Ramen Rumble Returns to Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs

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January 13, 2024

Get ready, foodies! The Ramen Rumble is coming back to Disney Springs on January 22nd, and this years event is shaping up to be bigger than ever! Hosted by Morimoto Asia, this thrilling culinary competition is where some of the best chefs in the community showcase their ramen-making skills.

Ramen Rumble isn’t just any food contest; it’s a battle to be crowned the ‘Ramen Royalty of Central Florida’ and win the coveted ‘Broth Belt’ trophy. Five talented chefs are gearing up to impress guests with their unique ramen styles, complete with creative toppings and textures. This year’s lineup includes Chef Wendy Lopez of Reyes Mezcaleria, Chef Yoko Takagi of Ramen Takagi, Chef Lewin Lin of Susuru, Chef Sonny Nguyen of Domu, and Chef Takeshi Ikeuchi of Morimoto Asia. They’re all set to bring their A-game to the table!

Unforgettable Mother's Day Luau at Morimoto Asia

Organized in partnership with Sue & Jason Chin of Good Salt Restaurant Group, this event is about more than just amazing food. A portion of the proceeds will go to Give Kids the World, making it a win-win for everyone. There are still tickets available for the 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. seating. Prices start at $95++ for general admission and go up to $650++ for a VIP Booth. Hurry and grab your tickets before they’re all gone – this is one culinary showdown you won’t want to miss!

Scaffolding Goes Up in the UK Pavilion at EPCOT

By

Chris B

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January 13, 2024

Exciting changes are on the horizon at the UK Pavilion in Epcot, as we recently noticed scaffolding rising along the backside of The Tea Caddy gift shop. . While the reason behind the scaffolding hasn’t been officially announced, it’s likely there for refurbishment work on the exterior of the buildings, a common practice to keep the park looking its best.

The archway leading into the pavilions gardens, as well as the back door of the Tea Caddy shop, have been blocked off. The gardens are currently open to guests during the refurbishment.

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No official word from Disney on the duration of the work, nor the exact scope.

Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel specializing in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!

We Ventured on the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine at the Festival of the Arts

By

Chris B

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January 13, 2024

Celebrating the Festival of the Arts at Disney is always a treat, but this year’s ‘Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine‘ is bringing a whole new level of fun to the event! . From snacks that look like they jumped out of a bright painting, to sips and bites that surprise your taste buds, this walk has it all. If you’re visiting the festival, get ready to fill your day with colors and flavors that are as awesome to eat as they are to look at!

The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine at the Festival of the Arts is a food lover’s dream, offering a trail of artistically presented dishes, each representing a different color of the rainbow. To complete the wonderful walk, you need to pick up your Festival Passport, which lists the sweet and savory offerings available on the Wonderful Walk. You then need to purchase one food item from 5 of the listed locations, and receive a stamp. Once you have collected 5 stamps in your passport, you then just need to take it to Deco Delights Food Studio near Port of Entry to receive a complimentary Artist Palette Cookie!

If you are unable to snag all of the stamps in one visit, you can bring your passport back on a different day to complete the journey!

You will have seven items to select from on your journey to obtain your five stamps. Pop Eats serves up a classic comfort food duo with their Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese, alongside a creative twist featuring Tomato Soup with Pimento Cheese, Bacon, and Fried Green Tomato Grilled Cheese. Vibrante & Vívido offers a flavorful Chorizo and Potato Empanada, accompanied by Turmeric and Annatto Aïoli.

For a touch of elegance, Gourmet Landscapes is serving up Verjus-Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese, Petite Lettuce, Blackberry Gastrique, and Spiced Pecans. The Deconstructed Dish cleverly reimagines a dessert favorite with their Deconstructed Key Lime Pie. Deco Delights brings a visually stunning Neapolitan Dessert Trio to the table. And lastly, Figment’s Inspiration Station captures the imagination with a Blueberry-Filled Pastry Tart, complete with Purple Icing.

Have you had a chance to participate in Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine? Leave us a comment to let us know all about your experience!

Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel specializing in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!

New S’Mores Treats Arrive at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

By

Chris B

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January 13, 2024

Have you heard the delicious new buzz from Disney’s Animal Kingdom? A trio of new treats have landed in the park that provide a fun take on everyone’s favorite campfire snack-S’mores! These additions to the park’s diverse food offerings are proving to be a crowd-pleaser.

Your S’mores entree is the S’mores Dessert Pizza over at Terra Treats. This snack stand on Discovery Island is cooking up this dessert, which features a pizza base topped with chocolate, graham cracker crumbles, and toasted marshmallows.

You can wash down your S’Mores Pizza with the S’moresosauras Shake which is being served over at Restaurantosaurus in DinoLand U.S.A. This Vanilla Shakeshake is as fun to eat as it is to look at, and is made with Chocolate and Caramel Drizzle that is topped with a Chocolate-dipped S’more, Toasted Marshmallows, and Graham Cracker Crumbs. The cup is rimmed with Chocolate Fudge Sauce and Graham Cracker Crumbs to provide even more S’mores flavor!

Our S’mores journey at Animal Kingdom wraps up at Tamu Tamu Refreshments, which has a S’Mores Churro on the menu. These amazing and delicate churros are topped with marshmallow, graham crackers, and chocolate chips, and even come with a dipping sauce to provide an extra dose of deliciousness.

Have you had the chance to check out these new S’mores snacks at Animal Kingdom? Leave us a comment to let us know what you think!

Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel specializing in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!

Pixar Studios to Undergo Reported Layoffs

By

Marc Valentine

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January 13, 2024

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Pixar Studios will experience layoffs in 2024

Pixar Studios to Undergo Reported Layoffs

Pixar, the animation studio owned by Disney, is set to experience layoffs this year, as confirmed by the company. While initial reports suggested significant reductions of up to 20%, lowering Pixar’s team from 1,300 to under 1,000, the studio disputes these numbers. Pixar stated that the actual impact is still under assessment, considering factors such as production schedules and staffing for upcoming approved projects.

The layoffs are not immediate but are expected later in the year, aligning with Pixar’s shift towards producing fewer contents. Insider information suggests that the layoffs encompass employees hired for Disney+, a move encouraged by Disney for Pixar to contribute to its streaming division, which has not yet generated profits.

In Q4, Disney+ exceeded expectations by adding 7 million subscribers, reaching a total of 150.2 million, including Hotstar. Notably, over 50% of new U.S. customers opted for the ad-supported Disney+ product, contributing to a growth of 2 million ad-supported subscribers, totaling 5.2 million.

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Disney anticipates turning its streaming service profitable by Q4 2024, attributing this achievement to the company’s “restructuring” efforts that resulted in significant operational efficiencies, as highlighted by CEO Bob Iger in an earnings call with investors. The streaming losses have been curtailed, with Disney+ reporting a decrease from nearly $1.5 billion in Q4 2022 to “just” $387 million in Q4 2023.

During the quarter, Disney+ featured popular titles like Pixar’s “Elemental,” alongside releases from Disney and Marvel such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” Despite its initial classification as a box office disappointment and one of Pixar’s weakest debuts in 28 years, “Elemental” emerged as the most-watched film on Disney+ in the quarter, grossing half a billion worldwide. This success contrasts with earlier underperforming titles like “Lightyear” and “Onward,” prompting Disney to reconsider its approach to film releases.

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In the upcoming year, the animation studio plans to unveil a sequel to “Inside Out,” followed by the release of “Elio” in 2025—a new film centered around a boy embarking on an intergalactic adventure. Can Pixar bounce back as the animation juggernaut given the steep competition it faces from Universal and DreamWorks? We will have to revisit the studio at year’s end to see if it still has it’s magic.

What can Disney do to get its box office mojo back? Let us know your thoughts in a comment.

The Sketch Pad Café Now Open at Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel

By

Sara

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January 12, 2024

The Sketch Pad Café Now Open at Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel

A new dining location at Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel is now open! Guests can enjoy quick eats and drinks at Sketch Pad Café.

Sketch Pad Cafe is a Pixar-themed, quick-service restaurant—brimming with delightful sketches that track the development of beloved Pixar characters. Guests can grab a quick bite and drink from the cafe. Choose a delicious breakfast pastry—croissants, bagels, muffins and breads—from the renowned Röckenwagner Bakery. Or try one of the sweets offered, including Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies and the Salted Caramel Brownie. And be energized from one of a variety of fine coffees, espressos, teas and juices.

Heat up a Mini Frittata—made of cheese and egg, or specially created either for vegetarians or meat lovers. Or try the Avocado Toast or Pizza Bagel.

Grab a Balance Box—with roasted garlic hummus, pita bread, veggies and a hard-boiled egg. Pick up the Adult Snackable—with meat, cheese and crackers. Enjoy the Coconut Chia Yogurt Parfait, Overnight Oats or a Fresh Fruit Cup. Or select a tasty meal from a variety of packaged sandwiches and salads.

Check out the fresh fruit, string cheese, yogurt cups, packaged snacks and more—available throughout the day!

The hotel will officially become the Pixar Place Hotel on January 30! Do you want to stay here during your next Disneyland vacation?

If you’d like help planning your next Disneyland trip, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel and my services are free.

Crazy Chocolate Funnel Cake Sandwich is a Wonderful Sweet Treat at Festival of the Arts

By

Sara

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January 12, 2024

Crazy Chocolate Funnel Cake Sandwich is a Wonderful Sweet Treat at Festival of the Arts

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts features some tasty and colorful treats this year. We recently got to try the Chocolate Funnel Cake Sandwich and it is a delicious sweet treat!

We found this sweet little treat at the Funnel Cake Stand in the American Adventure Pavilion. The item is two mini chocolate funnel cakes sandwiched with vanilla ice cream, plus rainbow whipped cream, strawberry sauce, powdered sugar, and sprinkles. It’s a festival-exclusive item and is $12.

The strawberry sauce and sprinkles add pops of color to the treat. The chocolate flavor was subtle and the sauce added a nice fruit flavor. The powdered sugar and whipped topping both add a good sweetness to the dessert.

It was super yummy and the perfect size for sharing.

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Is the funnel cake something you’d like to try during Festival of the Arts?

If you’d like to plan your visit to the Epcot Festival of the Arts, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are free, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation.

New Mickey Mouse Gold Heart Earrings By BaubleBar Perfect For Valentine’s Day!

By

Ana Leal

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January 12, 2024

New Mickey Mouse Gold Heart Earrings By BaubleBar Perfect For Valentine’s Day!

These new Mickey Mouse Gold Heart Earrings by BaubleBar are stunning! You can get them at BaubleBar.com for $48 and add a romantic touch to your style.

These earrings feature Mickey with love hearts literally sitting on his head fully colored in gold making this statement piece pair well with any outfit!

Adorable Valentines Day Minnie Ears For A Romantic Style!

By

Ana Leal

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January 12, 2024

Adorable Valentines Day Minnie Ears For A Romantic Style!

We are in love with these Valentines Day Minnie Ears created by MouseGoalsShop on Etsy for $37+. You can order yours here!

The ear headbands feature metallic and sparkly pink or red ears with a little heart in a contrast color on the front and a big ribbon bow on the back that will add a romantic and girly touch to your style!

New Pink Mickey Mouse Disney Heart Earrings By BaubleBar For Valentine’s Day!

By

Ana Leal

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January 12, 2024

New Pink Mickey Mouse Disney Heart Earrings By BaubleBar For Valentine’s Day!

How adorable and romantic are these Pink Mickey Mouse Disney Heart Earrings by BaubleBar? They are perfect for this Valentine’s Day! You can get them at BaubleBar.com for $58.

When you wish upon a star, don’t you wish for earrings as shiny as these statement earrings? They feature Mickey Mouse icons and a heart covered in different shades of pink pavé stones making these earrings the sparkliest of stars. So cute!

Credit: BaubleBar

New Stitch Spirit Jersey Available Now At Magic Kingdom!

By

Ana Leal

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January 12, 2024

New Stitch Spirit Jersey Available Now At Magic Kingdom!

We recently spotted this new Stitch Spirit Jersey at Magic Kingdom for $79.99, is perfect for Stitch fans plus the neutral color makes it a great addition to your wardrobe.

It features a navy blue color with Stitch taking a bite of the retro Disney World logo on the front, and Stitch scratching the Walt Disney World logo on the back.

You can take a closer look at it in our Instagram post:

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Cinderella Castle Black And Gold Ear Headband Available At Magic Kingdom!

By

Ana Leal

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January 12, 2024

Cinderella Castle Black And Gold Ear Headband Available At Magic Kingdom!

We recently spotted this Cinderella Castle Black And Gold Ear Headband at Magic Kingdom for $34.99! They are gorgeous, definitely worth adding to your collection.

The headband features black sequined ears with Cinderella Castle and the Mickey Disney World logo in gold on one ear. It also features a black sequined bow with a gold Cinderella Castle charm in the middle.

You can take a closer look at this ear headband and other products in this collection in our Instagram post:

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