This post contains sponsored content from DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market. Help support WDWNT by using the links in this article to book your next resort stay with our sponsors, DVC Rental Store and if you’re considering purchasing a DVC contract, check out how much you can save with DVC Resale Market.

If you’re a big Disney fan, I’m sure you know about Disney Vacation Club (DVC). You’ve undoubtedly seen the advertisements on Disney busses, passed the kiosks in the parks, and maybe you’ve even stayed in one of the DVC resorts or have taken a tour. If you come to Disney often, DVC makes a lot of sense. So why haven’t you bought in yet? If you’re like most people, it may seem unaffordable because the initial price is so steep. But through our partners at DVC Resale Market, you can buy a DVC contract for much less than Disney charges, saving you thousands of dollars.

How does this work? DVC Resale Market connects you with DVC members looking to sell their contracts. And just like any other real estate, the price of the contract is subject to market conditions. Disney can charge above-market rates because they’re Disney, and most people don’t know about buying resale. Buying resale by purchasing through DVC Resale Market affords you the opportunity to pay a price that is determined by the prevailing market situation, which is less, sometimes much less, than buying directly from Disney.

Have you been following along with our article series about how DVC works? In Volume 1: Timeshare Basics, we talked about timeshares in general and how Disney Vacation Club is a timeshare but is also very different from a typical timeshare. In Volume 2: DVC Basics - All About Points, we delved into the points system that DVC uses to book accommodations. In Volume 3: DVC Basics – Use Years, Banking, and Borrowing, we took a deep dive into how you can use your points wisely by banking and borrowing points. Volume 4: Exchanges investigated the ins and outs of exchanging your DVC points for Disney Cruise Line cruises, accommodations at other Disney resorts, or stays at hundreds of resorts around the world through Interval International.

Below are a few examples of the huge difference between Disney’s current pricing (per point) and an actual resale contract currently available for sale through DVC Resale Market (active at the time of publication).

Resort	Current Resale Price (per point)	Disney Direct Price (per point)	Savings (per point)	Savings Percent	Listing ID
Animal Kingdom Villas	$102	$210	$108	51%	AK34201
Beach Club Villas	$110	$275	$165	60%	BCA1859
Boulder Ridge Villas (Wilderness Lodge)	$88	$215	$127	59%	BRB1381
Polynesian Villas & Bungalows	$134	$250	$116	46%	PLB2965
Saratoga Springs Resort	$88	$205	$117	57%	SSB5666

As you can see in these examples, you can save quite a bit of money when buying resale. Of course, there are drawbacks to buying resale, such as the lack of DVC member discounts on food and merchandise, but the tremendous savings will more than offset that. Plus, Annual Passholders get those same food and merchandise discounts, and most DVC members visit often enough that an annual pass makes sense anyway.

Saving 50% or more on the purchase of a DVC contract can mean the difference between affording a vacation each year, and not being able to. Plus, with the always-rising prices that always continue to escalate at Disney, purchasing a contract now and locking in a great deal will continue to pay rewards far into the future.

If this has convinced you that it’s time to purchase a DVC contract and save thousands of dollars, or to see what other contracts are available, check out all the resale listings at DVC Resale Market today! They are DVC experts and will be sure to find you the contract you want, at the resort you want, at the price you want. Take the next step toward being the super Disney fan and own a piece of the magic. Contact DVC Resale Market today and tell them you’re a WDWNT reader!

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

The post Disney Vacation Club: How to Make Buying Into DVC Affordable appeared first on WDW News Today.

EPIC news dropped all over the internet.

Universal finally gave us a closer look at what’s coming to their new Orlando theme park, Epic Universe. We loved everything we saw and now we’re giddy with anticipation. 5 new lands, 3 new attractions, and several restaurants were announced, and there’s so much more to come! So when can we actually experience this amazing new park? Well, we have a little information on that.

Epic Universe’s announcements on January 30th took the internet by storm! We weren’t ready for such amazing news that day but we were certainly excited to hear it.

A dual-tracked rollercoaster, a wet-play area, new merchandise, and five new restaurants were all announced for the heart of the park, Celestial Park. We still have to wait to find out about all the rides for the other four worlds, but Universal teased that they’re going to be nothing but special. It’s amazing how great this new theme park looks, and now we are antsy for it to open.

Back in 2022, during a quarterly Comcast investors call, Universal shared that it would be ready “certainly in time for summer 2025.” Since we’re nearing the end of January 2024, we really don’t have to wait too much longer, maybe a year or a little more!

As construction continues, we’ve noticed that they are not taking their sweet time, in fact, they have been moving at a rapid pace. It’s unlikely that we’ll see the park open before 2025, but perhaps the construction will continue going well and we can see it open early that year. We certainly hope that we’ll be able to enjoy our 2025 summer in Epic Universe!

We’ll be keeping our eyes and ears open for any more details as they’re released. Until then, keep following DFB for more theme park news!

4 Secret Facts REVEALED About Universal’s Epic Universe

Which world at Epic Universe are you excited to explore? Let us know in the comments!

The post When Will Universal’s Epic Universe Open? first appeared on the disney food blog.

The wintertime is the perfect season for a piping-hot bowl of soup! Especially this year, as the cold seems to have come with a vengeance! Luckily, Disney has us covered and is sharing seven soup recipes for us to make.

Let’s head to the kitchen to whip up some of our very own Disney magic and warm our soul in the process! These soups are from all across Disney, with a recipe from the Disney Cruise Line as well. We could definitely use a nice cup of soup right about now so let’s get to the recipes.

We are venturing all around Disney with these soup recipes. From Carnation Cafe in Disneyland Park to the EPCOT’s International Flower & Garden Festival, and even on board the Disney cruise ships, we are excited to share these seven Disney soup recipes with you!

Curry, Carrot, and Apple Soup from Disney Cruise Line

We are starting off with a good one! This Curry, Carrot, and Apple Soup comes from Disney Cruise Line and is full of flavor! The combination of curry, carrots, and apples makes for a cozy bowl of soup. The soup is blended to perfection and then topped with some fresh parsley and creamy yogurt.

Serves 4

Here are the ingredients to grab:

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon curry powder

1 cup diced carrots (about 4 medium carrots)

1 medium onion, chopped

2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped

4 cups vegetable broth

1 whole carrot

Coarse salt, freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Plain yogurt, fresh parsley, for garnish

Now let’s get to cooking! Here are the steps:

1. Heat oil in a large, heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Add curry powder and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add diced carrots, onions, and apple, and stir until coated with curry powder. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
2. Stir in broth and cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until carrots and apples are very soft, about 20 to 25 minutes.
3. While soup cooks, preheat oven to 400°F. Peel whole carrot and shave into very thin curls. Roast for 3 to 5 minutes, or until ends are browned and crisp. Remove from oven and set aside.
4. Remove soup from heat and purée in a blender, or with a hand-held immersion blender. Season with salt and pepper.
5. To serve, top each bowl with a dollop of yogurt, roasted carrot curls, and parsley.

Check out our overview of EVERY Disney Cruise Line restaurant here!

Cheesy Enchilada Soup from Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe at Disney California Adventure Park

After our trip to the Disney cruise ships, we are back on land and at Disney California Adventure Park for our next soup. This Cheesy Enchilada Soup can be found at Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe and is sure to be a crowd pleaser! You can’t go wrong with enchiladas in soup form! The soup is full of shredded chicken, veggies, black beans and a lovely helping of cheddar cheese! Comfort food in a cup and perfect for these chilly days.

Serves 6 to 8

Here are the ingredients to grab:

5 yellow corn tortillas, cut into thin strips

1/4 cup vegetable oil, plus 2 tablespoons, divided

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1/2 cup corn

5 cups chicken stock

15-ounce can tomato puree

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

1 1/4 teaspoons chili powder

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 1/4 teaspoons sugar

3/4 teaspoon hot sauce

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

4 teaspoons flour

1/2 cup water

2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup sour cream

1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese

1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Now let’s get to cooking! Here are the steps:

1. With caution, heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a 10-inch skillet. When oil is hot, carefully add tortilla strips and stir until golden and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels and set aside.
2. Cook onion in remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until translucent. Add garlic, bell pepper and corn; cook for about 2 minutes.
3. Stir in chicken stock, tomato puree, salt, chili powder, pepper, sugar, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce; bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Whisk flour and water in a small bowl and stir into soup. Bring to a boil, then simmer 4 minutes.
5. Add chicken and bring back to a simmer. Stir in cream, sour cream, shredded cheese, and black beans.
6. To serve, garnish with reserved fried tortilla strips and cilantro.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup from Carnation Café at Disneyland Park 

Staying in California, but switching over to Disneyland Park is where we find our next soup. Another great comfort soup and a soup that is calling our name: The Loaded Baked Potato Soup. You can find this soup at Carnation Café and it is sure to be a crowd pleaser. It is the perfect combination of potatoes, veggies, and heavy cream. We recommend topping the soup with lots of bacon crumbles, green onions, sour cream and cheese for the full loaded baked potato experience!

Serves 6

Here are the ingredients to grab:

1 pound bacon, roughly chopped

1 medium yellow onion, diced

1 large carrot, peeled and diced

3/4 cup diced celery

4 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced

4 medium red potatoes, diced

1/4 cup flour

2 cups chicken or vegetable stock

Coarse salt, freshly ground pepper, to taste

4 cups heavy whipping cream

Optional garnishes: chopped chives, reserved chopped bacon, sour cream, shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese

Now let’s get to cooking! Here are the steps:

1. In a 6- to 8-quart stockpot over medium heat, fry bacon until crisp.
2. Remove bacon with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels (reserve half for garnish). In the bacon fat, cook onions, carrots, and celery until the onions are translucent. Add potatoes and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Whisk in flour and stir constantly over low heat until the flour is cooked and the mixture has thickened slightly, about 5 to 7 minutes.  Add chicken stock and half of the bacon. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Over medium-high heat, bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Mash some of the potatoes for thicker, creamier texture. Add whipping cream and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Adjust thickness by adding water or stock. Soup should have a creamy consistency.
6. Season to taste, and garnish with toppings.

Read more about our experience at Carnation Café here!

Tomato Florentine Soup from Boma – Flavors of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Now we are headed over to Disney World and our first stop is one of our favorite restaurants! Boma is located inside of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and serves up some fabulous food, including this delicious Tomato Florentine Soup. This soup is full of fragrant spices along with ground turkey and veggies. We can already imagine ourselves savoring this soup listening to Animal Kingdom Lodge atmosphere music!

Serves 6

Here are the ingredients to grab:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound ground turkey breast

1 teaspoon seasoning salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup diced carrots

1/2 cup diced celery

1/2 cup diced onion

1 tablespoon minced garlic

16 ounces chicken stock

15 ounces tomato sauce

2 cups finely diced fresh tomatoes

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 dried bay leaf

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 cup cooked elbow macaroni noodles

6-ounce bag baby spinach

Now let’s get to cooking! Here are the steps:

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add turkey, seasoning salt, and pepper. Cook, crumbling turkey into small pieces, 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Add carrots, celery, onions, and garlic; cook until onions are translucent, about 3 minutes.
2. Stir in chicken stock, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire, bay leaf, and oregano; simmer, covered, 30 minutes
3. Add noodles and spinach just before serving, stirring to wilt spinach.

Find our full review of Boma here!

IMPOSSIBLE Sausage and Kale Soup from EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

Next, we are heading to the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival for the IMPOSSIBLE Sausage and Kale Soup. This soup is found at the Trowel & Trellis booth and while it is a wonderful plant-based option, it is a hearty soup perfect for anyone! For this recipe, you make your own plant-based sausage with lots of spices and then add even more spices, veggies and a bit of dairy-free cream. The flavors in the soup work really well together and it even has a nice little kick to it.

Serves 6-8

Here are the ingredients to grab:

IMPOSSIBLE Italian Sausage

1 pound plant-based ground meat substitute

2 tablespoons paprika

1 tablespoon fennel seed

1 tablespoon coarse salt

2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 teaspoons granulated garlic

1 tablespoon anise seed

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Sausage and Kale Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil

Impossible Italian sausage

1 medium onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup white wine

6 small red potatoes, diced

1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

6 cups vegetable broth

3/4 cup dairy-free cooking cream

2 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 bunch (1/2 pound) kale, chopped

1/4 cup sherry vinegar, plus more, to taste

Coarse salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Toppings

1 cup plant-based pesto

8 toasted flatbread crackers

Now let’s get to cooking! Here are the steps:

For the IMPOSSIBLE Italian Sausage:

1. Combine plant-based ground meat substitute, paprika, fennel seed, coarse salt, oregano, granulated garlic, anise seed, and crushed red peppers in a medium bowl. Mix until season is fully incorporated into meat substitute.
2. Refrigerate until ready to use.

For Sausage and Kale Soup:

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat for 5 minutes, until hot. Add reserved Impossible Italian sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes, until fully cooked.
2. Add onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes and cook for 5 minutes, until onions begin to soften. Add white wine and cook for 2 minutes, making sure to scrape any browned bits of sausage from the bottom.
3. Add potatoes, oregano, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce to a simmer for 10-15 minutes, until potatoes are soft. Add dairy-free cooking cream and stir until incorporated.
4. Combine water and cornstarch in a small bowl. Bring soup to a boil and slowly add cornstarch mix. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often, until soup is slightly thickened.
5. Add chopped kale and stir until wilted. Add sherry vinegar.
6. Season with additional sherry vinegar, salt, and pepper, to taste.

To Serve:

Ladle soup into bowls. Top with 1-2 tablespoons of pesto and garnish with a toasted flatbread.

Check out our festival review of this soup and all of the items at Trowel & Trellis here!

Creamy Corn Soup with Crab from Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Moving to another Disney World Resort, our next soup recipe comes from Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. This Creamy Corn Soup with crab is silky smooth and decadent. You can bring the luxury of Narcoossee’s into your kitchen with this recipe! All of the ingredients are blended together for a sweet, creamy and flavorful soup.

Serves 4

Here are the ingredients to grab:

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons butter

3 cups fresh corn kernels

1/4 cup finely diced onion

1/4 cup thinly sliced leeks

1/4 cup finely diced celery

1/4 cup finely diced carrot

2 tablespoons minced shallot

1 fresh bay leaf

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 cup seafood stock

3 cups heavy cream

1/4 cup lump crabmeat, for garnish

4 teaspoons chopped fresh chives, for garnish

Now let’s get to cooking! Here are the steps:

1. Heat oil and butter together over medium heat in a large saucepan.
2. Add corn, onions, leeks, celery, carrots, and shallots. Cook 5 to 8 minutes, stirring until soft.
3. Add bay leaf, thyme, and garlic; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add stock and bring to a simmer.
4. Add cream, bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook soup 30 minutes until the liquid reduces slightly and vegetables get very soft. Remove from heat. Carefully remove bay leaf.
5. Purée with an immersion blender or add soup in small batches to a blender and puree until smooth.
6. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve. Keep warm until ready to serve. Garnish each bowl with a tablespoon of crabmeat and a teaspoon of chopped chives.

You can find our review of the new menu at Narcoossee’s here!

Beef and Barley Soup from The Disney Recipe Vault

We are finishing off our soup journey with a recipe from The Disney Recipe Vault. This Beef and Barley Soup was served at King Stefan’s Banquet Hall (this restaurant was located where Cinderella’s Royal Table is now). It is a hearty and classic soup recipe that definitely warm you up!

Serves 4

Here are the ingredients to grab:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 pound beef chuck, cut into 3/4-inch pieces

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup chopped onions

1/2 cup diced celery

1 cup diced carrots

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

4 cups reduced-sodium beef broth

1/2 cup uncooked medium pearled barley

1/ 4 cup chopped scallions, for serving

Now let’s get to cooking! Here are the steps:

1. Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven.
2. Season beef with salt and pepper and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.
3. Add onions, celery, carrots, garlic, and thyme to the pot and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables start to brown.
4. Return beef to pot and add broth. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until beef is tender.
5. Add barley and simmer 30 minutes more. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
6. Serve in a deep bowl topped with scallions.

We covered a lot of ground for these recipes! It is a perfect time for some good, piping hot soup and these recipes fit the bill! Warm, flavorful and Disney-inspired!

Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney recipes!

Want even more Disney recipes? Check out ALL of our recipes here!

 

Are you planning on making any of these soup recipes? Let us know in the comments!

The post 7 Disney Soups To Warm Up With This Season first appeared on the disney food blog.

Calling all Figment fans! We just tried a NEW Figment-themed treat in Disney World, and we’re pretty sure you’re gonna want to get one, too!

The adorable purple dragon called Figment is a popular Disney World character, and we’ve seen tons of merchandise, a couple of popcorn buckets, a festival food booth, and even a new meet-and-greet inspired by him. Now, there’s a new Figment treat in EPCOT — Come with us to try it out!

We arrived in EPCOT bright and early to try out the new Figment of Caramel Cold Brew. This drink can be found at the Joffrey’s Coffee stand located near the front entrance to the park.

The drink is Joffrey’s Caramel Mudslide Cold Brew, caramel and peanut butter syrups, and chocolate sauce, topped with whipped cream and caramel sauce.

Honestly, it sounds like Willy Wonka created this drink. And it TASTES like Willy Wonka created it, too!

The drink has a bit of nuttiness to it for sure (from that peanut butter syrup), but the caramel flavor is the most prominent. It is SWEET, y’all! It’s called the “Figment of Caramel,” but that sweet flavor definitely tasted way too strong to be just a figment of our imagination.

This drink could be a super tasty option if you want to kick start your day with a little caffeine but don’t want something that tastes like coffee.

It’s really more dessert than coffee, but when you’re at Disney World, you’re on vacation, so who cares if you have a little dessert for breakfast?

You can grab the Figment of Caramel Cold Brew for $6.49!

WE KNOW – there are SO many great snacks at Disney World! How do you choose (we don’t want to choose but will blow our budget on Day 1 otherwise)? We’ve got you covered! We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them! Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks!

Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news.

Click here to see the new Monorail-themed coffee drink in Disney World!

Would you try this new drink in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

The post REVIEW: There’s a NEW Figment-Themed Treat in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog.

The end of January means Valentine’s Day is only two weeks away! If you can’t decide what to get the Disney fan in your life, we’ve got you covered!

What makes our list even better is that we’re putting each list together for you!

 We’ve put together four categories of baskets that you can make your loved one! Starting off with the one for the Disney Foodie!

The Disney Foodie Basket

Grab the Munchlings Street Food Pack!

This mystery Munchling pack is perfect for the foodie who loves Disney!

View On Target

Add this cookbook to your gift!

With official recipes from the parks, prepare yourself and your stomach!

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Finish the basket with these stackable ceramic mugs!

These ceramic mugs are stackable and feature various Disney Princesses on each mug!

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The Classic Disney Basket

Moving on to the bucket for the classic Disney fan!

Snag this Minnie Mouse Mug!

This 15oz mug features Minnie Mouse and her dots and makes for the cutest way to enjoy your coffee!

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Grab the perfect shirt for your classic Disney fan! 

Featuring classic Mickey Mouse, this shirt is simply perfection!

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Snag this cute weighted plush! 

The weighted Mickey plush is soft and provides so much comfort!

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The Stitch Basket

Perhaps you need gifts for the Stitch fan in your life!

Start off with this youth Stitch shirt!

This youth sized shirt is perfect for a cute Valentine’s Day gift for your children!

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Add these Valentine’s Day mini-figures to your gift!

These Valentine’s Day mini-figures are the cutest addition to your Stitch fan’s life!

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Add these socks to your gift bucket! 

These matching socks are soft and cozy for year-round comfort!

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Snag this youth Stitch and Lilo shirt! 

Featuring Lilo and Stitch on a red shirt, this shirt is super cute to celebrate Valentine’s Day with!

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This weighted plush is super cute! 

This weighted Stitch plush is soft and provides a ton of weighted comfort to your life!

View On Target

The Bluey Basket

The final basket is for the child in your life who loves Bluey!

Check out this Valentine’s Day Bluey Shirt!

Available in youth sizing, this Valentine’s themed shirt featuring Bluey and Bingo is so adorable!

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Another version of a Bluey Valentine’s Shirt! 

Available in youth sizing, this shirt is simply too cute!

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Check out this Bluey book! 

 

This Bluey bedtime story is a perfect addition to your little one’s nighttime routine!

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Take a look at this Bluey themed bubble bath product! 

This lightly scented bubble bath solution will have you saying “wackadoo!”

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See this water bottle featuring Bluey and Bingo!

This 16oz water bottle will keep your child’s drink from spilling out!

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Finally, take a look at some of the baskets you can use to present these gifts!

Check out this pink decorative basket!

The coiled pink basket is just the right size to put all of your desired gifts in and makes a perfect decoration after the fact!

View On Target

Check out this Valentine’s themed bucket! 

This paper bucket is a great way to tie your entire gift basket together and stay on theme!

View On Target

Any of these gifts will surely make great additions to your Valentine’s Day gift exchange! Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more merchandise updates and gift guides!

See more of our favorite finds here! 

The post Create the Ultimate Disney-Themed Valentine’s Basket from Target! first appeared on the disney food blog.