Categories
Disney Parks

Aerophile Characters in Flight reopens in Disney Springs

Characters in Flight

Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s the Characters in Flight hot air balloon! The Disney Springs hot air balloon has officially reopened for guests.

Aerophile’s Characters in Flight is a landmark attraction located at the west side of Disney Springs. The tethered hot air balloon flight takes guests up to 400 ft in the air. Depending upon the weather, you can see up to 10 miles away with the stunning views provided by the flight above Disney Springs.

It’s an 8-minute long ride aboard a tethered hot air balloon. The ride is quite fun for guests looking to try a unique experience at Walt Disney World Resort. We enjoy the waterfront views and ambiance of the attraction. It’s an easy journey into the sky for guests of all ages to enjoy. The attraction is weather dependent, so it won’t operate if there’s strings winds and excessive rain storms.

Tickets can be purchased at the attraction location on a first-come, first-served basis. Pricing:

  • $20 for adults (ages 10 and older)
  • $15 for children (ages 3 to 9)

If you rode the Characters in Flight hot air balloon in the past, then tell us your thoughts of the experience in the comments section!

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Disney Springs, Walt Disney World, Aerophile, Characters in Flight, hot air balloon ride, Hot Air Balloon

Categories
Disney Food Disney Parks

5 SUPER Expensive Disney World Snacks That Are Totally Worth the Bread!

Hey, everybody! We’re feeling EXTRA fancy today which can only mean one thing!

It’s Mickey!

It’s time to fork over some money on our top five favorite high-dollar snacks at Disney World! Don’t worry — most of these pricier Disney World treats barely top out at ten bucks, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still super-indulgent!

Be forewarned — if you’re on a Disney Dining Plan, NONE of these goodies will be an option for you to use your snack credits on (click here to see some that ARE!). Of course, you can still enjoy ALL of these extravagant treats — you’ll just have to pay for them out of pocket instead! Time to get rollin’!

Spring Rolls at the Spring Roll Cart in Adventureland

Our first stop is one of our most beloved places to visit at Magic Kingdom, especially earlier in the day! That’s when Adventureland’s Spring Roll Cart is still well-stocked and usually has the best selection of delicious spring rolls flavors before they begin to sell out!

Spring Roll Cart

Yes, sadly the secret is out about the Spring Roll Cart and once a flavor is gone, it typically isn’t replenished until the next day. But here’s the real kicker — you get two hefty-sized spring rolls for $7.50 — that means each spring rolls is $3.75 a piece!

Spring Roll Cart’s Menu

Oh, but it’s soooo mouth-wateringly worth it! With flavors like Pepperoni Pizza, Philly Cheesesteak, Rueben, Cuban, and Cheeseburger, you can enjoy a new spring roll flavor every time you swing by!

Pepperoni Pizza Spring Roll

If there’s one snack in Magic Kingdom worth shelling out your hard-earned dough for, this might be it! These little rolls of deliciousness have yet to disappoint us!!

Read our review of the Pepperoni Pizza Spring Roll here!

Colossal Pretzel at Pongu Pongu

Most of us have seen the Colossal Cinnamon Roll lurking in the jungle at Disney’s Animal Kingdom before, but did you know they also have a Colossal Pretzel?!? This park is absolutely WILD about its colossal-sized snacks!

Colossal Pretzel

Sadly, the Colossal Pretzel isn’t shaped like Mickey’s head like his brother the Colossal Cinnamon Roll but it IS almost the size of OUR head! Better yet, Pongu Pongu serves the Colossal Pretzel with a generous helping of creamy, rich Beer Cheese Sauce! There isn’t anything in our lives that isn’t enhanced with melty liquid BEER CHEESE!

Colossal Pretzel with Beer Cheese

Note that this guy isn’t available all day — if you swing by first thing in the morning while they’re still serving breakfast they may not be ready yet, so shoot to grab one around lunchtime or later. This thing is massively sharable (but you totes don’t have to!) and seriously one of the best pretzels we’ve ever had at Disney World. You’re looking at a total cost of $10.49 for this Bavarian-style bad boy!

Read more about the Colossal Pretzel at Pandora HERE!

California Cheese and Charcuterie Plate at BaseLine Tap House

We didn’t know what to think when this trendy, quasi-industrial lounge replaced our sweet little Writer’s Stop a few years ago (much to our relief the Carrot Cake Cookie was spared and is now available at Trolley Car Cafe!).

BaseLine Tap House

But in all honesty, BaseLine Tap House has become one of our new favorite hangouts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! And judging by how there’s rarely a seat available on its huge outdoor patio these days, it appears a lot of folks feel the same way.

BaseLine Tap House

If you love a good cheese board, you’d be hard-pressed to find one better than BaseLine’s! Theirs includes Toma Farmstead Cheese, Point Reyes Original Blue Cheese, Laura Chenel’s Sonoma Goat Cheese, Chorizo and Calabrese Salami, Cornichons, Grapes, and Toasted Baguette, all for $10!

Charcuterie Board

We happen to think it pairs great with a beer flight for $12! You get to sample four Californian craft beers. Might as well as throw in one of their Bavarian Pretzels for $9, too (here we go again with the cheese sauce!?).

Beer Flight and Bavarian Pretzel

You can have yourself a cheese and bread feast at BaseLine — if you’ve got the DOUGH!

Read our full review of Baseline Tap House’s sips and eats HERE!

Empanadas de Barbacoa at Choza de Margarita 

Now we’re heading over to Epcot’s World Showcase to enjoy some of Choza de Margarita’s delicious Empanadas de Barbacoa! These fried doughy delights are filled with shredded Barbacoa Beef and topped with Chipotle Sauce, Crema Mexicana, and Queso Fresco! It even comes with a side of Corn Esquites dusted with some chili-lime salt! YUMMY!

Empanada de Barbacoa

For $10.50, it’s more in the price range of an affordable meal at Disney World, but we don’t mind the upcharge when confronted with this much deliciousness! Just be careful — they go down REALLY fast! Especially if you’re enjoying them with one of Choza de Margarita’s signature cocktails such as the Smoky Pineapple for $15.50 made with Mezcal Ilegal Blanco, Pineapple-Ginger Juice, Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur and a Tajin Chile-Lime Powdered Rim or their super-colorful Fiesta Marg for $12.75!

Fiesta Margarita

Learn more about the Fiesta Marg at Choza de Margarita here!

We’ve been known to get a little carried away and have to cough up another $10.50 for another round of Empanadas because we ate the first batch so quickly! Whoops!

Check out some of the other menu offerings to pair with the Empanadas at Choza de Margarita here!

Beef Brisket Poutine at Refreshment Port

Our last stop brings us to Refreshment Port which is also located in Epcot. Here is where you’ll find the Beef Brisket Poutine for $9.50!

Beef Brisket Poutine

 What’s not to love about crispy golden-brown Fries covered in pulled brisket, smothered in a bath of Beer Cheese Sauce, and topped with Crispy Onions? Of course, if you’re a Poutine Purist, you can get the Traditional Poutine for $7.50 which comes with French Fries, Beef Gravy, and Cheese Curds!

Traditional Poutine

Occasionally, you’ll even find a new Poutine moonlighting at Refreshment Port like this Duck Confit Poutine they rolled out at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival last year. We sure hope it quacks its way back to this year’s fest! 

Duck Confit Poutine

Of course, Disney World is home to several equally-stellar Poutines which you can read more about here! There’s no shortage of french fries covered with goodies in Disney World!

Read about the Duck Confit Poutine Refreshment Port recently had here!

Now that we got you thinking about some epic higher-end snacks, it’s time to start saving up! Lucky for you, most of these treats won’t break the bank TOO badly! ?

Check out 10 insanely expensive things you CAN DO at Disney World here!

Which of these more expensive snacks are you the most excited about? Let us know in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, Counter-Service, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Snacks, Walt Disney World, Adventureland Spring Roll Cart, Baseline Tap House, beef brisket poutine, Charcuterie Board, Cheese Board, Cheeseburger Spring Rolls, Choza de Margarita, colossal pretzel, Cuban Spring Roll, Disney World, Duck Confit Poutine, Empanada de Barbacoa, fiesta marg, high dollar, most expensive snacks, not snack credit elligible, pepperoni pizza spring roll, Philly Cheesesteak Spring Rolls, Pongu Pongu, Poutine, refreshment port, traditional poutine

Categories
Disney News Disney Parks

New Staggered Opening and Closing Times for Park Hours at WDW

With the announcement of the reopening plans for Walt Disney World yesterday, a variety of changes were mentioned that were expected: masks, hand washing stations, and so on. Even the predicted reservation system and reduced crowd levels were mentioned. What wasn’t mentioned, but was updated on Disney’s park hours web site last night, were the changes in park hours.

Here’s the updated schedule currently on the Walt Disney World web site:

Magic Kingdom

  • Magic Kingdom will be open, starting July 11, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Morning Extra Magic Hours are listed on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and Evening Extra Magic hours are listed on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Select dates also have the hard ticket Early Morning Magic in Fantasyland event from 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m., although this may change.
  • There will be no parades or fireworks.

Epcot

  • Epcot will be open, starting July 15, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (This will be a fixed time for all of Epcot instead of staggered opening hours for Future World and World Showcase.)
  • Morning Extra Magic Hours are listed on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Evening Extra Magic hours are listed on Tuesdays from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
  • There will be no nighttime fireworks show.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open, starting July 15, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Morning Extra Magic Hours are not listed for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Evening Extra Magic Hours are listed on Sundays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • There are no parades or “fireworks and nighttime spectacular” (including Fantasmic!)  shows listed.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open, starting July 11, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Morning Extra Magic Hours are listed on Mondays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Evening Extra Magic Hours are not listed for Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
  • There are no nighttime showings of Rivers of Light listed.

Disney Springs

Disney Springs will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. In all likelihood, by the time the theme parks reopen, we would expect all businesses at Disney Springs to have reopened.

Disney’s Water Parks

As of today, hours are listed for Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach starting on June 11. Both parks are listed as open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and there are still mentions of H2O Glow Nights for Typhoon Lagoon on select nights. Disney had not made any sort of announcement about the reopening of the water parks, and this was not included in their presentation to the Orange County board yesterday. It is possible Disney will make another request for reopening shortly, or it could be that those hours will disappear off of the web site in the future. We’ll have to wait and see.

Why the Change?

Although Disney has not given insight into their reasons for the changes in hours, it is likely for logistical reasons regarding bus transportation at the resorts.

  • To allow for less crowded buses, you’ll need to run more buses for a park’s opening and closing time peaks. Staggering opening hours means that you can have the same number of buses show up at a resort to pick people up, but they will be able to go to the same location instead of servicing all four theme parks for the same morning opening time.
  • Staggering opening and closing times may also permit buses to be taken out of rotation for additional cleaning and sanitizing.
  • For park openings, you will need additional room for people to line up, with appropriate distancing, in queues to get on the buses. Having the surge of people come at staggered times will allow for increased room to spread out the lines for the buses.
  • For park closings, staggering the times means you can send additional buses to a theme park to try and clear the rush faster to try and avoid quite as many people standing in lengthy queues.

Are These Shorter Hours 100% Certain?

It’s Disney–nothing is 100% certain. It is possible that, as procedures play out with the reopening of the parks, hours could be adjusted. Should hours change, we will keep you updated. In the meantime, more than ever, if you plan a vacation to Walt Disney World this summer, remember to pack your patience.

What do you think of these reduced hours? Would they make you less likely to vacation to Walt Disney World this summer, or are you excited to have “sleep in” days automatically built into your schedule? Let us know in the comments.

The post New Staggered Opening and Closing Times for Park Hours at WDW appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), coronavirus, walt disney world

Categories
Disney Parks Other

Going to Disney World in March? Here’s What You Need To Know.

Planning a trip to Disney World in March? We’ve got the details you need to maximize the magic on your vacation!

Walt Disney World’s Epcot

You can make memories on a Disney World vacation that will last a lifetime! But how can you make sure that you’re looking back on happy memories instead of meltdowns? Well, by preparing for your trip! And Disney World planning can vary A LOT depending on what time of year you plan to travel. Here are the deets you need to make your March vacation magical!

Crowds at Disney World in March

The month of March means Spring Break for many schools across the United States. And that also means more crowds! Since Spring Break schedules vary by school and year, the attendance can fluctuate day by day. But in general, you should prepare for moderate to heavy crowds throughout the month.

Main Street, U.S.A

There is somewhat of a silver lining here — since Spring Breaks are spread out, the crowds aren’t usually quite as crazy as the holiday season. But, if you’re used to traveling to Disney World in months like January, February, or September, prepare yourself for busier parks!

Traveling at a super-busy time? Check out our ultimate survival guide for the most crowded days in Disney World!

Park Hours at Disney World in March

We typically see pretty steady park hours throughout the month of March. Most of the parks will open at 8:00 or 9:00AM and close at 8:00 or 9:00PM.

Animal Kingdom Entrance

But, to help absorb the heavier Spring Break crowds, Magic Kingdom usually stays open a little later than the other parks. Magic Kingdom tends to close at 10:00 or 11:00PM in March.

Looking for late-night fun in Disney World? Check out our guide to the Villains After Hours Events in Magic Kingdom!

Weather at Disney World in March

Most people will find the weather pretty pleasant during this time of year! In March, the average high temperature is 79 degrees and the average low temperature is 57 degrees.

Toy Story Land

There are an average of 5 rainy days throughout the month, which means March is usually much drier than the summer months in Disney World! So, if you’re looking for warm temperatures without scorching heat while avoiding the infamous Florida storms, March could be your lucky month!

Planning your Disney World trip? Here are seven things you’re probably forgetting!

How to Pack for Disney World in March

The afternoons in March can get pretty warm, but you still might have some chilly mornings and evenings at the parks! So, make sure you pack layers that you can wear out in the morning and store in your park bag when it starts to heat up. Trust us, having a sweatshirt, hat, (and if you get really chilly) a scarf, and gloves will go a long way!

Belle of The Ball Bronze

On the other hand, since the weather does start to warm up mid-day, don’t forget to pack your swimsuit if you plan to take advantage of your hotel pool!

Are you choosing the right Disney World hotel?? Here are our tips to point you in the right direction!

Annual Ride Refurbishments

This is an important thing to keep an eye out for, especially if you’re a huge fan of water attractions! Both Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom and Kali River Rapids in Disney’s Animal Kingdom usually go down for annual maintenance in early January. They typically reopen by early or mid-March, but be sure to check the refurbishment schedule on the Disney World park calendar for the exact reopening dates, especially if you’re planning a trip for early in the month!

Splash Mountain refurbishment

And the same thing goes for the Disney World water parks! Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach undergo maintenance each winter, typically during different months, but work is typically finished around mid-March. If your family is big on the water parks, be sure to check on the refurbishment schedule when you first start planning!

What should you do when your Disney trip is a total FAILURE? Here are our tips for turning your vacay around!

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

One of the highlights of springtime in Disney World is the Epcot International Flower and Garden FestivalThis festival typically kicks off in early March and runs through late-May or early-June. And we definitely suggest you check it out if it’s running during your visit!

Epcot Flower and Garden

There’s plenty to see and do at the festival. Of course, as its name suggests, there are plenty of beautiful blooms to take in! There are over twenty topiary displays throughout the park that feature some of our favorite Disney characters!

Topiaries

Plus, there are other gardens and displays throughout the park, including a bamboo garden, butterfly garden, floating gardens, and more!

Butterfly House

And it wouldn’t be an Epcot festival without FOOD! There are Outdoor Kitchens set up around the Promenade and World Showcase that feature delicious food and beverage options. A few of our favorites from previous years include the Violet Lemonade, Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake, and Salmon Flower Ikura!

Salmon Flower Ikura

Guests who want to dig a little deeper can also check out one of the extra-ticketed special events or tours! We’ve seen a Royal Tea Garden Tour, Gardens of the World Tour, Egg-Stravaganza Scavenger Huntand more!

Egg-stravaganza 2019

Plus, there’s a FREE entertainment option as well! The Garden Rocks Concert Series features three nightly performances that are included in the price of park admission. These events are popular though, so you’ll need to get there early to ensure you get a spot! Or, to secure your seat without the wait, you can opt for the Garden Rocks Dining Packagewhich includes dinner and guaranteed seating at the concert!

Rock out at the Garden Rocks concerts!

The Flower and Garden Festival is an all-around good time, with delicious food, exciting entertainment, and gorgeous topiaries and displays! It’s definitely a must-do for us when visiting Disney World in March!

Wondering what eats to get at Flower and Garden? Check out our Best of the Fest list from the 2020 festival!

March can be a great time to visit Disney World. We love wandering the Flower and Garden Festival and soaking in the warm afternoons by the pool! But, in order to really get the most out of the trip, you have to be prepared! Be aware of those Spring Break crowds and ride refurbishments and plan accordingly. Doing your homework now will help make your Disney World vacation all the more magical!

Want to learn more about the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival? Click here for all the details!

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

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, disney parks, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, 2020 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, Blizzard Beach Refurbishment, disney world crowd, disney world crowd levels, Disney World Packing List, disney world park hours, disney world planning, disney world planning tips, Disney World weather, epcot international flower and garden festival, garden rocks concert, Garden Rocks Concert Series, Garden Rocks Dining Packages, kali river rapids, packing, Packing List, ride refurbish, splash mountain refurbishment, temperature, typhoon lagoon, weather

Categories
Disney Food Disney Parks Other

Celebrate Disney Burgers from around the globe on #HamburgerDay

Whether it’s a drippingly-delicious Bison Blue Cheese Burger at Disneyland Resort, a fun Mickey Mouse Glove Burger at Tokyo Disneyland, or an amazing Avengers Wagyu Beef Burger at Shanghai Disneyland Resort, hamburgers come in many different forms at our parks.  So for National #HamburgerDay we’ve ordered up some Disney burger magic, including a popular recipe and top grilling items for everyone at home.

Our global celebration of hamburgers begins at Tokyo Disney Resort with the unique Mickey Mouse Glove Burger and Mickey-shaped Rice Ball sandwich.  Also, Donald’s burger is a fan-favorite with a special yellow bun!

There’s a galaxy of stellar specialties for burger lovers at Shanghai Disney Resort, including the popular Avengers Wagyu Beef burger with a photo-worthy red bun.

Shanghai Disney Resort also features a classic American cheeseburger with sour cucumber and barbecue sauce in the middle of a bun stamped with Iron Man’s face!

At Disneyland Paris, the Dark Side Burger wowed guests as part of the offering during the Star Wars Season “Legends of the Force – A Star Wars Celebration.”

The PCH Mesa Burger – served on a hefty pretzel roll – is an attention-grabber at Disney’s PCH Grill at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel at the Disneyland Resort. And just as spectacular – the Hungry Bear’s Bison Bison Blue burger at Disneyland park and the delicious burger at Storytellers Cafe at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

Also, for Hamburger Day, we’re releasing the recipe for the popular Hawaiian Cheese Burger and green papaya slaw from Tangaroa Terrace at the Disneyland Hotel.  Click here for a print-at-home version of this recipe!

At Hong Kong Disneyland, the amazing Beetroot and Cheese Burger are inspired by the Marvel-themed attraction, “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle!” Other popular offerings during the launch of the attraction include a Green Tea Cheese Burger with a green bun and a superhero-themed Spicy Chicken Burger.

There are many great burger options at the Walt Disney World Resort and today, we’re focused on the unique Cajun King Burger with Andouille sausage and Creole mustard aioli at the Port Orleans Resort.  Also, the popular Southwest Burger from the ABC Commissary at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a special treat – piled high with Pepper Jack cheese, bacon, guacamole and jalapeño poppers.

Also at the Walt Disney World Resort, the fantastic Mickey Burger at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café comes with macaroni and cheese, American cheese, cheese sauce, flaming hot cheese dust, and bacon served on a Mickey Mouse bun.

And If you need a burger fix ASAP, you can head over to D-Luxe Burger – now open at Disney Springs – for the Southern Burger, a masterpiece topped with a Fried Green Tomato, Pimento Cheese, Lettuce, Grilled Onion and Bacon.

As many of you know, we offer delectable plant-based options at our parks and resort hotels, and there are several favorites to share on Hamburger Day.   At Shanghai Disneyland Resort, the Gamma Ray Plant Burger features a large vegetable-based “pork chop”, sweet and sour tomato sauce and fresh lettuce in between a green matcha-flavor bun.

Other offerings include the BBQ Jackfruit Burger, a plant-based sandwich on garlic toast topped with BBQ jackfruit, that’s part of the Regal Eagle Smokehouse’s celebration of backyard barbecue at EPCOT, and the popular Impossible™ Burger with Vegan Chipotle Mayo, Lettuce, Tomato, and Cherry Peppers at  Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Source Disney Parks Blog

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Disney Food, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Walt Disney World, Disney Burgers, Disney Dining, Disney World, National Burger Day