food IS a theme park
Disney Springs really SURPRISED us in 2025 — and it’s getting ready to shake up our future vacations in 2026 too!
Disney Springs
So get ready to learn EVERYTHING you need to know about this shopping district (that goes WAY beyond your WILDEST expectations).
Disney giveth, and Disney taketh away. And, sometimes, Disney giveth again — though in this case, it’s technically not Disney that’s bringing back our FAVORITE new dessert.
Deep Fried Hawaiian Rolls
Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs at Disney’s BoardWalk is a haven for innovative eats, and their Deep Fried Hawaiian Rolls have quickly skyrocketed to the top of our list. After debuting this summer as a limited-time item, they were taken off the menu, much to our chagrin. But — that’s all changing because this delicious new dessert is returning to Blue Ribbon!
I’ve been going to Disney World for decades, and the one thing I can promise you is that things change every year, and we are always finding new ways to maximize our time in the parks!
Tower of Terror
Disney World’s Lightning Lane system is constantly evolving, and with major ride closures and refurbishments on the horizon, 2026 will require a fresh approach. Strategies that worked in 2024 or 2025 may no longer guarantee smooth sailing. Tier lists are shifting, wait times are fluctuating, and some parks might not even make Multi Passes essential. Whether this is your first visit or you’re a Lightning Lane pro, it’s time to rethink your game plan for Lightning Lanes.
The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI have reached a deal for Disney to become “the first major content licensing partner on Sora,” OpenAI’s generative AI short-form video platform.
Mickey’s got some competition
As part of the three-year licensing agreement, Sora will “generate short, user-prompted social videos that can be viewed and shared by fans.”
Did you know that not all Pirates of the Caribbean attractions in Disney Parks are made the same? It’s true — they’re all different!
Pirates of the Caribbean
We’ve ridden the versions in Disney World and Disneyland more times than we can count, but that meant we were totally invested in how different the Disneyland Paris version of the ride would be when we recently got to visit the park. What you may not realize is how different this version of the attraction really is! While you can watch a ride through online to see the changes, it’s super cool to be ON the ride and realizing “wait, a minute, this doesn’t normally look like that in Disney World/Disneyland!”
If you’ve been with grandparents in the parks, you know they do not mess around when it comes to comfort.
©Amazon
They are prepared, they know their limits, and they absolutely know what shoes can survive rope-drop-to-fireworks days. Because let’s be honest. Nothing derails a magical vacation faster than blistered heels and aching arches. We rounded up the shoes that Disney grandparents are swearing by for 2026 trips. Even better, you can find them all on Amazon. If you’re planning a multi-park marathon or just want footwear that will keep up with you, these are the pairs everyone is talking about.
Disney fans love a good Loungefly moment and honestly so do we.
We love Loungefly bags!
These mini backpacks have become the unofficial uniform of Disney adults everywhere, and when they go on sale, it feels like the planets have aligned. Right now, several Loungefly bags are up to 50% off on Amazon, and some of these styles almost never get marked down this much. If you have a park trip coming up or just love building your collection, this is your sign to pounce before the good ones disappear.
We know we don’t talk about it a lot, but a lot of people come to Disney World not just for the theme parks and great food (which is basically our reasons for visiting), but for something else: golf.
©Disney
Disney World’s three championship golf courses and nine-hole walking layout bring tons of people to the resort so they can get their golf in Disney fashion for an experience that might be just a bit more magical than other golf courses around the world. Well, Disney was recently recognized for its golf courses because the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) has chosen Disney World Golf as its 2026 Resort Golf Course of the Year.
Listen, I love Disney World rides with my whole heart. I don’t care where I sit as long as I get to fully experience the ride, but there are also some seats that just aren’t as good as others. We’re not talking about the front versus the back on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or on Cosmic Rewind, but on Smugglers Run.
New missions will be added to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort featuring the Mandalorian and Grogu.
If you didn’t know, Smugglers Run is getting an update on May 22nd at both Disney World and Disneyland, and with that comes a change to the engineer seat.
If your Disney vacation plans involved water slides and lazy rivers, we’ve got news — and you might be grabbing for a sweatshirt instead of a swimsuit.
Typhoon Lagoon
There’s nothing better than escaping the chilly temps back home and heading to Disney World for some holiday magic filled with sunshine, palm trees, and festive fun. But even the “Most Magical Place on Earth” isn’t completely immune to a winter cold snap. With cooler weather rolling into Central Florida this week, you may need to adjust your plans a bit, because the drop in temperature is bringing some unexpected changes to Disney World’s park schedule.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
