Feeling hungry? These adorable new snack keychains at EPCOT will have you craving a trip to the parks. Featuring some fan-favorite treats, you can find these new keychains at the temporary MouseGear location at EPCOT. Mickey Mouse Balloon Popcorn Bucket Keychain – $9.99 A keychain inspired by a popcorn bucket inspired by a balloon! This bright red keychain is a combination of some beloved iconography from the parks. Minnie Mouse Balloon Popcorn Bucket Keychain – $9.99 Like the Mickey Mouse […]

The post PHOTOS: New Disney Parks Food Keychains on the Menu at MouseGear appeared first on WDW News Today.

In the list of lame Disney attractions, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy is often at the top. It is also often overlooked since it is tucked in a back corner of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, behind Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. While this minor attraction may not be worthy of its own Piston Cup, I recently discovered that it does have its merits.

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy is a continuously running show. It loads about every 10 minutes and the show itself is just under 10 minutes. As you might have guessed, Lightning McQueen is the star of the show, and he is joined by some of his pals from all three Cars movies.

My son loved the preshow area which is outside. Here upbeat music plays as two Cars characters are on display: DJ and Cruz Ramirez from Cars 3. Even if you’re not up for sitting in on the show, if you have a fan of Cars in your party it is worth walking back here to see these two and pose for pictures.

My son and I got in line with the queue mostly full. We waited about 8 minutes and were let into the theater at 2:40 p.m. The capacity of the theater is reduced and each party is assigned a spot to sit so that physical distancing is maintained. Masks are required to be worn at all times.

Once the show began my little preschooler was so excited and enthralled. He sat on my lap for comfort because the lights and sounds can be a little overwhelming. Nothing really scary happens, but the action picks up when Chick Hicks, the antagonist of the first Cars movie comes onto the scene. My son was fine and really seemed to enjoy the show. It’s been a week since we saw it and he still talks about it on occasion which is a good sign.

While Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy is not a must-do, if you have any little Cars fans in your party or just want an easy-to-do attraction in the air conditioning, then it is a good choice. We have ratings for every Walt Disney World attraction on our site and our Lines app. As you can imagine this attraction is well received with little ones and school age, but teenagers and up are not racing back to the Racing Academy.

Have you ever been to Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy? What are your thoughts on this attraction?

The post In Defense of Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

Disneyland Paris originally closed in March 2020, and then later reopened in July. However, it closed again in October.

Although Disneyland Paris was supposed to reopen on April 2nd, Disney recently announced that it would not reopen on that date. But it is reopening soon, although not as a theme park.

The Independent reports that Disneyland Paris will soon become a mega center COVID vaccination site. As efforts to accelerate vaccine rollout in France, it will be one of 35 “vaccinodromes” in the country.

The vaccination site at Disneyland Paris will have a staff of 40 firefighters and nurses, who will give out up to 1,000 vaccines per day. France recently announced its third national lockdown, and French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to make another announcement about additional measures later today.

Disneyland in Anaheim operates as a vaccination site in a similar effort. We’ll continue to track the news coming out of Disneyland Paris and keep you updated!

Here’s A Little More About the Guest Experience at Disneyland Paris’ New Marvel Hotel!

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Have you ever been to Disneyland Paris? Let us know in the comments.

The post NEWS: Disneyland Paris to Become a Vaccination Site first appeared on the disney food blog.

Boy do we have somethin’ to celebrate today!

But first, we’ve gotta back up and tell you the story of the Nyala Brownie. It popped up in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in 2018, replacing an older (but just as beloved) version of the peanut butter brownie. Safe to say, it still knocked our socks off! But sadly, it disappeared off the menu…until now.

That’s right — the Nyala Brownie is BACK, baby! We headed straight over to Maji Pool Bar to give it a taste, and it was lookin’ as good as ever.

This tasty treat is a Mickey-shaped brownie topped with peanut butter buttercream and vanilla buttercream. The brownie’s nice and moist, and we love how thick that buttercream is.

Hello, old friend. We missed you! If you want to sample this must-try, you can grab it for $4.79 at the Maji Pool Bar! You can also snag it for breakfast at its OG home, The Mara. We’ll keep ya posted with more Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB!

Check Out Another Great Disney World Brownie!

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Have you ever tried the Nyala Brownie? Let us know in the comments!

The post 🚨 A DFB Must-Try Brownie is FINALLY Back in Disney World 🚨 first appeared on the disney food blog.

As Disney World’s 50th anniversary gets closer and closer, we’re constantly learning new things in Disney World!

January was quite the month for news, and February was busy as well, but March had its fair share of important updates! We’ve seen 50th anniversary decorations, characters in new locations, and a Disney World water park reopened. Let’s dive into ALL of the biggest updates from this past month!

Opening Date for Ratatouille Ride and New Creperie

Some of the biggest news we got this month involved the upcoming Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure! That’s right, the ride officially has a grand OPENING DATE!

On October 1st, aka the 50th anniversary of Disney World, the ride will make its debut in EPCOT. What better way to celebrate than opening a brand new attraction?!

Also opening on October 1st is the new restaurant La Creperie de Paris! This new dining location will have both quick service and table service options, and their specialty is — you guessed it — crepes!

The attraction and restaurant seem ready to go, as we’ve got a sneak peek at the finished ride already. So far, this is the only major Disney World attraction we have any opening news on!

Learn more about Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure!

First Look at New Moana Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is currently under a HUGE refurbishment. Not only is the monorail station demolished, but the resort is getting a Moana-inspired makeover. But this month, Disney gave us a sneak peek at what the new Moana hotel rooms look like!

Disney shared that “These reimagined spaces feature a new color palette inspired by the Pacific Ocean and its many islands, including details, patterns and textures from the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film “Moana.” 

There are several characters intertwined in the decor, and there are lots of hidden details to look for!

The refurbished rooms also feature new furnishings and fixtures. Disney shared that for the bathrooms, “Disney Imagineers took inspiration from the sandy ocean floor for the tiles and carved details in the vanity.”

We don’t know about you, but we love us a good Disney sidekick. In these rooms, you can hang with the lovable Hei Hei as you make coffee! 

Reservation are currently available to book starting on July 19th of this year. We can’t wait to see the inside of these rooms for ourselves!

See more photos of the new Moana rooms!

Blizzard Beach Reopened

So the Disney World theme parks may have opened up in July 2020, but the water parks remained closed. We knew that either Typhoon Lagoon OR Blizzard Beach would be opening on March 7th pending health and safety policies in the area, but Blizzard Beach DID open on March 7th!

The experience was pretty similar to the theme parks except for the mask situation. Disney does not allow masks while you are in the water. Face masks are required in designated areas which include park entrance and exit, shopping areas, food and beverage ordering areas, and restrooms, locker areas, and changing areas.

Masks are NOT required when walking around in between rides, relaxing in a chair, or waiting in line for water slides and attractions. A Cast Member did recommend keeping a mask with you at all times so that if you need to use the restroom or order food, you don’t have to go all the way back to your chair to grab it.

Overall, we had a great time, but it is certainly a different water park experience than before. There has been no information on when Disney World’s other water park, Typhoon Lagoon, could open up.

Here’s What It’s Like to Wear a Mask in a Disney Water Park

MagicMobile & Facial Recognition Are Being Tested

In mid-March, Disney introduced MagicMobile, a feature that allows your phone to be your MagicBand! Guests will be able to add a MagicMobile pass to their digital wallets, which can be tapped at access points.

Don’t worry! MagicBands aren’t going anywhere for the time being! You’ll still be able to wear your favorite MagicBand around your wrist, and it is even possible to switch between MagicBands and MagicMobile during your trip.

MagicMobile passes will be through the My Disney Experience app. MagicMobile has already launched for Apple phones and watches and will be coming to Android devices soon. We asked you to vote on our Instagram page about whether you would use MagicMobile or stick with MagicBands. A whopping 88% of you said you are sticking with MagicBands!

Another technological feature Disney is currently testing out is facial recognition to get into the parks. Before the park closures, guests would have to scan their finger after scanning their MagicBand. Now, if you are willing to participate, there are some facial recognition scanners available at park entrances.

Disney is testing this new system from March 23rd to April 23rd as of now. They will capture an image of your face, convert it into your own personal number, and associate that number with your park admission. Pretty cool, huh?

The experience is entirely optionally, and guests who participate must keep their masks on and take off hats and sunglasses. If this doesn’t sound like something you want to do, that’s no problem! You can head to one of the many regular traditional scanners.

88% of Disney World Fans Said They Will Not Use This New Service. Here’s Why.

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Reopened

Most Disney World resorts have reopened, but there are still a few that remain closed. On March 22nd, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort reopened! We checked out the lobby after about a year of closures.

We also looked at the World Premiere Food Court! It was pretty similar to other quick service locations at hotels…

…and the Cast Members had adorable new costumes!

FINALLY, another value resort is open again in Disney World! We also stayed the night and did a FULL room tour.

See Our FULL All-Star Movies Room Tour HERE!

EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Began

EPCOT is known as the Disney festival park, and at the beginning of March, the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival kicked off!

This festival is full of special gardens, food booths, gorgeous topiaries, concerts, activities, and more!

We took you along with us live as we visited each of the food booths and brought you the latest updates on the festival this year. The festival lasts until July 5th, so you have several months to visit this unique EPCOT  festival!

FREE Things You Can Do at the 2021 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival

Train to Disney World Could Be Delayed Until 2026

Magical Express, which takes Disney World resort guests from the Orlando International Airport to Disney World, will be discontinued in 2022, but there will be another option! A Brightline Train is currently in progress, but we could be waiting for it longer than we originally thought.

At first, the high-speed train was targeting a 2023 opening, but according to the Orlando Sentinel, we learned some more about the train and that passenger service from the airport to the Disney Springs station is now slated to start in 5 years. It may take a few more years than we thought, but this will be super convenient when it’s done!

Learn more about the Brightline Train coming to Orlando

EPCOT Transformation Updates

EPCOT is in the middle of a huge transformation, but it is making a lot of progress! Although we are waiting for big attractions like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind to open, sometimes it’s nice to focus on the little things!

First up, EPCOT received some new flags at the entrance! They each have an original EPCOT symbol, and it’s super cool for Disney history nerds like us!

The front area also received new colorful lighting AND new entrance music! How stunning are these nighttime lights?

Heading towards World Showcase, another Harmonious barge has appeared on the lagoon! We’re just waiting for one more, and then the eyesore will be complete.

Following the gorgeous fountain, the new additions to the front really polish the look. Now, we’re just waiting for the rest of the park to catch up!

This Is the Thing That Practically Everyone Hates in Disney World

Meet Characters (From a Distance) In New Locations

There’s no doubt that character meet-and-greets are different than they were pre-closure. Guests may not be able to walk up and hug their favorite characters, but they are still out and about all over the parks and in cavalcades. This month we found characters in MORE locations!

Starting in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we’ve seen Chip and Dale having a picnic…

…a gardener Donald Duck…

…and Goofy waving from above!

Over in EPCOT, we spotted Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Pluto in a new spot by Spaceship Earth.

Disney World is clearly stepping up its character game, and we are here for it!

The Closest You’ll Get to Mickey and Friends NOT In a Disney World Restaurant

Magic Kingdom Staple Closing for LONG Refurbishment

When you enter Magic Kingdom, one of the first shops you see on Main Street, U.S.A. is the Main Street Confectionery. Known for selling sweet treats and merchandise, this Magic Kingdom staple is closing for a lengthy refurb!

The shop closed on March 29th and the refurb is set to last until at least June 12th. As more park hours are released, the refurb could be scheduled for even longer. There has also been quite the shakeup on Main Street with Main Street Cinema selling confectionery goodies and The Chapeau closing as well.

Get more information on the Main Street Confectionery refurb!

That’s a wrap on the month of March in Disney World! We learned a lot, witnessed tons of construction (which is moving along nicely), and even saw some brand new technology in Disney World. We’ll be back in April to wrap up all of the biggest news, but in the meantime stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates!

The Magic Kingdom Map That Disney WON’T Print

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What was your favorite thing that happened in Disney World in March? Let us know in the comments!

The post Moana Hotel Rooms and Face Scanning — 10 BIG Disney World Changes You Missed in MARCH! first appeared on the disney food blog.

Whether you love Jurassic Park or just want the coaster credit, anticipation for the Jurassic World VelociCoaster is high as we approach its vague opening date of ‘Summer 2021’. Show off your excitement with this sleek cap. You can find it at the new Universal Legacy Store at CityWalk. VelociCoaster Ball Cap – $26 The ball cap features the VelociCoaster logo prominently in shades of gray. The raptor claw marks make this hat a token of bravery from your encounter […]

The post PHOTOS: Jurassic World VelociCoaster Baseball Cap Stomps into Universal Orlando Resort appeared first on WDW News Today.

Calling all toys! We’ve got something new(ish) for the next time you’re visiting Andy’s toy box in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

We love stopping by Toy Story Land to get our fix of Totchos and ride some attractions with Woody and the other toys. But today we didn’t even make it all the way into the land before stopping to check out a new souvenir-drink combo!

We decided to stop by the Joffrey’s Market kiosk just outside of Toy Story Land and completely scrapped our plans for coffee when we saw the Alien Claw Souvenir Cup! This isn’t the first time that we’ve “ooo-ed” and “ahhh-ed” at the sipper, but this time we could fill it with a different drink! But we will say, it was really nice to just be able to walk up to order this souvenir without the long line and wait time often comes with Woody’s Lunch Box. 

We’re grabbing the Pineapple Coconut Slush in the souvenir Alien Claw cup! pic.twitter.com/S8mUOntRbr

— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) March 31, 2021

If you’ve not seen this fancy sipper yet in the parks, Disney basically turned the iconic Alien Claw scene from Toy Story into one of the coolest tumblers. The outside features some quotes from the little green guys (okay, they don’t say all that much)…

…and inside you’ll find a light-up claw and another surprise at the bottom! The only catch with this cup is that it is only approved for non-alcohol beverages. The kiosk we stopped by serves up two specialty alcoholic options — the Sunshine Margarita and a Classic Pina Colada, but we asked a Cast Member and learned that boozy drinks cannot be served in any of the themed cups…alas.

So, we settled on the Pineapple-Coconut Slushy, which was still VERY delicious and refreshing!

Getting to the bottom of this one was a sugar overload so it took us a bit of time to get to that surprise we were talking about — a green alien! He’s looking pretty happy to be the chosen one.

The grand total of this slush and cup is $16.50, or you can get the alien sipper for $10.50 on its own. We’ve also seen this cup sold at Woody’s Lunch Box and other locations around Walt Disney World (and even Disneyland Resort in the past). If you buy this over at Woody’s Lunch Box it will be served with the Frozen Mystic Portal Punch. 

But, if you’re hoping to try that Pineapple-Coconut Slush, you’ll have to head to the Joffrey’s Market kiosk on Pixar Place! We’ll continue to keep an eye out for all the new Disney souvenirs and snacks so stay tuned to DFB for the latest!

Want to Visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios This Summer? Here’s Why You Need to Book Those Park Passes ASAP!

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Have you ever been to Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios? Let us know in the comments!

The post Where to Get “The Claw” Toy Story Souvenir Cup With a Different Drink in Hollywood Studios first appeared on the disney food blog.