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Disney Parks

News: Menu Changes Revealed Ahead of Disney Springs Reopening at Ghirardelli, Planet Hollywood, and The BOATHOUSE

Tomorrow will be the first day of the phased reopening of Disney Springs. A number of restaurants and shops owned by third-party vendors will start to welcome guests on May 20th, while select Disney-owned-and-operated locations will open starting May 27th.

Disney Springs Town Center

We know that there will be changes at Disney Springs with regards to new safety measures upon the reopening of Walt Disney World’s shopping and dining district. And as individual locations prepare to reopen, we are also becoming aware of menu modifications we might anticipate at various restaurants, according to changes as spotted on online menus.

Yesterday, we explored menu changes for Wine Bar George, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, Splitsville Luxury Lanes, and Paddlefish. And Frontera Cocina has released a look at the location’s temporary menu upon reopening.

And now, we’re checking out changes we spotted for Planet Hollywood, Ghirardelli, and The BOATHOUSE.

Planet Hollywood

Guests at Planet Hollywood can typically expect to find a HUGE array of items on the menu. For that reason, the menu at Planet Hollywood looks at though it remains fairly extensive.

Planet Hollywood

However, among the removed options, we noticed the following: appetizers including the Hummus Trio, Potato Wedge Dippers, Fried Jumbo Shrimp, and Spinach and Berries have been removed.

Among Entrees that are no longer listed are the Six-Cheese Chicken Macaroni and Cheese, Shrimp Florentine, Turkey Pic A Nic, Fresh Florida Mahi Mahi, the New York Strip Steak for 2, and — a DFB Planet Hollywood pick — the Pimento Grilled Cheese.

Pimento Grilled Cheese

Unavailable side options include the Baked Potato, Fresh Cut Fruit, and House Salad.

And desserts — at least upon the reopening — appear to not include Sticky Toffee Pudding, Key Lime Pie, Planet Meltdown, or the Brownie Sundae Martini.

Planet Meltdown — Melt Commencing

Additionally, Big Dipper Shakes are not currently listed.

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop

Ghirardelli appears to be preparing a highly modified menu for the initial reopening, with the most notable change being the reduced selection of specialty sundaes.

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain

Offerings including the Golden Gate Banana Split, the Treasure Island Warm Brownie Sundae, Strike It Rich Butterscotch, the Marina Raspberry Sorbet Sundae, and the Crissy Fields Cookie Bits Sundae and more are all currently removed from the menu.

Crissy Fields Cookie Bits Sundae

And The Earthquake — a HUGE, made-for-sharing, family-sized sundae made to serve four (similar to the Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream) is also missing from the options.

Earthquake Family Favorite

For Sundaes, the Ocean Beach Sea Salt Caramel Sundae, World Famous Hot Fudge, and Gold Rush Sundae are all still listed. And guests will be able to order up a classic shake in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, or cookies and cream, and a good ol’ scoop or cone of ice cream — single, double, or take on the triple! However, specialty Quake Shakes (such as Sea Salt Caramel and chocolate bar infused-shakes) are not currently listed on the menu; and neither are Ice Cream Floats or Waffle Bowls.

Ghirardelli’s Quake Shake

Specialty coffee beverages (lattes, cappuccinos, and the like), as well as tea varieties have been removed from the selections. And we are not seeing the Decadent Drinking Chocolate on the list.

Ghirardelli Drinking Chocolate

A selection of Ghirardelli chocolate drinks that are still listed include the popular Classic and Sea Salt Caramel Hot Cocoa — and, now that the temperatures are definitely warming up, the still-available Frozen Hot Cocoa will likely be an even more popular option.

The BOATHOUSE

Before we look at changes for The BOATHOUSE, it’s well worth noting that, as a Signature restaurant, the menu at The BOATHOUSE does change with some frequency for seasonal offerings, so change is often the name of the seasonal game here!

The Boathouse

That said, the removals we noticed include the Lobster Cocktail, Broiled Wild-Caught Swordfish Steak, BOATHOUSE BBQ Shrimp & Grits, BOATHOUSE BBQ Bacon Burger, and the FBA State Champion 2017 Pulled Pork Sandwich.

Boathouse’s Dockside Lager at The BOATHOUSE

Also no longer spotted on the menu are the Award-Winning Cherry-Smoked BBQ Chicken, Lobster with Orecchiette Pasta, New England Sea Scallops, and the BOATHOUSE Lobster Clambake.

We ARE excited to see the Shrimp & Andouille Mac & Cheese still on the menu, along with plenty of other favorites at this popular waterfront-dining spot.

Boathouse Andouille Mac and Cheese

We will be following the happenings at Disney Springs all day tomorrow for the reopening, and we hope you’ll join us here.

Will you be following the reopening of Disney Springs? Please let us know with a comment. 

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com

Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney Springs, Featured, Snacks, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, disney springs, disney springs reopening, ghirardelli, May 20th Disney Springs, menu changes, Planet Hollywood, The Boathouse

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Disney Business Disney Financials Disney News

Disney Along with Several Other Major Companies Seek Over $1 Trillion in Relief For Local Aid

Not too long ago, we told you about a Federal Aid plan that included a $25 billion airline rescue package to bail out the hard-hit travel industry due to the country’s recently shut down.

Orlando International Airport

And now Disney along with top industry leaders of several major companies are moving forward with a plan to seek over $1 trillion in government aid.

First reported by CNBC, California Governor Gavin Newsom is asking for more state and local funding along with his task force which includes Disney Executive Chairman(and former Disney CEO) Bob Iger as well as Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos among many others.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge During It’s Dedication Ceremony

The task force sent a letter to Congress last Friday addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. In it, they formally requested an additional $1 trillion in flexible economic relief to be distributed throughout all states.

Closed Lost and Found booth at Disneyland after the parks close due to Coronavirus

The task force says the additional funds could be used for essential resources to trace and prevent the spread of the virus and to assist operations like child services, job training, and small businesses.

Sleeping Beauty Castle

The House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday which included $1 trillion in funding for state and local governments. We’ll continue to follow this developing story and keep you informed of any updates.

Related posts:

  1. ALL the Disney NEWS and REVIEWS This Week: Everything You NEED To Know!
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  3. ALL the Disney NEWS and REVIEWS This Week: Here’s Everything You Gotta Know!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, Featured, News, $1 trillion, bail-out, bob iger, california governor, california task force, Disney, Disney Executive Chairman, gavin newsom, government assistance, walt disney company

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Disney News Disney Parks Other

Going To Disney World in February? Here’s What You Need To Know!

Here’s the info you need to maximize the magic on your February trip to Disney World!

Valentine’s Day Cupcake

By February, many of us are feeling the winter blues. And a Disney World vacation can be the perfect cure! But before you start planning, you need to BE PREPARED — Scar might be a Disney villain, but that’s a solid piece of advice that we’re going to borrow! Here are all the deets you need to know in order to set yourself up for a fabulous February vacay!

Crowds at Disney World in February

In general, the crowds at Disney World in February tend to range from light to moderate. But there are a few holidays and happenings that can cause attendance to spike!

Typically the parks will be busier during President’s Day weekend since lots of guests take advantage of the long weekend for a quick getaway! And with the Epcot International Festival of the Arts running through most of the month (more on that later!), Epcot tends to be busier on the weekends with locals visiting for the festival.

Sunshine Seasons Cupcake

In addition to these more predictable crowd boosters, some schools around the country have Spring Break or Winter Break during February. Since these dates vary by school and change from year-to-year, unfortunately, they’re more difficult to account for while planning. So just be aware that if you’re planning a trip in February, you could run into some early Spring/Winter Break crowds!

Park Hours at Disney World in February

The parks hours throughout the month of February tend to be pretty steady! Most parks will open at either 8AM or 9AM, and close at either 8PM or 9PM.

Hollywood Studios

Magic Kingdom will usually stay open a little later (usually 10PM), but outside of that, Disney World park hours are pretty consistent in February!

Weather at Disney World in February

The temperatures tend to start warming up a little bit this month compared to January, which has the lowest average temps throughout the year! In February, the average high is 75 degrees and the average low is 54 degrees. So, typically the mornings and evenings are chilly, but the afternoons can warm up a bit!

Disney’s Boardwalk

February is also relatively dry — by Disney World standards! There are an average of 4 rainy days throughout the month, which is less frequent than you could expect during the summer months.

How to Pack for Disney World in February

Okay, we just touched on how the temperature can be chilly in the mornings and evenings, but warm up during the afternoon. So that means you’ll want to pack clothes you can layer for your February trip! We suggest bringing a sweatshirt or jacket, gloves, scarf, and hat so you can wear them out in the morning, and store them in your park bag when it starts to warm up!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

And don’t forget those closed-toe shoes! Even if you’re usually a sandals in the park kinda person, the frigid temps in the mornings and evenings can be especially hard on the feet. So make sure you come prepared!

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

If you’re traveling to Disney World in February, there’s a good chance your trip will overlap with the Epcot International Festival of the Arts! The event usually runs through late-February, so if your vacation lands at the end of the month, be sure to check the festival dates and plan your park days accordingly. Trust us, this isn’t an event you want to miss out on if you can help it!

Festival of the Arts Sign

The Festival of the Arts has so much to see and do, including Food Studios, live entertainment, unique merchandise, complimentary seminars, and extra-ticketed workshops!

2020 Pop Eats! Food Studio

We looooove the festival Food Studios because the food is both delicious AND beautiful! Since it is the Festival of the Arts, there’s a huge focus on the presentation of the menu items at each of the booths.

In past years, we’ve seen favorites like the Sushi Donut, Smoked Salmon and Cream Gâteau, and Festival of the Arts Mini-Cake!

Sushi Donut

Festival entertainment includes Performing Arts like the  Disney on Broadway Concert Series, live music, living statues, and more! And the Visual Arts are represented as well! Guests can find Artful Photo Ops, chalk art, and character art throughout the park!

Peter Pan Photo Op

And guests can commemorate their time by picking up some festival merchandise! In addition to classic options like tumblers, clothing, and plushes, you can also purchase work by featured artists located throughout the park!

Festival of the Arts Merchandise

If you want to take your exploration of the arts to another level, check out one of the free seminars or extra-ticketed workshops offered during the event!

Trailblazing Ladies of Disney Animation Complimentary Seminar

Even though it’s the newest addition to the Epcot lineup, the Festival of the Arts is quickly becoming one of our favorite events! It’s definitely worth checking out during your February trip!

Annual Ride Refurbishments

Another thing to consider if you’re planning a February trip — several of the rides and attractions in Disney World will be down for annual refurbishments! This is particularly important if you’re a water ride enthusiast. Both Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom and Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom usually go down for refurbishment in mid-January and remain unavailable until mid to late-March.

Splash Mountain Refurbishment

And you’ll have limited access to the water parks as well! Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach go down for refurbishment in alternating months. So, if you’re traveling in February, only one of them will be open!

Valentine’s Day Treats

If you’re traveling in mid-February, you’ll see a lot of pink, red, and heart-shaped treats! We typically see Valentine’s Day themed snacks available at least a few days before and after the holiday.

Of course, there are plenty of Valentine’s Day Cupcakes available around the parks and resorts! And we’ve spotted some more inventive desserts as well — like the (almost too pretty to eat) Bella Notte Petit Cake at Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs!

Bella Notte Petit Cake

If you’re traveling in February, be sure to keep an eye on menus across Disney World for fun, Valentine’s Day menu options! For instance, in the past, Kona Cafe at Disney World’s Polynesian Village Resort has offered Red Velvet Pancakes with Cream Cheese Topping as a limited-time offering!

Red Velvet Breakfast Special

And there are plenty of places in Disney World to have a date night! Several locations in Disney Springs offer Valentine’s Day specials and menus for a romantic night out on the town! So if you find yourself in Disney World with your Valentine, you can have a Bella Notte, indeed.

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World in February, you have a lot to be excited about! The (usually) manageable crowd levels, super-fun Epcot Festival of the Arts, and delicious Valentine’s Day treats can make Disney World even more awesome! Just be sure to prepare yourself for the ride refurbishments and potentially chilly temps and you’ll be in for a magical vacay!

Are you planning a trip to Disney World in February? Let us know in the comments!

Related posts:

  1. Going to Disney World in January? Here’s What You Need To Know!
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  3. Going to Disney World in December? Here’s What You Need To Know.

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney parks, Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, 2020 Epcot Festival of the Arts, 2020 Epcot International Festival of the Arts, attraction refurbishments, Blizzard Beach, Blizzard Beach Refurbishment, closed typhoon lagoon, crowd levels, disney valentine’s day treats, disney world crowd levels, Disney World crowds, disney world park hours, disney world planning, disney world planning tips, disney world valentine’s day, Disney World weather, disney’s typhoon lagoon, kali river rapids, ride refurbish, splash mountain, Splash Mountain Closure, valentine’s day menus, valentine’s day menus at disney world, valentine’s day specials, walt disney world planning, weather

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Disney News Disney Parks

NEWS: Pandora Jewelry, Chapel Hats, Columbia Sportswear and MORE Join List of Disney Springs Shops Reopening on May 20th

Disney Springs will begin a phased reopening tomorrow, May 20th. We have been keeping readers informed of all the restaurants and shops that will reopen in Walt Disney World’s shopping and dining district starting tomorrow.

Disney Springs

As a reminder, Disney-owned and operated locations will begin opening on May 27th, while the initial phase that begins tomorrow will involve third-party vendors. And today we are adding several retail locations to the list of shops that will reopen tomorrow.

The following locations have been added to the list of spots reopening tomorrow on the Disney Springs website.

Town Center

The Disney Springs Town Center is host to a wide array of retail locations.

Disney Springs Town Center

Columbia Sportswear, Edward Beiner Purveyor of Fine Eyewear, Lucky Brand, Luxury of Time by Diamonds International, Pandora Jewelry, Sugarboo & Co., UGG, UNOde50, Volcom, Vera Bradley, and Zara are all among the spots reopening tomorrow in the Town Center of Disney Springs.

The Landing

Chapel Hats, Royally Yours by Arribas Brothers, Sanuk, and Savannah Bee Company will be welcoming guests tomorrow.

The Landing

These locations are all found in The Landing in Disney Springs.

Marketplace

In the Marketplace, the Happy Hound kiosk joins the list of locations reopening on May 20th.

Marketplace Co-op

As a reminder, the Marketplace Co-op (pictured above) will be reopening as part of the Disney-owned locations that will begin reopening on May 27th.

West Side

On the West Side, guests will find Sosa Family Cigars reopen.

Disney Springs West Side

These locations will join other previously announced shops which you can find here.

Disney has also provided information about the measures that will be implemented upon reopening for the safety of all guests and cast members. These protocols include temperature checks, capacity limits, and more, and you can read about those in detail here.

To learn more about the current status of Disney Resorts and parks around the world, you can visit any of the links below.

Are you following the reopening of Disney Springs? Please let us know with a comment.

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, disney springs, Disney Springs Marketplace, disney springs reopening, Disney Springs Town Center, Disney Springs West Side, may 20th, The Landing

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Other

How Meeting Mickey Mouse at Disney World is COMPLETELY Different Than It Used To Be!

Is there anything more quintessential on a Disney World trip than meeting Mickey Mouse? We’ll make the executive call: No, no there isn’t. ?

general

Mickey Mouse

You’ve been able to meet Mickey since the very earliest days of Disney World and it’s a tradition that will likely stand the test of time for years to come. Still, meeting Mickey used to be a VERY different experience. Scoring that hug from the Mouse has changed a lot over the years. Now, you’ll have some decisions to make if you want to schmooze with the Big Cheese.

Characters used to be free-roaming (believe it or not)!

Back in the opening months of Magic Kingdom, Disney characters used to roam the parks freely. Nowadays, seeing Mickey take a stroll down Main Street, U.S.A. might cause some serious traffic jams!

Still, characters remain somewhat free-roaming over in Disneyland, but Disney World characters are a little more (ok a LOT more) scheduled.

Meeting characters back in the day was a free-for-all!

To meet Mickey in Disney World today, you’ll need to head to an existing meet and greet location in the parks, or schedule a character meal. The good side of this is that these meetings are a lot more controlled than free-roaming. You can guarantee that precious face-to-face time with Mickey without having other guests clamoring for his attention too! On the other hand, you will have to pay for your experience — either with your time or money!

Now, meeting Mickey is a lot less random AND a lot less “free.”

If you’re looking to meet Mickey in present day, you have some options. You can choose to wait in a LONG line to meet the Mouse, spend one of your daily FastPasses, or book a character meal.

Meeting Mickey at a Meet and Greet

Let’s talk option one — meeting the Mouse in a meet and greet format. There is a Mickey meet and greet in every Disney World park. He meets at Town Square Theater in Magic Kingdom, in the theater in the Imagination Pavilion in Epcot, Adventurer’s Outpost in Animal Kingdom, and Mickey and Minnie Starring in Red Carpet Dreams in Hollywood Studios.

Mickey Meet and Greet

The meet and greets are free (with your park ticket, of course) but wait times can be over an hour and even spike above 90 minutes long at times. Whew! That’s a big chunk of your park day for a quick hug and a picture! So even though you’re not spending any extra cash, you’ll still “pay” with your time when you go the standby route!

Alternatively, you can snag a FastPass for the Mickey meet and greets in Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Just remember there’s currently no Fastpass option for the Epcot or Hollywood Studios meet and greets.

Mickey Meet and Greet

In this instance, you’ll be “paying” with one of your FastPasses. Since Magic Kingdom doesn’t have a tier system, you’ll be using up one of three potentially better-used FastPasses for a chance to briefly meet Mickey. This could work for you if meeting Mickey is a MUST for your family, but it could mean having to wait a couple of hours for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, or any other ride you gave up using that FastPass on.

In Animal Kingdom, the Adventurer’s Outpost is a Tier 2 Fastpass so you’ll be passing up on a Fastpass for Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Dinosaur, or another popular attraction. But still, using your Fastpass in Animal Kingdom might be a better move than using one in Magic Kingdom since you can usually spot shorter waits for the Tier 2 attractions in this park.

Mickey Mouse

Whichever way you choose to handle your Mickey meet and greet, you’ll be spending coveted park time or FastPasses, so be wary!

Meeting Mickey at Character Dining

Instead, you could opt to spend your money and go the character dining route. Mickey meets at Chef Mickey’s in Disney’s Contemporary Resort, ‘Ohana breakfast in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Tusker House in Animal Kingdom, Topolino’s Terrace breakfast in Disney’s Riviera Resort, Garden Grill in Epcot, and a few other locations. Click here to check em all out!

Farmer Mickey

This option is great because you’re GUARANTEED time with Mickey AND other characters, a cute pic, and NO WAIT. Plus, you get to chow down while you’re at it. For us, food is always a plus. ?

On the other side of things, character dining tends to be expensive and a lot of times you might only get a quick hug and a pic before Mickey has to move on to another table.

Topolino’s Terrace Breakfast a la Art Characters

Plus in this case, you’re paying for the experience ON TOP of a park ticket (unless you dine in one of the resort restaurants where he meets). That can get pretty pricy! But hey, you gotta eat, right? So if you can factor into your budget a character meal, this is a great way to meet Mickey (and more!).

Meeting Mickey at Hard-Ticketed Events

There’s a third option to meeting Mickey as well, although this one is under special circumstances. Some of the After Hours events in the parks feature Mickey. Mickey met guests at the Hollywood Studios After Hours, the Animal Kingdom After Hours, and the Magic Kingdom After Hours (NOT Villains!) plus Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in the past.

Mickey Mouse

If you’re headed to one of these events make sure to check in advance whether or not Mickey will be there! Remember though, this one is probably going to cost you just as much, if not MORE than the other options. You’ll be paying to attend the hard-ticketed event AND you’ll have to wait in line once you get there. So this one is a combo of money and time. Still, it’s important to note that it’s an option if you ARE planning to get your party on.

So, what’s the best way to meet your favorite character?

These tips don’t ONLY apply to Mickey. You’ll pay with money, fastpasses, or park time to meet other members of the Sensational Six, the Seven Dwarfs (you can meet a couple at Storybook Dining at Artist Point or the whole gang at the Halloween and Christmas parties), Winnie the Pooh and friends (at some character meals or the holiday parties), and the Princesses too!

Wait Time to meet Anna and Elsa

That leaves us wondering, what’s the best way to meet your favorite character? Well, that depends on your family and your needs!

Wait in line for a meet and greet if…

  • You don’t mind taking the time to wait.
  • You’re willing to head to the park right when it opens or stay until it closes to get the shortest lines.
  • You’re really hoping to use those FastPasses for other attractions.

Get a FastPass to meet your favorite character if…

  • FastPass is an option for their meet and greet.
  • Meeting your fave character is a must.
  • You’re not bothered by losing out on other FastPasses.
  • You see a day-of FastPass for the meet and greet when you’re in the park.

Head to a character meal if…

  • You want to meet a bunch of characters all at once.
  • You really don’t want to wait in line.
  • You don’t mind spending the extra money for the experience.

Meet your favorite character at a hard-ticketed event if…

  • You’re looking to meet your chosen character in a special, seasonal outfit.
  • You’re hoping to meet a rare Disney character (like Jack and Sally at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party).
  • You’re already heading to a party and you’re looking to meet Mickey (or anyone else!) while you live it up!

So there you have it! We’ve laid out all the different ways that you can meet Mickey nowadays so that you can pick what’s best for YOUR trip!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, Contemporary Resort, Disney Entertainment, Disney News, disney parks, disney resorts, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Polynesian Resort, Riviera Resort, Walt Disney World, ‘Ohana, After Hours, after-hours event, Chef Mickey’s, Garden Grill, Hollywood and Vine, Mickey Character Meal, mickey meet and greet, Mickey Mouse, Mickey Mouse Character Meal, Mickey Mouse Meet and Greet, Minnie’s Seasonal Hollywood and Vine Lunch and Dinner, Topolino’s Terrace, Tusker House