We are just a few short weeks away from the END of the 3-month-long festival drought in EPCOT with the start of EPCOT’s International Food and Wine Festival!

Menus have FINALLY been released for the festival, and words can’t express how excited we are. We’ve already been looking through it and making our festival plan, our eyes brightening as we saw more and more options coming back that we’ve enjoyed in years past, and then — wait, what is THAT?! 

*sigh* The truth is, friends, there are some offerings returning to this year’s festival that, for lack of a better term, BAFFLE us. We try ALL the new eats at the festival each and every year, and often try ones that we’ve had in years past too to see if they’re still worth (or not worth) your money.

Not every item at each booth is a winner, and that’s not surprising since everyone’s taste buds are different! However, sometimes there are items that are just REALLY not it, and we expect them to never return again. This alone is why you see entirely new menus at the Italy pavilion nearly every single festival (because, let’s be honest, it’s been a LONG TIME since Italy has had a winner — maybe this will be the year!). Disney doesn’t want to keep hated items on the menu, because then no one will buy them and they’ve wasted ingredients and time on food that won’t get eaten.

Which is why we were SO surprised to see that some…questionable options are coming back to the festival this year. Okay, that’s being kind — the internet HATED these items last year, and yet, here they are again! One of the biggest ones that our jaws dropped at seeing come back is the Pickle Milkshake from Brew Wing!

Some thought it tasted more like dill than pickles, and others (who are normally pickle lovers) absolutely hated it. At the end of the day, no one can argue that this wasn’t unique, and we thought it was a little TOO unique for it to come back — we’ve been proven wrong.

Also from Brew Wing, the Peanut Butter and Jelly Sticky Wings are making a return! Like the pickle milkshake, this is VERY unique, but we actually really enjoyed them! Yes, they do really taste like peanut butter and jelly, so if strange-flavored wings aren’t your thing, stay far, FAR away, but it wasn’t too unique that we disliked it. But will they do it well enough AGAIN this year?

But this last one, y’all, we’re truly at a loss for words. The Swine Brine is coming BACK at the Flavors From Fire booth, and we’re just shaking our heads.

Hear us out — we’ll try anything once. We’ll even try most things way MORE than that, but the whole team is sending good thoughts and vibes to whatever reporter gets assigned this booth because, well, this drink, made from Jim Beam Bourbon, apple cinnamon cider, bone broth, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard, was on our list of hated items last year. When we first tried it about 4 years ago, we didn’t despise it, surprisingly, but last year, the flavor of bone broth was SO strong we almost spit out the drink. Not only that, the pork inside the drink looked gray in color, which was very off-putting, and our official stance was to stay away.

Despite these…intriguing items, we’re really looking forward to the festival this year and can’t wait to bring all the latest news and reviews to you!

Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Food and Wine Festival news!

Check out ALL the booths and menus for this year’s Food and Wine Festival here!

What booth are you most looking forward to? Tell us in the comments!

The post The Internet HATED These EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Dishes, but They Are Returning in 2024 Anyway first appeared on the disney food blog.

It’s pizza time!!!

We had a major craving for pizza (preferably not of the puffy kind) and decided to stop by Disney Springs to see how things were going over at Blaze Pizza. While there, we tried some of their brand-new menu items and wanted to share our thoughts with y’all.

Atmosphere

Blaze Pizza is a casual quick-service restaurant famous for the customizable pizzas that they make right in front of you (think Subway but with pizza!). This is a restaurant chain that exists outside of Disney Springs and is a pretty popular spot for dining.

Aside from custom pizzas, the menu also features signature pizzas, salads, sides, and desserts. And as for beverages, you have the options of flavored lemonades, teas, beers, and soft drinks.

Blaze Pizza has tons of indoor and outdoor seating, so it’s a great place to sit and eat after a day full of shopping and adventuring at Springs.

Menu

When we dined in, we noticed that new menu items were being offered, including Fast Fire’d Meatballs, 2 new Signature Pizzas, Spicy Cheesy Bread, and Cinnamon Bread.

We decided to order a couple of familiar items along with some of the new options from the menu, to test out if this is a solid option at Disney Springs to dine at.

Eats

First up was the classic Cheesy Bread, which is available for $8.25. The Cheesy Bread is made up of their classic dough with shredded mozzarella, oregano, olive oil drizzle, with a side of red sauce.

We have to be honest about this one it wasn’t really our favorite. It tasted like standard cheese bread and although it was advertised as having oregano and garlic, our batch didn’t exactly have much of it, so the flavors were very bland, even when paired with the red sauce. We think this would taste better possibly on another visit, but it’s not a dish we’ll go out of our way to order again.

A new menu item added is their Fast Fire’d Meatballs for $6.99. It includes 3 pork/beef blend meatballs submerged in their classic red sauce along with a dollop of ricotta cheese and a banana pepper.

Honestly, we were actually surprised by these meatballs. We were thinking we would be biting into the grocery store/freezer section-style meatballs, but they actually tasted as if they were homemade. The sauce was light in flavor but paired well with the meat. We honestly wish meatball subs were a part of the menu because these meatballs would rock on one.

Next up was the Spicy Pepperoni Pizza,  a new menu item available for $11.95. This pizza comes with spicy red sauce and mozzarella cheese. It’s then topped with double pepperoni, jalapeño with garlic, and your choice of spicy hot or spicy sweet drizzle. We opted for the spicy sweet drizzle, which was a hot honey sauce.

Seriously, Blaze ate with this one (or well, we technically ate it), but they truly knocked it out of the park with this signature pizza. Since Blaze pizzas are made inside of an open flame oven, the dough is toasty and crispy and the cheese is perfectly melty. But the combo of pepperoni and jalapenos along with that AMAZING hot honey sauce was just pure YUM. Although we expected the pizza to be incredibly spicy, we would say it wasn’t to the point where we couldn’t enjoy it. We’d say this is a great pizza for those who enjoy a little kick, but if you have a lower tolerance or don’t like spice in general, this may not be your fave. Overall, we’re definitely coming back for this one!

Now on to desserts (our favorite part!). We first dug into the S’more Pie which is a classic on the menu. For $3.25 you get melted chocolate and a marshmallow smushed between 2 McVitie’s biscuits. You have the option of getting this pie heated up for you, which gives the marshmallow a more accurate s’more-like consistency.

This pie tastes exactly like a s’more and left us wanting more (crickets probably). But honestly, it’s a really good option for a dessert that’s more unique than the cookie or brownie that Blaze Pizza offers. It’s a simple treat, but still very good.

And last but not least, it was time for the Cinnamon Bread to shine. The Cinnamon Bread is made up of their house-made stretched bread, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and drizzled in royal white icing. This is another new menu item and is available for $4.99.

Another surprise hit for us. We were thinking that it wasn’t going to satisfy our sweet tooth since the breading is similar to the pizza dough, but it’s actually way sweeter than we anticipated. The best part about this treat is that it’s sweet without feeling overwhelming, so it’s a solid dessert option if you’re looking for something that doesn’t feel too heavy on the sugar level. The cinnamon sugar was distributed perfectly throughout each piece and the frosting was delicious. We definitely hope this one stays on the menu!

Overall

If you’re looking for a more casual spot to eat, we’d say that Blaze Pizza is a pretty solid option! The prices are fair and there’s enough seating where you don’t have to worry about not finding a spot. Not only that, but we very much enjoyed the food we got and will not hesitate to return. Great for guests wanting pizza on property that’s not specifically the Disney kind.

Nosh or Not?

Stroll on over to Blaze Pizza if…

• You love pizza! Their pizzas are delicious and with their customizable options, you’ll be sure to find a pie you really dig.
• You’re looking for a casual bite with less wait times. Disney Springs is a popular spot so other restaurants get pretty busy, especially if you don’t plan ahead or have a reservation.
• You want to save a bit of your dough. No pizza pun intended, but Blaze’s menu is pretty affordable and it’s filling. So not only do you get yummy food, but you don’t end up spending a ton of money on one dish as opposed to other sit-down restaurants at Disney Springs.

Avoid Blaze Pizza if…

• You want a more unique dish. This is pizza from a chain restaurant that exists outside of Disney property so we understand that when you come to Disney World, you may want to try something more memorable or exclusive.
• If you’re not a fan of pizza. That may sound silly, but truly, there aren’t a lot of main options on the menu aside from it, so if that’s not your thing, we don’t suggest picking this spot out.

Stay tuned as we bring you even more of our reviews as we eat throughout Disney World!

REVIEW: This Hidden Disney World Hotel Restaurant Never Gets the Attention It Deserves and That Ends TODAY

Have you tried Blaze Pizza before? We’d love to read about your experience in the comments!

The post REVIEW: We Tried NEW Menus Items in Disney Springs…and Honestly, We Can’t Wait to Eat Them Again first appeared on the disney food blog.

Popular Disney World rides will close now and then for refurbishment, which means you may miss out on riding them during your vacation.

It’s no fun to get to the parks to find a ride closed down, but Disney has to ensure that all of their rides are working properly and make adjustments to them when needed. But we get really excited when we get to report that a ride or attraction is re-opening which is the case this week! While there are still a few closures around Disney World, one very popular ride at Magic Kingdom will be opening once again.

Peter Pan’s Flight

One of Magic Kingdom’s most popular rides closed for refurbishment on July 8th!

Peter Pan’s Flight opened EARLY in the Magic Kingdom!  While Disney didn’t announce what was being refurbished, we noticed some changes to one scene in the ride.

NEWS: Peter Pan’s Flight In Magic Kingdom Has Reopened with CHANGES

There are still a few closures in Disney World, so let’s see what will be closed the week of August 17th through August 23rd!

Magic Kingdom

Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade

We had to say goodbye to an opening day attraction on June 23rd.

The Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade was around for generations and provided simple fun to all who played. Now, the attraction has closed to make room for a new Disney Vacation Club lounge. This lounge will be the third in Disney World, joining one in EPCOT and one at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Disney has not yet announced when the new lounge will open.

The ONE THING We HATE About the Magic Kingdom Expansion

Tomorrowland Terrace

Tomorrowland Terrace is a quick-service restaurant that has been closed since the 2020 pandemic-related closures, but even before that, this spot was only occasionally open.

Once in a while, you’ll see the dining room open as a rest area (and it’s still being used for the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties), but it’s usually all roped off and empty.

Disney hasn’t announced when this spot could finally reopen, but we’ll be watching for updates. If you’re looking for a nice spot to hang out in Disney World and sit down for a rest, this could be it!

EPCOT

Test Track

Test Track closed on June 17th, and Disney is giving this ride a BIG makeover! 

Disney has shared that the new version of Test Track will take inspiration from the old ride, World of Motion, that was originally there when the park opened in 1982. Disney recently shared more details at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience including an opening timeline! We’ll be able to ride Test Trace once again in 2025.

Restaurant Marrakesh

Restaurant Marrakesh is currently closed as a dining location in the Morocco pavilion of EPCOT’s World Showcase, and there’s no word yet on when the restaurant could fully reopen.

However, it opens from time to time as a KidCot station and a lounge. So if you’re in the Morocco Pavilion, check it out to see if it’s open. We’re watching for updates on when the full restaurant could reopen!

FIRST LOOK: NEW Spaceship Earth Lounge Is Coming to EPCOT

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Voyage of the Little Mermaid

Voyage of the Little Mermaid is currently closed in Disney World. We recently spotted some construction walls up at the show!

Disney is going to introduce a new, updated show in this spot, though it will still be themed to the animated movie The Little Mermaid! The new show will be called “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” and is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Fall 2024.

It will be a “fully reimagined theatrical production inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic.”

CHANGES Announced for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Attraction in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Blizzard Beach

Blizzard Beach closed for refurbishment on March 17th.

While Blizzard Beach is closed, Typhoon Lagoon is currently open. The two water parks often rotate off and on for being open. Disney has not announced when Blizzard Beach might reopen. We’ll be watching for any updates, though!

Click here to learn all about Typhoon Lagoon

Disney World Hotels

World Premiere Food Court — Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

The World Premiere Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort has been undergoing refurbishment since July.

This food court closed for refurbishment on July 1st and was set to reopen on July 31st. However, a change on the Disney World website and speaking with Cast Members has indicated that did not happen. Disney has recently updated the website to say it won’t open until mid-October. While it has been getting a face-lift, guests have been able to mobile order from a limited menu on the Disney World app, and seating in the food court is still available.

Everything POP Shopping & Dining — Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Everything Pop is amid its own refurbishment.

Starting July 29th, Everything Pop will be getting some work done. The refurbishment is set to last until September 29th. However, while the work is being done, guests can still use the Disney World app to mobile order food. You may need to use alternate entrances to access the food court and seating may be limited.

Barbados Leisure Pool

The Barbados leisure pool will be closed at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort from July 29th through the end of September 2024.

This resort is organized into villages and each area has its own leisure pool. While the Barbados leisure pool is closed, check out one of the other several options around the resort!

Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides:

• 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness
• What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride
• 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU!
• A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World!
• The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride

We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB.

Check out more upcoming closures and current construction projects at Disney World here.

Are you visiting Disney World this week? Let us know in the comments!

The post ALERT: 3 Important Closures Are Happening NOW at 3 Popular Disney World Hotels first appeared on the disney food blog.

Who’s ready to do some SHOPPING?

If the answer is no, we’re warning you, you may want to save this post for later and come back another time, or you can do what we do and chuck our wallets far away from us and just hope we miraculously forget Apple Pay is a thing. After all the exciting announcements at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, we’ve been VERY excited about what’s coming to Disney parks soon(ish). Aaaand that’s how we got on a rabbit hole on Amazon and have found ALL the best shirts to celebrate all the news! What’s even better is that all of these tees are on sale for less than $25 on Amazon right now!!! 

DID SOMEONE SAY VILLAINS?!

We are SO THRILLED about the announcement of Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom, which is only part of the reason we feel it’s 100% necessary to grab the The Little Mermaid Ursula World Tour Band T-Shirt ASAP. Maybe if we wear it enough, it’ll make the time until the land opens pass faster?

Add it to your cart!

Thank GOODNESS Nothing is Happening to This Attraction

In this case, we’re actually relieved nothing was announced to be happening to The Three Caballeros in EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion. We’re thrilled about the Coco ride coming to Disneyland Resort, and while some of our team feels that a Coco ride would be a good replacement ride for the Three Caballeros in the Mexico Pavilion, the rest of us will be wearing this The Three Caballeros Donald Duck Vintage Distressed T-Shirt to celebrate that for now, these guys aren’t going anywhere!

Buy it here!

A Win For Star Wars Fans!

While nothing super major was announced for Star Wars lovers or Galaxy’s Edge, it was announced that Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run in Disney’s Hollywood Studios AND Disneyland will be getting an update! This new update will include NEW missions that will include The Mandalorian and Grogu into the storylines! To celebrate the news, we recommend grabbing the STAR WARS Mos Eisley Cantina Tatooine Shirt!

Check it out!

WE NEED POWERLINE

There’s been a lot of talk around the fate of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in Hollywood Studios right now. Disney announced a massive new Monsters, Inc. land coming to the park in the coming years but not WHERE it’ll be. Some fans have been speculating that since Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster has had SO many issues over the course of the past few years that two massive refurbishments haven’t been able to fix, that the new land may go here. We however do NOT want this ride to go away, and while we don’t want Aerosmith going anywhere either, we have LOVED fans’ ideas of retheming the ride to be Powerline from A Goofy Movie! If you’re crossing your fingers for this retheme, you can grab the Goofy Movie Powerline Shirt to will it into existence!

Add it to your cart!

Can’t Forget About That New Nighttime Parade!

One of the other announcements we were THRILLED about was the announcement that a new nighttime parade is on its way to Magic Kingdom! We don’t know tons about it yet, but we do know it’ll be called “Disney Starlight” and will arrive in Summer 2025. In the concept art released, we can see the Blue Fairy, characters from Encanto, and none other than Peter Pan and Wendy! If you wanna get a head start, you can grab the Peter Pan Captain Hook Pirate Crew Est 1953 Logo T-Shirt to wear for the opening of the parade.

Check it out!

How We’re All Feeling About Those LEFT OUT Announcements

While we’re thrilled that we did get the announcement that an Inside Out series called “Dream Productions” is coming to Disney+, we can’t help but feel a little anxious about all the major announcements we were expecting but didn’t get. ARE we getting Tiana’s Palace in Disney World? What the HECK is going on with the PLAY! Pavilion in EPCOT? Will Spaceship Earth ever get its much-needed update? Yeah, anxiety galore, which is why we’re buying the Inside Out 2 I’m Fine Emotional Anxiety Poster T-Shirt right now.

Grab it here!

As always, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news and announcements — the next few years are about to be wild!

Check out more of our favorite Disney items right here!

What D23 announcement was your favorite? Tell us in the comments!

The post 6 Disney Tees On Sale For Under On Amazon Today! first appeared on the disney food blog.

Magic Kingdom is about to be getting a LOT of construction.

First, a new Cars land is set to break ground any day now, which will take over Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America. Then a new Villains land will be under construction at some point behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. A new Pirates of the Caribbean tavern is also coming to Magic Kingdom soon, and we believe construction may have already started — so how about an update?

Now, we already started seeing construction around the area, particularly where the Plaza del Sol Caribe gift shop exit is located. In the meantime, the former Tortuga Tavern dining spot has become a Pirates of the Caribbean gift shop.

We’re seeing construction walls in the Lightning Lane queue of Pirates of the Caribbean, and the queue has been adjusted accordingly. So, we’re not 100% sure this will be the Pirates of the Caribbean tavern, but we can’t imagine it would be anything else. Right?

We also see construction walls around the entrance of what used to be the Pirates League, which could be the new entrance for the tavern. Again, we’re only speculating as Disney hasn’t specified exactly where the tavern is going.

So why do we think this could be related to the new tavern? Well, the tavern has an opening timeline of 2025, so it makes sense construction would already be underway. It’s being promoted as a spot with drinks and snacks that will be a “first-of-its-kind experience will extend the story of Pirates of the Caribbean.”

The Barker Bird, who used to greet guests at Pirates of the Caribbean, will be taking up permanent residence in the new tavern, where pirates “of all ages” can “gather to tell their tales!”

We’ll be keeping an eye out for more Pirates of the Caribbean tavern details and keep you updated, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

This NEW Permit Could Be a CLUE About the Pirates of the Caribbean Lounge Coming to Magic Kingdom!

What do you think? Will you be interested in hanging out at the Pirates of the Caribbean tavern? Let us know in the comments!

The post ALERT: More NEW Construction Spotted Near Pirates of the Caribbean in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.

Bluey, the main character of the popular Australian animated kid’s show that shares her name, is coming to Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Bluey Build-A-Bear Workshop

Bluey was announced as the newest addition to the Build-A-Bear Workshop lineup in a post shared by the official Build-A-Bear Workshop Instagram account.

The clip begins with the Build-A-Bear Workshop logo against a light blue background. Then, “Bluey” appears beneath the logo in white.

The short clip ends with the top of the Blue Heeler puppy’s head, eyebrows, and ears.

The caption that goes along with the clip states the following.

Coming Soon… for real life!

#TheStuffYouLove

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“Bluey” premiered on ABC Kids on October 1, 2018. Disney acquired international broadcasting rights to the program in 2019. The series premiered in September 2019 on Disney Junior and is now available to stream in most territories on Disney+.

In April 2024, two “Bluey” episodes premiered in Australia and globally via Disney on the same day for the first time. After each episode premiered on ABC Kids in Australia, it premiered globally on Disney+, Disney Junior, and Disney Channel in all regions except China and New Zealand.

In 2023, a “Bluey” scavenger hunt was introduced at Walt Disney World. However, the hunt was discontinued after just a few days.

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

The post Bluey Coming to Build-A-Bear Workshop appeared first on WDW News Today.