food IS a theme park
Happy Holidays, DFB readers.
Savory Tanzanian Pie at Harambe Market
Well, Christmas has come and gone in Disney World, but we’re still looking forward to New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Who can believe that 2025 is almost here? Now, 2025 is going to be a VERY busy year in Disney World, so we’re going to keep things chill as we wind down 2024. But that doesn’t mean Disney ISN’T busy making changes NOW. So we’ve got some Disney World restaurant menu changes to tell you about.
Tis the season…the holiday season in Disney World. And you know what that means…other than the awesome decorations, all the great snacks, and Jollywood Nights and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
It means that it’s also the time of the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, which brings in celebrity narrators for the Candlelight Processional. Now, those celebrities just don’t usually attend the Candelight Processional — many of them take the opportunity to spend some time in Disney World outside of their EPCOT duties. One such celebrity recently hosted the Candlelight Processional and spent some time with her family taking what very well could be a Christmas card photo at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
So it’s been a bit of a quiet week — at least when it comes to food — in Disney World.
Ice cream in EPCOT
But that’s okay because we’ve been busy exploring Disney’s newest hotel expansion, Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. One of the BEST parts of exploring this new property, though, was getting a chance to eat at Wailulu Bar & Grill, the tower’s quick-service restaurant — let’s just say we were impressed (you can read the full review here). However, other Disney World restaurants had some changes this week, so let’s see what’s been updated.
It’s no secret that a LOT changed in Disney World after 2020. After the resort’s historic closure due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, it reopened, although not EVERYTHING reopened with it.
Restaurant Marrakesh
Here’s the thing: although it took some restaurants YEARS to return, most of the restaurants throughout Disney World have come back in some way or another. We’ve even had some new restaurants pop up at the parks, the hotels, and in Disney Springs. But, believe it or not, almost FIVE YEARS after the reopening, there are still some Disney World restaurants that have not yet reopened — and we’re starting to think they’re closed forever.
The holiday season has arrived in Disney World — and you know what that means.
Tree at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
It means that all the parks and hotels are now decked out in holiday decorations with gorgeous Christmas trees. It also means that holiday snacks have arrived (probably our FAVORITE part of the holiday season). And it means the gingerbread displays are up at Disney World hotels, meaning that a lot of people will be visiting those hotels. However, we have a word of warning if you plan on visiting the most popular hotel gingerbread display.
The holiday season is in FULL effect in Disney World. The decorations are OUT, the trees are lit, and the snacks and drinks are flowing.
Tree at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Of course, our favorite part of this season IS the snacks, and there are a WHOLE lot of new ones to try this year — and the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays hasn’t even started yet and there will be even MORE snacks to try. However, we’re trying to make our way around Disney World hotels to check out those new holiday snacks, and we’ve got a sweet treat to tell you about at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
It’s been a great week in Disney World, especially when it comes to food.
Meal at Nine Dragons
Mostly, we’re just excited that we finally got the menus for the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, which starts on November 29th — and yes, we’ll be running around EPCOT all day eating EVERYTHING. We also tried some new menu items at Sci-Fi Dine In in Hollywood Studios. We also spent some time researching Disney World restaurant menus, and we’ve got some changes to tell you about.
Not all Disney World perks are created equal!
Grand Floridian
As any Disney World guest who’s visited the resort knows, there are countless levels of perks available across the property. Recently, we checked in on one of the most opulent and were surprised at what we learned!
Happy Holidays from DFB. The holiday season is officially in FULL swing at Disney World now that the holiday decorations are up, the hotel gingerbread displays are ready, and the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in Magic Kingdom has happened.
Mickey Linzer cookie
We’ve been busy checking out all the holiday snacks around Disney World, too. BUT we’re doing our weekly thing where we take a look at Disney World restaurant menus to see what’s changed — and we’ve got some updates to share with you this week.
The holidays will be here before we know it, and that’s especially true at Disney World!
It’s almost time for the holidays in Disney World!
It’s not quite Halloween yet, but we know that as soon as the clock strikes midnight on Nov. 1, it will be *poof* Christmas everywhere! Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party starts on November 8th (and Magic Kingdom is already selling out for that date!), and Jollywood Nights begins the very next night — November 9th. But today, we’re already seeing a major Disney World holiday tradition in the works!
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