food IS a theme park
Big news for the Walt Disney Company! Josh D’Amaro has been announced as the new Chief Executive Officer, and Dana Walden will become the President and Chief Creative Officer, as current CEO Bob Iger steps down and retires.
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Disney has revealed the pay packages for the new executives, and Variety is breaking down what each one is getting.
Comcast NBCUniversal, the parent company of Universal Destinations & Experiences, just revealed some great news. Universal’s newest park, Epic Universe, is now the most profitable theme park in Universal history. This fall had Epic Universe’s best earnings yet and surpassed 1 billion dollars in earnings, the highest of every Universal park across the world.
Epic Universe!
Universal theme parks brought in 23.5% more earnings from last October to December compared to the summer quarter. During the winter quarter, Universal Destinations & Experiences brought in record profits, largely due to their newest theme park, Epic Universe.
Okay…I’m about to tell you something dangerous.
Yuletide Cheers
It’s no secret around here that we’re BIG fans of stopping by Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar for a quick bite and a drink to sip. And with their recently added breakfast menu, they’ve opened up a whole new world (see what we did there?) of tropical paradise. BUT what you may not realize is that Trader Sam’s has a secret menu, and it’s packed with off-menu cocktails and surprise food items created by the skippers behind the bar. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like an insider at Disneyland, this is how you do it!
“Gourmet Landscapes” sounds like the kind of booth name that should come with a beret and a tiny easel. Like, are we about to eat a meadow? Do we need to whisper “bonjour” before taking a bite? This is EPCOT Festival of the Arts, so honestly, anything is possible, including a dessert that looks like it belongs in a museum and tastes like it belongs in your dreams.
Gourmet Landscapes
We’re live at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts, checking out the food studios, artistic performances, merchandise, and more. There’s a LOT going on, but don’t let it overwhelm you. We’re here to tell you everything you need to know before your visit. But here’s the real question: is Gourmet Landscapes actually gourmet… or is it just wearing a fancy name tag and hoping we don’t notice? Let’s dig in and see if this booth is serving a masterpiece, or just… artsy confidence.
Disney is wishing us all a happy Tuesday by bringing us TONS of news, and if you’ve been looking forward to EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts later this month, you’ll absolutely love this latest announcement.
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Disney just dropped a new YouTube video giving us a sneak peek at some of the new treats coming to the festival, and while we’re already so excited to try these new eats, it also confirmed for us a few of the booths that will 100% be returning to this year’s festival!
I’m about to grab my paintbrush and head to Magic Kingdom because the castle is getting repainted and I want to help. Okay, maybe Disney doesn’t want me climbing in a crane and getting the work done, but the pink is switching back to gray this year, and work is about to start.
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When we visited Cinderella Castle on January 5th, work hadn’t started yet, but Disney just took a major step towards the start of the project.
If you are anything like us, you could always use some more Disney World in your life! Whether it be taking another trip so you can stroll down Main Street, U.S.A., or meander around World Showcase, or you want to add some more items to your Disney souvenir collection, there is no such thing as too much Disney, right?
EPCOT
We don’t think the limit exists! We recently spotted some must-have items on Amazon for anyone who loves Disney World. Of course, we had to share them all with you, too. Let’s take a look!
We spotted something NEW at Disney Springs — and it could be hinting that a big announcement might be coming soon! We have been keeping an eye on the storefront that used to house The Art of Shaving store in Disney Springs. The store permanently closed on January 2nd, 2024, and we have been keeping an eye out for a replacement.
Gideon’s Bakehouse
Well, something is finally happening!! The storefront just got some new art installed in the windows, and we are seeing some similarities in the new window art. You can find the storefront in the Landing, near STK, OluKai, and The Ganachery. We already had some hints about what might be coming to this space, but we think this is further confirmation.
We are only a few days away from 2026 — and there are plenty of people heading to Disney World to celebrate the holidays and ring in the new year!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Long Line
It is one of the busiest times of the year at Disney World, and the wait times are proving that! We always warn about the higher crowds you will see around Christmas and the New Year, and it looks like there are plenty of guests at the parks right now. There are long wait times, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have an enjoyable time. We are taking a look at the waits and sharing some of our tips to beat the crowds.
We have a reminder for you if you are heading to Disney World in 2026! While Disney World’s biggest draw is the theme parks, Disney Springs is also a very popular destination with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment. Admission and parking are free, making it an excellent option on non-park days. However, Disney Springs might be a bit more chaotic in 2026, and we have all the details on why!
Disney Springs
Parking is about to get a bit more limited, and we don’t want you to be caught by surprise! A construction project is about to begin that might impact your Disney Springs visit, and we want you to be prepared.
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