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Disney News Disney Parks Other

The NBA Discusses Latest Possible Play Off Dates and Hotel Arrangements in Disney World

With sports still on pause, the NBA is looking to Disney World as a potential site for finishing the season.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Earlier this week, we reported that the NBA is set to vote on resuming their season at Disney World this Thursday, and more details have emerged in the meantime. If this happens, the games would resume at the ESPN Wide World of Sports and players would stay on Disney property, potentially at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Let’s take a look at proposed dates and lodging arrangements for the NBA playoffs!

According to ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA is currently working on a model for what the end of the season would look like in Disney World — including dates. In talks right now, it is proposed that the resumption of the games in Orlando would begin July 31st and run through as late as October 12th.

NBA Experience

It is unclear how late summer and early fall in Disney World would be affected by the presence of the playoffs and the players. It’s possible that it would just mean the closure of one hotel and the ESPN sports complex to the public.

On the other hand, reporter Scott Gustin shared an ESPN report that suggests players may not be confined to a single resort. The report says, “Playoff teams, in order of seeding 1-16, receive first choice on picking which hotel they will stay at in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and Disney World Resort. ”

NBA Experience Trophy

Perhaps Disney and the NBA are considering splitting the teams into different hotels, but it is as of yet unclear. We will have more details about the plan in the next few days and we’ll be sure to share as soon as the NBA and Disney announce the decision!

Click here to learn more about the potential use of Coronado Springs for the NBA!

What do you think of the new NBA news? Tell us in the comments!

Related posts:

  1. Could Walt Disney World Provide the Perfect Place for the NBA to Finish Its Season Right Now?
  2. NBA Could Resume Practices Soon And Other Important Details Discussed at Today’s Florida Orange County Task Force Meetings
  3. Disney World is the Reported Frontrunner to Host the Rest of the NBA Season

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, disney resorts, Featured, Walt Disney World, Disney World, ESPN Wide World of Sports, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, NBA, NBA Disney World, NBA Playoffs, NBA Season

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Disney Parks Disney Vacations Other

Could We See a Change in Disney World’s Refillable Mug Policy When Resorts Reopen?

There are a LOT of changes coming to Disney World as it reopens, and we’re trying to wrap our heads around all of them.

Disney World Refillable Mug

Of course, Disney has talked us through some of the changes that we can expect, but a lot still feels up in the air.

While we’re hearing lots of BIG news, we’re wondering if we’ll see some changes to smaller pieces of our Disney vacation. We’re REALLY wondering about those Refillable Mugs; let’s take a look at what could change!

Disney’s Current Refillable Mug Policy

First, let’s go through a reminder of Disney’s current refillable mug policy. Prior to the closures, guests were able to purchase specific souvenir RFID enabled mugs that would entitle them to unlimited free refills on fountain drinks, coffee, and tea from self-service beverage locations at Disney resorts for the length of their stay.

Grab and Go and Refillable Mugs for Purchase

Guests on the Disney Dining Plan each receive a mug as part of their dining plan. Guests who receive mugs as part of the Dining Plan can have their mugs refilled for the length of stay as well.

Refillable Resort Mugs

These purchase and refill locations are located in food courts, quick service locations, and pool bars at all Disney World resorts. Cast Members at the front desk can always inform you of refill locations around your resort.

Click here to learn more about the refillable mug program! 

What could change?

As you can imagine, these refillable mugs might not be the best thing for limiting touchpoints and keeping the new cleanliness and sanitation standards we’ll see when the parks and resorts reopen. Perhaps, we will see some changes with this policy!

Resort Refillable Mug

For one, self-service might not be a thing anymore. In the already-reopened Disney Springs, employees were usually the ones who filled cups up for customers at locations that previously had self-serve beverages. In this case, there may be no change except that Cast Members will take your refillable mug and fill it for you to reduce contact with the machines.

Another potential solution has already been put to use at Wine Bar George in Disney Springs. The Basket at Wine Bar George typically has a refillable program with Corkcicle cups where you can get discounted refills on their frozen drinks. Now when you order, an employee gets you your refill in a plastic cup that you can then pour into your Corkcicle if you like.

Full Refillable Resort Mug display

If this is the case, we may see the free refills applied with possession of a refillable mug, but not IN your refillable mug. Disney could have Cast Members get your refill in a standard, disposable soda cup.

New Corkcicle Procedure

Another possibility of handling the refillable mug conundrum could be that the system will disappear altogether for a little while. Starbucks typically offers a reuseable mug discount but right now they are NOT serving in those mugs, even though they are still on sale. If Disney follows this model for the resorts, we may see a suspension of the refillable mug program temporarily.

Refillable Mug Station

It certainly will be interesting to see how Disney handles this aspect of reopening. We’ll be sure to keep an eye out for updates on refillable mugs and everything else, so stay tuned in to DFB for the latest news!

Click here to learn about the current Corkcicle process at Wine Bar George!

Do you have a Disney World refillable mug? Share your thoughts and concerns in the comments!

Related posts:

  1. What Will Happen if You Refuse To Wear A Mask In Disney World?
  2. NEWS: Disney World’s NEWEST Resort Refillable MUG Is HERE! (And It’s Giving Us A New Hope!)
  3. Why Disney World Could Be Very DIFFERENT When It Reopens

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney parks, disney resorts, Featured, Walt Disney World, disney refillable mug, Disney Refillable Mug Program, disney refillable mugs, Disney World, Disney World reopening, health and safety measures, refillable mug

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Disney News Disney Parks Disney Vacations Other

NEWS! Disneyland Resort Pushes Back Date For First Available Hotel Reservations to Mid-July

With Disney World’s theme park reopening set for July 11th, we’ve been looking out for some updates on the status of Disneyland Resort.

The Disneyland Hotel

Up until this point, Disneyland Resort has only been taking new reservations for July 1st and later, but today, they have pushed that date back. Now, Disneyland has pushed that date back.

New reservations for Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel are currently only available for dates July 15th and later. The resort has pushed the earliest reservation date back 15 days from the previous July 1st date.

Disneyland Site Screenshot

Disney World was also recently accepting reservations starting July 1st until it was announced that the parks would not be opening until later in the month. Now, reservations and ticket sales are completely on hold so that Disney World can accommodate those who already had reservations.

Disneyland’s Grand Californian

Not much is known about the reopening of Disneyland at this point but we will be sure to keep you updated as news arises.

Click here to learn about the theme park reopening plan for Disney World!

Do you have reservations for early July? Wondering what will happen next? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Related posts:

  1. 6 Questions and ANSWERS About The New Disneyland Annual Pass Fee Waivers and Extensions!
  2. NEWS: Disneyland Extends Offer for Guests Affected By the Closures Through July
  3. 2020 Disneyland Hotel Packages Are NOW Available for Booking!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney california adventure, Disney News, disney parks, disney resorts, Disneyland, Disneyland Hotel, Disneyland Resort, Featured, Grand Californian Resort, Paradise Pier Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, disney’s paradise pier hotel, Disneyland Resort Hotels

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Disney Food Disney Parks Other

Review and Food Photos: Breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe in Disney World’s Wilderness Lodge

Whispering Canyon Cafe is a casual table service restaurant located just off the lobby at Walt Disney World’s Wilderness Lodge, and it’s known for its antics that are decidedly not whispering. But you might recall that a couple of years ago the Canyon reportedly grew quieter — check out the changes here!

Whispering Canyon Cafe

I revisited after the changes were made and found the restaurant’s energy to be a shadow of its former self (click here to find out why!) But since then, Whispering Canyon Cafe introduced new skillets, so we’re back again!

Atmosphere

A fixture of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Whispering Canyon Cafe is a massive restaurant known for the antics of the servers who are your fellow pioneers.

Whispering Canyon Cafe

And as mentioned before, the antics have been toned down a bit in order to keep the rowdiness from spilling out into the lobby of the hotel, but the servers are definitely still a bit irreverent! Think about the servers at 50’s Prime Time Cafe, if you’ve been.

Wilderness Lodge Holiday Decor

Despite the toned-down antics, this restaurant definitely still has a personality all its own. And you’re still likely to end up with a super-large drink or a dozen bottles of ketchup if your server senses you’re in need of a little something extra!

Whispering Canyon Cafe

Eats

I’m here for breakfast to see how the most important meal of the day stacks up!

Breakfast Menu at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe offers a variety of eats to please just about everyone in your group, from carnivores to vegetarians. Cocktails and specialty beverages are identified at the top of the menu for those on Disney Dining Plan who receive a complimentary drink (and those not on the plan who’d still like to imbibe!).

Breakfast Menu at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Meat-lovers are up first with one of the restaurant’s All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Signature Skillets: The Carnivore. This skillet includes House-Smoked Ham, Oak-Smoked Beef Brisket, Hickory-Smoked Bacon, Pork Sausage Links, Scrambled Eggs, and House-Made Buttermilk-Cheddar Biscuits with Sausage Gravy.

With the exception of the biscuit, this is a decent option for those following a keto diet. And everything is pretty good. If you like to start your day heavy on the protein, this is a good choice!

The Carnivore All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Skillet

There are two Benedicts on the menu, including the Traditional Eggs Benedict which consists of two Poached Eggs atop a House-Made Buttermilk-Cheddar Biscuit with House-Smoked Ham, Hollandaise Sauce, and a side of Country Potatoes. This is fine, if uninspired.

Traditional Eggs Benedict

The Vegetable Eggs Benedict is a good option, too. It consists of two Poached Eggs atop a House-Made Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuit with Tomato, Smashed Avocado, Cilantro-Lime Hollandaise Sauce, and a side of Fresh Fruit.

The flavors are good here, with the fresh avocado and the Cilantro-Lime Hollandaise offer a bit of a welcome twist. The side of fruit…is mostly melon, so be forewarned. You might want to swap out for the potatoes!

Vegetable Eggs Benedict

Traditional breakfast items include pancakes — called Flapjacks on the menu! These come with Bourbon-Maple Syrup (ask for straight maple if you prefer) and a choice of Hickory-Smoked Bacon, Pork Sausage Link, or Fruit. These were fine but definitely a bit pricy for what you get at $14.

Flapjacks

The Belgian Waffle comes with Fresh Berries and a side of bacon or sausage. No Mickey-shaped waffle for the grown-ups; but if you’re really craving a Mickey waffle for breakfast, you’ll find some on the kids’ menu! (Remember when they had those cute pinecone-shaped waffles way back in the day? Memories!)

We found the Belgian waffle to be nice and crisp, and it was a solid option for breakfast.

Belgian Waffle

The Bircher Muesli (Swiss Oatmeal) comes with Fresh Fruit, and Yogurt. This is a great choice for those looking to fill up without getting weighed down.

Steel-Cut Oatmeal

And the antics? They were so/so again. We received the extra-large soda after finishing a normal-size drink quickly, and there were ketchup deliveries, too.

Giant Soda!

We still feel like the carefree fun of the old days is subdued somewhat, but if you haven’t been to Whispering Canyon Cafe, you’ll likely still get a kick out of its current level of irreverence!

Note that the kids’ hobby horse races DO still happen.

Nosh or Not?

Whispering Canyon Cafe may be right for you if:

  • You’re looking for an option that will really fill you up — the all you can eat skillets can help you out there!
  • You want to experience the restaurant’s notoriously fun antics.
  • High protein meals are your jam — again The Carnivore Skillet will do the trick!
  • You want to take a break from the Magic Kingdom for a meal without traveling too far away. Wilderness Lodge is only a quick boat (or bus) ride away!

You may want to skip Whispering Canyon Cafe if:

  • A loud, rowdy dining atmosphere is not your thing.
  • You’re looking for super unique or inventive menu items.
  • It’s date night or another special occasion — the antics are fun, but they don’t make for the most romantic experience!

Overall

The meal and experience were fine overall — not the best meal we’ve had on property, but still filling with some tasty menu items! The skillets are a great option if you’re looking to really fill up, but in general, the food feels pretty standard rather than memorable. We’ve also had some issues with service at WCC recently. It seems like the restaurant is chronically understaffed, and so that can mean very long waits if you need anything extra at your table.

We used to be much larger proponents of this restaurant, but having been several times at the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020, things have definitely been slipping. With so-so food, meh-to-bad service, and the restaurant just not really hitting the mark atmosphere-wise any longer…it’s probably not a must-do unless you’re staying at Wilderness Lodge.

Check out these NEW menu items that recently made their way to Whispering Canyon Cafe!

Have you had breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe? Let us know what you thought in the comments!

Related posts:

  1. Review and Food Photos: Whispering Canyon Cafe Dinner at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge!
  2. Book Brunch at Disney World’s Grand Floridian Cafe Right Now. You’re Welcome.
  3. Review: Breakfast at Wilderness Lodge’s Roaring Fork…And Some Seriously Amazing Chicken and Waffles

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney resorts, Featured, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, Wilderness Lodge, belgian-style waffle, disney healthy, disney keto, disney oatmeal, disney resort, disney vegetarian, Disney World, disney world resort, disney’s wilderness lodge, Eggs Benedict, flapjack, keto, muesli, steel cut oatmeal, table service vegetarian, vegetarian eggs benedict, Whispering Canyon Cafe

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Disney Food Disney Parks Disney Recipes Other

Disney Recipe: Send Your Tastebuds to the Tropics With Disneyland’s Hawaiian Cheeseburger Recipe!

Oh, Disneyland Resort, what great food you have!!

While we totally have been craving some churros and all the snacks that Disneyland has to offer, we’ve got a way to take a trip to the parks straight from your kitchen!

Tangaroa Terrace is a great spot to chill out before hitting up the pool at the Disneyland Hotel. And, you can get grilling with you family this weekend by making Tangaroa Terrace’s famous Hawaiian Cheeseburgers (they’re just as good as they sound)!

Hawaiian Cheeseburger

Yup, our stomachs are already growling!! So, let’s get cooking and grilling with this Hawaiian Cheeseburger recipe from Disneyland!

Ingredients:

You’ll need several ingredients to make the different parts of the Hawaiian Cheeseburger! First, you need to make the Slaw Dressing Green Papaya Slaw, Teriyaki Sauce, and Burgers separately before putting them all together to make one of the most tropical sandwiches around!

Ingredients Part One ©Disney

Ingredients Part Two ©Disney

Do you have everything ready to go? Let’s start mixing!

Recipe:

Start by making the Slaw Dressing before mixing it in to your Green Papaya Slaw 30 minutes before serving.

©Disney

The Teriyaki Sauce brings that smoky and sweet flavor to the burger that is just SO good, we could eat three whole cheeseburgers just for the sauce!

©Disney

After you’ve mixed up all your sauces and toppings, you’ll want to cook some bacon and pineapples before grilling your meat.

©Disney

Then, you can stack your burger high and snack on your AWESOME Disney recipe masterpiece!! If you’re looking for a way to treat yourself this week, the Hawaiian Cheeseburger is definitely the way to do it.

Find out how you can build your own DIY tropical tiki hideaway to complete your evening!

What is your favorite thing to get at the Tangaroa Terrace in Disneyland? Let us know in the comments below!

Related posts:

  1. Disney Recipe: Make Disneyland Hotel’s Famous Eggs Benedict from Your Kitchen!
  2. Become a Disney Chef With These Iconic Breakfasts You Can Make at Home!
  3. Disney Recipe: Add a Little Sugar and Spice to Your Morning with Disneyland’s Pumpkin Muffins!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, disney dining tips, Disney Entertainment, Disney News, disney parks, disney resorts, Disneyland Column, Disneyland Hotel, Disneyland Resort, Featured, Recipe, Snacks, Disney, disney burgers, disney dining, disney food, Disney recipe, disney restaurants, disney snacks, Disneyland, hawaiian burger, tangaroa terrace, Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar and Grill