food IS a theme park
Thanks to The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is full of yuletide cheer!
Osborne Family Tribute Window
Or perhaps I should say, Yuletide CHEERS… [Read more…]
In some parts of Walt Disney World, the holiday switch has been flipped, and Christmas and other winter celebrations have arrived! In Epcot though, the Food and Wine Festival is still going strong, so the holidays have been delayed just a bit.
But since World Showcase is one of my favorite spots to visit — and a definite must-do for those visiting WDW during the holiday season — I thought we’d take a look back at some of my favorite holiday offerings in some of the Pavilions. They’ll be arriving in the next couple of weeks, and I can’t wait!
Epcot UK Christmas Tea Topiary
Heading to Walt Disney World for the holidays? Woohoo! It’s such a beautiful time to visit, as the Parks are all decked out in their festive best.
DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays 2018
From special events and holiday decor to snacks and drinks full of Yuletide cheer, there’s so much to pack into a visit.
But you’re gonna need a plan and a budget! Because I promise you, visiting Walt Disney World during the holidays is spectacular — but the costs can add up quickly.
Today, I’d love to share with you some of our best budgeting tips for planning your Holiday trip to Walt Disney World. Our tips come courtesy of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays e-Book, and by pre-ordering the DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays e-Book with our special discount code — Peppermint — you get everything you need to make the most of your Disney holiday vacation.
Heigh Ho — let’s go!
Want to enjoy the Holidays at Disney, without paying holiday prices? It may sound impossible, but it’s not. The key is to schedule your visit for a time early or late in the holiday season.
Main Street, USA, at Christmas Time
Christmas decorations go up as early as November in some corners of the Resort. You’ll see festive tidings first normally at Magic Kingdom, where Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party kicks off in the early part of the month (November 8, 2018!). By mid- to late-November, the incredible gingerbread displays that you’ll find at the Deluxe Resorts begin to take shape. [Read more…]
Well, I don’t know if this is a huge surprise with all of the upcoming construction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to make way for Toy Story and Star Wars Lands, but it is with some melancholy that we learned that it is — indeed — official: this Holiday Season will be the final year for The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights — the joyful and unique holiday celebration featuring millions of lights synchronized to holiday music at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The display will run from November 6, 2015 through January 3, 2016.
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
Two new events have been announced in conjunction with the final year of the Spectacle (a chance to “go out with a bang,” so to speak): the Merry & Bright Dessert Party will take place from November 6th – December 30th, and the Merry & Bright Dinner Reception will be available to book for the first days of the New Year, January 1 – 3, 2016. [Read more…]
Yes, the Christmas holiday has come and gone… So you might think it must be time to halt all the gingerbread chat for the year. However, just a few days after Christmas I stumbled upon two gingerbread displays that I’d never seen before.
Sure, we’ve taken you on tours of the Grand Floridian’s famous Gingerbread House, and this year’s new Frozen-inspired Gingerbread Display at the Contemporary Resort. But I must say, these smaller displays have a charm all their own. I’m talking about the Gingerbread Houses created by Cast Members at the Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts!
Art of Animation Christmas Tree
Art of Animation Christmas Tree
Art of Animation Christmas Tree
Pop Century Christmas Tree
Pop Century Christmas Tree
Pop Century Christmas Tree
Much like the Cast Member Pumpkin Carving contests happening at resorts all over Disney World for Halloween, various teams joined together to create their own gingerbread masterpieces. Guests placed their votes to determine a winner.
Gingerbread House Contest Display
Over at Pop Century, the Food and Beverage Team took home the prize for this colorful Gingerbread Minnie Mouse House.
Minnie Mouse Gingerbread House
I love the Krispy Treat Chimney!
Minnie Mouse Gingerbread House
The other entries were pretty great, too 🙂 . From this Gingerbread Pixie Hollow by the Merchandise Team…
Pixie Hollow Gingerbread House
… to a more traditional display by [Read more…]
There’s more gingerbread in store for you at Walt Disney World now that the season is in full swing! Let’s take a look at a couple of the most anticipated displays of the holidays…
The Grand Floridian Gingerbread House is open for the season!
Grand Floridian Gingerbread House 2014
Grand Floridian Gingerbread House 2014
Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Gingerbread House began celebrating its 16th year.
Grand Floridian Gingerbread House operating hours
It’s always fun to see the massive ingredients list!
Gingerbread House ingredients
Open daily for the remainder of the year from 10 am to 10 pm (though it will likely close early on New Years Eve), the unique thing about the Grand Floridian’s gingerbread display is that it is a fully functioning snack stop, with Cast Members serving up gingerbread and other sweet treats through this cheerful window.
Treat window
The traditional Gingerbread Shingles return, along with some other familiar seasonal treats like Peppermint Bark and boxes of Stollen Bread (with a printed history of the traditional German treat attached).
GF gingerbread shingle
Stollen Bread and Peppermint Bark
Mickey Pop
The beautifully detailed Gingerbread Ornaments are probably my favorite things to look at.
Large Gingerbread Ornament
Mickey Gingerbread Ornament
Red Velvet Cupcakes are available alongside White Chocolate Snowmen.
White Chocolate Snowman and Red Velvet Cupcake
Gluten-free choices include Gingerbread Men, but also Ginger Chocolate-Chip Bread, Cinnamon Toastie Bread, and Brownie Bites.
Gingerbread Men
And if you had any doubt whether the cast of “Frozen” could be found at the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House, too, then doubt no more! You can find [Read more…]
Great news for fans who love the Epcot’s Candlelight Processional at Disney World during the holidays!
We brought you news last week of the first confirmed narrators for the 2014 Epcot Candlelight Processional. And today, we wanted to share that booking for Candlelight Processional Packages is now open!
The Candlelight Processional features the retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator. The reading is accompanied by a robed choir and a full orchestra performing Christmas carols.
Amy Grant narrating 2013 Candlelight Processional
The popular event takes place three times each evening throughout the holiday season at the America Gardens Theater in Epcot’s World Showcase. This year, guests can see the performance from November 28 to December 30.
Because of the show’s popularity, seats go quickly! The Candlelight Processional Package is an excellent idea if you would like a guaranteed seat.
Packages include a meal at one of Epcot’s participating restaurants: click here to see which restaurants are included on the 2014 Candlelight Processional list! Booking a package entitles each person in the party to a ticket for guaranteed seating at the evening’s performance of the Candlelight Processional. Packages are available for both lunch and dinner seatings. Lunch packages start at [Read more…]
Put away the pumpkins and get out the tinsel: it’s time to kick off the holiday shopping!
We’re all looking to find just the right items to give as gifts this time of year. But in order to bring that festive vibe home, you may want to brighten up your holiday table, too! It’s the perfect way to prepare for all of those fun parties that are just around the corner!
And now through Monday, you can save 25% off of your entire order with Disney’s Friends and Family Discount! Use code DISNEYPAL at checkout online!
And whether you celebrate Hanukkah or Christmas — or both! — we have some fun finds to make celebrating just a little more fun. It’s a great time to use that 25% discount.
Let’s go!
We have some subtle ways to put a little Disney into your Christmas decor with fun, functional plates for hors d’oeuvres and desserts!
I love these Santa Mickey Glass Plates! You can choose to set your table with Green Glass Plates for a uniform look, or alternate green and red! The falling snow offers an opulent, wintery feel — but that little guy in the corner is unmistakable!
Santa Mickey Mouse Green Glass Plate
Mix and match with these Santa Mickey Red Glass Plates. My favorite detail? The snowflake design is a little different on the green and red versions of the plate.
Santa Mickey Mouse Red Glass Appetizer Plate
Finally, if you’re looking for the perfect holiday time centerpiece for your table, we have found it! The Ultimate Disney Tabletop Tree plays host to four moving levels and more than 50 beloved Disney characters! It also plays a myriad of Christmas carols and lights up with the addition of LED lights!
There’s so much detail here that your guests (including any little ones that may be at your house this holiday season) will spend plenty of time just picking out their favorite scenes, giving you a little ME TIME! (You know, fewer awkward conversations with Uncle Ned, time to get another glass of your chosen beverage…or two, things like that!) 😉
Disney Tabletop Tree
(Note that this item is not sold at DisneyStore.com and is not eligible for the 25% discount.)
Set out your favorite snacks and goodies on Santa Mickey Glass Glazed Holiday Trays. I love the deep purple, and together with your plates, your table will be uber festive with just a tiny touch of Disney!
Santa Mickey Mouse Purple Glass Tray
To me, this time of year is all about seeing and spending time with family, and that includes my awesomely cool parents — now apparently known to many readers as “AJ’s Mom and AJ’s Dad” (yes, they actually have t-shirts that say that). 😉
Anyway, today I wanted to share with you a couple of videos that were shot by my Dad on my parents’ trip to Disney World over the Thanksgiving holiday. Check out these fantastic close-ups of the gingerbread and holiday displays at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort! (While the Yacht Club display isn’t gingerbread, there are several signs that remind us of the yummy restaurants at the resort — and that works for me!)
I hope you have a wonderful holiday, no matter where you are. Thank you so much for reading, supporting, eating, and laughing with us here at the DFB!
Happy holidays!!! Be sure to check out our Christmas in Disney Page for LOTS more holiday information, treats, and photos about spending the holidays in Disney World and Disneyland!
I know I am not alone in believing that there is nothing like a visit to the Disneyland Resort during the holiday season.
Their spectacular decor adorns every nook and cranny of the parks. The sights, the scents, the holiday cheer; it’s really an amazing experience. The Disneyland Resort goes above transforming both parks into “The Merriest Place on Earth.” They transform everything from Sleeping Beauty’s Castle to the menu boards at many of their eateries.
Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle
This year, I had the pleasure of meeting two very special people that help create the magic that happens on those menu boards. Karlos Siqueiros & Mechelle Miller both play important roles in Disney Food & Beverage Concept Development. This past Saturday night, I attended a special event (courtesy of Disney) that showcased their latest holiday delights.
Karlos & Mechelle from Food & Beverage Development
After enjoying an amazing dinner, fun activities, and special photo opportunities, Karlos & Mechelle took the stage with Chef Goofy to share the Resort’s special holiday dessert menu items.
Holiday Chef Goofy
Although I know both Anaheim resorts offer special holiday menu items, these particular goodies are brand new to the parks and are only available at California Adventure.
The presentation was creative and fun, and as each item was described Cast Members dressed in their holiday best pranced out to show off each dish.
Almond Cookie Sandwich Presentation
When the dessert “show” was over, we turned around to find that some Disney Magic had taken place behind our backs and a beautiful buffet featuring all of the presented dishes had been set up! I decided an organized right-to-left situation was necessary so I wouldn’t miss anything… [Read more…]
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