Costco

Costco is an awesome place to head to around the holidays — especially if you’re in search of some fun Disney-themed decorations. The big box warehouse club often sells neat Halloween and holiday villages, and there’s a new Christmas version that’s too cute to resist!

Pick up a brand-new holiday village before they all sell out!

©Costco Wholesale Corporation

The Disney Holiday Village is available RIGHT NOW, but you’ll want to grab it fast. We’re already seeing it in limited supplies at various stores!

©Costco Wholesale Corporation

This 13-piece set lets you put together a charming Christmas Village featuring Mickey and his pals.

©Costco Wholesale Corporation

It includes a light-up building, a musical building, a light-up tree, two light-up lamp posts, eight (!!!) figures, nine AA batteries, and two 3V CR2032 batteries.

©Costco Wholesale Corporation

Each figure and decoration is hand-crafted, and the musical component of the village includes eight Christmas songs.

©Costco Wholesale Corporation

When it comes to Disney Christmas decorations, it’s never too early to pick them up, and we can already see that this set is flying off the shelves! Don’t wait — get yours today!

BUY ONLINE AT COSTCO

We’ll continue to bring you all kinds of amazing Disney souvenir finds this holiday season and beyond, so be sure to keep it posted right here at DFB for the latest updates!

Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment

While Universal Orlando hasn’t announced anything officially coming to the parks, the permits and construction sites don’t lie. Thanks to our friend at Bioreconstruct, we got a new look at what’s happening at some nearby construction sites for Epic Universe, and it’s starting to look like… something!

​​

This construction site is by Dark Universe, the Universal Monsters-themed area of Epic Universe. Again, while Universal hasn’t officially said what it will be, the structure and rumors are pointing to another attraction. Right now, they are clearing the site. Since it’s storm season in Florida, there’s been a lot of rain, and you can see the construction equipment deep in it.

Aerial video of a bulldozer in the excavated work site for an additional attraction in Dark Universe.
Clearing mud eroded by recent days of continuous rain in Central Florida. pic.twitter.com/aKW1t1mWo1

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) October 11, 2026

What’s at Dark Universe right now? Well, I’m so glad you asked! Right now, you can ride Curse of the Werewolf, which is a spinning roller coaster…

Curse of the Werewolf

…or Monsters Unchained, which takes you into Dr. Frankenstein’s manor to see all the monsters hiding throughout the house. It has some of the coolest animatronics, and they get you so close you can see every detail.

Frankenstein’s Monster

We love the food at Dark Universe, too. Das Stakehaus is a vampire-run restaurant with some very creepy dishes (that are strangely good).

Fish on a Stake

The Burning Blade Tavern is where the monster hunters hang out and has Burning Cheddar Bites and Hunter’s Garlic Stake that we still dream about all the time.

Full spread at The Burning Blade Tavern

Since Universal hasn’t officially announced what’s coming to the construction site, we’re still guessing, but an attraction seems like a strong possibility right now. They’re also working to expand other parts of Epic Universe, and rumors suggest there might be more portals to explore.

In the meantime, we’re bringing you all the Epic Universe and Universal news you need for future trips, so keep following DFB for updates.

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO ANNOUNCES RETHEME FOR HORROR MAKE-UP SHOW

What do you hope is coming to Epic Universe? Tell us in the comments. 

2026 Food and Wine Festival

Disney saved FOUR Marketplace booths for a later opening, and when The Alps, Coastal Eats, India, and Earth Eats finally joined the party on October 2nd, we did what we always do: We ate EVERYTHING. And one booth came dangerously close to rearranging our entire Best of the Fest hierarchy.

The Alps Came Ready To Fight

If you’ve been going to the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival for a while, The Alps probably doesn’t need much of an introduction. This returning booth has built quite the reputation around one particular substance: Melted cheese. We appreciate a booth that knows its brand.

2026 Booth

But The Alps didn’t just coast into EPCOT on the reputation of its famous Raclette this year. Disney changed up that longtime favorite AND added a brand-new dish that ended up being our favorite thing on the menu. That’s how you make a late entrance.

The Raclette Got a Makeover

The Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese on a Baguette with Jambon and Apple-Mustard Relish costs $6.79 and is one of the festival’s special 30th Anniversary Legacy Items. In previous years, you may remember the Raclette piled onto baby potatoes, sometimes with Alpine ham. This version goes in a different direction, putting that glorious molten cheese onto crunchy baguette with jambon and apple-mustard relish.

Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese on a Baguette with Jambon and Apple-Mustard Relish

The Raclette itself is hearty, nutty, funky, and VERY present. This is not a shy cheese. The baguette brings the crunch, the meat adds another savory layer, and that apple relish is exactly what the dish needs to cut through all that richness. Yes, cheese will probably ooze out when you bite into it, and that’s one of the reasons why we love it.

But THIS Was Our Favorite

Then came the newcomer. The Tartiflette costs $5.49 and combines potatoes gratin, caramelized onions, bacon, thyme, crème fraîche, and brie cheese. Read that ingredient list again if you need a moment.

2026 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival eats

The potatoes were cooked just right, staying firm enough to hold their shape without wandering into undercooked territory. The crème fraîche and brie made the whole thing creamy and rich without turning it into a bowl of cheese sludge, while the caramelized onions brought everything together. This was easily our favorite dish at The Alps — which is saying something because it was pitted against our beloved raclette!

The Tartiflette

And at $5.49, it’s also the kind of festival portion we love because you can try it without spending half your EPCOT snack budget on one tiny plate. Bonus: Both the Tartiflette and Raclette count toward Emile’s Fromage Montage, so your devotion to cheese can also earn you a prize. Finally, a loyalty program we can get behind.

Save Room for Dessert

The Kirschwasser Torte returned this year for $5.49, with layers of cake, cherry-brandy buttercream, fondant, sugared almonds, and cherry compote. Because two excellent dishes just weren’t enough.

Kirschwasser Torte

The cake was moist without falling apart, the cherry buttercream worked beautifully between the layers, and the toasted almonds added some much-needed crunch. We called this one a home run, too. Three food dishes. Three strong performances. The Alps isn’t playing around this year.

How Did the Other New Booths Compare?

To be clear, October 2nd was a GOOD day to be hungry in EPCOT. Coastal Eats was another major winner. The Crab Cake brought high-quality crab, crunch, sweet tropical chutney, and a little mustard heat, while the Seafood Pot Pie packed shrimp, scallops, and lobster bisque under flaky puff pastry. Seafood fans should absolutely circle this booth.

Coastal Eats Dishes

India also knocked it out of the park again with its Potato and Pea Samosas, Chicken Tikka Masala, and Mango Lassi. The portions were solid for the prices, the food was reliable, and that Mango Lassi remains one of those festival drinks we’ll happily order every time.

Full India Booth Spread 2026

Earth Eats had a surprise winner in its new Lemon-Almond-Olive Oil Cake, but the rest of the booth didn’t reach the same level. Good? Sure. One of the first places we’d send you? Not this year.

Lemon Almond Olive Oil Cake

The Alps is the booth that gave us the best combination of hits.

Yep, Add This One to Your Food & Wine List

When we originally put together our Best of the Fest picks for the 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, these later-opening booths hadn’t even had their chance to enter the arena yet. Now they have, and The Alps deserves a spot in the conversation.

The Alps

If you only grab one thing, make it the Tartiflette. If you have room for two, add the Raclette. And if you somehow manage to walk away without getting melted cheese somewhere on your person, you have shown considerably more restraint than we did.

The Full Spread at the Alps

The 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival runs through November 21st, so there’s still time to work The Alps into your Festival plans. And keep following DFB because we’ll keep eating our way through EPCOT, revisiting favorites, spotting menu changes, and letting you know exactly what deserves your precious Disney snack money. Stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more!

The 4 Best EPCOT Food And Wine Products For Disney World According To Our Testing

IT'S WINE & DINE TIME!

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Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience.

If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival!

Food and Wine Festival 101
Eat to the Beat Concert Updates
EPCOT Food and Wine Festival - Fans Facebook Page
Wine and Dine Half Marathon Details
Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival

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Will you be hitting one of these booths during your next visit? Let us know in the comments below!

Waffle time!

Disney World obviously has a lot of Mickey-shaped food, and we’re pretty dan gobsessed. From ice cream bars to cookies and waffles, we’ve eaten it all, and science has proven that it tastes better in the mouse shape. Well, Disney World added new Mickey waffles at different stops around the resort, and we’re trying them to see if our Mickey-Shaped Science holds up!

First up, we grabbed the Mickey-shaped Strawberry Waffles from Everything Pop at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. They cost $12.59 and come with creamy vanilla custard, bacon, and sausage.

Mickey-shaped Strawberry Waffles

This is a fun, fresh take on classic Mickey waffles! The vanilla custard reminded us of an éclair filling and was really creamy. It sticks to the waffle easily, and the strawberry pairs well with the vanilla; there isn’t really enough vanilla to make it pop on its own, so we’re glad the strawberry is there. The strawberries taste great and add freshness and flavor. We wish there were more strawberries for the three waffles, and you might want to grab some syrup too, since they might feel a bit dry once you finish the toppings. The sausage and bacon make it a filling meal, too.

We loved the strawberry

Then we headed to Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort for the Character-shaped Birthday Cake Waffles for $12.59. They feature birthday cake custard, cake crumbs, and rainbow sprinkles served with bacon and sausage.

Character-shaped Birthday Cake Waffles

Okay, these aren’t Mickey-shaped waffles because they technically show other characters, but it’s still Disney, so it’s still fun. We could barely tell which character was on them because of all the toppings! The birthday cake custard adds moisture and sweetness, but we wished for something to cut through it. There’s just enough custard for one bite.

Sprinkles

The crumbles on top looked pretty but didn’t have the strongest flavor, and they added an unexpected, strange crunch that felt a bit stale. The bacon and sausage were our saving grace, cutting through the sweetness, and we liked that; we think this could be a shareable breakfast (but be warned: it’s full of sugar!).

It doesn’t need to be your birthday to enjoy these

Check out these Mickey-shaped Caramel Banana Waffles for $12.59! They’re from End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, topped with streusel and served with bacon and sausage.

Caramel Bananas

There is SO much caramel. Like, so much. But we have to admit that might be just what we needed. The waffles were crispy and delicious, and while the caramel sauce was sweet, it was only poured on the bottom of the plate, not over the top, so it wasn’t all over. You can decide how much caramel you want to eat! The bananas were sweet and ripe, adding a different flavor and texture to the dish, and they go perfectly with the caramel, as we expected. Once again, the bacon and sausage cut through the sweetness with their saltiness, since this dish has quite a bit of sugar. It’s a great way to start out your Disney day.

Caramel Banana

We have to admit, it took us a few days to get through all these waffles because there were so many, but there are more to try! We went to World Premier Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort and grabbed the Mickey-shaped Candy Bar Waffles for $12.59. They’re served with cookie bar pieces, caramel and chocolate sauce, bacon, and sausage.

Candy Bar Waffles

Wait, where are the cookie bar pieces? Unfortunately, they were out of the cookie bar pieces, so it was more of a candy bar waffle, but there were still sauces to enjoy. The chocolate sauce was thick but not too sweet and reminded us of chocolate fudge. The caramel sauce felt fresh and reminded us of melted-down caramel hard candies. Each waffle is dipped in the sauces, and the actual waffle is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. You get three, plus some sides, to keep you full for breakfast. These weren’t quite as sweet as the pictures, but they were missing the candy that might have taken them to the top of sweetness.

We love a Mickey shaped waffle

We also headed to Intermission Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort for the Mickey-shaped Fruit Cereal Waffles. They cost $12.59 and come with creamy vanilla custard, fruit cereal, bacon, and sausage.

Fruit Cereal Waffles

Another fun twist! The Mickey waffles are soft and fluffy inside and not quite as crunchy on the outside as we prefer, and the vanilla custard adds a fun sweetness. The custard and fruit cereal create a sweet, fruity flavor with bursts of crunch, and while the cereal isn’t in every bite, there’s enough to add textural contrast. The custard has a great, creamy, smooth, pudding-like texture. The bacon and sausage are another great addition, making the meal a little bigger and easier to share, and keeping you full throughout your morning.

Inside

Should you grab these fun new waffles? If you’re already looking for Mickey waffles, these can be a perfect way to start your Disney day! Mickey waffles are usually crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and they’re super nostalgic while still being a filling breakfast. These new waffle dishes are a fun twist on the classic, and if you’ve had Mickey waffles a hundred times, it’s fun to switch it up and try your favorite under a new style. Most are pretty sweet, so get ready for sugar overload!

Keep following Disney Food Blog for more food reviews you need to know before your next Disney World vacation. Check out more of our favorite Disney World snacks on our YouTube!

WILL IT SPRING ROLL? WE TRIED THE NEW BREAKFAST VERSION OF THIS ICONIC MAGIC KINGDOM SNACK

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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

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Do these waffles sound good to you? Tell us which one you want to try in the comments.

Jurassic Park River Adventure

Jurassic Park River Adventure is located at Islands of Adventure, and the ride has been closed for refurbishment since January 5th of this year. Yes, that means we’ve been without it for almost the ENTIRE year, and we’ve been really looking forward to getting it back in November. Well, now we’re all feeling a bit disappointed, because as it turns out, the closure has been extended.

The ride was originally scheduled to be closed through November 19th, making November 20th its first day of operation — just in time for Thanksgiving week travelers. However, that’s no longer the case, as the Universal website now has the closure listed to last until December 16th, 2026, now making the reopening date December 17th.

©Universal

This means it’s opening almost an entire month later, and also means that, if it opens on this new timeline and doesn’t get pushed again, that we’ll only have had a grand total of 19 days to experience this attraction this year. It’s also completely possible that the timeline DOES get pushed again, in which case, we’ll have even fewer days to ride.

Jurassic Park River Adventure closure

Jurassic Park River Adventure is a water ride that sends riders on a raft adventure through the dinosaur enclosure, but things very quickly start to go south. You’ll come face to face with one of the most terrifying dinosaurs of all, and in order to escape, you have to take an 85-foot plunge that will very likely get you soaked. It’s fun, it’s thrilling, and yes, we’ve really been missing it.

Jurassic Park River Adventure

Thankfully, there are two other water rides to check out at Islands of Adventure: Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, which is a similar log flume ride experience, and Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges, which is a river rapids ride that will also get you absolutely soaked.

Dudley Do-Right’s RipSaw Falls

The remainder of Jurassic Park also remains open, which means you’ll have no problem accessing and riding VelociCoaster and Pteranodon Flyers.

Want to see how much fun you can have on your Universal vacation? Check out our video below!

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest Universal news, so stay tuned to DFB!

My Coworkers Have Found Something New to Fight About (Spoiler: It Involves Hot Dogs)

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WE KNOW DISNEY.
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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

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How do you feel about this news? Tell us in the comments!

Expedition Everest Single Rider Entrance

The single rider line at Expedition Everest was recently removed, leaving only the standby or Lightning Lane entrances available. Which leads us to the question: Will Disney be phasing out ALL of the single rider lines? While it’s not confirmed, people still have their worries…

Let’s start with the single rider lines currently available in Disney World:

• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets — Hollywood Studios
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — Hollywood Studios
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance — Hollywood Studios
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure — EPCOT
• Test Track — EPCOT

Sometimes Soarin’ in EPCOT and Space Mountain in Magic Kingdom will have single rider lines as well, but that all depends on the day and the crowd levels.

Single Rider Line at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Some of these lines are more efficient than others. Why? Well, it all depends on the number of seats each ride vehicle holds. It’s less likely that a ride with an even number of seats will utilize the single rider line than a ride with an odd number of seats since there are many more even-numbered groups than odd.

This means rides like Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will have a longer single rider line since they seat an even number of guests (two, six, and eight, respectively).

Single Rider Line at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

However, since Smugglers Run and Rise of the Resistance seat more guests, the line moves more efficiently than Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, which only seats two.  For example, if there is a group of two, a group of four, and the following group is more than two, you’ll likely get onto the ride from there. And when it comes to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Test Track, those lines move the most efficiently since they seat an odd number of guests (three in each row).

Single Rider at Test Track

Which leads us to the question: Will Disney be phasing out ALL of the single rider lines? Disney has yet to confirm anything, but it is entirely possible, especially with Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Expedition Everest now operates on an odd-even line system where guests will be split up into lines of odd and even numbers, similar to Slinky Dog Dash and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Single Rider Sign at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is the only ride with a single rider line left that seats two guests per row. Transitioning from having a single rider line to forming lines of odd and even parties could run much more efficiently, especially since they have the space for it. Right before guests head into the preshow, they could be split up by party size and into separate lines. For example, even-numbered parties would go to where the general line is, and odd-numbered parties would go where the single riders currently stand.

G-Force Records

When it comes to the other attractions with single rider lines, it is less likely that Disney will get rid of them since they run more efficiently. Since there are more even-numbered groups than odd, it would make more sense for the Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Test Track single rider lines to stick around. And since both Star Wars attractions operate at a higher capacity per vehicle, those could remain, as well, especially with Smugglers Run testing a doubles line.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Queue

And when it comes to what guests think about the removal of the Expedition Everest single rider line, they have THOUGHTS! We received a plethora of comments on our Instagram and Facebook pages about this change, and over 95% of them were speaking negatively about the removal, including Jennifer Leigh, who wrote, “NOT COOL. It’s my favorite ride; one time my husband and I used the Single Rider lane to ride it several times in a row.”

The Single Rider Sign at Expedition Everest has been removed!

Quite a few solo travelers commented, as well, including Heather McGowan, who said, “Sucks, I travel alone and use single rider lines to avoid the main line packed with groups of people,” and Michelle Bradley, commenting, “As a solo traveler, this sucks!” @just.cat.dreaming also joined in on the conversation as a solo rider, writing, “I know it’s supposedly helpful with this new loading process, but as someone who almost exclusively does WDW solo…the single rider lines are soooo helpful.”

No more single rider line!

Some guests even took it personally, like @bae.lyy, who commented, “Sooooo they’re ruining my life,” and @fallingquinnlove, who wrote, “so you hate me?” @chadcheloo “may never go to animal kingdom again!” That’s quite the commitment! And @hunter.c.ridley actually thinks Disney World needs MORE single rider queues instead of taking them away!

Single Rider Line

Disney World just implemented a MAJOR change regarding their single rider lines, and guests are worried that it may impact other attractions! While Disney has yet to confirm anything, it’s entirely possible that we could see the removal of more of these lines. Stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more Disney World news, updates, tips, and tricks!

This Hollywood Studios Ride Just Got A BIG Upgrade!

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WE KNOW DISNEY.
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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

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Do you use the single rider lines in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!

Old Key West Dock

Disney World transportation is a huge perk of going to the parks, and we love getting direct transportation from the hotels. While every resort has buses, some resorts have additional options like the monorail, Skyliner, and boats, but right now, a closure is here AGAIN, and it can throw a wrench in your Disney World trip.

The boat service from Disney’s Old Key West to Disney Springs is temporarily closed. The Saassagoula River Cruise will be unavailable from October 12th to November 1st. Bus transportation to Disney Springs will be available during this time.

Gurgling Suitcase outdoor seating

This might sound familiar, because it was also closed from late July to early August for dock refurbishment. It seems like there’s more work to do!

Closed!

While we recommend taking the available buses, you can also walk if the weather is nice. It takes about 45 minutes, so it’s a bit of a journey, but Florida’s weather is famous for a reason (though you might want to bring rain gear if you see clouds in the distance).

Disney Springs

Does this mean you should switch to a hotel other than Old Key West? Not necessarily! If it’s a family favorite, there’s no reason to skip it, but if you’ve been looking forward to easy boat transportation and plan a trip or two to Disney Springs, you might want to consider another option. You likely won’t go to Disney Springs more than once during your trip (hey, you can! You probably just want to spend more time in the parks!), so it might not put too much of a damper on your day.

Old Key West Resort

Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts, and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation.

In the meantime, keep following Disney Food Blog for more news, plus tips and tricks to have the best Disney World vacation ever. We’re in the parks every day gathering the best strategies so your trip goes as smoothly as possible. Still deciding which hotel is best for your family? Check out our video with all the info you need!

FULL GUIDE TO EATING AT DISNEY’S OLD KEY WEST

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]]> https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2026/10/11/this-transportation-closure-just-made-it-harder-to-get-to-disney-springs/feed/ 0 https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2026/10/11/mark-your-calendars-october-14th-is-a-big-day-for-epcot-festival-fans/ https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2026/10/11/mark-your-calendars-october-14th-is-a-big-day-for-epcot-festival-fans/#respond Sun, 11 Oct 2026 14:00:39 +0000 https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/?p=1169944 Listen up, EPCOT Festival fans! We’ve got some news that you’ll want to hear (and make sure to grab your calendars so you can write the date down — you don’t want to miss this!)

Candlelight Processional

Even though it’s over a month away from the start of the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, October 14th is a special day for this year’s festival because that’s when reservations open for one of their most beloved traditions! And we have everything you need to know about it and how to grab them!

In just a few days, you’ll be able to start booking dining package reservations for this year’s EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Candlelight Processional! These dining packages GUARANTEE you a seat at one of the shows, and that’s a BIG deal since these shows can get extremely crowded, especially when the narrator is one of the more popular celebrities!

Josh Gad narrating the 2024 Candlelight Processional

This year’s Festival of the Holidays runs from November 27th through December 30th, and each night, there will be three shows of the Candlelight Processional with a celebrity narrator. There will be a different celebrity every two to three nights, so if you aren’t able to make it one night, you’ll have another chance to see them! Performances are held nightly at 4:45 PM, 6:30 PM, and 8 PM at the America Gardens Theatre in the America Pavilion.

Chrissy Metz at the EPCOT Candlelight Processional

Now, you can always wait in the standby line for these shows, but that doesn’t guarantee your spot, and you may be waiting several hours to get in, which is why we recommend grabbing a dining package if you REALLY want to see one of the celebrities! Each dining package includes a guaranteed seat per person at one of the Candlelight Processional shows on the same day plus:

• An entrée and dessert, or a full buffet (if applicable), and a nonalcoholic drink (or an alcoholic drink for Guests ages 21+) at most restaurants
• Two small plates, a shared tagine, a shared dessert platter, and a nonalcoholic drink (or an alcoholic drink for Guests ages 21+) at Spice Road Table

2022 Dining Package Ticket

These packages open on October 14th, and you can choose from the following restaurants:

• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $87 / Child $59
• Biergarten Restaurant
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $75 / Child $40
• Chefs de France
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $89 / Child $37
• Coral Reef Restaurant
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $82 / Child $34
• Garden Grill
  • Breakfast: Adult $73 / Child $46
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $86 / Child $55
• La Crêperie de Paris
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $59 / Child $31
• La Hacienda de San Ángel
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $86 / Child $37
• Le Cellier
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $109 / Child $44
• Nine Dragons Restaurant
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $70 / Child $30
• Rose & Crown Dining Room
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $68 / Child $31
• Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $85 / Child $40
• Spice Road Table
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $63 / Child $26
• Teppan Edo
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $89 / Child $40
• Tutto Italia Ristorante
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $85 / Child $36
• Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria
  • Lunch and Dinner: Adult $71 / Child $33

Adults are considered ages 10 and up while children are ages 3 to 9.

Candlelight Processional Dining Package Sign

You can also try to get same-day dining package reservations at Regal Eagle Smokehouse, which costs $43 per adult and $26 per child, and these sell out FAST, so make sure you’re lined up early to secure one!

Regal Eagle Dining Packages

Wondering which day to grab a dining package for? Here is the list of narrators, so you know what day to reserve when you’re booking your package:

• Nov. 27 & 28 – Auli‘i Cravalho
• Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 – Gary Sinise
• Dec. 2 & 3 – To Be Announced
• Dec. 4 & 5 – Whoopi Goldberg
• Dec. 6 & 7 – Robin Roberts (NEW)
• Dec. 8 & 9 – Jason Kelce (NEW)
• Dec. 10 – 12 – Neil Patrick Harris
• Dec. 13 & 14 – To Be Announced
• Dec. 15 & 16 – Lauren Daigle
• Dec. 17 – 19 – Ralph Macchio
• Dec. 20 & 21 – Henry Winkler
• Dec. 22 & 23 – Lacey Chabert (NEW)
• Dec. 24 & 25 – Jodi Benson
• Dec. 26 & 27 – Simu Liu
• Dec. 28 – 30 – Eva Longoria

Auli’i Cravalho at the Candlelight Processional

These narrators are joined by a 51-piece orchestra, the Voices of Liberty, and a choir of more than 150 Disney Cast Members and community singers. It’s truly a must-do each year since each narrator brings their own unique touch as they tell the story of Christmas. Year after year, I still shed tears because of how beautiful this performance is.

Candlelight Processional

We’ll keep you updated with the available dates as they sell out, so stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more Disney news, updates, tips, and tricks!

SNEAK PEEK at Disney’s 2026 Holiday Collection (Looks Like I’m Buying ANOTHER Backpack)

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• The COMPLETE schedule of events for the Holiday Season
• How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!)
• ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM.
• And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat!

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MORE Disney World Holiday INFO!

• Learn About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

• Get the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

• Get All the Details About Disney Jollywood Nights

• Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events

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Are you headed to the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays this year? Let us know in the comments below!

]]> https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2026/10/11/mark-your-calendars-october-14th-is-a-big-day-for-epcot-festival-fans/feed/ 0 https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2026/10/11/this-disney-world-hotel-refurbishment-is-officially-behind-schedule/ https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2026/10/11/this-disney-world-hotel-refurbishment-is-officially-behind-schedule/#respond Sun, 11 Oct 2026 13:49:01 +0000 https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/?p=1172754 We’ve said it before, and you’ll hear us say it 14 million more times — construction is ALL OVER Disney World, and that’s not stopping anytime soon. So, yes, get used to seeing all those walls and lovely green bushes in basically every park and numerous hotels, because they’ll be sticking around for the foreseeable future.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge has been the home of some pretty large refurbishment projects for the past few months, and while part of it is complete and looks great, it’s far from fully complete. So just what part of the hotel has reopened? Well, it’s a little tricky, so we’re here to walk you through it.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the most gorgeous hotels on property, if you ask us, and so while we’re looking forward to it getting updates, it does mean one of our favorite hotels isn’t looking its best for the time being. There are three major refurbishments the hotel has been working on since August and September, and another one is set to start later this month. Those are:

• August 17th through October 9th: The main lobby and primary entrance will be closed. Check-in will move to the Palace Library during this time.
• September 28th through October 9th: The north side lobby corridor will be closed. During this time, the north side lobby elevators on the second floor and the outdoor terrace observation deck will be unavailable.
• October 26th through November 6th: The south side lobby corridor will be closed. During this time, Community Hall, Safari So Good Arcade, the laundry room, the Palace Library, lobby restrooms, and the outdoor terrace observation deck will be unavailable.

Kidani Village construction

We went to check out the lobby on October 10th, when two of these projects were supposed to finish up. We found that the section of the lobby closest to the back savanna has reopened, which includes the refurbished stairs, giving guests access between the lobby level, Sanaa, and the savanna. This also opens up the walking path between the two sides of the resort, so there’s now one continuous indoor path to the temporary store in the Palace Library. You no longer have to go outside and come back in to get there, which is a great thing for rainy days, or when it’s late at night.

The refurbished stairs!

We actually ended up being one of the first guests to walk across this new section, because we caught the last moments of Cast Members sweeping and mopping the floor in anticipation of the reopening. We were right behind a family who was led by a Disney leader, so it was pretty special!

Look at that floor!

However, the rest of the lobby and Johari Treasures refurbishment is far from complete. Cast Members don’t have an estimate for when it will be finished, but it definitely won’t be soon, based on the level of construction we still saw. This means that the October 9th opening date definitely isn’t the case, so we’re curious to see just how much longer this part will take, and if Disney will update their page with a new date. Currently, the Disney World website just lists, “From May 2026 through January 2027, Guest rooms at Jambo House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will undergo refurbishment,” so there’s no mention of the ongoing lobby refurbishment.

It’ll still be a while for the rest of it

Want to see what Animal Kingdom Lodge is like when it’s at its prime? Check out our video below!

Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news!

I’ve Stayed in Every Disney World Hotel and These Are the 8 Best for Summer 2027

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Have you stayed at this hotel before? Tell us in the comments!

]]> https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2026/10/11/this-disney-world-hotel-refurbishment-is-officially-behind-schedule/feed/ 0 https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2026/10/10/disney-world-wait-times-we-did-not-expect-this-park-to-have-the-highest-wait-times-this-week/ https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2026/10/10/disney-world-wait-times-we-did-not-expect-this-park-to-have-the-highest-wait-times-this-week/#respond Sat, 10 Oct 2026 22:00:35 +0000 https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/?p=1172408 Every week, we report average Disney World wait times in all four parks so that you can prepare for your next trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth!

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Disney World wait times are unpredictable, and that’s especially true now that Halloween and spooky season are in full swing at the parks.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind continued dominating Disney World wait times this week, with an average wait OVER an hour!! With Test Track close behind, EPCOT was overwhelmingly the busiest Disney World park.

Magic Kingdom

TRON Lightcycle / Run

• TRON Lightcycle / Run — 46 minutes
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train —  36 minutes
• Peter Pan’s Flight — 33 minutes
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin — 27 minutes
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — 23 minutes
• Jungle Cruise — 23 minutes
• Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — 23 minutes
• Space Mountain —  22 minutes
• Haunted Mansion — 21 minutes
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — 18 minutes
• Enchanted Tales with Belle — 15 minutes
• Pirates of the Caribbean — 12 minutes
• The Hall of Presidents — 12 minutes
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic — 12 minutes
• Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid — 11 minutes

Astro Orbiter

• Astro Orbiter — 10 minutes
• “it’s a small world” — 10 minutes
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant — 10 minutes
• Enchanted Tiki Room —  10 minutes
• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor — 10 minutes
• Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini — 9 minutes
• Country Bear Jamboree — 9 minutes
• Tomorrowland Speedway —  9 minutes
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin — 8 minutes
• Mad Tea Party — 7 minutes
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover —  6 minutes
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel — 6 minutes
• Swiss Family Treehouse —  4 minutes

7 Major Changes Coming to Disney World in October

EPCOT Wait Times

Guardians of the Galaxy: Comic Rewind

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — 71 minutes
• Test Track —  61 minutes
• Frozen Ever After —  52 minutes
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure — 46 minutes
• Soarin’ Across America —  26 minutes
• Mission: SPACE — 16 minutes
• Turtle Talk with Crush — 15 minutes
• Living with the Land — 14 minutes
• Canada Far and Wide — 13 minutes
• Spaceship Earth — 12 minutes
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends —  12 minutes
• Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along — 12 minutes
• Reflections of China — 10 minutes
• Impressions de France — 9 minutes
• Journey into Imagination —  8 minutes
• Gran Fiesta Tour — 7 minutes

The Misadventures of Tiny Train Town in EPCOT

Animal Kingdom Wait Times

Flight of Passage Scenery

• Avatar Flight of Passage —  42 minutes
• Na’vi River Journey —  31 minutes
• Kilimanjaro Safaris — 27 minutes
• Expedition Everest — 19 minutes
• Bluey’s Wild World — 19 minutes
• Kali River Rapids —  13 minutes
• Zootopia: Better Zoogether — 11 minutes

Could Disney’s Animal Kingdom Be Getting a MASSIVE Upgrade?

Hollywood Studios Wait Times

Slinky Dog Dash

• Slinky Dog Dash — 55 minutes
• Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets —  44 minutes
• Rise of the Resistance — 41 minutes
• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway — 37 minutes
• Toy Story Mania — 36 minutes
• Tower of Terror — 34 minutes
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — 24 minutes
• Alien Swirling Saucers — 22 minutes
• Vacation Fun — An Original Animated Short with Mickey and Minnie — 9 minutes
• Star Tours — 5 minutes

Walt Disney Presents had no wait times this week.

18 NEW Hidden Details Inside Hollywood Studios (Including a Robin Williams Easter Egg!)

Stay tuned to DFB for more updates from Disney World!

Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts, and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation.

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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

How long would you wait for your favorite ride? Let us know in the comments below!

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