Disney Cooking Up the Magic at Home Recipes

Disney has been trying to brighten up this lockdown by sharing some of their best recipes for us to try at home. We have compiled all the links here so they are easy to find. Just click the recipe name to go to the article.

Totchos from Woody's Lunch Box

Peanut Butter and Jelly Milkshake from 50's Prime Time Cafe

Tonga Toast at Disney's Polynesian Resort

Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup from Le Cellier Steakhouse

Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Banana French Toast from PCH Grill

Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Toy Story Land

Disney Parks Churro Bites

Mickey Mouse Shaped Beignets

The Grey Stuff from Be Our Guest

Chocolate Waffles with Espresso Frozen Mousse From Tamu Tamu Refreshments

 Brisket Mac & Cheese

Reuben Totchos

Lo Hei served with Sesame Sauce and Chili Soy Sauce

BLUE CORN PUPUSA STUFFED WITH CHEESE AND TOPPED WITH SHREDDED PORK

Beef Bourguignon

Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese

Walt Disney World Reopening - Here's What We Know

Walt Disney World has finally announced it's plans to reopen. However, there are going to be MANY changes to what we are used to and we don't know how long these changes will be in place. We will try to keep this article updated whenever there are announcements or changes to operations at the parks to help you decide when is the right time for you to return.

It has been reported that there is signage in the now-open Disney Springs and it is posted on the website. Disney is making it clear that you visit at your own risk and they will not be held responsible if you contract Covid-19 at their property.

Important dates:

• June 15 - DVC in Vero Beach, Fl and Hilton Head, SC opens
• June 22 - DVC at Walt Disney World open
• July 11 - Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom open
• July 15 - EPCOT and Hollywood Studios open
• June 22 - Disney opens park reservation system
• June 28 - Disney opens resort package and ticket purchases for 2021

Update June 19, 2020 - Read full update HERE

Update June 6, 2020 - To enter Disney property, you must have: 

• A confirmed room reservation for your stay. Be sure to link your reservation to your Disney account to receive important information prior to your arrival 
• A confirmed dining reservation if you’re a day Guest (not staying overnight)
• Face coverings for each Guest age 2 and up—which must be worn in all public areas, except while swimming or seated for dining
• Planning to visit a theme park during your stay? Select Walt Disney World theme parks will begin to open on July 11. To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date is required (a Disney Resort hotel reservation does not guarantee theme park access)

Annual Passes 
Update May 29, 2020 - Disney issues updates for passholders

Cancellations
For those guests wanting to cancel or modify their reservations due to these changes, you can get Disney's latest cancellation policies on their website HERE

Dining
Latest dining updates can be found HERE

As of June 6, 2020 - Additional changes to Walt Disney World dining experiences include:

• Menu items may vary. For specific menu information, check the restaurant's online menu when the restaurant opens
• Character Dining will not be offered during the initial reopening, with the exception of a modified character dining experience at Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera
• Dinner Shows will not be offered during the initial reopening
• Dining locations will be limited in capacity. Some locations will remain temporarily closed
• Private dining and in-room delivery will not be offered during the initial reopening window
• Mobile order service will be offered at select quick-service dining locations throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks (when open), Disney Springs and select Disney Resort hotels.

As of May 28, 2020 - ALL EXISTING DINING AND EXPERIENCE reservations are being cancelled. Restaurants will be operating at limited capacity. To accommodate this, booking window will now be at 60 days out rather than 180 days. All dining will have to be rebooked.
**No word on specific restaurants or experiences being operational
**No word on how buffets will be affected
**No character dining will be offered
**Disney Dining Plan has been SUSPENDED
**Guests who took advantage of the free dining offer are being offered a 35% discount on the room portion of their reservation. People who purchase a dining plan will be refunded that amount.

Experiences
The following amenities and experiences will not be available during the initial reopening period:

• Arcades
• Campfires
• Character experiences
• Dog parks
• Electrical Water Pageant
• Marina rentals
• Pin trading
• Playgrounds
• Spas, salons and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Additionally, the following special offerings and childcare services will not be available during the initial reopening:

• Fireworks voyages and tasting cruises, including the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage
• Fun runs
• Wonderland Tea Party at Park Fare
• Hula lessons
• In-room childcare services
• Mermaid school
• Special classes and programs—including culinary, cultural and animal programs

Fastpass+ and Extra Magic Hours

As of May 28, 2020 - Fastpass Service and Extra Magic Hours are SUSPENDED

**All Fastpasses are being cancelled and will have to be rebooked

Parks
Parks will reopen with many safety changes based on recommendations from the CDC and other government agencies. These changes will include temperature checks, mask requirements, cleanliness, reduced contact and physical distancing. It is also important to note that it seems these will be "requirements" and not "recommendations". “We have strong language,” McPhee (senior vice president of operations) said of Disney’s face-covering policy for guests. “They say they are required.” There will also be squads of "high energy" cast members to strictly enforce the physical distancing policies.
As a result, there will be a significant drop in available experiences. We will try to provide details on individual experiences as information becomes available.

Update June 18, 2020 - Park Reservation System is ready for use.

• Beginning June 22, 2020, Disney Resort and other select hotel Guests with valid theme park admission can make reservations.
• Beginning June 26, 2020, Annual Passholders without a Resort stay can make reservations.
• Beginning June 28, 2020, existing ticket holders can make reservations.

Get full info on the new reservation system HERE

Attractions - Rides will be operating at limited capacity with physical  
distancing in place

• Character meals have been suspended
• Parades and Fireworks have been suspended
• Shows that draw a large gathering have been suspended

Holiday Parties - Update June 18, 2020 MNSSHP cancelled this year. No word yet on whether MVMCP will be held

Magic Bands - Complimentary Magic Bands for resort guests will be discontinued in 2021. You will be able to purchase discounted bands or use the MDE app or a Key to the World card. Read the June 18 update for details.

Special Events - 
Eat to the Beat Concert Series cancelled
Food & Wine will be held in a modified way
H2O Glow Shows cancelled
Read full statement HERE

Park Hopping - No park hopping will be available

Resorts 
Update June 21, 2020 - Additional opening dates were announced for the following resorts:

• July 10: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• July 29: Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• August 12: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• August 24: Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts
• September 21: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• October 1: Disney’s BoardWalk Resort
• October 14: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Update June 18, 2020 - June 28, all guests will be able to make resort and package reservations for 2021 arrivals.

Update June 6, 2020 - these resorts will be open June 22, 2020:

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
• Disney's Beach Club Villas
• Disney's Boardwalk Villas
• Disney's Old Key West Resort
• Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney's Riviera Resort
• Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
• The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

Check in and Out

To aid in physical distancing efforts, we strongly recommend that you use Online Check-In Service in advance—online or with the My Disney Experience app.

When your room is ready, you’ll get a room-ready notification. Then, you can use either a MagicBand or the My Disney Experience app digital key feature to enter your room!

If you don't receive your MagicBand(s) prior to your vacation, simply use the My Disney Experience app as a digital key to enter your room. At your convenience, you can visit the Front Desk to pick up your MagicBand(s).

On your scheduled checkout day, you’ll be automatically checked out of your room—so you don’t have to visit the Front Desk (unless you have unresolved charges to your Disney Resort hotel folio).

Resort Services

Some Disney Resort hotel services will be modified or unavailable during the initial reopening period, based on physical distancing and health guidelines.

Changes include:

• Bell Services will deliver luggage to rooms, but will not escort Guests
• Club-level service will be temporarily unavailable
• Deliveries will only be made to occupied rooms
• In-room celebrations will not be available
• Dry-cleaning and valet laundry services will be temporarily unavailable; self-service laundry will remain available
• Shipping services will be temporarily unavailable
• Resort airline check-in service may be temporarily unavailable

Amenities and recreation will be modified based on physical distancing and health guidelines.

Dining Experiences
As of June 6, 2020 - This is the list restaurants that will be operating during the initial reopenig
Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village

• Kidani breakfast at Sanaa
• Maji Pool Bar
• Sanaa
• Sanaa Lounge

Beach Club

• Beaches and Cream Soda Shop
• Beach Club Marketplace
• Martha's Vineyard

Boardwalk

• AbracadaBar
• Boardwalk Bakery
• Leaping Horse Libations
• Pizza Window
• Screen Door General Store
• Trattoria al Forno

Contemporary

• Contempo Cafe
• Cove Bar
• The Wave of American Flavors
• The Wave Lounge

Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

• Crockett's Tavern
• Meadow Snack Bar
• P & J's Southern Takeout

Grand Floridian

• Beaches Pool Bar & Grill
• Enchanted Rose
• Gasparilla Island Grill
• Grand Floridian Cafe

Old Key West

• Good's Food to Go
• Gurgling Suitcase
• Olivia's Cafe

Polynesian Village

• Barefoot Pool Bar
• Captain Cook's
• Kona Cafe
• Pineapple Lanai

Riviera Resort

• Bar Riva
• La Petit Cafe
• Primo Piatto
• Topolino's Terrace

Saratoga Springs

• The Artist's Palette
• On The Rock's Pool Bar
• The Paddock Grill

Wilderness Lodge

• Geyser Point Bar & Grill
• Roaring Fork
• Whispering Canyon Cafe

Pools

• Feature pools may operate with reduced hours; leisure pools will be open 24 hours a day
• Pools will operate with reduced capacity to allow for physical distancing
• Select poolside activities may be available at select Resort hotels
• Stormalong Bay at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts will not be available during the initial reopening period; Guests of this Disney Resort hotel may enjoy the leisure pool at Disney's Beach Club Villas or the Luna Park Pool and leisure pool at Disney’s BoardWalk Villas

Fitness Centers & Sports Courts

• Fitness centers will open in alignment with state and county regulations, and may have reduced hours
• Fitness centers may have reduced hours and capacity
• Instructor-led fitness classes will not be available
• Fitness and sports courts will be open, and Guests must maintain physical distancing

Available Recreation
Activities and schedules will vary. The schedule of activities for your Disney Resort hotel will be shared during your stay.

Merchandise Locations 
In merchandise locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort, Guests will continue to discover favorite Disney items, with some modifications to the shopping experience that will help us manage capacity and foster physical distancing.

• New Product Launches: New collection product launches and limited-edition merchandise will not be available for in-person purchases at Walt Disney World Resort until further notice. As always, Guests can find these items on shopDisney, subject to availability.
• Pin Trading: We will continue to offer Guests the opportunity to pin trade with Cast Members through the use of pin boards in select locations. Cast pin trading with lanyards will not be available at this time to maintain physical distancing.
• Delivery Option: Package delivery to the front of our theme parks or to Disney Resort hotels will be suspended. However, shipping merchandise to Guests’ homes continues to be available.
• Dressing Rooms: For the time being, dressing rooms will not be available.
• Returns: In-person returns will be available upon the reopening of our merchandise locations.

Virtual Chat with Resort Cast Members

Beginning June 22, you can chat with a Resort Cast Member via the My Disney Experience app for assistance during your stay. This new feature will offer convenient support nearly anytime—so there’s no need to visit the Lobby or stand in line.

Tickets
Updated June 18, 2020 - Ticket sales will resume June 28 for 2021. Tickets for the remainder of 2020 will be available later in summer.

Travel Restrictions 
Update June 6, 2020 - Guests must be aware of any travel restrictions imposed by the state of Florida. Those under isolation or quarantine orders may not enter Walt Disney World. Visit https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/travelers/ for information before arriving.

Transportation and Parking
Magical Express Service WILL be available
Buses WILL be running between resorts and parks and Disney Springs
Transportation will operate with physical distancing measures in place, reducing capacity. As a result, you may experience delays.
Minnie Van Service WILL NOT be operating
Self Parking WILL be available
Valet Parking WILL NOT be available

Water Parks and Mini Golf
No opening dates have been specifically mentioned for water parks or mini golf courses

Update May 28, 2020 - Disney releases this detailed statement on their blog. You can read the full article HERE

You can keep updated on all changes as they are made by visiting the Disney website HERE

To get the latest Disney info and fun every day, join Disney SUPER Fans and Freecycling! on Facebook.

If you need help making or changing your reservations, our travel specialists can help at NO cost to you! For information, visit us HERE or email us at dailypixiedust@castlevacations.net 

Throwback Thursday - The Great Movie Ride

The Great Movie Ride was an opening day attraction at Disney MGM Studios park. Over the years, it would become a fan favorite. However, after nearly 28 years, Disney decided to close this attraction to transform it into the park's first ride centered on Mickey Mouse. It closed on August 13, 2017.

The Great Movie Ride is housed inside a replica of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. On the park's opening day, Mickey, Minnie and many other characters placed their handprints and footprints in cement in front of the theater in the style of Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Over time, many other celebrities would do the same. This attraction was originally planned to be the main attraction in a show business themed pavilion at EPCOT to be called "Great Moments at the Movies". However, Disney executives believed the idea was strong enough to lead an entire new theme park. This attraction became to inspiration for Disney's third gate, Disney MGM Studios.

The line wound through a recreation of the Chinese Theater lobby past glass display cases containing actual costumes, props, and set pieces from various films. The lobby also featured digital posters of various motion pictures. The line then took guests into a small pre-show theater where Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne provided insight and commentary about various motion pictures and film genres—such as musicals, adventure, science-fiction, westerns, romance, and gangster films— including those films that were featured within the ride. 

As guests reached the end of the queue, they entered a 1930s-era Hollywood sound stage where they were loaded by cast members into one of two pairs of open, theatre-style seating ride vehicles. The film set within the soundstage featured a large neon theatre marquee and a cyclorama of the 1930s-era Hollywood Hills complete with the original Hollywoodland sign.

The first genre of films introduced were musicals, which begins with a cake of starlets from By a Waterfall from Busby Berkeley's Footlight Parade. The next musical scenes included audio-animatronic figures of Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) swinging from a lamp post from Singin' in the Rain, followed by Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) and Bert (Dick Van Dyke) singing on the rooftops of London from Mary Poppins.

The next scene was a tribute to gangster films. The ride vehicle passed through the dark and seedy backstreets of a 1930s Chicago and past an audio-animatronic Tom Powers (James Cagney) in a scene from The Public Enemy. When both pairs of ride vehicles were in use, the #1A ride vehicle continued on to the next show scene past a green traffic light above a tunnel entrance while the #2B ride vehicle was stopped when the traffic light changed to red. While stopped, a live gangster named Mugsy (Boy) or Mugsi (Girl) and their audio-animatronic companions Squid and Beans showed up and got involved in a shoot-out with rival mobsters (Brains, Legs, and Weasel) in a car on the opposite side of the street where the ride vehicle was stopped. During the shootout, the live gangster then chased away the tour guide and hijacked the ride vehicle.

Next, the ride vehicle entered into a tribute to the Western genre. Here, guests encountered audio-animatronics of the Man with No Name (Clint Eastwood) standing outside of a saloon and Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) sitting atop his horse. The #2B ride vehicle (which was already being driven by the gangster) continued past a shootout between the town sheriff and an audio-animatronic bank robber named Snake. The gangster ignored the shootout and continued on to the next scene. However, the #1A ride vehicle (which was still being driven by the tour guide) stopped in front of the town bank while a bank robbery was in progress. Suddenly, a live bank robber named Kate Durango (Girl) or Kid Carson (Boy) appeared from inside the bank. After getting into a shoot-out with the town sheriff and chasing the tour guide into the bank, the bandit set the town bank ablaze with TNT and hijacked the ride vehicle. Following this scene, the remainder of the attraction was the same for both the #1A and #2B ride vehicles.

The ride vehicle next takes guests through a scene from the movie Alien. The gangster or the bandit became nervous and sped the ride vehicle through the ship, but not before the Alien appeared and attacked the guests, popping out from both the ceiling and the wall. The ride vehicle next entered a scene set in an ancient Egyptian tomb filled with snakes containing a Raiders of the Lost Ark scene.  A second room within the temple featured a large altar in the form of the ancient Egyptian god Anubis. Near the top of the altar, a large priceless jewel was being watched over by a cloaked temple guard. The gangster or the bandit saw the jewel, stopped the ride vehicle, and disembarked to take it. Before touching the jewel, the temple guard gave a warning that those who disturbed the treasure of the gods must pay with their life. Ignoring the warning, the gangster or the bandit reached to grab the jewel. Suddenly, a plume of fiery smoke shot from the ground engulfing the temple altar (as the temple guard left, undressing to reveal that the temple guard was the original tour guide while doing so before reappearing from the shadows). When the smoke cleared, the skeletal corpse of the Gangster or Bandit was revealed and the tour guide reboarded the ride vehicle and continued on with the show.

The ride vehicle then passes through multiple movie genre scenes with audio-animatronics. The final scene takes us through a Wizard of Oz scene where an audio-animatronic Wicked Witch of the West appears and has a brief interaction with the tour guide. 

For the grand finale, when both the #1A and #2B ride vehicles were in use, they both entered a dark theater where they lined up side by side and came to a stop in front of a large movie screen. There, the tour guide concluded the tour with a three-minute film montage of classic film moments. In 2014, as part of an exclusive programming deal with Disney, Turner Classic Movies agreed to become the sponsor of the attraction. The attraction underwent a refurbishment in 2015, with the addition of a new pre-show and post-show hosted by Robert Osborne, who also provided onboard narration to the ride.

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Start the day right with these Disney Breakfast Pizza recipes!

One of the best-known taste treats at Disney is the breakfast pizza at Chef Mickey's! Although most people associate it with Chef Mickey's, you may not know that this dish has appeared at other restaurants over the years. Sometimes, it's the same and sometimes it has a different twist. 

The great thing about the breakfast pizza is that it can be customized to your own tastes with different toppings so it's something the whole family can enjoy. Today, we'll share a few variations of recipes for Disney's breakfast pizza for you to try at home.

Chef Mickey's Breakfast Pizza

Ingredients:
-One 12-inch precooked pizza shell
-1/2 cup coarsely grated mozzarella cheese
-1/2 cup coarsely grated provolone cheese
-1 cup coarsely grated cheddar cheese
-2 large eggs
-1/4 cup heavy cream
-1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
-Pinch of freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.Place the pizza crust on a pizza pan or baking sheet.In a medium bowl, blend the mozzarella, provolone, and cheddar cheeses.In another small bowl, add in the heavy cream.Add eggs, salt and pepperWith a fork, beat together the eggs and combine ingredients:Add egg mixture to your blended cheeses and mix together with fork.Immediately, to avoid clumping, transfer the cheese mixture to the pizza shell and spread evenly around the crust.Bake for 10-12 minutes.Cut into pizza slices and serve hot!

Breakfast Pizza at Trail's End at Fort Wilderness

Ingredients:

• 1 pre-made or homemade pizza crust (your preference)
• 8 eggs
• 1 Red Bell Pepper (sliced)
• 1 Green Bell Pepper (sliced)
• 1 Red Onion (sliced)
• Cheese (type of your choice)
• Vegetable Oil
• Bacon (cooked and crumbled)
• Breakfast Sausage (cooked and sliced)
• Salt and Pepper (to taste)

Directions:

1. Scramble eggs until slightly underdone. Add salt and pepper to taste.
2. Prepare pizza crust to your liking if homemade. Either homemade or pre-made, cook to light brown.
3. Preheat oven to 350°.
4. Heat up oil in skillet. Saute slices of onion and peppers until tender and then remove and set them to the side.
5. Spread scrambled eggs on pizza crust to cover. Spread the sauteed vegetables around evenly or to your liking.
6. Sprinkle grated cheese (mozzarella or cheddar are some favorites) on the top of the pizza evenly.
7. Place pizza into oven for 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted.

Breakfast pizza at Cape May Cafe

Ingredients:1 each Pizza shell
1/8 cup Ortega Green Chile Salsa
1/8 cup Cooked scrambled egg
½ cup Shredded cheese (cheddar& mozzarella)

Directions:

1. Spread salsa on pizza shell.
2. Add egg on top.
3. Cover with cheese mix.
4. Bake 350 degrees 8-10 minutes.

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