Last month, we told you about the non-alcoholic specialty drinks that are available with the 2018 Disney Dining Plan — a post that will keep evolving as we learn more about what does and does not count as a beverage on the DDP. Specialty drinks include such tasty gems as Artisanal Milkshakes and Fresh Smoothies!
Review: Disneyland Resort Halloween Time Treats for 2017!
Halloween is HERE!
No matter what the actual calendar says 😉 , the Disney Parks on both coasts are already celebrating the most epic Halloween ever — especially when measured in Seasonal and Spookerrific eats!
We recently checked out Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World, so today we’re kickin’ it west coast style.
And Disneyland is killin’ it this year! Take a spook… I mean, a LOOK!
Haul-O-Ween in Cars Land
They’ve introduced a super cool Halloween overlay in Cars Land that we can NOT get enough of!
The Halloween-ization of Cars Land is just… well, look for yourself. [Read more…]
Review: Fall-riffic Pumpkin Cupcake at the Magic Kingdom!
Depending on where you are in the country, school has been back in session for at least a week. Pumpkin Spiced beverages are up for grabs everywhere, and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is ON.
Which means it’s time to say…. Happy Fall, Y’all! And when it comes to autumn in Disney World, there’s so much to see and do… and EAT!
Possible Details and Dates for the 2017 Disney World Free Dining Offer
It’s that time of year again – time to start placing your bets on when the 2017 Free Disney Dining Plan will be announced. We all know how popular free dining has become in recent years and we’re betting that this year won’t be any different!
If you’re not familiar, the Disney free dining offer includes a free Disney Dining Plan with the purchase of a Walt Disney World Resort hotel and ticket package. The “free” part of the name pulls you in, just remember that you’ll be paying full price for your resort hotel room when you book free dining.
In the past, free dining was announced for less crowded (non-peak) times during the year – late summer, early fall, and early winter (before the holiday season). But let’s be honest, there’s really no such thing as a non-peak season anymore. So we’re expecting this year’s free Disney Dining dates will include more summer dates, in addition to the usual fall and early-winter (non-holiday) dates.
How MyMagic+ Will Affect Disney Dining
Planning your Disney World vacation is about to change—big time. While making your Advance Dining Reservations 180 days in advance will still be important, MyMagic+ is going to make it easier to pre-plan your trip and maybe even save your Disney dollars at the same time!
We’ve outlined the basics of the new Walt Disney World Resort technology below, followed by a healthy dose of Disney dining tips for making the most of the new system — including how it will change your Disney Dining planning, and how you might save money using MyMagic+!!
MyMagic+: The Basics
This past week, MyMagic+ — a new, tech-savvy planning process for your Disney vacation — officially rolled out across the Walt Disney World resort. Relying on RFID technology, this will create a “more immersive, more seamless and more personal experience” for guests, according to Disney Parks Blog.
A major piece of the MyMagic+ puzzle is the new My Disney Experience website and mobile app, which help guests plan their trip. The interactive tools allow guests to log in to book advanced dining reservations and ride times for popular attractions as well as parade and fireworks viewing locations with FastPass+. They’ll also make it easy to change those plans on the fly from any smartphone or Guest Relations kiosk.
All of that MyMagic+ data—including ride and meals times—will be encoded onto the new must-have Disney accessory: the MagicBand. These high-tech bracelets will replace the Key to the World card, becoming a room key, theme park ticket, PhotoPass card, FastPass and charge account in one.
Right now, guests saying at WDW resort hotels, Annual Passholders, and those who purchase PhotoPass will automatically receive a complimentary standard MagicBand. Upgraded wristbands, decorated with characters, will also be available for an additional fee.
Guests who stay off property will receive an RFID-enabled card, which will act as a park ticket, charge account and FastPass+ ticket, but they will have to purchase a MagicBand separately.
The new technologies will likely have a significant impact on your dining strategy, so we’ve put together a quick primer on how to make the most of MyMagic+:
Pay and Go
The most immediate and obvious impact of the MagicBand will be the ability to pay for snacks and quick service meals with the flick of a wrist.
Literally tap the RFID bracelet (or card for non-resort guests) against the sensor at the register to settle the bill on purchases of $50 or less quickly and efficiently. No more digging around for the Key to the World!
Schedule Your WHOLE Day
With the current system, FastPass dictates your return window based on how many FastPasses have already been distributed. On some days, it’s possible to arrive at Soarin’ at 9:30 a.m. only to be locked into a 6:35-7:35 p.m. return time. That presents a problem for those [Read more…]
Disney Food for Families: Where to Find Baby Food in Disney Parks and Resorts
Disney Food for Families columnist, Erin Foster, takes a look at baby food options in Disney parks and resorts. You can read about Erin and read her other columns on our Disney Food for Families page!
Many families make their first trips to Walt Disney World while at least one of their children is in the baby mush stage of eating. A question I often hear from these families is, “What do I do about baby food while on my Disney vacation?” This information may not be as exciting as news about the latest gonzo cupcake creation, but it can be of critical importance to those traveling with a toothless crew.
Where to Find Baby Food on Disney Property
Baby food is not a menu item at any of the Disney restaurants. However, you are welcome to serve your baby food purchased elsewhere while you dine. Disney stocks a limited selection of baby food products in the resort gift shops, always Gerber brand. The flavor assortment may vary slightly, but generally you can expect to find [Read more…]
Even MORE Halloween Treats in Disney Parks…
Disney Parks keep treating us to more fun Halloween sweets! Here are a few more we found since our previous Disney Parks Halloween Cupcakes post and More Disney Parks Halloween Treats post:
Disneyland recently introduced this very cool Jack Skellington caramel apple:
I saw these adorable ghost cupcakes in the Main Street Confectionery in Disney World:
Here’s a fun chocolate mousse treat you can get in Disney’s Animal [Read more…]
More Halloween Treats From Disney Parks
In addition to the fun halloween cupcakes we covered last week, here are a few more of the Halloween treats you can find in Disney Parks this year:
From Halloween-sprinkled pretzel rods and marshmallows to chocolate-dipped fudge cookies and pumpkin rice krispie treats, there are always a bunch of fun items to be found in [Read more…]