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Governments around the country are still grappling with the best way to handle the current global health crisis.

Just days after the delay of the reopening of Disneyland, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that 19 California counties, including Orange County (Disneyland’s location), will be impacted by an action that ceases all indoor operations for certain sectors.

News of the action came today during a press conference with the Governor. All restaurants, wineries and tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos, and museums and cardrooms in the 19 impacted counties must close their indoor operations. Orange County is included in the impacted counties.

The action also includes the total closure of bars in all 19 counties. Newsom went on to urge that citizens not gather with anyone outside of their household. Parking areas at state beaches will be closed as well and Newsom encouraged the cancelation of 4th of July fireworks in impacted counties.

The action will extend for at least the next three weeks. Do note that outdoor dining and operations are not prohibited at this time so if a business can move their operations outdoors (such as with outdoor dining space), they can remain open.

It is not yet clear how this action will impact the reopening of Downtown Disney, currently slated for July 9th. We spoke with Governor Newsom’s office and they explained that since Disneyland was not specifically mentioned, they don’t know whether it is included.

We also spoke with Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes, a location in Downtown Disney. They explained that they couldn’t legally talk about how the action affected them but that Downtown Disney is still aiming to open on July 9th.

As of right now, we don’t have a definitive answer on Downtown Disney — but we’re investigating for you. Stay tuned to DFB for more updates about how this action affects Disneyland.

Click here to learn about the delayed reopening of Disneyland.

What do you think of the latest California action? Tell us in the comments.

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disneyland Resort, Featured, california, California Government, california governor, California State, governor newsom, Orange Country California, orange county

There’s a lot of moving and shaking happening at Disney World right now as the theme parks’ phased reopening approaches. Can you believe it’s less than two weeks away?!

Earlier today, we learned when guests can expect to ride Disney World’s monorail and Skyliner gondola system. And thanks to a reader, it looks like we might know more details regarding Disney World’s ferryboats soon!

We’d like to give a big shout out to @always_amanda79 for sending us these photos of Disney World testing out its ferryboats on Seven Seas Lagoon today!

So far, Disney World’s ferryboat service is still shrouded in mystery. We don’t know when they’ll be coming back and Disney has only told us ferryboats may be limited, but that’s pretty much all the info they’ve shared.

But, today, Disney was testing these guys out. We will be interested to see if they reopen with Magic Kingdom so that Disney can help disperse guests when helping them get into the park.

And while we did find out Disney’s Wilderness Lodge’s boats would resume on July 11th, it looks like one has pulled into the dock a little early. It’s not quite ready to take guests out across the Seven Seas Lagoon just yet, but we’ll be looking forward to enjoying our first boat ride soon.

We’ll continue showing you all the ways Disney World is getting ready to welcome back guests, but in the meantime, did you know Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf has reopened too? See what it looks like now with its new health and safety measures in place here!

Disney World’s brand new solar-powered McDonald’s is now open! Check it out here!

Have you ever taken the ferryboat to Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, Wilderness Lodge, closure, Disney World, ferryboat, ferryboat testing, limited, modifications, reopening, seven seas lagoon, testing, transportation, Update

Now that the new McDonald’s location has just debuted at Disney World, we know where to find a fast Chicken Nuggies fill-up!

But if you’re looking for some bubbling crude (but more likely its derivative, gasoline) to put in your family’s roadster, you’ll be happy to know the Speedway gas station next to Disney’s BoardWalk Inn has reopened too!

If you find yourself running on empty during your visit to Disney World, the Speedway gas station is one of the most convenient spots on property to get you back on the road with a full tank of gas in no time! They also have a convenience shop loaded with snacks and beverages in case your body could use a refueling as well.

We spotted this sign posted on the door at Speedway today stating its new hours (7AM to 11PM daily) which also mentioned a few of its enhanced health and safety protocols. Due to Orange County’s recent order mandating face masks, all guests must wear a face-covering inside the store.

And while you’re filling up your tank, don’t forget to look UP! Hopefully, you’ll get to see some of Disney’s Skyliner gondolas whizzing by! They aren’t carrying any passengers quite yet, but they will be starting on July 15th! 

Get the latest news regarding Disney World’s transportation here!

This gas station is heavily frequented by both Cast Members and guests alike, so it’s convenient to have more options for filling up your tank on property again.

Have you considered driving to Disney World this year? Click here to read our thoughts on the subject!

Do you typically bring your car to Disney World or do you normally use its bus system to get where you’re going? Let us know in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Boardwalk Inn and Villas, Disney News, Featured, Walt Disney World, closure, Disney World, drive to disney world, driving, fill up, fuel, gas, gas station, on property, reopening, speedway, temporary closure

I had dinner over at the Contemporary’s The Wave last week, and it reminded me of the Hulu series The Great, about how Catherine the Great came to rule Russia. (It’s well-written, funny, and charming. Definitely worth watching.)

It wasn’t that Elle Fanning was at Disney World (she wasn’t), and I’m pretty sure I couldn’t order borscht if I tried.  No, while I was at The Wave, the thing that reminded me of eating like royalty was the fact that there were a total of three people in the dining room, and we were served by an entire kitchen staff outfitted with millions of dollars in cooking equipment.  It was as close to having a personal Disney chef as you can get. And it was glorious.

Every dish I tried was perfect. And they were probably perfect because the chef had no other meals to prepare but mine. Every item came out of the kitchen exactly when it was done. Nothing sat under a heat lamp waiting for my server to finish a circuit of other tables, because my server – Charlene – had no other tables. She had only me.  And so while 2020 has been absolutely horrible, if you like eating at Walt Disney World, now is the time to do it.

Dinner started with bread service. This mini-loaf of multi-grain bread came out warm, its just-baked aroma floating out from under its cloth wrapping. This was a dark, multi-grain loaf that tasted of sweet molasses. The crust managed to be crispy and chewy at the same time.

Along with the bread came a small plate of butter, topped with pink Himalayan sea salt.  I’d like to take a second to thank the kitchen staff for ensuring the butter was at room temperature, and easy to spread on the bread.  Serving cold butter with fresh, warm bread is probably a crime in France, and the Florida legislature should definitely consider adopting this idea.

For my appetizer, Charlene recommended something not on the menu – the evening’s special of Chicken Pozole soup ($9.50).  This was an avocado-based soup made with chicken stock, chicken, tomatillo, onion, and radish.  It was delightful. I could taste a touch of garlic, perhaps cilantro, and I think poblano or jalapeño pepper added smokiness and depth.  This wouldn’t be out of place over at La Hacienda at Epcot, and if I had a Mexican grandmother, I’d definitely ask abuelita Testa to make this every time I visited.

I told Charlene that I was in the mood for steak for my main course, but asked for recommendations. Charlene said the beef tenderloin ($36) was very good. It came with potato gratin, which I was also really in the mood for, and so I was prepared to go with that. But then Charlene said “…and the pork tenderloin looks really good tonight.”  Because Charlene’s soup recommendation was great, I went with her main course recommendation and ordered the pork tenderloin ($26). Best decision I made that night.

This pork tenderloin was one of the best main dishes I’ve had in Walt Disney World in years.  But let’s start with the smoked cheddar cheese grits – I would eat these every day, with every meal.  I’m not a huge fan of grits – if they’re too soft, the texture is off-putting – but these were perfect, done with a little bit of chew, and the smoked cheddar flavor was assertive without being overpowering.

On to the meats! The pork tenderloin came with a coffee-barbecue sauce that was mellow and tangy. That went well with the pork, which was done to a perfect medium rare – I was absolutely certain this plate had spent exactly zero seconds under a heat lamp.  The pork had a flavor that was so rich, it almost tasted like beef.  And I loved the broccolini, which I think was steamed, and cooked until just done.  At first I was surprised at how well the broccolini went with the coffee-barbecue sauce and the cheddar cheese grits, and then I remembered that the kitchen is filled with professionals who do this for a living, and do it way better than I could ever hope.

Total cost for the soup, pork, and a soda was $38.97. The Wave accepts Tables in Wonderland discounts, which reduced the price by 20% and adds an automatic 18% gratuity, for a total of $40.03.  By any measure, this meal was a bargain at that price, and it would’ve been a bargain if the pork was $36 instead of $26.  As I said earlier, this is a great time to be eating at Walt Disney World restaurants, and I’m excited to go back for more.

The post Dinner at The Wave – Eat Like Royalty appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, discounts, Resorts, Trip Planning, Walt Disney World (FL), the wave, The Wave of American Flavors, The Wave… of American Flvaors

It ain’t easy being green, but Disney World’s new McDonald’s makes it look pretty EFFORTLESS!

The former McDonald’s on Disney World property shut its doors back in October to undergo a major renovation. The new location originally planned on opening sometime in March, but let’s just say their timeline got a little waylaid. Now, the new McDonald’s is finally OPEN, so let’s go check it out!

We’ve been closely monitoring the construction of the new Mickey D’s since its predecessor was demolished last year. The new location is much LARGER than the previous McDonald’s, plus this newer model comes fully-equipped with lots of eco-friendly bells and whistles!

In addition to a bigger dining room, the new McDonald’s features an enormous outdoor seating area. Solar panel awnings provide guests with some shade while collecting energy to fuel the restaurant!

Believe it or not, the new McDonald’s runs ENTIRELY on energy provided by Florida’s SUN! You’ll see little markers throughout the restaurant with facts about solar energy so you can learn something while enjoying your Big Mac attack!

There’s even an interactive element to the new Mickey D’s — you’ll find some stationary bikes off to the side, and if you pedal them fast enough, you’ll light up the iconic Mickey D’s sign!

Now we’re sooooo happy we’ve been doing all of those virtual spin classes at home these last few months! We can really feel the burn!

There’s also a hand bike for those with better upper body strength than us.

The new McDonald’s still has a drive-thru so you can get your food without leaving your car.

There are multiple pick up windows that span one entire wall of the restaurant. McDonald’s drive-thru is pretty popular with a lot of guests who are either heading to the parks or are on their way home and just need a quick bite or drink!

The pretty much covers the exterior of the new McDonald’s, so now it’s time to head inside. We noticed this enhanced safety measures sign posted on the door which states McDonald’s is conducting wellness and temperature checks of its employees, while they’re also requiring all workers to wear face coverings and gloves. Due to Orange County’s order mandating face masks must be worn in public areas, guests must wear face coverings until they’re seated at the restaurant. Then they’re allowed to remove them to enjoy their meal.

We noticed some nifty foot pedals had been installed at the entrance…

You press down on the pedal with your foot so that you don’t have to touch a door handle!

Once inside, we noticed several hand sanitizer stations had been set up in case you wanted to disinfect! We liked the “free gift” gimmick they were advertising it as!

Guests can use kiosks to place their orders and pay for their food. You can also use McDonald’s free app or, if you prefer, you can walk up to the counter and order your items the old-fashioned way. The choice is up to you!

You’ll either take an order number or be handed one if you place your order with a McDonald’s team member. Then you take it to your table and an employee will bring your food out to you.

Some of the tables were unavailable and had markers indicating guests should find somewhere else to sit. We also saw if we forgot to order something or were still hungry, there was a QR code we could scan to order more food without getting up!

Several tables had built-in tablets, although none of the touchscreens were active when we stopped by.

And while the restaurant is equipped with self-service fountain drinks, the beverage bar is currently closed to guests.

To get a refill, you can ask a McDonald’s team member at the counter for a fill-up!

And now that we’ve got our Happy Meal in hand and have had the chance to explore the new McDonald’s after many days of waiting, we’re feeling pretty happy ourselves!

If you’re looking for a fast (and CHEAP!) meal on your way to or fro from the Disney parks, Disney World’s new McDonald’s is fully operational — and pretty neato, too! Check it out on your next trip for all your Big Mac and Chicken Nuggie needs!

Click here to see every restaurant, ride, store, and experience that Disney World will be offering when the theme parks reopen!

Will you be swinging by the new McDonald’s at Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney News, Featured, Walt Disney World, construction, delay, Disney World, grand opening, mc donalds, McDonald’s, reopening, solar energy, solar power