WDW Daily News

February 29, 2024

Luck is in the air because St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and that means treats! The holiday may be on March 17, but starting as early as the beginning of the month the culinary teams at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort are taking guests on a flavorful trip over the rainbow with plenty of delights they definitely are going to want to try.

This year, we’ve got a delicious lineup of new delights, including the beautifully delicious End of the Rainbow Crème Brûlée at Amorette’s Patisserie, as well as returning favorites like the almost too cute to eat (emphasis on the almost) St. Patrick’s Day Donut from GCH Craftsman Grill.

Let’s jump right in and get to all of the tasty bites coming to Disney Parks this St. Patrick’s Day in the official Foodie Guide for 2024.

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By: Disney Destinations

Welcome to the official ship’s log for the Disney Treasure! Follow along for an exclusive look into the complex ship building process as we document all the important milestones of the Disney Treasure’s journey. The Disney Treasure’s story began with the start of construction in January of 2023 and has continued to evolve ever since. Return here for the latest developments in the Disney Treasure’s progress as the world patiently waits for Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship to officially set sail in 2024. The adventure is just beginning!

A new sculpture, bound for the Haunted Mansion Parlor onboard the Disney Treasure, is being crafted at a dedicated Walt Disney Imagineering workshop at Walt Disney World Resort. Who inspired this mysterious bust? The sculpture was modeled in the image of the famed Disney Legend, Rolly Crump. And the fact that today is Rolly’s birthday makes this Ship’s Log reveal all the more special as the world remembers him and his many contributions to Disney Parks.

Nicknamed “Rolly” by Walt Disney himself, ­ during the early days of the company and played an integral role in designing the original Haunted Mansion at Disneyland Resort. Six decades later, the Haunted Mansion Parlor will unlock the next chapter of the Haunted Mansion saga for Disney Cruise Line guests. The venue will be imbued with Crump’s unique brand of humor and is a proud continuation of his legacy, celebrating the weird and the fantastical.

Part of Rolly’s larger creative concept for a “Museum of the Weird” in the Haunted Mansion, his original vision included a character that appeared to be melting like a candle. It was only fitting for the design for Rolly’s memorial bust to stem from his own ideas, which led to the sculpted drips on the side of his face and a memorial plaque that reads, “BROTHER ROLAND- FOREVER REVERED FOR EMBRACING THE WEIRD.” When the Disney Treasure sets sail, Rolly Crump’s statue will have a place of honor within the Haunted Mansion Parlor. 

One of the best parts about the spring at Walt Disney World Resort is the incredible delights our culinary teams whip up, especially for holidays like Easter. This year is no different because, once again, select Disney Resort Hotels will be transformed with dazzling Easter egg displays and delicious treats alike.

These spectacular displays are hand-painted and designed by the talented pastry chefs who put months of dedication and talent into bringing these creations to life. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and Disney’s Beach Club Resort are all joining in on the egg-travaganza with offerings for guests to enjoy.

And the fun doesn’t stop there; there are also plenty of tasty treats on the way that will leave guests and their taste buds hoppy – we mean happy! Guests are in luck because we’ve got a first look at some of the bites coming to the Grand Cottage at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on March 3.

Let’s kick things off with a trip over to the Seven Seas Lagoon, where the pastry team at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been hard a work creating Easter egg displays for guests. This can’t-miss tradition is a staple of the Easter season at the resort and showcases the artistry and talent of these cast members. Each has a unique theme and story that the culinary cast member brings to life with their own creative touch. We’ve put together some favorite eggs from years past so guests can get an idea of what they can experience this year! But there are plenty of new ones coming inspired by cherished characters, stories, and treats, like Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Disney Animation’s “Beauty and the Beast,” and Disney snacks. With so many new creations, it’s worth a revisit if guests have seen them before.

But that’s not all for the resort. The team has also been whipping up some delicious items for guests to indulge in this spring. The Grand Cottage is back for the third year to bring to guests a plethora of festive (and adorable) treats they won’t want to miss from March 3 through April 1.

• Bunny Pop Flower Pot: Chocolate flower pot filled with jelly beans and three chocolate bunny pops (New)
• Fruity Cereal Mickey Pop: Mickey-shaped fruity cereal crisped treat
• The Easter Treat Box: Dark chocolate filled bunny, carrot blondie pop, marshmallow pop, carrot cake chocolate bark, confetti pop, and meringue nests
• Easter Marshmallow Pop: Three large marshmallows dipped in a yellow chocolate coating topped with Easter quins
• Bunny Burrow Dirt Cup: Layers of chocolate cake, chocolate buttercream, and cookies ‘n cream pieces with springtime décor (Plant-based)
• The Grand Egg: White chocolate egg filled with jelly beans sprayed in spring colors

The Bunny Burrow Dirt Cup and Fruity Cereal  will both also be available over at Gasparilla Island Grill from March 3 through April 1.

Also nestled over at Seven Seas Lagoon, Disney’s Contemporary Resort will once again be home to its fair share of mind-blowing egg displays. The team here has brought their creativity to the egg to create works of art that will leave guests amazed (and craving some chocolate). Once guests set their eyes on this year’s lineup, they won’t believe that these hand-painted displays are real. Here’s a glimpse of some of last year’s talented creations to give guests an idea of what to expect when this year’s eggs are on full display starting March 3. Much like at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the displays here also will be filled with brand-new eggs inspired by characters from stories, like “Elemental” and “Hercules.”

Last, but certainly not least, we’re heading to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort where these waterside resorts are once again bringing in some truly egg-cellent displays to life this year. The pastry teams at the resort are joining in on the fun and have been working on creating their own detailed eggs for guests to dazzle in this spring.

This year, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort will take a journey on the water side with a brand-new Moana-inspired display. See some of the beloved characters and scenes from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film brought to life in egg form. Guests can catch this new creation starting March 3 in the lobby of the resort. Last year, the team crafted a “Finding Nemo”-inspired display that made quite the splash!

Right next door at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a display inspired by none other than the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, which can be found just around the corner from the resort. The team has meticulously crafted miniature versions of some of the iconic topiaries available at the festival, bringing a floral touch to the lobby of Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Guests can get a peek at what’s coming here as this creation premiered last year and is coming back again starting March 3.

There is plenty to see (and taste) this spring at Walt Disney World Resort. The adventures are truly endless at Disney Parks!

(Note: All offerings are subject to change and availability.)

February 16, 2024

Flavor is about to be in full bloom because the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is nearly here! From Feb. 28 through May 27, 2024, EPCOT will be transformed into a flower-filled adventure budding with delicious bites, masterfully-crafted topiaries, can’t-miss entertainment, and exclusive merchandise your guests won’t want to miss.

This year there are nearly 20 Outdoor Kitchens and over 60 new items to indulge in! That’s a lot of new flavors buzzing around. Within all these new menu items, guests should ‘bee’ sure to try delights for the first time like the Cubanito at Florida Fresh and Peach Galette at EPCOT Farmers Feast. But don’t worry, there are plenty of returning favorites, including none other than the beloved Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade at Pineapple Promenade and the Chicken and Waffles at The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board.

Once the Festival kicks off, guests should be sure to pick up a Festival Passport and join in on the tasty foodie fun with the return of Garden Graze. To join in on this food stroll, which features 8 tasty bites from the Outdoor Kitchens, guests can simply get a stamp on their passport after they purchase and once they collect five, they can receive their exclusive treat from the Pineapple Promenade.

And for a convenient way to pay as they go, guests can try these specially designed mini festival-themed Disney Gift Cards. Guests can simply load it and wear it on their wrist for quick and easy scanning when they purchase all their festival favorites.

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February 16, 2024

With twice as many event nights this year, Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite is back with galactic entertainment, novel themed snacks and unique photo opportunities on eight separate nights at Disneyland park! This separately ticketed event will be held on April 16, 18, 23, 25, 30 and May 2, 7 and 9, 2024. Read on for all the details, including the dates these tickets go on sale, Magic Key pre-sale opportunities, plus a new “notify me” option that will be available to guests while they’re waiting in the online queue to purchase tickets!

New Things to Look Forward To, Plus Returning Favorites

At Star Wars Nite, guests can get ready to dive into an expanded array of themed foods and experience out-of-this world entertainment offerings with new plot twists and enhanced excitement:

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February 13, 2024

Disney has announced Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is opening this summer in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. With Mardi Gras season underway and construction milestones flying by, the magic of Tiana is coming to life like never before!

In addition to the opening season announcement, guests are also getting a sneak peek at one of dozens of new Audio-Animatronic figures. Guests can look forward to seeing Tiana in her adventure outfit, as well as familiar faces and new friends that will fill up the bayou.

Disney can’t wait for guests to “come join the party” when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida this summer, and later in 2024 at Disneyland Park in California.

PARADISE, NV (Feb. 11, 2024)– As the euphoria of Kansas City’s Super Bowl win continued to swirl around Allegiant Stadium near Las Vegas on Sunday night, Patrick Mahomes once again made that jubilant declaration that has become so iconic after every Super Bowl victory: “I’m Going to Disneyland!’’ This is the third time Mahomes has been named Super Bowl MVP and the third time he has been featured in the famous commercial.

Mahomes’s post-game proclamation is the centerpiece of Disney’s annual Super Bowl commercial airing on major TV networks and social media sites nationwide in English and Spanish.

But that on-field moment is just the beginning of the celebration. The Super Bowl festivities are moving to Disneyland Resort in California on Monday where Mahomes will be the leading man in a colorful and high-energy cavalcade through Disneyland Park. Guests at the park can catch all of the action as the celebratory cavalcade moves down Main Street, U.S.A., at 2 pm PT.

Afterwards, Mahomes will spend the afternoon with family and friends experiencing the park’s most popular attractions, interacting with beloved Disney characters and generally having a super-sized Disney experience.

It’s the most magical way for Mahomes to celebrate his team’s Super Bowl title. He led the Chiefs to a 25-22 overtime win over San Francisco in the biggest game of the year. Mahomes threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman with three seconds left in overtime. His 333 passing yards and two passing touchdowns catapulted his team to the win and launched him into the annals of Disney’s Super Bowl history with his inclusion in the national TV spot and Disneyland Resort trip.

Mahomes is once again joining a long list of other NFL heavyweights who have been a part of Disney’s long-standing Super Bowl tradition that began in 1987 when New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms first appeared in the commercial following his team’s Super Bowl win.

Disney has just announced that Moana 2 is scheduled to be in theaters on November 27, 2024. Check out the teaser trailer for the Moana 2 here.

February 8, 2024

1900 Park Fare is re-opening at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on April 10. This iconic restaurant will feature returning guest favorites along with a newly refurbished dining room and other special touches. 

Here are five things guests can look forward to when they visit:

1. Wish Upon a Star with Favorite Disney Characters

Because meals are best enjoyed alongside friends, a few familiar faces will stop by throughout breakfast and dinner –some for the first time at this location! In this refreshed character dining experience, guests will be joined by Aladdin in his Prince Ali look, Cinderella, Mirabel and Tiana in her new look for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure as they celebrate the power of a wish.

2. Enjoy a Feast Fit for Royalty

An enchanting buffet will be served for breakfast and dinner, featuring some guest favorites — yes, that includes the strawberry soup! — along with new menu offerings dreamed up by our talented chefs to pay tribute to some of the characters and stories guests will encounter throughout the restaurant. 

3. Look for Nods to the Restaurant’s Heritage

Fans of 1900 Park Fare will remember Big Bertha, an antique organ that has called the resort home since 1988. Guests can look for her in the Main Dining Room, where she’s on display as its grand centerpiece!

Just like before, carousel theming is woven throughout the restaurant — starting with the impressive new mural shown above, which will serve as the focal point of the restaurant’s entrance. In one of the adjoining dining rooms, guests will find drawings of carousel animals inspired by classic Disney films like “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Little Mermaid.”

4. Delight in Exclusive New Artwork

The artistic touches continue throughout the Main Dining Room, where guests will find twelve new portraits created exclusively for the restaurant by Disney artists. Each one, inspired by the impressionist art style of the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, features a different Disney character as they hope, dream and wish upon a star (or even a magic lamp or a wishing well).

5. Celebrate Traditions and Create New Ones

Over the years, 1900 Park Fare has been the backdrop of so many of our guests’ favorite vacation memories. At the heart of this unique restaurant is the magic and whimsy of turn-of-the-century gardens and fairgrounds, where people of all ages came together to enjoy each other’s company. The spirit of those carefree days spent outdoors is brought to life with each detail big and small, making it the perfect place for guests to create new memories with loved ones.

Reservations for 1900 Park Fare open on March 5 at DisneyWorld.com

While guests are there, they can explore other ways the resort has been receiving some grand touches that build upon its Victorian elegance with additional storybook charm. While staying in one of the newly refurbished Guest rooms, guests can also dine underneath the lovely London sky at Cítricos, inspired by “Mary Poppins Returns” or enjoy some shimmering sips at Enchanted Rose Lounge, inspired by “Beauty and the Beast.” Recently refreshed spaces at Narcoossee’s and Victoria & Albert’s, the culinary crown jewel of Walt Disney World Resort, provide even more ways to be our Guest and enjoy all that Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has to offer.

There’s even more to come as we continue to refresh and enhance Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and we can’t wait to share more with guests in the future.