food IS a theme park
What’s up, DFB friends?
It’s so pretty here!
We are BACK in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, saying hello to all the animals, walking around one of the most beautiful theme parks ever, and spending some time chasing down a dino! But while we were there, we checked in to see what’s new, so let’s get on with some updates!
We’re already lookin’ ahead to summer here at DFB!
Spaceship Earth
We’re expecting plenty of heat and LOTS of crowds, but we’re excited for long days in the sun! And if you’re planning a trip to the parks, you’ll want to know how long they’ll be open. We previously knew Disney World’s park hours through July 10th, but now we’ve got ALL the details for July 11th-17th!
Disney World has definitely had some high-tech updates lately.
Disney World’s NEW MagicMobile app makes your phone a MagicBand! ©Disney
With complimentary MagicBands discontinued, guests were able to instead welcome the use of smartphones as your pass to get around Disney World. Park ticket, room key, mobile payment, ride photos — you name it! Your phone can do a lot with MagicMobile, and now we’re seeing more signs of this change in the parks.
This is a HUGE year for Disney World. The resort turns 50 years old!!! And there’s going to be a massive celebration starting in October and lasting through 2023. Now THAT’S a party!
Is something different here?
And that means that a lot of Disney World, including Magic Kingdom, is getting refreshed and updated. The Castle got a brand new paint job and some seriously glammed-up decor. Fantasyland is getting a golden touch-up. Even the gift shop Bonjour Village Gifts got a facelift! But there’s probably one update you may have not yet noticed at Magic Kingdom — maybe because it requires you to look up.
Disney World still looks pretty different from the way it did prior to the 2020 park closures.
Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
Social distancing markers are still in the queue, capacity is still restricted with Disney Park Pass reservations, and some ride experiences are still modified. Now, though, we did spot one eased health measure over in Magic Kingdom.
Orange Bird is so much fun, and we love seeing him around Disney World!
Orange Bird Mural
From sippers to spirit jerseys to Mickey ears, and more — Orange Bird is in SO many places! And we were SUPER excited when Disney World announced that the next Annual Passholder freebie, a magnet, would be Orange Bird-themed!
We love when characters pop up in the parks!
Cinderella Castle
In addition to the cavalcades throughout the day, you can usually spot characters hanging around, doin’ their thing in designated areas. And when we were walking around Magic Kingdom today, we spotted a very special surprise!
Lots of things have changed recently at Disney World. Some hotels are set to reopen soon, maskless photos can be taken outdoors, and we’ve even seen changes made when it comes to self-serve drink stations.
The Much Beloved Kakamora Float
But, when it comes to food, there’s still quite a bit that is different from how things were prior to the park closures. Some fan-favorite restaurants are still closed and quite a lot of food hasn’t returned to the parks and hotels. So, today we’re going down our list and sharing some of those food items that are still missing from Disney World so you can plan ahead for your next trip (and not be SEVERELY disappointed when you find that *spoiler alert* beignets are not available from Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter ðŸ˜).
Some folks really don’t believe this, but Disney World is actually part of the REAL WORLD, and it’s good to remember that as you’re planning a trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Germany Pavilion
Today we’re going to talk about a few not-so-magical things you SHOULD know before you go to Disney World. And a few things that you might not want to know…but you won’t be able to look away from!
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…Disney announced that it would be building a Star Wars hotel experience called Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser!
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Concept Art ©Disney
The “Star Wars hotel” is more of a cruise-type experience where guests will stay aboard a “spaceship” for 2 nights and participate in all kinds of activities including lightsaber training, operating the ship’s defense systems, meeting Star Wars characters, and more. Reservations were set to open in 2020 (but they didn’t) and the hotel experience is set to open in 2021. But, if Disney does open the Star Wars hotel this year, a few things could go wrong. Today, we’re breaking that all down for you.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
