Hello, friends! Well, we’d be remiss if we didn’t start out this post by wishing THIS GUY a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Mickey Mouse was presented to the world with the premiere of the animated short “Steamboat Willie” on November 18, 1928. And our favorite Mouse will be joining us all around the World today for our November edition of What’s New!

All Around the World

The Holiday Season is upon us!

Or at least in Disney World, it sure is! Everywhere you look, snacks and merchandise are taking on festive hues of red and green at confectionery stops and shops all over the World.

Keep an eye out at the confectionery spots like Big Top Treats, Sweet Spells, Main Street Confectionery and the like for the Sandy Claws Caramel Apple.

And Counter Service locations are currently serving up drinks in this Jeff Granito-designed Walt Disney World-specific holiday cup (as opposed to the previous all Disney Parks version)!

Ditto for the Popcorn Carts around the World, with the new holiday Popcorn Containers.

The Refillable Popcorn Bucket program (which was most recently predicted to end on October 31st) has been extended yet again. We found this Holiday Design at Animal Kingdom!

These new Christmas Tree Tins not only contain a bunch of Mickey Mouse Shortbread Rounds — they also wind up, play music, and spin! We’ll have a post all about this one soon!

If you are searching for a gift for that popcorn fan in your life, Main Street Popcorn is now also available in large Combo Tins.

They include Caramel, Kettle, and Cheddar Cheese Popcorn for $13.99.

And the pre-packaged Shortbread Character Cookies that have started popping up just about everywhere are now available in Princess versions, too.

Magic Kingdom

Holiday Fun

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

is in full swing on select dates in the Magic Kingdom!

Special treats for the Party this year include the Holiday Wish Red Velvet and Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes, which you can find at Main Street Bakery (though sometimes the Bakery serves these all day on party days!).

Read about all the Party-exclusive treats (including expanded complimentary cookie options for this year!) here.

Even if you aren’t attending the party, all park guests can enjoy the return of the gorgeous holiday decorations around the park.

Even the Beast is getting into the spirit with the BEAUTIFUL Christmas Tree inside his Castle at Be Our Guest Restaurant.

And everyone can take a trip on the Jungle — I mean, JINGLE — Cruise, too, in…

Adventureland

After your yuletide trip down those treacherous waters, you’ll have earned some rest and relaxation. So it might be a good time to take in a bite to eat at the Jungle Skipper Canteen, where some brand new Souvenir Mugs — filled with your choice of Schweitzer Slush or Punch Line Punch — have hit the scene!

Liberty Square

Meanwhile, in Liberty Square, Turkey Legs can now be found — in place of Baked Potatoes — at Liberty Square Market.

The Baked Potatoes can currently be found instead at the nearby Sleepy Hollow Refreshments, served with butter, sour cream, and shredded cheese on the side.

Read up on the recent changes to the Liberty Tree Tavern menu, where the All-You-Care-To-Eat Patriot’s Platter is now available for lunch as well as dinner, in addition to lunch-only a la carte items.

Seafood Macaroni and Cheese has returned in the form of Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese to Columbia Harbour House.

Baked Chicken Breast and Shrimp can also now be found on the menu.

Tomorrowland

Going from the past into TOMORROW, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe has two new additions to the menu with the Grilled Chicken Club served with Macaroni and Cheese and Green Beans and the 1/2 Chicken and Pulled Pork Combo.

Fun additions to the Toppings Bar include Crispy Onions and Sriracha Aioli.

And Sonny Eclispe has been joined by a fellow space pal…

… since the popular BB-8 Souvenir Cups typically available in Hollywood Studios can now be found at Cosmic Ray’s as well.

Fantasyland

In Pinocchio Village Haus Restaurant, the Chicken Parmesan Pasta and Sandwich are now available for both lunch AND dinner.

Main Street, U.S.A.

Returning to the very front of the park, a House Salad has replaced the Insalata Fresca at Tony’s Town Square, and an Italian Cheese Dip has joined the Appetizer list.

New entrees include Baked Rigatoni, a Pork Chop and the Vegetarian Pizza.

And keep an eye our for Olaf-themed Cotton Candy at the Main Street, U.S.A. Popcorn Cart, as well as other snacks stands around the park!

Hollywood Studios

Catch the Birthday Boy in his holiday finest with the return of Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine!

His best gal Minnie, of course, is your Hostess (also joined by Donald, Daisy, and Santa Goofy).

Read all about this yuletide version of Minnie’s Seasonal Dine here! Don’t they fit in perfectly with all the holiday decor at the Studios?

Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! — the new holiday nighttime spectacular — made its debut on November 14th!

And all sorts of festive holiday eats have arrived just in time for the big show!

This is especially evident at Sunshine Day Cafe — located in Sunset Ranch Market — where a Seasonal Menu offering all sorts of festive goodies and drinks has hit the scene!

We’ll be taking a closer look at some of these options soon, but for now here’s a peek at a few!

The main stage for the spectacular, by the way, is located not too far from the location of a new Food and Beverage Marketplace coming to the Studios.

You’ll also be able to find a NEW holiday cupcake at the Studios this season! This Chocolate Cupcake with Peppermint Bark can be yours at ABC Commissary.

BUT Trolley Car Cafe has not yet forgotten we have a wee bit of autumn left 😉 , as evidenced by the Autumn Harvest Cupcake.

The menu at Fairfax Fare has received a fairly big update. Gone is the Tri-Tip Beef One-Pound Baked Potato and the previous Barbecue items.

In their place are an Empanadas Platter, El Pastor Pulled Pork Sandwich, and a Fajita Combo Platter along with a few carryovers from the former menu.

And don’t forget that PizzeRizzo opens on November 18th… that’s THIS FRIDAY, folks!!

Be sure to read up on the menu — and some fun aspects of the new atmosphere — before your first visit! And in the meantime, check out what it looks like with the construction walls down!

Quirky Muppets humor, of course, plays a huge part in the setting, with the signs and painted sentiments on the outside walls.

The neon Pizza signs and curtains showing through the windows fit right in with the city-scape area that the recently dubbed Muppets Courtyard carries over from what used to be known as the Streets of America section of the park.

And, as promised, there is plenty of expanded seating outside (though we’re most curious regarding the indoor seating, where a wedding reception is said to be taking place…)

Oh! And here is the full menu so you can start to consider your order in advance 🙂 .

Of course, maybe you’ve had a chance to peruse it already. After all, according to the menu, PizzeRizzo has been “Giving You The Business Since 1908.” 😉

Epcot

Hello from Mickey at Epcot’s Garden Grill!

Holidays Around the World at Epcot starts the day after Thanksgiving, November 25th. Along with the return of Holiday Storytellers and the Candlelight Processional,  new additions are coming to the celebration in the form of MORE FOOD!

Think something like the Epcot Food and Wine Festival with a seasonal twist when it comes to new booths on the way such as Alpine Haus, American Holiday Table, and Feast of the Three Kings.

Learn all about these — and more! — here.

And at long last, the full narrator list for the Candlelight Processional is complete. Anthony Mackie will narrate the presentation of the Christmas Story accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and choir on December 7th through 9th.

Click here to find the complete list of narrators along with information on the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages for 2016.

Le Cellier Steakhouse is now offering a prix fixe lunch menu — along with standard a la carte options —  from 11:15 am – 2:30 pm daily. Your choice of appetizer, entree, and dessert include options such as the popular Cheddar Cheese Soup and a new Wagyu Beef Burger ‘Oscar’.

And the Maple Creme Brûlée is one of the dessert options, too!

Animal Kingdom

Mickey says “Jambo!” from Animal Kingdom’s Tusker House Restaurant!

Seasonal items such as Gingerbread Loaf, the Cranberry Bliss Bar and Holiday Cake Pops can be spotted in the bakery case at Creature Comforts and other Starbucks locations throughout Disney World.

They’re now also serving the same Turtle Brownie that is a dessert and snack option at Restaurantosaurus.

And for another sweet treat, a new option is now available at some of the park’s Ice Cream Carts: the Outshine brand Creamy Coconut Frozen Fruit Bar.

Disney Springs

If you’re planning on doing some serious holiday shopping in Disney Springs, then you’ll also need some serious sustenance!

The Marketplace

Look for new options on the Rainforest Cafe menu to include a Mushroom and Spinach Flatbread, and a Parrilla Veggie Flatbread.

The Kale and Red Quinoa Salad is also new.

AristoCrepes has gone through a variety of updates over the past month.

Rather than a full menu dedicated to both sweet and savory crepes, currently a selection of just sweet crepes is available, including the S’mores Crepe and Strawberries and Cream Crepe (and — just for the season — a Gingerbread Cheesecake Crepe).

The menu has also been expanded to include a few park staples (popcorn and soft pretzels among them), along with a selection of seasonal beverages which for now include flavored Hot Cocoas and Seasonal Brews.

Savory Crepes, on the other hand, can now be found in…

Town Center

Amorette’s Patisserie

is the new home to Savory Crepes in Disney Springs, including Ham and Cheese and Caprese Crepes.

There is also a sweet option with the Banana and Hazelnut Crepe.

The Landing

Last month we mentioned the new Dim Sum Brunch at Morimoto Asia, and this month we got to experience it!

Current seasonal drinks options also include the delicious Nashi Pear Margarita made with Maestro Dobel Tequila, Asian pear purée, fresh lime juice and Cointreau.

The Ganachery is now offering a Chocolatier’s Special of  a complimentary chocolate bar with the purchase of 16-piece Ganache Box.

And Stollen is back for the holiday season!

Check out this display at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar.

It features some of the spot’s Souvenir Glasses for sale on their own.

Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC posted a menu outside to help guests more readily find the gluten-free and vegan options available to them.

While we’re here 😉 , let’s take a gander at the Red Velvet Cupcakes…

… along with the new Milkshakes menu.

West Side

There is a updated process to ordering at the Disney Food Trucks located in Exposition Park.

Rather than go directly to your Food Truck of interest, you can now review the menus for each truck in one dedicated ordering area for all the trucks in the area that day, then visit the specific truck that serves your meal for pickup.

If you stop by, you’ll notice that World Showcase of Flavors, which previously featured tastes from the Epcot Food and Wine Festival year-round, has received a complete menu makeover in favor of a variety of Tacos.

Exposition Park also has a new Beer Stand with craft beers on tap, featuring (at this time) a couple of local brews with Reef Donkey from Tampa, and 3 Daughters from St. Petersburg, FL along with Yuengling and Sierra Nevada.

The YeSake kiosk now offers Build Your Own customizable options. Your choice of base is a Rice Bowl, an Udon Noodle Bowl, or a Wrap paired with Ahi Tuna or Salmon, Cooked Shrimp, Yakiniku Beef, or Grilled Chicken.

Topping options include — but aren’t limited to — seaweed salad, pico de gallo, pickled red ginger, tempura crunch, cabbage, and jalapeño, while sauces include sweet teriyaki, sesame ginger, and wasabi ponzu, among others.

Resorts

Refillable Resort Mugs

Have you heard the word? The Refillable Resort Mugs options have changed YET AGAIN! Some Resorts are now carrying them with handles once more!

And a pink top and handle is now among the color choices.

Were you a fan of the handle-free design that debuted this summer? Well, we’ve learned from Cast Members that the plan moving forward is to include BOTH mugs with and without handles. Read all about it here!

Grand Floridian

Evenings at the Grand Floridian now include the Garden View Champagne and Wine Lounge from 7:00 – 10:00 pm, featuring small bites that pair well with the selections of wine and champagne.

Don’t forget: the refurbishment of Gasparilla Island Grill is still underway through mid-December.

Grab and Go and additional Counter Service options continue to be available at spots like Mizner’s Lounge and Beaches Pool Bar in the meantime.

At Citricos, the Yellowtail Red Snapper has replaced the Halibut, and the Ratatouille is now made with quinoa instead of tofu.

But perhaps the most anticipated thing at the Grand Floridian is the return of the Holiday Gingerbread House! This Grand Floridian tradition — which is an actual working snack stop in addition to being a wonderful decoration — will open on November 16th.

Here is a glimpse at some of the work the elves (in the guise of Pastry Chefs) had completed on our last visit!

Contemporary Resort

Of course, the Grand Floridian isn’t the only Deluxe Disney Resort preparing their larger-than-life Gingerbread creations. The Contemporary was also finalizing the scene for the annual Frozen Gingerbread Display on our recent trip!

Located right next to the display, the Contempo Cafe has received a menu update, too.

New items include Peasant Salad, Barbecued Chicken Cobb Salad, a Sustainable Catch, a Chicago-styled Italian Beef Sub, the Contempo Smokehouse Burger, Braised Beef Grilled Cheese (Sign me up!), and an American Wagyu Beef Slider Duo.

Keep your eyes peeled for a vanilla Villain Cupcake in Contempo’s Cupcake Fridge!

Thanksgiving Day will feature a special Pumpkin Cupcake with Cherry Pie filling. And on December 5th only, you will be able to enjoy a Lemon Meringue Cupcake in honor of another very important birthday: Walt Disney’s!

Polynesian Village Resort

Mickey says Aloha from the Polynesian!

This is the Resort where you’ll find Kona Cafe, which has a few new desserts on the menu with the Pala’ai, Warm Pear Tart, and Kona Coffee Creme Brûlée.

Boardwalk Inn

Be on the lookout at Boardwalk Bakery for a special treat inspired by Steamboat Willie on November 18th: the Heritage Mickey dessert.

This combo of dark and white chocolate mousse will be topped off with ears and a tail in honor of Mickey himself.

It will be one of many special offerings around Disney World to celebrate Mickey’s Big Day. Because if there is one thing to remember as we wrap up this round of What’s New, it’s that “It was all started…

… by a MOUSE!”

Until next time, Eat and Be Happy!

Have you spotted anything new during a recent trip around the World? We’d love to hear about it in a comment!