If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, there are some critical updates you need to know about.

Disney has announced new discounts that could help you save big on your next trip, a dining promo card is now available to snag (which could be Disney’s answer to the Dining Plan in 2023), and we’ve got tons of reviews and food updates to share with you. So sit back, relax, and allow us to get you up-to-date on the latest news.

Dining Promo Card

A NEW Disney World dining package is available for booking. While the Dining Plan itself has not returned yet, it seems Disney could be offering this as a sort of “stand-in” for those looking for some kind of dining promotion. So how does this all work?

If you book a minimum of a 5-night stay at a Disney World resort hotel with at least 4 days of tickets, you could be eligible for a Dining Promo Card. (Note that sometimes you can get Disney World offers with FEWER nights so call Disney and ask!) This is something we’ve seen offered to select guests in the past, and we have a feeling some guests will be happy to see it has returned.

The dining promotion is already available to book. It applies for trips booked for arrival dates between July 1st and July 10th, as well as August 1st through September 14th, 2023. A lower dining package might be available if you book a summer package on other dates so be sure to ask.

If you book a qualifying reservation, you’ll be eligible to get a dining promo card via email. That card can then be used essentially like cash at select restaurants throughout Disney World. The amount on the card will vary depending on your arrival date, the number of nights you stay, and what hotel you’ll be at.

Need more details? We’ve got you covered!

• Click here for full details about this deal
• Is this Disney World’s answer to the Disney Dining Plan in 2023? Click here for our thoughts
• What Is a Dining Promo Card and How Do You Use It in Disney World? We Have the Answers
• The BEST Value Restaurants for the Disney World Dining Promo Card
• The 3 Best Ways to Get The MOST Out of Your Disney World Dining Card!
• How to Get OVER $1000 With Disney World’s New Dining Offer!

Important Discount News

If you’re going to Disney World, you need to know about the latest discounts and deals. Missing out on these could cost you some serious cash, so allow us to update you on some of the NEWEST deals that have been announced.

First, new summer discounts have been announced for Disney World hotel rooms. With this deal, you could save up to 25% on stays from April 10th-July 10th, and up to 20% on stays in March.

A NEW discount has also been announced for Annual Passholders. Passholders can save up to 30% on rooms that are booked for May 1st through July 10th.

Right now, Passholders have an exclusive booking window on this deal until January 10th. At that point, it’ll open up to Florida Residents too.

For a full list of all of the discounts and deals for Disney World, click here!

Festival of the Arts Menus, the Return of the Figment Popcorn Bucket, and More!

The start of the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is just days away and we’ve got some HUGE updates.

First, the MENUS have (finally!) been revealed for the 2023 Festival of the Arts food booths! On the menus you’ll find some returning items (like the Almond Frangipane Cake at Pop Eats) as well as several NEW items, including Duck and Dumplings and a Hummingbird Cake at The Artist’s Table. Click here to see all of the new menu items coming to the 2023 Festival.

We’ll be trying all kinds of eats and drinks at the Festival once it begins so stay tuned for ALL of our reviews!

Click here to see the FULL MENUS for the Festival!

In HUGE Festival news, the famous Figment Popcorn Bucket that drew hours-long lines at the start of last year’s Festival of the Arts is coming BACK. This was an incredibly popular item last year that initially sold out and then came back via Mobile Order. Details are still pending regarding Figment’s release this year, but stay tuned for updates. If you want to grab this little buddy, you’ll likely want to act FAST!

Looking to grab some art during the Festival? Of course you are! Well, we’ve got a FULL LIST of the artists coming to the Festival here. And you can get a first look at some Festival of the Arts prints here.

The first Festival of the Arts booths are already in EPCOT so keep an eye out for those as well!

Remember, the Festival begins on January 13th and runs through February 20th. Stay tuned for FULL reviews of the booths from us here at DFB, our picks for the very BEST eats & drinks at the Festival, and more details.

Click here for full details on the Festival of the Arts

After Hours Is BACK!

After Hours events have officially returned to Disney’s Hollywood Studios (and will be back in Magic Kingdom soon too!). We stopped by the event to see whether it’s worth your cash. To see EVERYTHING included in your After Hours ticket at Hollywood Studios, click here.

The big draw of the After Hours events is the lack of crowds. But just how EMPTY was Hollywood Studios during our event night? Click here to see for yourself! 

We’ll be sharing more updates about After Hours events in the future, so stay tuned for the latest updates.

Click here for a full list of sold out dates for Disney World’s After Hours events

Room Changes

A number of Disney World hotels have seen upgrades and room changes over the last few years, and now MORE are on the way. Room CHANGES have been announced for Disney’s Beach Club Resort.

Thus far, not many details have been revealed, but we do know that the Beach Club Resort will start getting room refurbishments on January 7th, and the updates will last through April 2023. We’ll be on the lookout for more details.

See our full post of the Beach Club room changes here

Food News!

And finally, we wrap up our bigger news section with lots of food reviews! Gideon’s Bakehouse has a NEW cookie (and other new items) for the month of January all themed to cookie butter. Check out our full review here.

Over at Salt & Straw, there is a NEW dairy-free menu that includes flavors like Bananas Foster and Toasted Oat Milk and Cookies. We tried some of the dairy-free flavors and we have THOUGHTS — click here to see them!

We also found the FINAL Seven Dwarfs ice cream cone in Magic Kingdom…

…a NEW Sam the Eagle MUPPETS sipper cup in EPCOT…

…NEW Starbucks drinks…

…a NEW Haunted Mansion snack…

…a disappointing snack in Magic Kingdom…

…and a SECRET hiding inside a Minnie Mouse Cake!

But wait…there’s MORE! For other Disney news stories, click the links below:

• WHEN the Adventureland Treehouse Will Reopen in Disneyland
• VIDEO: Look INSIDE the Upcoming ‘Moana’ Attraction at EPCOT
• Wonder what it looks like in Disney World on New Year’s Eve? Click here to get a look at the crowds, click here for our review of the champagne BEIGNETS we tried, and check out the New Year’s Eve countdown here!
• See how to get BONUS onboard credit for your next Disney Cruise

• VIDEO: First Look at Disney’s New 100th Anniversary Nighttime Show
• Registration dates announced for the 2023-2024 runDisney races
• DATE ANNOUNCED for ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Release on Disney+
• “Hey, Disney!” Will Be Available for Home Purchase SOON
• Disney Teases NEW 2023 Annual Passholder Magnet!

Hold up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, check out our DFB Guide Everything Bundle here.

You will get ALL of our best-selling eBooks with details on Disney World Dining, EPCOT Festivals, the BEST snacks in each park, and soooooo many tips and tricks we’ve learned over decades of visiting our happy place.

Get the bundle here!

Are you interested in the Dining Promo Card? Tell us in the comments.