PHOTOS: Hogwarts House Christmas Trees Added to Hogsmeade in Universal’s Islands of Adventure

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade in Universal’s Islands of Adventure is being decked out for the holidays. A few more Hogwarts decorations have been added to the land. Wreath-like decorations now adorn the gates when entering Hogwarts grounds. These decorations have red berries and leaves within them. Two small Christmas trees now frame the Hogsmeade stage. These trees are decorated with Hogwarts house-inspired garland resembling the ties worn by students. The yellow and blue garland on this […]

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Disney World Park Hours Released Through Early January

If you’re heading to Disney World during the first few weeks of 2022, we’ve got some news for you!

EPCOT

Disney World had previously released park hours through January 1st, 2022. If you’re planning to head out to the parks in early January and you’ve been itching to get an eye on the operating hours you can expect, we’ve got some good news — Disney World park hours are now available through January 10th, 2022!

Currently, the hours for Magic Kingdom are listed as 9AM-8PM each day from January 2nd-10th. Also, note that guests at Disney Deluxe Resorts can experience Extended Evening Hours on Wednesday, January 5th from 8PM-10PM.

Magic Kingdom Hours

The hours at EPCOT are currently listed as 10AM-9PM each day from January 2nd-10th. Disney Deluxe Resort guests also have the opportunity for Extended Evening Hours on Monday, January 3rd, and Monday, January 10th from 9PM-11PM.

EPCOT Park Hours

The hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are currently scheduled for 9AM-9PM each day from January 2nd-10th.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park Hours

And last but not least, the hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are currently scheduled for 9AM-7PM each day from January 2nd-10th.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park Hours

Remember that park hours are subject to change, so be sure to keep an eye on the current hours, especially as your vacation gets closer. We’ll be on the lookout for other important information to help you plan your upcoming Disney World trip, so stay tuned to DFB for more news!

Learn More About Extra Theme Park Hours Benefits for Disney World Resort Hotel Guests!

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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!

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. 🙂

Do you have a Disney World trip planned for January 2022? Let us know in the comments!

The post Disney World Park Hours Released Through Early January first appeared on the disney food blog.

PHOTOS: Christmas Ornament Decorations Arrive at Echo Lake in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

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Christmas ornaments can now be seen floating on Echo Lake in Disney’s Hollywood Studios as we approach the winter holidays. The colorful ornaments are drifting in the lake near Gertie the dinosaur. The ornaments are actually tethered so they don’t start roaming the lake and bumping into each other. These ornaments are classic decorations that return every year to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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NEWS: Disney Park Temporarily Suspends Entry Due to COVID-19

In Florida, Disney World has been slowly returning to “normal” with modified character meet and greets and an optional outdoor mask policy. Importantly, though, safety is at the heart of all of Disney’s decisions, which is why Disney suspended entry into one of its theme parks on Halloween.

©Disney

Disney released a statement regarding the temporary change.

Shanghai Disney suspended entry into their parks on October 31st, 2021. 

©Disney

Disney released a statement on the Shanghai Disney website. In part, the statement reads, “To cooperate with the pandemic investigation in other provinces and cities, we have temporarily suspended entry into Shanghai Disneyland and Disneytown, and some attractions inside the park will also temporarily stop operating. Outdoor entertainment will continue as scheduled.”

©Disney

Guests will be given the opportunity to request a refund or ticket exchange due to the closure, and those who stay are being asked to comply with all pandemic prevention measures. Further, Shanghai Disney Guests will be required to undergo nucleic acid testing at the exit of the resort, and follow Centre for Disease Control guidance. We’ll keep an eye out for any updates to the situation, so stay tuned for more information.

FULL List of Modified Character Meet-and-Greets Coming to Disney World

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

The post NEWS: Disney Park Temporarily Suspends Entry Due to COVID-19 first appeared on the disney food blog.

10 Items to Purchase Ahead Of Time For A Successful Disney World Vacation

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

Tickets? Check. Magic Bands? Check. The inability to sleep because you’re just too excited for this vacation to start? Double check.

What to Pack?!

Looks like you’ve got everything ready to go for a successful Disney World trip.

Or DO you . . . ?

During the tizzy of trying to get everything packed for your Disney World vacation, you might slip up and forget a thing or two.

No worries! Happens to everyone.

DVC Suitcase

But we’re going to tell you about those items you REALLY need to remember for a more comfortable and/or cheaper Disney World vacation.

Portable Chargers/ Power Banks

It’s 2021. You will be using your phone a LOT. From making reservations on your My Disney Experience app, to ordering quick service meals with Mobile Order, to checking wait times and showtimes, to taking pictures and videos for social media, to passing time in queues on the Disney Play app, to Disney Genie-ing and Genie+-ing all the things, your phone will likely be glued in your hand all day.

©Disney

Yeah, you get it. You need your phone. So you DEFINITELY need to keep it charged!

FuelRods can be found all around the parks!

Disney has their own solutions for dying phones — like charging stations and FuelRod dispensers — but if you don’t want to spend precious park time sitting by an outlet or pay $30 for a FuelRod that doesn’t hold as much of a charge as you’d expect for that price, you can always pre-purchase a portable charger or power bank for less money and more charge outside the parks ahead of time.

2-Pack Miady 10000mAh Dual USB Portable Charger ©Amazon

One of the options we found online was the Miady portable charger for $19.99. It comes with not just one, but TWO power banks, with TWO charging ports on each bank. (Plus they come in fun colors too!)

There are plenty of other power bank options out there that you can snag before vacay to help keep your phone charged for all the important times you’ll need it during the day.

Want the world’s simplest way to understand Disney Genie? Click here.

Sun Blockers (IE: Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Sun Visors)

The Florida sunshine is beautiful…to an extent. It can be a weeeee bit unbearable when it’s burning you to a crisp.

Pool Items available for purchase at Disney World hotels

Sunscreen is SUPER important to remember! The last thing you want to do is get a blistering sunburn on your first park day and have to deal with it for the rest of your trip. OUCH.

Make sure to try out different sunscreens before you go to find the right fit for your family. Neutrogena and Banana Boat have some awesome two-for-one deals for a spray-on, waterproof sunscreen (easy to apply especially when you’re chasing after wee ones!). They also have lotions available, if you prefer those instead.

©Amazon

©Amazon

(We’ve heard it both ways — some people dislike the sprays because they’re easier to miss spots, while others prefer them because they’re quicker to apply and not as goop-y. For coverage you can guarantee, go lotion, but the ease of sprays is hard to ignore. To each their own.)

Also — don’t forget those sunglasses and sun visors! This might be easier for you to remember for yourself, but your kiddos need these items, too! Find a good, comfy pair of children’s sunglasses ahead of time and maybe a cute, comfy, Disney-themed boat hat to protect the top of their heads from getting burned. You don’t have to buy these in the parks — many retail locations outside the parks have Disney-inspired accessories for cheaper prices.

 

minnie-hat-amazon

©Amazon

One last note when it comes to sun and preventing it from making you miserable — make SURE to reapply sunscreen during the day! This is particularly important for your child’s nose and those little legs that might be sticking out of strollers!

(We know those seem very *specific*, but we’ve seen way too many fried noses and shins in our days to keep from mentioning it here.)

Don’t make yourself miserable in the Florida heat! Click HERE to figure out how to handle Disney’s extreme temps!

Quick-Dry Clothes

Orlando isn’t just known for its scorching rays; it’s also a place where sporadic showers happen on the daily. (Plus not to mention you’ll probably be soaked in sweat if not rain. Sorry guys, but it’s true!) And if you’re not getting soaked by the rain or sweat, you’re probably going to get soaked on one of the many water rides Disney has on property — meaning you’re going to need some quick-dry attire.

Siiiigning in the raaaaaain

Having quick-dry clothes for your Disney days will keep you from feeling soggy and gross.

(Have you ever worn wet denim for hours? It’s not fun.)

SPF Rash Guards from @Amazon for $32.99

Consider buying SPF Rash Guards for your kiddos (and for you, too!) before the trip. They’re quick-dry (and SUPER comfy) options found for decent prices at multiple retail locations.

Quick-dry shorts are also important to have on-hand to avoid major chafing. *Shudders at the thought*

Kiddos’ quick-dry shorts can be found at your standard local retailers, as well, for around $10-$25. If you have kids like some of ours, you probably know the struggle is indeed VERY real that some kiddos do NOT do well standing around in wet clothes. Having backup clothes for when those quick dry clothes still aren’t quick enough is still probably a good idea!

©Amazon — Kids Boy’s Youth Hiking Casual Quick Dry Shorts, Lightweight Cargo Tactical Zipper Pockets Camping Travel Shorts for $10.08 – $24.99

**BONUS TIP: Also consider purchasing ponchos and a sturdy, portable umbrella before your trip. Disney sells ponchos for around $12, which is ABSURD when you think about how you can swing by your nearest convenience store and pick one up for $1-$5 instead. Friends don’t let friends pay double-digit prices for a sheet of plastic.

Umbrellas are also fairly overpriced at Disney — usually priced around $40. We’ve found fun alternatives for half that price on Amazon (and numerous other retail locations)

How has Disney technology made water rides even better? Click HERE to find out!

Over-The-Counter Meds

Picture this: Your group convinces you to go on Mission: SPACE. (How? Dunno. They must be super convincing.)

You ride the Orange Mission. (You brave, brave soul.)

And when you step off the ride? You’re in Headache Central(Or…uh…tummyache central, to put it lightly!)

©Disney

Over-the-counter medications like Tylenol or Tums are offered in the gift shops around Disney property — as well as Disney First Aid Centers — but they’re a lot pricier than buying them outside the parks. Check out the picture below. Ten caplets are priced at $3.99. At most big-box stores, you can pick up the very same thing for $1.97. 

(Hey, every dollar counts, right?)

You can save money (and your poor head) by stocking up ahead of time.

Curse you, Mission Space!

Do you get queasy really easily on motion-based rides? You may want to grab some Dramamine, too. Again, Dramamine is offered in Disney gift shops and First Aid Centers for a higher price than you’d normally pay at your local drug store. (However, keep in mind Dramamine can also make you extremely sleepy. Trust us, you’re going to be sleepy anyway without the help of over-the-counter drugs.)

Make sure to pick up the non-drowsy versions to avoid losing your energy during the day. (You’re going to need all the help you can get!)

Good to know they’re available, just in case!

There are also Dramamine options for kids and Dramamine alternatives — like Sea-Bands nausea-curing wristbands for around $8.50 per band and MQ Motion Sickness Patches for around $9 per 20 patches.

**NOTE: If you are in DESPERATE need of Tylenol or a number of over-the-counter meds, swing by one of the First Aid Centers and a Cast Member can often give you single-serve doses of these medications for free.**

Read about the time one of our DFB writers had a family member get sick at Disney! >.<

Reusable Water Bottles

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — we see so many people waste SO MUCH MONEY on bottles of water at Disney.

Dasani water can currently be purchased at the parks for around $3.50 per bottle. If you purchase a water bottle for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, that’s over $10 worth of water per day on top of EVERYTHING else you’re paying for during your Disney vacay.

If you want your Dasani on Batuu, you’re going to pay even more than usual!

But, we’ve got to keep hydrated somehow, right? Otherwise, we’re going to be pretty miserable during our Disney day. This isn’t just about quenching your thirst — it’s about safety. Disney World is HOT and heat exhaustion, dehydration, or heatstroke are more common than you think. Sure, we can ask for cups of free ice water at quick-service locations, but if we don’t want to wait in line-after-line just for a small water cup, we’re going to need another solution.

Takeya Originals Vacuum-Insulated Stainless-Steel Water Bottle for $29.99 ©Amazon

Investing in a reusable water bottle can help save a ton of money on drinks. Plus, they’ll keep your water nice and cool all day long!

Insulated reusable water bottles are usually priced around $10-$30, depending on the brand.

©Amazon

The Swig Life water bottles have been a favorite option of ours in the past. They’re lightweight and triple-insulated!

Water fountain AND refill station combo!

We’ve got an entire post about water bottle refill stations located throughout the Disney property (that you can read once you’re done with this post, of course) so you can know where to fill ‘er up during your park days! Even better, Disney World hotel rooms come with some form of fridge inside. Fill your bottle up at night and pop it in the fridge to be icy cold for you by morning!

See? Even Disney wants you to bring a bottle to the park! <3

Check out our super-awesome DFB water bottles HERE!

Reusable Straws

In an attempt to be more environmentally friendly, Disney parks have switched over from plastic to degradable paper straws.

Although we appreciate Disney’s forward-thinking, the paper straws can get rather…mushy.

Paper Straw

Never fear! Reusable straws can save the day — and your Disney drink!

Flathead Bent Reusable Silicone Drinking Straws w/Cleaning Brush ©Amazon

One of our favorite reusable straw brands that we’ve found online is the Flathead 10-set with an included cleaning brush for $10.95.

Fun straws!

Not too shabby! Especially when you consider how many of the straw sets we’ve seen sold in the parks can cost you $19.99. (Although they sure are cute!)

Read more about our thoughts on reusable utensils at Disney HERE!

Backpacks

So where are you going to keep your reusable straws, water bottles, over-the-counter drugs, and other miscellaneous items you’re bringing along for a successful Disney day?

In a handy-dandy backpack, of course!

Mickey Backpack ©shopDisney

Purses are great to a certain extent, but backpacks have more room and less shoulder stress.

A solid Disney backpack to invest in should have the following components:

  • Sturdy material (don’t need any straps breaking on you in the middle of the day)
  • Multiple pockets
  • Plenty of room without being oversized (don’t want broken straps OR broken backs!)
  • Water-resistance 
  • Comfort (straps that cut into your shoulders are the wooooorst)
  • Insulation (that one’s more of a plus than a necessity)

 

Zomake

We have a whole post discussing our favorite backpacks for Disney park days that you should totally check out if you’re looking to invest in a durable park bag.

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But if we could add an extra entry to that list, we’d also give a shout-out to Kavu bags. Their unique shape makes them sturdy and lightweight — a solid option to carry around the parks from rope drop to sundown.

©Disney

Psh, you didn’t think we’d forget to mention Loungefly backpacks, did you? Not only will you have a reliable bag for your Disney vacation, but you’ll look stylish.

Mint Loungefly Mini Backpack

Loungefly bags are a great option if you want the ease of a backpack and don’t have a ton of stuff to carry around (you can juuust fit a standard water bottle in most of them, for size comparison). So many Disney fans invest in at least one Disney Loungefly bag to show off around the parks. It’s just another way to dress up, orDisney Bound,” on vacation!

Can you resist THESE new Disney World items? (We bet you can’t…)

Pre-Purchased Disney Souvenirs

Does your kiddo want a souvenir that you KNOW you can get for half the price back home?

Buy those items ahead of time!

Minnie Mouse Light-Up Bubble Wand

Disney sells many items for double the price they’re worth because…well…because they can.

 Items like bubble blowers, light-up wands, and glow sticks are sold in Disney side carts throughout several locations around the parks — and kids go wild when they see them.

Minnie Light Up Wand

To avoid having to spend extra moolah on these items (and to avoid a potential temper tantrum if your child has just GOT to have one of these glowing wands of *magic* and *pixie dust*), swing by your local Dollar Store or big-box store to find similar items that serve the same purpose. If your kids are little enough that they won’t know the difference between an off-brand bubble blower wand over the “real deal,” then ta-da! Problem solved. Extra cash money in your pocket for a Dole Whip!

In some retail stores, you may even be able to find off-brand Minnie ears for your little ones that are way more affordable. On Amazon, we even found some in bulk for $15.99!

CLGIFT Set of 12 Minnie Mouse Ears, Ears, Mickey Mouse Ears, Theme Party, Boys and Girls One Size Fits All (6 Gold w/Light Pink & 6 Plain Black) for $15.99 ©Amazon

Wait a minute! What about you, right? You don’t necessarily want to spend all that money on Disney merch, but you want the real deal; the authentic brand.

©Disney

Try searching for authentic park products on the shopDisney website. If you find a product you adore online, wait to snatch it up when shopDisney has a sale (which happens frequently — just keep checking in with us for the latest)!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Mug

Disney Outlets and Disney Character Warehouses are also great places to search for discounted-yet-authentic park souvenirs. Check and see if there’s a Disney Outlet close to your home OR en-route on your Disney road trip.

Disney Character Warehouses are available at two of the Orlando Premium outlets outside the Disney parks. (Might be somewhere fun to explore during a non-park day?)

Where can you find the most UNIQUE shops around Disney World? Click HERE to find out!

Good Shoes, Good Socks, and Moleskin Padding

Disney’s a workout, y’all! We’re talking 10,000-20,000+ steps a day (and, if you’re anything like us, that’s waaaaay more than we’re used to).

So you’re going to need a good shoe to keep your vacation from transforming into something miserable.

©runDisney

If you’re a tennis shoe person, make sure the tennis shoes you’re wearing are broken in. You might’ve found a fantastic park shoe recommended to you online that you want to give a go, but if it’s still stiff and new, it doesn’t matter how much arch support it’s going to have — it’ll still be un-comfy after that many miles straight in a day.

You’ve got to break in those new shoes ahead of time to guarantee they’re nice and worn (and that they’re not rubbing the back of your heels raw because we’ve been there, done that).

©Amazon

Also, pack an extra pair of socks in your HANDY-DANDY BACKPACK in case it rains *or* you soak them on Splash Mountain. Very few things are more miserable than wearing soggy socks. Soggy socks mean pruned toes. Pruned toes mean sore feet. And sore feet means an unhappy you.

©Amazon

Don’t want to wear tennis shoes? Try a trusty pair of sandals! Just make sure they’ve got solid arch support and fit well (we HATE it when our heels slip out of our sandals repeatedly during the day).

Oh, also, don’t forget that traction. Definitely don’t want to be tripping all day. Get a pair with a solid grip underneath.

 

 

©Amazon

A shoe brand we really like that creates both tennis shoes and sandals for outdoor activities is Teva. Depending on where you purchase them, they can be a hefty initial investment — but they should provide a good amount of traction and comfort once you’ve broken them in.

Women’s shoes ©Teva

If you really want to cover all your bases, consider purchasing Moleskin padding.

©Amazon

This will help take that unwanted pressure off your feet and prevent blisters and callouses as they form. You can find these adhesive wraps online or in your local drug store for around $9. This is the ultimate foot safeguard to have on hand. In the event those perfectly broken-in shoes still…fail you (hey, happens!), just pop on a bit of moleskin and keep on walking with less irritation on that skin.

Check out the time we wore popular Disney shoes around Magic Kingdom (and what it did to our feet) HERE!

Snacks

Last but not least, you need to buy some snacks for those afternoon munchies!

Granola Bars

There is an abundance of Disney snacks out there! But if the kiddos in your party (or you!) start to get peckish during the day and you don’t want to drop more moolah on another pricey Disney snack, having some granola bars, trail mixes, etc. will come in handy.

Uncrustables

Hear us out. For a single Peanut Butter and Jelly Uncrustable at the Disney Parks, you’re going to pay $3.99 (or more!). However, a four-count pack of Uncrustables at your average big-box store is $3.49. Why pay more for a snack you know your picky eater is going to enjoy if you can grab it back at your local grocery store before your trip for WAY cheaper?

Allergy-Friendly menu at Animal Kingdom’s Tusker House

This is a particularly important tip for those who have allergies or dietary restrictions, too. Although Disney is pretty top-notch with accommodating different dietary needs, it’s good to have snacks on hand that you know will work best for you.

Click HERE to read about the NEW Food And Wine Booths coming to EPCOT!

Yay you! Now you’re all prepped and ready for the BEST TRIP EVER!

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

What items are the must-haves that you always purchase before your Disney vacations? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 10 Items to Purchase Ahead Of Time For A Successful Disney World Vacation first appeared on the disney food blog.

PHOTO REPORT: Hollywood Studios 10/28/21 (Sunset Boulevard Billboard Returns, Betsey Johnson Villains Collection Creeps In, Port Orleans French Quarter Reopens, & More)

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Good morning, movie stars! Today, we’re at Hollywood Studios to check in on all the glitz and glamour happening throughout the park. Character meet and greets, or ‘sightings’ as they are now known as, returned to some sections of Magic Kingdom today but Hollywood Studios’ sighting areas remained closed. A few Vault collection items have trickled in to the pop up inside of Celebrity 5 & 10. Two new leather phone cases featuring The Mandalorian and Mickey Mouse have arrived […]

The post PHOTO REPORT: Hollywood Studios 10/28/21 (Sunset Boulevard Billboard Returns, Betsey Johnson Villains Collection Creeps In, Port Orleans French Quarter Reopens, & More) appeared first on WDW News Today.

Walt Disney World Theme Park Hours Available Through January 10, 2022

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Walt Disney World theme park hours are now available through January 10, 2022. We previously reported the hours through December 31, 2021. Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom will open at 9:00 a.m. January 1 – 10. It will close at 9:00 p.m. on January 1 and at 8:00 p.m. every other day. Guests at participating Walt Disney World Resort hotels are able to take advantage of Early Entry each day from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. daily. Guests staying at Disney […]

The post Walt Disney World Theme Park Hours Available Through January 10, 2022 appeared first on WDW News Today.

How Would Disney World Survive a Zombie Apocalypse?

Alright, listen, we all understand that Disney World (OK, the WHOLE world!) has been through an ORDEAL in the last couple of years.

Bless you, Disney World. You’ve been having a hard time.

Park closures, health and safety measures, a bazillion and one changes to the way we do things in the parks…some days it has been nothing but pure chaos. And that got us thinking — with all the ways that Disney has adapted to the ever-changing world around us, what would the theme parks be like in the most outlandish, ridiculous, out-of-the-box scenario we could think of? Today, we’re discussing what Disney World would do in a zombie apocalypse! (Yes, we’re serious! Happy Halloween!)

First up, let’s just rip this band-aid off real quick — we’re like 96% sure zombies aren’t real. At least not yet. Jury is still out in the long run — who knows what craziness could come in the years down the road?! But whether your zombie-scape of choice is crazy and hectic like The Walking Dead or surprisingly chill like much of Day of the Dead, we’ve got a zombie survival plan for you. Remember — Disney World is basically a fortress of happiness and magic. But it could also serve as…you know, like, a literal fortress, should the need arise. Right?!

They’ve Been Training for YEARS

Believe it or not, Disney World has been training for a zombie apocalypse for years…even if they didn’t know it! Florida is home to a LOT of hurricanes and Disney is the expert when it comes to “battening down the hatches.” Cinderella Castle? Secure. Anything that could be damaged? They’ve got places to put it!

Disney knows how to hunker down!

Did you know Disney World is certified by the NOAA as one of the safest places you can be during a hurricane?? Odds seem favorable that they’d make out better in a living dead situation than most places. If Disney ever had to take care of guests during a zombie apocalypse, all they’d have to do is put those hurricane procedures in place, and then ramp it up to like a level 12. We call it the Code DEAD contingency plan. (Get it? Like code red, but for zombies! Except they’re really undead. Did we overexplain that too much? Yeah, you probably got it. We’ll stop now.)

Resort guests would be taken care of!

Instead of stopping by the hotel rooms where guests are hunkered down with bagged lunches and first aid kits, they’d stop by with survival supplies and other zombie-fighting weaponry. The Most Magical Place on Earth, indeed!

©Disney | Yes, that’s a hidden Mickey made of solar panels.

Besides that, the parks already have quite the solar power setup, plus their own government with the Reedy Creek Improvement District. You know all those movies and TV shows where society collapses in the wake of a zombie outbreak? Yeah, not at Disney World, my friends! They already thought of all that.

Their own fire department and security task force? Got it.

Their own way to generate power and filter water? Got it.

Their own way to grow food? Got it big time.

Plenty of room and board? Boom.

Tons of transportation options including zombie-proof aerial and aquatic methods like boats and the Skyliner? Yup.

You’re connecting the dots now huh? If it all goes down and zombies start “Thriller-ing” out the ground, you can bet we’re beelining it for Disney World! It would be its own self-sustaining zombie-fighting empire!

Just Think of All the Merchandise Opportunities…

If something big is happening, Disney can make a merchandise collection out of just about anything! (Trust us, they’re the people who came up with spaghetti-covered Stitch. We think they got a few ideas up their sleeves for the undead walking the earth again!) Just imagine all the zombie merch they could make!

Would we buy a zombie Loungefly? Probably.

We’re talking Loungefly bags, Minnie ears, Crocs, Spirit Jerseys…the possibilities are endless! Disney has even been known to do scented merchandise before, so that’s an option. What do you think zombies smell like (fingers crossed for waffle cone scented!)?

Zombie ears, please and thank you.

Ehhhh, after further consideration, we may pass on that one. We’ll definitely take the zombie backpack though — perfect for storing our apocalypse survival kit! In fact, we’ll accessorize our bag with an “I’m celebrating the Zombie Apocalypse” button. One thing that would be certain though, with any major event to hit the parks (dead walking the earth or otherwise), Disney will certainly find a way to make some scratch off the event.

They’d Jack Up the Prices

Because, why not?! If Disney World is trying to operate a zombie-free zone, it’ll take some extra dough to add in the bonus safety measures. They’ll need to increase prices to make a profit and to make it an exclusive experience! (The FOMO is real.) If you knew Disney World was a zombie-free safe haven, wouldn’t you be slightly more OK with paying a premium?

A zombie-free After Hours would sell out like crazy.

Supply and demand, my friends. You want that magical extra level of zombie safety, you gotta pay. If Disney World could really be a fortress of undead-free magical moments in this dark new world, you think that will come cheap? Think of shows like The Walking Dead and what those characters would do to get into the safe havens they found over the years. THIS one is even better than those AND comes with Mickey Bars. And Space Mountain. So yeah.

Space Mountain at Night

But knowing Disney World, there would also be bonus packages and add-ons that you can purchase for extra protection. What about a zombie-free After Hours event, where your family is guaranteed safety while they enjoy themed snacks and don their best costumes? We’re also envisioning the introduction of new planning tools — Zombie Survival and Zombie Survival+. The + means that it costs extra, but it comes with Lightning Lanes to the hospital in case of infection? 🤣

Marketing, Marketing, Marketing

Even in a zombie apocalypse, Disney World can still get guests to visit the parks, IF they market it the right way. We’re thinking an entire campaign titled “The Most Magical Apocalypse on Earth.” Instead of EARidescent designs, the new color scheme is army green, khaki, and camouflage. Shimmering golds and purples may look nice on a t-shirt, but when you’re spending hours hiding in the trenches of World Showcase lagoon avoiding the undead, you need camouflage, not glitter.

OK, we lie. There’s always room for glitter. Even in the undead apocalypse. We’re not monsters.

©Disney | We’d watch a Disney+ special if they offered it!

It would be so easy — all they have to do is promote Disney World as the safest place to vacation long-term. They could even extend the marketing to Disney+, including an original series about what it’s like to spend the apocalypse in the parks, or adding survival advice video shorts from Mickey and pals! We’d watch it (Holed up in our bunker with flamethrower in hand and volume on low, but still!). It would probably be hosted by Julianne Hough (cause doesn’t she host everything at Disney now?) in a bunker just off Main Street, U.S.A. with musical performances by Ariana Grande coming to you from a safe unnamed location that’s totally NOT the empty Fantasmic stage area in Hollywood Studios. 😉

The Rides Would Get Repurposed

As much as we LOVE us some Disney rides, you gotta do what you gotta do. And in the face of a zombie invasion, you’ve gotten repurpose to suit your needs. We’d love to spend hours riding Seven Dwarfs Mine Train while zombies swarm outside the gates, but it’s just not practical, right? Riding a roller coaster during a zombie apocalypse? Ain’t nobody got time fo’ that. (And good luck hiring people to run the rides!) It would be a much more efficient use of space if we repurposed the rides to fit our needs.

Let’s put that jail cell to good use.

That jail cell in the final scene of Pirates of the Caribbean? It’s functional now — where we’re keeping all the rogues and hooligans. Expedition Everest would become the new scouting post, considering its height is perfect for keeping an eye on all of Disney World. Living with the Land can grow to its full potential, we’d harvest the food and expand our reserves, and The Seas Pavilion would be open for fishing (it’s sad but necessary).

You get a great view from the top of that mountain!

Part of a zombie apocalypse is knowing how to navigate dangerous terrain at night, so we’d run training exercises in Space Mountain to help improve night vision. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Toy Story Mania are used for target practice, helping train our zombie defense forces. 

Animal Kingdom Residents Get New Jobs

Over at Animal Kingdom, guests would definitely start adopting the animals as their new survival assistants. Riding on herds of elephants or befriending the ostriches for self-defense would become a common practice, and the lions could be let loose in case of emergency. The circle of life…right, Simba?

We’d be making some new friends really quickly!

We’re definitely thankful for the Feathered Friends in Flight show, because those birds would come in real handy when the power and internet inevitably shut down — we’ll need them to deliver messages between the parks! Oh yeah, it’s going to get all Dr. Dolittle up in here. :googles how to train messenger toucans:

Taking AdventHealth’s Sponsorship to a New Level

During the pandemic, AdventHealth and Disney formed a new partnership, mastering safety during a challenging time. However, those strategies will REALLY be put to the test during an apocalypse.

We hope they saved these tents just in case!

Be prepared for zombie bite checks instead of temperature checks and zombie protection patches and/or deterrents instead of masks. They’ll start offering workers to come to your hotel room and run a zombie check on your family for free. Of course, you do get extra benefits and protection if you buy that Zombie Survival+ we mentioned earlier. 😉

People Would Form Survivor Camps

If we’ve learned anything from our hours of research watching zombie apocalypse shows and movies, we know that survivor camps would start to form almost IMMEDIATELY. And Disney World has some great candidates for locations!

Pre-made caves on an island? Sounds like the perfect place to us!

One camp would obviously start on the abandoned Discovery Island (helloooo, a secluded island just offshore from Magic Kingdom? Perfect!), while another would form up in the fort and caves of Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom. Just raft to the “mainland” for provisions as needed. And speaking of Magic Kingdom, the utilidors would be a very useful place to live, considering you’re tunneled up underneath the park and protected from the elements (AKA bitey semi-human things!).

This might be a cool place to stay — you can’t beat that view!

But, we’re also thinking that there would be some pretty interesting options as well, like the eerie accommodations of Haunted Mansion or Tower of Terror (good luck catching us o those neverending stairs, zombies!). The Cinderella Castle Dream Suite would also be a pretty great place to stay, but good luck getting inside! We’re willing to bet that it’s STILL exclusive, even during an apocalypse. Could you imagine the ultimate zombie survival retreat — chilling IN the castle?!

An EPCOT Festival, Of Course

And finally, let’s discuss the happenings over at EPCOT. This park hosts a festival pretty much year-round these days, so we don’t see why the end of the world as we know it would be an exception to that rule!

Forget Food & Wine — we’re ready for the EPCOT International Zombie Survival Festival!

Just think of all the zombie pun-related food dishes they could serve! Zom-BEANS and rice? What about a You Better RUM and Hide Punch? Meat options that are not-so-undead? Second thought, what if the whole thing is sponsored by Impossible foods? Maybe the idea of all that red meat might not seem so appealing after, you know, zombies ‘n all.

The decorations could be pretty phenomenal.

And of course, a festival isn’t complete without entertainment! We’d need to have the Mariachi Cobre (dressed like zombies), the Voices of Liberty (singing entirely in grunts and moans), and Undead Drummers (AKA, the Jammitors). These guys have basically lived in EPCOT performing since the reopening so it makes sense to keep them working once Z-day arrives!

The Jammitors would still be there!

Well, we don’t know about you, but Disney World sounds like a pretty delightful and inviting place to spend a zombie apocalypse. Hopefully, Disney never has to think about these things, but if they do, we’ve got a contingency plan right here — wrapped up neatly and tied in a nice little bow! (All they have to do is let us hole up in the Cinderella Castle Dream Suite to use it. 😏)

OK, OK so is any of this REALLY feasible? Of course not. We’re pretty sure (again, PRETTY sure!) the day won’t come soon that we’re battling the undead in the shadows of Fantasyland, but just in case, it’s nice to know the option is there. But we hope you got a giggle out of the “what if” of it all. If Captain America can be a zombie, we can imagine what Disney World would be like with them too! After all, it IS Halloween. 🙂

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The post How Would Disney World Survive a Zombie Apocalypse? first appeared on the disney food blog.

PHOTOS: New 50th Anniversary Loungefly Chip ‘n’ Dale Ear Headband and Mickey Ornament Exclusive to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

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Walt Disney World is filling shelves across the resort with Christmas merchandise ahead of the holiday season. Now we are seeing more holiday and 50th anniversary items at Meadow Trading Post at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. Loungefly Chip ‘n’ Dale Ear Headband – $39.99 This headband features Chip and Dale on either side. A pair of acorns sit in the middle. Chip is on the left side of the headband. Dale is on the right side. The headband has the […]

The post PHOTOS: New 50th Anniversary Loungefly Chip ‘n’ Dale Ear Headband and Mickey Ornament Exclusive to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort appeared first on WDW News Today.