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News! Disney World to Start Calling Thousands of Theme Park Cast Members Back to Work SOON

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 4, 2020

Earlier we reported some Disney World restaurants and hotels had started notifying their employees about returning to their jobs. With Disney World reopening on July 11th, there is a lot to do around the parks and there are lots of new procedures that Cast Members need to learn.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

And while Disney hasn’t officially released a statement, thousands of furloughed employees are also gearing up to go back to work at the parks.

First reported by The Orlando Sentinel, Local 362’s leader Eric Clinton says full-time Cast Members (as well as a significant number of part-timers) will be called back to work this month.

According to Clinton, “Beginning in June, all Disney full-time attractions and custodian workers, as well as a significant number of part-timers, will get called back to work.”

There is a need for Cast Members that will clean around ride queues and for people to take positions that maintain social distancing in lines while guests wait for their temperatures to be taken prior to entering the parks.

Magic Kingdom

Since Disney World’s water parks aren’t expected to reopen right away, Union members who work at these parks can transfer to other jobs where there are shortages. Especially since Disney World’s future cultural and college programs have been canceled this year and aren’t likely to resume anytime soon according to Clinton.

Also mentioned was that cultural ambassadors will be replaced by domestic employees for the time being (which you can read more about here).

Disney World

“…There’s going to be a massive need for attractions workers across property. …There’s going to be a lot of work that needs to be done.” Clinton said.

As many as 8,000 Cast Members could be called back to help clean the theme parks and get them ready to receive guests again. And as mentioned previously, Cast Members will need to undergo temperature checks before they’re allowed to work. Clinton emphasized Cast Members who have a temperature over 100.4 degrees will be sent home but get paid time off while they quarantine.

Magic Kingdom Sign

According to Clinton, “Employees will also need to staff Spaceship Earth, the ride inside Epcot’s iconic globe, since the ride’s rehabilitation is postponed indefinitely and will remain open.”

Spaceship Earth

As you may know, Disney has postponed fireworks and parades for the time being. Clinton went into detail and also stated Hollywood Studios’ Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage might not resume, at least not initially. This is one of the first times a specific show has been mentioned, so we will continue to look for more updates on the status of entertainment offerings.

We’ll continue to follow this developing story and keep you informed of any official statements released by Disney. We know that this is a crazy time and that a lot of new information is being released. So if you have ANY questions, please let us know and we will do our best to get you the answers you need.

Are you excited about Cast Members returning to work at Disney World and Spaceship Earth’s refurb being postponed? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, Disney News, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, attractions, cast member, cast members being called back, college programs, custodial, disney cultural exchange program, Disney World, furloughed workers, paid sick leave, return to work, sick leave, Spaceship Earth, theme parks, transfer, transfers

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Ample Hills Creamery is now shipping Nationwide

Post author By chipandco.com
Post date June 4, 2020

Ample Hills

Who else loves ice cream? Hungry Disney guests seek out their favorite frozen treats when they travel to Walt Disney World Resort. Many have visited Disney’s Boardwalk just to acquire a sweet treat from Ample Hills Creamery. For those unfamiliar, Ample Hills Creamery is a Brooklyn-based ice cream company with many delicious flavors. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic brought adverse changes with both the temporary closure of Walt Disney World and slow-down of many other business activities. However, we do have some good news! Ample Hills Creamery is once again offering their ice cream for households with nationwide shipping!

We are thrilled to announce *Nationwide shipping is back in effect! And we think you’ll be pleased by our flavor lineup with a few of your favorite flavors including some flavors available online only. Follow link in bio. #nationwidedelivery

A post shared by Ample Hills Creamery (@amplehills) on Jun 3, 2020 at 3:53pm PDT

Also, a new location is currently being installed at Disney Springs. The upcoming Ample Hills Creamery storefront can be found on the west side of Disney Springs near the NBA Experience and AMC Theatres. We are quite eager to check out the new Disney Springs location once it opens up! We’ll provide updates when an opening date is announced for the upcoming location.

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the option of nationwide shipping and consider trying a few of their delicious flavors. If you’ve had their ice cream in the past, then let us know in the comments which Ample Hills flavor is your favorite!

Source: Ample Hills Creamery

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Disney Food, Disney Snacks & Treats, News, Parks & Resorts, ample hills, Ample Hills Creamery, Ample Hills Creamery Disney, Disney Springs, Disney’s Boardwalk

Tags ample hills, Ample Hills Creamery, Ample Hills Creamery Disney, Disney Food, Disney Snacks & Treats, Disney Springs, Disney's Boardwalk, news, Parks & Resorts

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6 Things That REALLY Surprised Us About the Reopening of Universal Orlando

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 4, 2020

We spent yesterday at Universal Orlando attending a special Annual Passholder preview!

Gringotts

And while we had some idea what to expect based on the new health and safety measures we’d already experienced when several CityWalk stores and restaurants began to reopen on May 14th, we knew our first time back to an ACTUAL theme park was probably going to look and feel A LOT more different!

We had prepared ourselves for temperature screenings, social distancing, and wearing a face covering for the duration of our stay, but that doesn’t mean we weren’t thrown a few curveballs along the way! Here are a couple of things that really surprised us the most about our visit to the newly reopened Universal Studios!

Which Attractions Are Harder to Ride with Face Masks

We were totally expecting our face masks to fly off on Universal’s most-thrilling rides such as Hollywood’s Rip Ride Rockit or The Incredible Hulk Coaster (luckily we brought some back-ups, just in case!). But strangely enough, the speed of these attractions actually helps to hold your face mask in place!

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

The rides that proved to be the most challenging for us were ones where you had to wear 3D glasses such as Skull Island: Reign of Kong or Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. Our breath kept fogging up the lenses until we figured out if we wore our glasses over our masks, it helped cut down on the fogginess!

See what our experience was like on several Universal attractions while wearing face mask here!

Mobile Order Was Glitchy

Universal’s Mobile Order was having a rough go of it yesterday! Even though Universal offered Mobile Order at select restaurants before the temporary closures, a bunch of new locations have been added to the app — even the walk-up spots at Diagon Alley!

Mobile Order Pickup Line at The Hopping Pot

But all of these extra locations really added a lot of strain to the already struggling system (we even had some issues with the Virtual Line Experience in the early A.M.). The app was crashing a lot or not work properly throughout the day. This was the first day of Annual Passholder previews though, so hopefully Universal will be able to work out the kinks over the next few days.

Characters Were Everywhere

Even though we couldn’t walk up and hug our favorite characters, we were really shocked by how many of them were out!

Dr. Seuss Characters

Several sectioned-off stage areas have been set up throughout the parks where you can watch and wave to your favorite characters! We saw a bunch of Dr. Suess dudes (including the Lorax and the Grinch!) hanging out in Suessland yesterday along with some of The Simpsons, Blues Brothers, Hello Kitty, Beetlejuice, Spiderman, and lots MORE! Many of these characters wore masks, but there were also a few who did not.

While Disney has shared that character meet-and-greets will be suspended, we’re eager to see if they interact like the character at Universal did.

Water Rides and Misting Effects Were Running

While earlier Universal had stated some of their rides that involve water such as Jurassic Park River Adventure might not reopen with the rest of the park, we were surprised to see it running yesterday! Guests are permitted to remove their masks once they board water rides and are they seated in an every-other row!

One note on water rides, do hold onto your mask in your lap because it would be very easy for it to fly away!

Jurassic Park River Adventure

We were also told water effect features on some rides (such as misters) would be deactivated, but on The Incredible Hulk Coaster and Escape From Gringotts, they were STILL working!

Personal Wand Shopper at Ollivanders

Something we were truly amazed to see was how Ollivanders Wand Shop is operating now!

Hogsmeade

To keep the shop from becoming too crowded, each guest is given their own personal attendant! You can’t handle the wands like you could before, but we think the one-on-one service is pretty nifty!

Virtual Lines Aren’t the Same as FastPassses

Since we’re so used to using Disney World’s FastPass+, it took us a little time to figure out Universal’s virtual queue system is a bit different. We traveled with a group of two and since the apps aren’t linked, we were able to make two reservations at one time. There aren’t any tiers so our two reservations could be made for the same ride.

And despite having a guaranteed ride time, there were still about a 20-30 minute wait to ride each attraction (unlike FastPass where you usually just walk-on). With no preshows, for the time being, the wait can feel a little long.

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

But similar to the My Disney Experience app, once you use one of your reservations, you can make another. We also noticed when we refreshed the app, sometimes new Virtual Line Venues appeared like they sometimes do when you refresh the available FastPasses.

Click here to learn of the virtual queue system works at Universal Studios!

We’ll be back at Universal tomorrow reporting all day once the theme parks officially open to the public, so stay tuned! And if you have any questions on the new processes that theme parks are implementing, please let us know!

Did you attend Universal’s Annual Passholder preview? What surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Featured, News, 3d glasses, 3d goggles, 3d rides, characters, face masks, masks, Mobile Order, ollivanders, roller coasters, surprising, Universal Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios, virtual lines, virtual queues, wand shop, water rides

Tags 3d glasses, 3d goggles, 3d rides, Characters, face masks, Featured, masks, Mobile Order, news, ollivanders, roller coasters, surprising, Universal Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort, universal studios, virtual lines, virtual queues, wand shop, water rides

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The NBA Is Being “Welcomed Back” in the Most Disney Way Possible!

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 4, 2020

Today, the NBA moved one step closer to finalizing that they will resume their season at Disney World in the coming weeks. With teams being asked to report to the ESPN Wide World of Sports by the end of July, the sports world is buzzing with excitement!

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Sports Center took their excitement a step further by welcoming the NBA “back” in what is probably the MOST Disney way possible!

We found this ADORABLE video on Sports Center’s Twitter account, featuring the classic castle introduction that’s used in Disney films, but with a basketball twist! All of a sudden, it’s like Disney World fans are basketball fans, and basketball fans are Disney World fans.

When you wish upon a star …

Welcome back, @NBA pic.twitter.com/Nc91ycGUuL

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 4, 2020

It will be very interesting to see how the season is played out at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, so keep an eye on DFB as these developments continue!

Going to Disney World in April? Here’s What You Need to Know!

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 4, 2020

We’ve got the info you need to make your April trip to Disney World awesome!

Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival

A Disney World vacation can be magical at any time of year — as long as you plan accordingly! Between weather patterns, special events, holidays, and crowds, the prep work for your trip can vary A LOT depending on what time of year you’re traveling. Here’s what you need to know if you’re headed to Disney World in April!

Crowds at Disney World in April

Between Spring Break and Easter travel, the parks tend to see pretty heavy crowds during the first half of the month. But since the majority of Spring Breaks are scheduled in March and early April, the second half of the month generally has more moderate crowds.

Mr. Easter Bunny and Mrs. Easter Bunny

So, if you have some leniency in your travel dates, you may want to aim for closer to the end of the month to avoid the rush. And if you are traveling in early April, be sure to make your Advance Dining Reservations early to increase your odds of getting in your must-dos!

Check out three tips for mastering the Disney World FastPass+ tiers!

Park Hours at Disney World in April

While the park hours can vary by day and park, the most common opening time for parks in April is 9AM. But the closure times tend to be a little more varied! Magic Kingdom usually closes between 10PM and midnight depending on the day, while the other parks typically close between 8PM and 9PM.

Happily Ever After

So, if you’re more of a night owl, you should have some opportunities for late nights in the parks on your April trip — especially at Magic Kingdom!

Looking for even more late-night fun?? Check out our ultimate guide to the Villains After Hours events in Magic Kingdom!

Weather at Disney World in April

In April, the average high temperature in Orlando is 84 degrees and the average low is 63 degrees. And here’s something that might surprise you — there are an average of four rainy days in April, which actually makes it one of the least rainy months in Disney World.

Slinky Dog Dash

Yup, despite the common “April showers” phrase, this is one of the best months to travel to Disney World if you’re looking to avoid the rain!

Here are some tips to help you choose the right Disney World hotel for your family!

How to Pack for Disney World in April

Despite the generally warm afternoons, you could still experience a chilly morning on your trip. So, be sure to bring a light jacket or sweater that you can wear in the morning and then store in your park bag when it starts to heat up.

And it will probably be a comfortable enough temperature for most people to swim, so bring your swimsuit if you plan to take advantage of the hotel pools!

Luna Park Pool at Disney’s Boardwalk

Don’t forget to prepare for those sunny days! Make sure you have sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen (which you should take whenever you travel!) to avoid a painful and dangerous sunburn.

Check out our ultimate Disney World packing list!

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

Epcot festival fans rejoice — the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival runs during the entire month of April. Flower and Garden has been been a yearly highlight since it first kicked off in 1994, and there’s plenty to enjoy!

Topiaries

As you might have guessed from the name, there are plenty of gorgeous gardens to experience! There are over twenty topiary displays throughout the park, and guests can even spot some of their favorite characters in flower-form!

2020 Flower and Garden Festival

And the topiaries are just the beginning! There are intricate displays throughout the park including a bamboo garden, butterfly garden, floating gardens, and more!

Miniature Garden Display in the Germany Pavilion

And, of course, you can get your eat (and drink) on at the Outdoor Kitchens set up around the Promenade and World Showcase! Each year we see a mixture of both fan-favorite returning menu items and some brand-new additions. A few items that we’re still dreaming about from previous festivals are the Violet Lemonade, Canard Confit à l’Orange, and Fried Green Tomatoes!

Violet Lemonade

If you’re really interested in getting in the Flower and Garden spirit, you can check out one of the extra-ticketed special events or tours! In the past, offerings have included the Royal Tea Garden Tour, Gardens of the World Tour, Egg-Stravaganza Scavenger Hunt, and more!

Royal Tea Garden Tour

But you don’t have to spend extra to have a good time — the Garden Rocks Concert Series features three nightly performances that are totally FREE! Well, they’re included in the cost of park admission, at least.

Just keep in mind, these events are super popular, so you’ll need to get there early to ensure you get a spot! Or, to bypass the wait, you can opt for the Garden Rocks Dining Package, which includes dinner and guaranteed seating at the concert!

Garden Rocks!

Whether you’re going all-out at the food booths and extra-ticketed events, or just enjoying the topiaries and atmosphere, there’s plenty to love about the Flower and Garden Festival. If you’re visiting Disney World in April, we’d say this festival is a must-do!

Want to learn more about our favorite festival food? Click here to check out our “Best of the Fest” list from the 2020 Flower and Garden Festival!

Earth Day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Earth Day might not be the first holiday that comes to mind when thinking of Disney World, but it does have a close connection to one of the parks. Animal Kingdom held its grand opening on Earth Day (April 22nd), and since the park focuses heavily on conservation, they celebrate the holiday in style.

Tree of Life

The Earth Day celebration in Animal Kingdom is known as the Party for the Planet, and there are all kinds of special activities to enjoy! In previous years, we’ve seen special character interactions, unique dining experiences, meet-and-greets with animal care specialists and conservation experts, themed merchandise, unique snacks, and more!

“Up” Cake Push Pop

So, if Earth Day happens to fall during your Disney World trip, be sure to check the dates for the Party for the Planet (it usually runs three days in total) and plan a visit to Animal Kingdom to celebrate!

Click here to learn more about the Party for the Planet celebration!

There are plenty of awesome experiences to enjoy at Disney World during the month of April! Guests are treated to warm and (relatively) dry weather, the Flower and Garden Festival, and Earth Day celebrations at Animal Kingdom. Just make sure to plan accordingly (don’t forget about those Spring Break and Easter crowds!) and you’ll be in for a magical vacation!

Planning a Disney World vacation? Here are seven things you’re probably forgetting!

Have you traveled to Disney World in April? Share your tips and must-dos in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, disney parks, disney resorts, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, Disney topiaries, disney world crowd, disney world crowd levels, Disney World crowds, Disney World Packing List, disney world park hours, disney world planning, disney world planning tips, Disney World Plannning, Disney World weather, earth day, earth day animal kingdom, epcot international flower and garden festival, epcot international flower and garden festival 2020, Epcot Topiaries, Garden Rocks Concert Series, how to pack, Party for the Planet, topiaries, walt disney world planning