concept art, we expect this to be the center point of the splash pad area.

This angle offers a better view of the splash pad. The concrete surrounding the boat would be where the water features will be located.

The fascia has been completed along the edge of the roof. While most of the building has received its final paint, there is still exposed concrete between the south wing and the center of the tower.

The structure on the first floor of the Island Tower will be a restaurant and bar. A few crew members in a lift were working on the top of the structure when we last visited. No new theming has been spotted where more insulation was added to the steel structure. Previously, we saw a wooden wall surrounding the rectangular part of the bar. Today, there is a concrete barrier in the wooden wall’s place.

Disney revealed the Island Tower’s name and new concept art in May. The tower will take guests on a “storytelling journey that brings to life the spirit of Polynesia.” Disney also shared guest room concept art and announced that the island tower will open to guests on December 17, 2024.

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

The post Moana’s Outrigger Boat Spotted at DVC Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Resort appeared first on WDW News Today.

Universal Orlando Resort has dropped new lore surrounding its icons for this Halloween Horror Nights 33, SINIST3R and SURR3AL.

SINIST3R and SURR3AL at Halloween Horror Nights 33

Revealed via a thread on the Halloween Horror Nights Orlando X account (formerly Twitter), fans have learned a bit more about SINIST3R and SURR3AL, the two stars of the event’s scare zone, Duality of Fear.

Read the full story:

For 33 years, the screams of thousands of eager Halloween Horror Nights guests have been collected within the shadowy depths of Universal Orlando Resort. With each year that went by came a new set of frights for our guests to indulge.

All the while, their wails of terror festered beneath the billow fog up on the surface, forming a monstrous manifestation of the horror that lives within their hearts. An evil overgrowth that would spread its hellish grasp throughout every crevice of the park’s underbelly.

As the overgrowth expanded in size, its beating heart ripped a tear between our world and the vast universe of horrors that exists beyond our own; the never-ending void in which fear derives from.

Within that universe are two distinct realms – One fueled by physical pain while the other is plagued by psychological torment. At the helm of these worlds are two entities, SINIST3R and SURR3AL, who each embody the hellscapes they stand guard for.

Guests will encounter SINIST3R and SURR3AL in the Duality of Fear scare zone, where they will have to choose their path: the “visceral horror” of SINIST3R or the “unearthly terror” of SURR3AL. Read our latest scare zone construction update.

Other scare zones included in this year’s event are Enter the Blumhouse, Demon Queens, Swamp of the Undead, and Torture Faire. Nightmare Fuel will also return this year in “Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus.”

The 10 haunted houses this year include Slaughter Sinema 2, Goblin’s Feast, Major Sweets Candy Factory, The Museum: Deadly Exhibits, Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America, Triplets of Terror, A Quiet Place, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, and Insidious: The Further.

Halloween Horror Nights 33 kicks off on August 30 and runs on select nights through November 3, 2024. Tickets are on sale now, including for the Premium Scream Night preview event on August 29.

For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.

The post Universal Orlando Reveals New SINIST3R and SURR3AL Lore for Halloween Horror Nights 33 appeared first on WDW News Today.

Walt Disney World 5K 

Walt Disney World 10K 

Walt Disney World Half Marathon 

Walt Disney World Marathon 

Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge 

Dopey Challenge 

The post Give a Cheer for the <I>run</I>Disney 2025 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Medals!  appeared first on Disney Parks Blog.