Disney World Releases More Holiday Treats!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Resorts, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

The holidays have arrived at Walt Disney World Resort, and it is officially the merriest time of the year. Guests can visit all the Parks and see beautiful trees and decorations, and taste a ton of different and delicious treats made especially for this holiday season. While a large amount of the holiday food offerings can be found at EPCOT for its International Festival of Holidays, there are so many other great offerings that Guests can experience at the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom Park.

The holidays at Walt Disney World officially started on November 12 and that’s when a majority of the new holiday food came out, except for Festival of Holidays sweets and treats, which did not begin until November 26. However, Disney has now revealed even more Christmas-themed eats that have come to the Resort, but not all of them will be available for the entirety of the holiday season.

Festival of Holidays EPCOT

Let’s take a look at Disney’s newest festive foods!

Animal Kingdom

White Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse

The white chocolate peppermint cream cheese mousse will only be available from December 20 – 27 and can be found at Satu’li Canteen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. The white chocolate peppermint cream cheese mousse will come with a peppermint sauce and cookie crumbles. This dessert will be around for only one week, so make sure to grab yours while they last!

Disney World Holiday food

Magic Kingdom

Black Forest Cheesecake

This mouthwatering new treat can be found at Pinocchio Village Haus in Fantasyland — right by “it’s a small world” — at Magic Kingdom Park and will be offered through January 9. This decadent dessert is made of chocolate cheesecake, topped with cherry compote, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and a white chocolate coin that is inspired by the “it’s a small world” attraction. Guests can even enjoy this new offering while sitting in the Village Haus and watching the “it’s a small world” boats sail below them.

Black Forest Cheesecake Magic Kingdom

Water Parks

Right now, Blizzard Beach is the only water park that is open at Walt Disney World. However, it is possible that Disney is planning on opening Typhoon Lagoon this holiday season since they are indicating that the following desserts will be available at the water parks, and they are not specifying Blizzard Beach.

Orange Bird Holiday Citrus Swirl

This fun snack featuring Disney’s iconic Orange Bird will be available from December 12 until January 7 and can be found at the Warming Hut. The ice cream treat will be an orange and lime swirl served in a waffle cone. It will be adorned with a white chocolate Orange Bird wearing a Santa hat.

Orange Bird Citrus Swirl

Merry Merry Melon

This new drink will also be available from December 12 until January 7 and will be found at Frostbite Freddie’s, but it will only be available for the 21 and over crowd. The drink will feature a melon and apple-flavored frozen rum cocktail and will be served with a red sugar rim and topped with a cherry.

Peppermint Milkshake

Just like the Orange Bird Holiday Citrus Swirl and the Merry Merry Melon, the Peppermint Milkshake will be available for purchase from December 12 until January 7. This peppermint-flavored milkshake will be served with white chocolate whipped cream and holiday sprinkles. This refreshing minty drink can be found at Lottawatta Lodge.

Peppermint Milkshake

Carrie Underwood, family celebrate Thanksgiving at the Most Magical Place on Earth

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Carrie Underwood and her family just returned from a memory-making trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth.

The 38-year-old singer and songwriter took to Instagram to share photos and a heart-warming post about the family’s “much-needed” trip to Walt Disney World.

country-singer-carrie-underwood-sparks-reaction

“Got to spend some much-needed family time recently in Orlando!!! We rode lots of rides, ate lots of sugar, smiled a million smiles, and made a million memories!!! These years, with our boys, we’ll never get back…to see the wonder and excitement on their faces is priceless! We already can’t wait to go back! Thanks, @waltdisneyworld for existing!” Underwood posted on her Instagram account on Wednesday.

Underwood rarely shares photos of her two young sons, Isaiah, 6, and Jacob, 2, but she was only too happy to share a photo of her little ones and their cousins enjoying the magic of the Dumbo ride at Magic Kingdom.

Carrie Underwood celebrates 2021 Thanksgiving with a getaway to Disney World

Underwood’s Instagram post prompted comments from fans and followers of the Billboard Top 200 regular. One Cast Member, coronas_royal_table even commented about just thinking about serving Underwood and her family.

“I just started working at Be Our Guest! I totally just had a fangirl moment imagining that I got to cook for you. Hope you enjoyed your vacation!” the Cast Member posted.

The thread of comments underneath the Instagram post was filled with fans tagging one another, especially if they had friends or family who were in the parks at the same time. Many were asking, “Did you see Carrie?”

A few of Underwood’s Instagram followers were in the parks at the same time as the mom of two and served to clear up questions about bodyguards and paparazzi for followers who weren’t in the parks at the time.

“She had a guide with her, we walked right past them by Big Thunder Mountain. In a very public space,” one follower posted.

“They were VIP Guests so they didn’t have to stand in line. [That’s] why they got to ride so many rides,” another follower posted.

Disney puts the breaks on vaccine mandates after Gov. DeSantis signs new anti-mandate bills into law

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Disney just announced it will pause its vaccine mandate for employees in the Sunshine State. This comes just two days after Governor Ron DeSantis signed a quartet of bills related to the COVID-19 vaccine and subsequent mandates into law on Thursday.

Per The Orlando Sentinel, the decision by the House of Mouse comes in response to the latest restrictions that were passed by the Florida legislature this week, which put limitations on the power of Florida employers when it comes to requiring employees to get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

On Friday, The Walt Disney Company sent a memo to Cast Members, informing them that Disney was taking this action immediately because of the new law. The memo also said that an appeal court’s temporary delay of certain federal guidelines related to COVID vaccinations from OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, had also prompted the company’s immediate actions to pause its vaccine mandates.

Part of the memo reads: “We remain confident in the approach we have taken with our mandatory vaccine policy for Florida-based Cast Members and employees, with more than 90% of our active Florida-based Cast members and employees having verified that they are fully vaccinated, and we consider this to be very successful.”

The memo, which was sent to Florida employees of Disney, the largest private employer in the state, further explained that Disney would require every employee to wear face coverings, practice social distancing and take other measures in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 if they had not yet verified that they are vaccinated.

In addition to putting the breaks on its company vaccine mandate, Disney is also taking a break on the consideration of requests from employees for exemption from taking the vaccine. During the pause related to new legislation, Disney says it will also deem employees “unvaccinated,” if they had not yet completed the vaccination verification process.

FL Gov. DeSantis signs anti-vax mandates bills into law

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Uncategorized

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has just signed a quartet of bills that helps to protect employees in the Sunshine State from termination should they refuse the COVID-19 vaccine. The new laws create restrictions on vaccine mandates by employers. He signed the bills into law while standing at a car dealership in Brandon, Florida, citing Florida residents’ “right to earn a living.”

“We’re making sure that people have a right to earn a living,” DeSantis said. “We are respecting people’s individual freedom in this state.”

Governor DeSantis (R) sees the passing of the new laws as a political victory. But even though the laws are now in place, they aren’t quite what DeSantis had originally wanted. He had pushed Florida lawmakers for more protection and received backing from supporters who testified during committee hearings.

DeSantis called a special session during which to pass the bills. That move has been met with criticism from Democrats who call the session “political theater” and feel it was done to boost DeSantis’s efforts toward re-election in 2022. They also feel that DeSantis’s decision to call the special session and pass the bills into law is also an attempt on the part of the Florida governor to prop him up for a possible 2024 Presidential run.

State Representative Michael Grant, the majority leader, gesturing on Tuesday as a proposed amendment is voted down during the special legislative session.

The main part of the four-part law, called HB1B, strikes down vaccine mandates on employees by any local government entity in Florida. Private businesses are not wholly exempt from the reach of the bill, as it requires that even those employers to include exemption status for employees who refuse the vaccine because of religious or medical reasons. Under the new law, employees in Florida who have previously contracted COVID-19 are also exempt from vaccine mandates, as are those employees who agree to, and comply with, routine testing for the virus and also wear personal protective equipment (i.e., masks, face coverings, etc.).

How crowded is Walt Disney World right now?

“No nurse, no firefighter, no police officer, no trucker–no anybody–should lose their job because of these COVID jabs,” DeSantis said just before signing the bills into law this morning, referring to vaccinations as “jabs,” as he has been doing lately.

Disney mandated vaccines for its executive employees toward the end of the summer and then struck a deal with unionized Cast Members who work at the Walt Disney World Resort that would require those hourly workers to be fully vaccinated by October 22 or face the possibility of termination. Because Disney is a private employer–the largest in the Sunshine State, too–the law doesn’t change much for the entertainment giant.

But Florida HB1B does now make it a legal requirement for Disney and other private employers in Florida to allow for push-back from employees who cite religious reasons and/or medical inability to receive the vaccine as their reasons for refusing to have the–as DeSantis calls it–“jab.”

Yes, you can be fired over the COVID vaccine | wfaa.com

The new law was passed with seemingly little consideration for the fact that more than 60,000 Floridians have died from novel coronavirus infections since the pandemic began in early 2020. At this time, nearly 61% of Florida residents are fully vaccinated.

Disney Water Parks, Sports Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

There’s EARidescent magic to be discovered in every corner of the Walt Disney World Resort during the 50th anniversary celebration. And today, our “Everything 50th” series continues with a look at exciting experiences – now and in the future – at Disney Water Parks, runDisney events and more!

Disney World News: 50th Anniversary Ad, More Mask Changes Coming, Added Hours - Disney Tourist Blog

Right now, dazzling 50th anniversary celebration decorations and magical touches can be seen throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. Disney teams have created decor that shimmers and sparkles all day and into the night.

There are also new, delicious 50th anniversary menu items at Walt Disney World Resort – many inspired by Walt’s favorite dishes. At Disney’s Water Parks, celebratory treats are available now and in the future at several locations:   

Avalunch at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park (Snack Shack at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park when reopened)

  • Loaded Nachos with Walt’s Chili – This classic treat is upgraded for the 50th anniversary celebration and features Walt’s favorite chili atop a bed of house fried tortillas, cheese guacamole, shredded lettuce, tomato, onion, sour cream and jalapeno. 

I.C. Expeditions at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park (Happy Landings at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park when reopened)

  • EARidescent Ice Dream Cone – Birthday cake-flavored soft serve ice cream cone served up with EARidescent accents to celebrate 50 years of Walt’s dreams that turned into reality. 

And at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, Guests will find a new version of our collectible and refillable mugs featuring a giant 50 for the celebration!  The mug design includes creative art highlighting Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck with Goofy skiing hijinks in the background and can be found at different locations, including Beach Haus , Lotta Wotta Lodge and Cooling Hut. At Typhoon Lagoon, special 50th mugs will be available at Singapore Sal’s and High & Dry.   

From Disney’s Water Parks to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and across the Resort, our legendary Cast Members are the heart of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration and they’re eager to share a little bit of their world during this special time. 

Smiling Cast Members are easy to spot, wearing special nametags with the 50th anniversary castle logo above each cast member’s name, along with gold accents and a touch of pixie dust. 

The magic is also calling all runners to become part of something special at runDisney events during The World’s Most Magical Celebration.

For runDisney 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, Jan. 5-9, 2022, participants will run through the magic and stories of Walt Disney World Resort. And they’ll have the opportunity for amazing 50th anniversary celebration views during runs near our breathtaking Beacons of Magic! 

Mickey Mouse and other favorite characters will be wearing their shimmering EARidsecent best during the race weekend as well. Marathon Weekend will feature amazing entertainment and unique commemorative finisher medals glowing with EARidesence.  

Also, during the magic of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary celebration, the 2022 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by CORKCICLE will have participants running into the magic on Feb. 24-27, 2022. This event will feature events for all skill levels, coveted regal medals inspired by the 50th anniversary celebration, special merchandise, celebratory treats and other surprises.