Disney’s Hollywood Studios Really Likes Baseball Caps and Booze

Welcome back, DFB friends!

It’s Gertie!

We had a pretty awesome day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — and in fact, we invited you along with us! But we also made sure to check out all the shops, food spots, and more to make sure we keep you up to date on everything going on there!

Hollywood Studios Food Updates

Hollywood Scoops

No, we didn’t get any ice cream (although the weather has been perfect for it). But we did notice that Hollywood Scoops wasn’t open earlier in the morning… .

Closed?

So what’s up with that? Well, we’ve seen it closed some mornings before, but it is open most of the time we go!

We Just Upgraded Our Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich in Disney World!

Anaheim Produce

If you’re wanting to get your drink on in the morning, Anaheim Produce still has the cans of Bloody Mary available.

Bloody Mary in a can

We won’t judge you — it’s always happy hour somewhere!

Review: One of Our Favorite Drinks Is BACK in Hollywood Studios

Toy Story Land Cart

Being a toy in Andy’s backyard can get a little stressful, ‘ya know? And sometimes you just need a Margarita. Luckily, the margaritas are back!

Cocktails? Yes, please!

Okay, maybe we’re just making an excuse to have a margarita.

EPCOT Went HARD for National Margarita Day

BaseLine Tap House

Over at BaseLine Tap House, the cider has returned — we repeat, THE CIDER HAS RETURNED.

Cider is back!

However, when we were there, it wasn’t quite ready to be ordered yet (it was coming out all foam, and honestly we probably wouldn’t have minded drinking cider foam, but they wouldn’t let us). The bartenders said it would be ready soon, and that we were probably the millionth guest to ask about it.

REVIEW: We Tried the BOOZY Spiced Surabat Cider at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World

50’s Prime Time Diner

We put on our best retro WandaVision outfit and headed over to 50’s Prime Time Diner to see what dining is like with the new face mask policy that only allows guests to remove masks when actively eating or drinking.

We’re in an episode of WandaVision!

Our experience is that a Cast Member told us about the new policy as we sat down, and most guests were leaving their masks on at least until receiving their drink order.

Here’s Our Experience with Disney World’s New Restaurant Mask Policy

Hollywood Studios Merchandise Updates

Celebrity 5&10

Okay, so we might’ve stared at the Beauty and the Beast Snowglobe for a long time waiting to see if any petals fall off — they didn’t (whew!). But this beautiful rose is now available at Celebrity 5&10 for $69.99.

Beast’s rose…

We also stepped into the Twilight Zone to see the Tower of Terror Bellhop Hats here. These can also be found at Tower Hotel Gifts for $21.99.

Bellhop Caps!

Speaking of hats, we found a few new baseball caps, including this Camouflage Mickey Hat…

Camo cap!

…and this “Amazing” Spider-Man Hat.

This cap is amazing

You saw what we did there, right? 😁 These hats are $27.99 each.

What Happens When You Cross A Mermaid, an Alien, and More On Disney Hats?

Sunset Couture

So it must be baseball cap season because we found two MORE new hats at Sunset Couture. There’s a pretty Ariel Hat that’s got us singing “Part of Your World.”

We want to be part of your world

There’s also a Stitch Hat with our favorite alien experiment on it!

Weird, but cute. Same, Stitch, same.

Both hats are $27.99 each.

Show Off Your Love for Disney Treats with New Foodie Hats Online!

Hollywood Studios Other Updates

Beauty and the Beast Live Theater

We discovered that the Beauty and the Beast Live Theater is now open — for extra seating.

New seating area FTW!

We miss the show, but it’s nice to have another place so sit down at Hollywood Studios and relax for a while!

Eat and Relax at a CLOSED Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

That’s all the time we had for Disney’s Hollywood Studios! We’ll be back soon with even more updates. Until then, stay tuned to DFB as we make our way around Disney World giving YOU the latest updates!

DFB Video: 25 Secrets You Never Knew About Hollywood Studios

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

Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!

Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!

With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!

With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.

Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2020 Edition of the Guide!

Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!

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Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 🙂

Have you been to Hollywood Studios recently? Let us know in the comments!

The post Disney’s Hollywood Studios Really Likes Baseball Caps and Booze first appeared on the disney food blog.

PHOTOS: Six Months from Opening, Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Hotel Construction Continues

walt-disney-world-swan-reserve-hotel-2-28-2021

With an opening date scheduled merely six months from now, construction on the new Walt Disney World Swan Reserve hotel continues along schedule. Since our last update on the construction progress, the top floor of the hotel has received some more work. This top floor will be used for Vue, an exclusive rooftop space described as “perfect for weddings and social galas.” The space will boast breathtaking views of the Walt Disney World Resort, thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows. Some […]

The post PHOTOS: Six Months from Opening, Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Hotel Construction Continues appeared first on WDW News Today.

PHOTOS: Harmonious Keeps Taking Shape in EPCOT With a Centerpiece Upgrade!

At this point, we might as well go ahead and hashtag it: #BargeWatch2021. It’s become a near-daily habit of ours to stroll around World Showplace Lagoon in EPCOT, zooming in on our phone cameras to monitor the construction progress on Harmonious, Disney World’s latest and greatest nighttime spectacular! 

Harmonious Centerpiece

With each new development on one of the barges in the lagoon, we do a little happy dance! And today, we spotted new arms on the centerpiece barge! 

Clearly, there’s a TON happening in EPCOT these days, but few updates are as central and visible as the steady development of Harmonious in the middle of World Showplace Lagoon. 

Harmonious Barges

What’s sure to be a game-changing nighttime spectacular, befitting Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, continues to take shape, as we’ve recently seen the addition of more barges, new technology, and new testing! 

For the latest installment of #BargeWatch2021, we spotted the addition of a new arms on the over 6-story tall ring-shaped centerpiece barge! 

Harmonious Barge

We can’t wait wait to see what these arms will do in the show!

Harmonious Barge

But considering that this mighty barge is designed to display a high-density water curtain with various elements like lights and fountain fixtures, we can only assume it’ll lend a hand with one of those things! 

New Harmonious Barge Arms

For now, though, suffice to say that we’re getting more and excited by the day to see this thing come together.

Harmonious Barge

As usual, we’ll continue to keep our eyes peeled for more Harmonious happenings, and keep you posted on breaking barge news! 

PHOTOS & VIDEO: Harmonious barge’s arm begins testing in Disney World!

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

Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!

Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!

With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!

With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.

Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2020 Edition of the Guide!

Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!

ready-to-shop-button
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 🙂

What do YOU think these new barge arms will function as? Let us know in the comments!

The post PHOTOS: Harmonious Keeps Taking Shape in EPCOT With a Centerpiece Upgrade! first appeared on the disney food blog.

NEWS: Elementary School Kids Could Receive COVID-19 Vaccine in Early 2022

With the steady rollout of the various COVID-19 vaccines across the country, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes available to everyone…but when? 

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Crowds

As the vaccine becomes available to different age groups, Dr. Anthony Fauci announced that elementary school children will likely be able to get the vaccine early 2022.

While seniors and essential workers have been some of the first to receive their COVID-19 vaccines, the nation’s leading epidemiologist recently said on “Meet the Press” that younger groups — namely, kids in elementary school — will be able to get vaccinated by early next year.

Gideon’s Face Mask

According to CNBC, the reason it’s a little ways off is simply because scientists need to conduct more studies to guarantee safety for young children, as two of the three currently available vaccines are only approved for adults. 

Face Mask Signs

“If you project realistically, when we will be able to get enough data to be able to say that elementary school children will be able to be vaccinated, I would think that would be, at the earliest, the end of the year, and very likely the first quarter of 2022,” Fauci said in the interview. 

Face Mask Signage

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can be given to anyone 16 and older, but currently eligibility for younger people is restricted to those with underlying health conditions or other criteria.

Toy Story Land

Fauci also said that high school students will likely receive vaccines in the fall around the time that school begins. Fauci says he’s “not sure it’s exactly on the first day school opens, but pretty close to that.”

Darth Vader Face Mask

We’ll continue to keep you updated on COVID-19 vaccine news, and how it relates to your future Disney trips.

Why a Vaccine May Not Be The “Cure” That Disney World Needs

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

Are you waiting for the vaccine before planning a Disney World trip? Let us know in the comments! 

The post NEWS: Elementary School Kids Could Receive COVID-19 Vaccine in Early 2022 first appeared on the disney food blog.

PHOTOS: New “La Gelateria” Stand Closer to Completion in Italy Pavilion at EPCOT

construction_la-gelateria-_italy-pavilion_epcot_01-2367640

A couple of weeks ago, we saw that the stonework and roofing were almost complete at the new La Gelateria Stand in EPCOT’s Italy Pavilion. Today, we went over to see how far the construction has come along since. As you can see, the building is definitely coming along! The structure looks complete with the window awnings installed. However, facade work is still very much in progress. Stonework is in the process of being completed on the walkway. The stonework, […]

The post PHOTOS: New “La Gelateria” Stand Closer to Completion in Italy Pavilion at EPCOT appeared first on WDW News Today.

The Story of “Cinderella” Gets an Unexpected Twist on “Saturday Night Live”

Last night on Saturday Night Live, there was a skit done based on Disney’s Cinderella, but it doesn’t go as planned. What’s Happening: During Saturday Night Live, they had a skit based on Disney’s Cinderella starring special guest Nick Jonas. Nick Jonas plays Prince Charming in the scene, coming over to the house of Lady Tremaine […]

The post The Story of “Cinderella” Gets an Unexpected Twist on “Saturday Night Live” appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.

The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! – Disney Outlet Store Update for FEBRUARY 2021

Welcome to the latest edition of The Magic, The Memories, and Merch!, the longest running monthly look at the Disney Outlet Stores in Orlando, and today we’re going to announce some changes going forward. Why, you ask? Well this is why….

REASON # 1 – If you are on social media, and you follow anything related to the Disney Outlet Stores in Orlando, you’re going to see posts like these below…

 

When you sign into the “Virtual Queue” at the Disney Character Warehouse, you are only told how many parties are ahead of you. There is no timeframe given of when you will be texted to return. Waiting in a situation like that can seem interminable.

While both Disney and Universal have been good at improving operations pretty much across the board at the theme parks and resorts, if anything the Outlets have become worse. I have to be honest, I did not expect this to happen. For the first time in a long time it seems like there is light at the end of the tunnel in terms of our country dealing with the coronavirus, but I don’t feel as confident about things at the Outlets changing any time soon. There are a lot of factors that are contributing to the current situation and none of them will be going away in the near future.

Reason # 2 – Below is a comment posted from a reader after last month’s Outlet Report. Keep in mind, last month I probably spent more money at the Disney Character Warehouse than I have in years.

My first thought when reading that comment?

But my second thought led to some introspection. Have I let the Disney Outlets themselves change me? Is the situation so horrible that I’m subconsciously passing it on to you, Dear Reader? It made me think back to a classic moment on NBC’s The Office when – as a kid –  Michael Scott was the ring bearer for his mom and Jeff’s wedding…

So how can we fix this? Well, I think temporarily we’re are going to try a new direction, one given to us by Disney themselves. So allow me the honor and privilege of announcing a new format next month as we welcome the debut of…

A TASTE OF A TOUCH OF THE DISNEY OUTLET STORES!

What it will be is a look at a few items from the Orlando outlets (our “taste of,”) and of course we will still have @ChristellaMcC reporting in from California (our “touch of”.) Each month I will also give an IN DEPTH look at a Disney or Universal gift shop that I really enjoy, because I love theme park merchandise! I think for next month we will start off looking at the Waturi Marketplace, to celebrate Volcano Bay and the Disney water parks finally reopening.

We’ll see how it goes, but for now let’s head back into Mordor itself and check out some discounted items. First up, an ornament from “Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party,” which – as we all know, did not take place last year. The ornament is branded “2020” so maybe we’ll have a collector’s item one day. Probably not though, because when Disney gives a discount of 90% it generally means they can’t give these things away.

(photo by @JayInFlorida of Theme Park Shark)

What’s the difference between a Minnie Mouse Pumpkin Mug and  a Pumpkin Ghost Mug?  Your guess is as good as mine. These were also branded to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Originally $19.99, now $2.99.

(photo by @JayInFlorida of Theme Park Shark)

For the most part we have the same type of regular coffee cups, all reduced to $5.99. The Toy Story and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster cups have been around for a while. The Heroes on the High Seas mug is from the Marvel Disney Cruise Line sailings.

(photo by @Nitro230 who saved the day this month and came through in a major way.)

The Disney “Poisson” Apple Votive is something I guess people from France put fish in (“just for the halibut.”) Oh wait, that might be a typo.

I think over the last two months every single item from the Ink & Paint line has come to the Outlets. This month we saw the tumbler, originally $14.99, now $4.99.

One thing you definitely can’t fault the Ink & Paint line on is cutting corners. All the plates and dishes had a lot of weight to them.  This package contained four small plates, including Snow White, Pinocchio, Fantasia, and the Three Caballeros. Originally $39.99, now $19.99.

I would have been more inclined to just buy a set of four plates with just the Three Caballeros on them, but that may just be me.

Another set of four plates included Prince Charming & Cinderella, Peter Pan, the fairy godmothers from Sleeping Beauty and penguins from Mary Poppins. Same price.

Tring to convince non-theme park fans that the penguins plate is good for “formal meals.”

Ceramic jars made to look like paint is spilling out of them? Why would anyone need this? To put pens in on your desk? Why would you need FOUR OF THEM? Originally $29.99, now $12.99.

Wishables featuring Disney food items. Reduced to $3.99 each.

I have seen these Pixar Remix toys at Target over the last year and I don’t understand the appeal at all. They feature a little green alien from the Toy Story universe dressed up as a character from another Disney property. The one below is Boo from Monsters Inc. Now mash-ups is generally something I love. My house is filled with merchandise featuring mash-ups of StarWars/Muppets, Mickey/Tron, Pirates of the Caribbean/Fab Four, etc. I love the aliens from Toy Story and I love most of the movies they mash up with, but these toys just do nothing for me. Originally $9.99, now $7.99.

This one below takes the cake for “who are these toys for?!!” The character mash-up is with Tinny, from the original Pixar short Tin Toy. Now this would be a great gift for people working at Pixar, but expecting people to buy it for their kids? I just don’t understand this one at all.

As a kid, I would have killed for this Avengers Hawkeye branded bow and arrow toy. Bow & arrows, ninja throwing stars, and slingshots are just inherently cool toys. I just realized I put “ninja throwing stars” as a cool toy for a young kid and I’m thinking that maybe my childhood wasn’t as normal as I might be remembering it.

Occasionally there are strange prices I will just never understand. Hawkey’s bow was reduced to $6.25.

These odd looking Mickey and Minnie dolls are part of a “Denim Plush” line. Originally $29.99 each.

 

We saw this type of Disney Princess plush in previous months. It is based on the Disney Animator’s Collection style even though it looks absolutely nothing like the Japanese manga-like Animator’s Collection.

The disrespect being shown to these “Star War” plush right now. This is after months of being prominently displayed on shelves and at the front of the store.

 

I’ve been buying Star Wars toys for as long as I can remember, but one thing I don’t recall is prices being so far out of whack. The x-wing fighter below doesn’t come with a single one of those action figures and is still $79.99? I would have expected to see that for something like $39.99 at World of Disney. Brand new.

Two amazing things about this. The first is the “reason” we were given by Disney that we can’t have stuff like Hyperspace Hoopla anymore is because they want to treat the Star Wars brand more “serious.” The second is the Certificate of Authenticity. Why is that even needed? Who in the world would you be trying to impress when they walk into your house, see THAT hanging on the wall, and then be like “are we sure that’s a legitimate Vader Speed Shop print and not some knock off version?” AM I TAKING CRAZY PILLS?!!!!!

Dooney & Bourke Disneyland Haunted Mansion 50th Anniversary crossbody bag.

it’s a small world tote.

Didn’t get the price of this bag from the Germany Pavilion, but it looks wild! Fröhliche Weihnachten translates to “Merry Christmas.”

Let’s check out some pins from the “Gingerbread Collection.” Each were reduced to $6.99. I love the classic style of the Contemporary logo.

Just going by how the “bows” work at the Outlets, this things seem like they would be a better idea for actual Christmas tree ornaments than pins.

Disney’s Boardwalk and EPCOT pins.

 

 

Let’s take a quick break and check in with @ChristelaMcC from a Disney Outlet in California that is closer to Disneyland.

Cali didn’t get a true parks shipment this month (that we know of) but a few crazy deals did show up. First up, Emptiest Happiest Place On Earth Mickey ears. Not the “D” inside the “O” on the hat. Originally, $19.99, now $6.99.

I Am Groot hat. Originally $27.99, now $5.99. There was a website this week – whose name we won’t mention out of respect for who they once were – that actually ran a story about a “hidden” Groot in Pandora: The World of Avatar all based off of one person’t tweet. It makes me wonder if I’m just wasting my life taking the time and effort to write the SATURDAY SIX or Ye Olde Outlet Report when I could literally just be take one person’s tweet or  post on reddit, make sure I don’t credit anyone, and then slap my name on the byline before hitting “POST.”

Not a bad looking Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Rebel Pilot Jacket. The original price of $99.99 was next level bonkers, but the reduced price of $34.99 isn’t bad at all. I would definitely buy, at full price no less, those Endor ponchos that SW:GE Cast Members wear when its raining. $20 poncho? No problem. SOLD.

Just like us in Florida, California still has a lot of SW:GE Grand Opening (“Landing 2019”) merchandise available. This women’s shirt was originally $34.99, and now has been marked all the way down to just $1.

A week before, the table below had items marked for a dollar. Now they’ve dropped to 50 cents. These are prices almost unheard of for us in Florida.

runDisney wine glasses, marked down to 50 cents.

I love these old timey Mickey Mouse baseballs. I think Casey’s Corner could have a fun merchandise section just based on Mickey/Donald/Goofy and other Disney characters in throw back uniforms of baseball (and I would also include other sports like football and basketball.) Marked down to 50 cents.

Thanks Christela! Let’s head back to Florida and check out one of the weirdest pin things I’ve ever seen. For whatever reason, this month the Outlets had a metric ton of elaborately boxed pin sets that had one pin you could see from the outside of the package and one mystery pin inside. First up are these boxes which look a lot like McDonald’s Happy Meal boxes to me. There’s a “bow” at the top center on the box and the tag on the left hand side says “A gift for you! Happy Holidays.” The four pins you could see were Tinker Bell, Aladdin, Stitch, and Pascal from Tangled.

Elaborately boxed Winnie the Pooh pin. Reduced to $6.99.

Elaborately boxed Vanellope Von Schweetz pin. Reduced to $6.99.

Almost impossible to tell, but this is a Cinderella pin.

We saw these hats last month and they sold about as well as we expected. This month the price dropped even further. Anyone wearing this is probably rocking a “No Ragrets” tattoo as well.

Little Mermaid and Frozen hats.

Queen of Hearts hat, reduced to $1.99.

There were a bunch of hats that seemed like they would have been sold during the Fourth of July timeframe. At first, I didn’t think much about these, but then something caught my eye…

Okay, now that’s pretty cool.

Most Magical Place on Earth hat. Originally $27.99, now $7.99.

Disney Cruise Line hat. Originally $29.99, now $14.99.

 

Cute Donald Duck iPhone case. Reduced to $3.99, which is about half of what all the other discounted phone cases were reduced to.

Minnie and Mickey iPhone cases.

Walt Disney World and Disneyland castle Otter cases.

Disney Road Sign and Pandora: The World of Avatar iPhone cases. I think would be appropriate for me to have the Disney Signage one. Gonna have to bill Len Testa for this one.

Speaking of Pandora, here is a kid’s shirt featuring a anime-like Na’vi with the phrase “PANDORABLE.” Originally $24.99, now $7.99.

I mentioned in this week’s SATURDAY SIX that Disney is great at giving lip service to “inclusion” and has no problem making money of it when it comes to things like this Pride-themed shirt. Actual inclusion and representation in the parks is much harder to find. Originally $29.99, now $7.99.

I believe this “Together Again!” shirt was released around the time Disney reopened their Florida parks last year. Other shirts in this line included Pull Your Mask Up Over Your Nose, Believe It Or Not That Actually IS The End Of The Queue, No Seriously, Pull Your Mask Up Over Your Nose, and Park Hop Until You Drop…SIKE! Originally $21.99, now $7.99.

Front of a Cruz Ramirez shirt. Reduced to $7.99.

I actually like the back of the Cruz Ramirez shirt more than the front.

This is one of the most expensive items to EVER reach the Disney Outlet Stores. It’s a “Disney Princess” branded dress. Let’s see if you can guess the original price and the sale price before we show you…

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit button up shirt. Originally $59.99, now $14.99.

I could make a case for an adult buying the Oswald shit. Not a strong case, but I could make one. I can’t think of any plausable reason an adult would buy this Hei Hei shirt. Like the Oswald one it was ORIGINALLY $60!!!!!!!

This is something. A Spaceship Earth-themed jacked. Originally $49.99, now $19.99.

Fantasyland jacket. Not too shabby. Originally $44.99, now $19.99.

Harambe Village jacket. Originally $49.99, now $14.99.

Hercules jacket. Originally $49.99, now $19.99.

This is a kid’s rain jacket featuring Disney snack items. Originally $59.99, now $19.99.

I’m guessing this is a Pixar jacket, but you could convince me on the street is was a Captain Marvel jacket or the flag of a communist Asian country and you are paying tribute to Dear Leader. Originally $49.99, now $19.99.

Love this retro-sytle shirt. Originally $36.99, now $12.99.

Another retro design. I’m not sure about the ’71 logo, because the style of the shirt seems much more in line with the ’80s.

Pretty sharp looking Pinocchio-themed shirt. Originally $54.99, now $14.99.

Woah! A Muppets jean jacket! Originally $79.99, now $24.99.

Two Muppets items at the Outlets in one month? That might be a new record. This shirt was originally $36.99, now $12.99.

THREE MUPPET ITEM?!!! Actually not a huge fan of this one. Love that the original price of this shirt was $39.99 though. Just insane. Now $14.99.

I don’t even remember the last time a piece of High School Musical merchandise was at the Outlets. This shirt was originally $36.99, now $12.99.

This girls-cut shirt is also related to High School Musical. Originally $36.99, now $12.99.

SEE YOU NEXT MONTH FOR THE DEBUT OF “A TASTE OF THE TOUCH OF THE DISNEY OUTLET STORES!”

BEFORE YOU ASK: There are actually two Disney outlet stores in Orlando. Both are in Orlando Premium Outlets shopping complexes, and they are called Disney’s Character Warehouse, presumably because The Land Of Misfit Toys was already trademarked. There is one Character Warehouse located on International Drive close to Universal Studios (4951 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819), and the other is on Vineland Avenue, right across I-4 near the exits to Disney World (8200 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 32821). They do not ship. There are items at the Outlets that you can buy both in Disney stores along with the Shop Disney Parks app, but you will be paying full retail for the items. For our CALIFORNIA OUTLET trips, @ChristelaMcC goes to the Las Americas outlet in San Diego. It is located right off the last U.S. exit.

I often get asked “which store is better?” That depends. Vineland is close to Walt Disney World, while the I-Drive location is a hop, skip, and jump away from the Universal Orlando Resort. The Vineland Disney Outlet Store is much, MUCH bigger than the I-Drive location. However, the Vineland outlets in general are much, MUCH busier than I-Drive. Each have their pros and cons, and ultimately they carry much of the same items. For a Disney Outlet Store FAQ, check out this SATURDAY SIX Presents: Everything You Wanted To Know About The Disney Outlet Stores (But Were Afraid To Ask)

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2021: Jan

Very Special Editions & MilestonesTribute to O.O.G.Four Year Anniversary SpecialFirst Pandora ItemsFive Year Anniversary Special & Outlet Hall of FameMajor Changes Come to the OutletsCamera Hatthe Outlets Reopen after Coronavirus shut down

We also did an edition of Magic, Memories, and Junk for a non-Disney owned Outlet Store, and for you merch addicts like myself, you may also enjoy a look at the official Disney merchandise available on the Disney Cruise LineCastaway Cay, and at the Orlando International Airport. Want to see our favorite WDW resort-specific merchandise? Well, CLICK HERE!

If you liked what you read here, you may enjoy THE SATURDAY SIX articles every week on the TouringPlans.com blog and you can follow your humble author on Twitter (@derekbugan).

The post The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! – Disney Outlet Store Update for FEBRUARY 2021 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

A NEW Addition Makes Riding Kilimanjaro Safaris EASIER in Disney World!

From face mask reminder signs to plexiglass on rides, Disney World certainly looks a lot different these days! Another increasingly familiar fixture in this new normal? Floor markers! 

Kilimanjaro Safaris

These social distancing cues keep popping up EVERYWHERE, but the newest floor markers at Kilimanjaro Safaris aren’t for distancing.

In previous months, the loading zone at Kilimanjaro Safaris was a bit…chaotic. Without very clear floor markers, Cast Members had to point towards specific rows and try to keep the crowds as organized as possible. 

Kilimanjaro Safaris Line

Considering how bottlenecked this particular loading area can get, it felt a bit like herding a stampede of wildebeest, and anyone familiar with The Lion King can attest, that ain’t easy! 

Kilimanjaro Safaris Line

But now things are MUCH easier — and safer! — thanks to NEW numbered floor markers! 

Kilimanjaro Safaris Floor Markers

Now, for each of the nine rows leading to the ride vehicles, there are very clear, corresponding numbers. When a Cast Member gives you a row number, you no longer have to guess if you counted correctly!

Floor Markers

It’s much easier for Cast Members to articulate where guests should go and where to stand, with the added bonus of speeding the whole loading process along much more smoothly! 

Kilimanjaro Safaris Floor Markers

We’ll continue to update you on any additions to attractions in Disney World — no matter how big or small — so stay tuned to DFB!

Disney World updates social distancing policies for large groups

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

Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!

Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!

With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!

With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.

Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2020 Edition of the Guide!

Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!

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Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 🙂

Which Disney World ride makes you feel safest? Let us know in the comments! 

The post A NEW Addition Makes Riding Kilimanjaro Safaris EASIER in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog.

Spring Break Crowds Are ALREADY in Disney World!

It’s that time again! We’re checking out the weekly wait times!

Frontierland Crowds

Wait times were low for a while, but last week we saw that crowds are certainly returning to Disney World. This week, times have remained pretty high, and with Spring Break around the corner, we don’t expect them to go down anytime soon. Without further ado, let’s check out the average wait times this week in ALL four parks!

Magic Kingdom

Last week, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had the longest wait in Magic Kingdom and in all of Disney World. It continues the winning streak with 73 minutes. It only went down by 1-minute this week, so this attraction is still pretty busy!

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Wait Time

Other wait times for thrill rides include Space Mountain and Splash Mountain averaging 44 minutes (which is 19 minutes lower than last week for Splash), and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad averaged 51 minutes. Last week, Splash Mountain jumped up by 20 minutes, and this week it went DOWN by 19 minutes! This is one of the few rides that really depends on the weather. Other high wait times include Pirates of the Caribbean at 52 minutes, and Jungle Cruise and “it’s a small world” at 40 minutes.

Pirates of the Caribbean Line

Attractions with wait times in the 30s include and Peter Pan’s Flight and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin with 36 minutes, Astro Orbiter at 37 minutes, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel at 39 minutes.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Rides with average waits in the 20s include Mickey’s PhilarMagic and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh with a 25-minute wait time, Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid at 21 minutes, Haunted Mansion at 23 minutes, and The Barnstormer at 24 minutes.

Haunted Mansion

With waits in the teens, we saw The Magic Carpets of Aladdin at 18 minutes, Mad Tea Party and Tomorrowland Speedway at 16 minutes, and Dumbo the Flying Elephant at 17 minutes.

Tomorrowland Crowds

An attraction with a pretty short wait time is the Carousel of Progress and Country Bear Jamboree at 12 minutes. 

Country Bear Jamboree

Just like the weeks before, there were a handful of attractions with zero minute wait times, including Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, and Enchanted Tiki Room. The Hall of Presidents is currently under refurbishment.

Swiss Family Robinson

The crowds are certainly picking up in Disney World, and these wait times in Magic Kingdom reflect that!

2 Fan-Favorite Magic Kingdom Attractions Have NEW Souvenirs!

EPCOT

Test Track continues to have the longest wait in EPCOT this week at 58 minutes. This wait time only went WAY down, since it was a 71-minute wait last week! Nevertheless, it is still the longest in the park.

Test Track Line

Other popular attractions like Soarin‘ (43 minutes), Frozen After Ever (36 minutes), and Mission: SPACE (33 minutes) also had average wait times that went down by a bit.

Mission Space

The rest of EPCOT saw fairly average wait times as usual, including Spaceship Earth with 21 minutes, Journey Into Imagination with Figment with 17 minutes, The Seas with Nemo & Friends and the Gran Fiesta Tour with 11 minutes, and Living with the Land with 9 minutes.

Living with the Land

Just like past weeks, all of the films in EPCOT had a zero minute wait, which includes Disney and Pixar Short Film FestivalBeauty and the Beast Sing-AlongAwesome PlanetImpressions de France, and Reflections of China. American Adventure.

American Adventure Pavilion

As EPCOT wait times tend to do, these attractions only fluctuated a little bit this week with the exception of the popular rides. Even though the Festival of the Arts ended on Monday, the wait times for attractions went way down. This could possibly be because EPCOT is between festivals so people are waiting to visit until the 2021 Flower and Garden Festival debuts.

Where to Find Every Flower and Garden Topiary in EPCOT

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The longest wait time in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is now Tower of Terror with 69 minutes. This time took the top spot from Slinky Dog Dash, who had an average of 66-minutes this week. Slinky was above Tower of Terror last time, but that didn’t last long.

Tower of Terror Wait Time

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run was not far behind with 59 minutes. Other longer average wait times in this park include Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at 49 minutes, and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster averaged 42 minutes.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Below those times we’ve got Star Tours at 35 minutes, Alien Swirling Saucers averaged 30 minutes, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy averaged 29 minutes, and Toy Story Mania averaged 34 minutes.

Alien Swirling Saucers

Muppet*Vision 3D saw an average wait time of 28 minutes which makes it the lowest in the park. Keep in mind that Rise of the Resistance is not included in these numbers due to its virtual queue.

A New WandaVision Tee and Avocado Boxers Arrive in Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Both attractions in Pandora — the Land of Avatar continue to dominate Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Flight of Passage has become a super long wait again at 61 minutes this week, but Na’vi River Journey took the crown with 69 minutes. Last week, Flight of Passage was on top, but the slow-loading boat ride is the longest in the park again.

Na’vi River Journey

Dinosaur had an average wait time of 37 minutes, Kilimanjaro Safaris had an average wait time of 30 minutes, Expedition Everest had an average wait time of 18 minutes, and It’s Tough to Be a Bug had an average wait time of 20 minutes.

Giraffes!

Triceratop Spin continued to have the shortest wait time in the park of 6 minutes. Kali River Rapids is currently under refurbishment.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

This week’s average wait times stayed just as high as last week! These times are very similar to the ones we saw around Christmas, and We hope this look at average wait times helps those of you prepping for a Disney trip soon. Stay tuned to DFB, and check for our weekly wait times next week!

Disney World Park Pass Reservations for March are Filling Up AGAIN

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

Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!

Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!

With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!

With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.

Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2020 Edition of the Guide!

Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!

ready-to-shop-button
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 🙂

Are you planning to visit Disney World anytime soon? Let us know in the comments!

The post Spring Break Crowds Are ALREADY in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog.

PHOTOS: FastPass Machine Figure Set Coming March 3rd to Tokyo Disney Resort

tdrmysteryfastpasscover

From attraction posters to popcorn cranks and even obscure Critter Country backstory characters, Tokyo Disney Resort has quite the affinity for detailed figure sets. This time, the resort is taking on its beautifully-designed FastPass machines, with three each from Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea represented in this spectacular set coming March 3rd. Plus there’s a special surprise figure, but you’ll have to keep on reading to find out what it is! Figure Set – ¥900 ($8.44) Each, ¥5400 ($50.65) for […]

The post PHOTOS: FastPass Machine Figure Set Coming March 3rd to Tokyo Disney Resort appeared first on WDW News Today.