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LEGO Store in Disney Springs Reopens on May 27th

LEGO Store

More good news for Walt Disney World Resort! The LEGO Store at Disney Springs will officially reopen to the public on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

The LEGO Store is quite popular among both kids and adults. They have fantastic photo opportunities with their impressive LEGO displays, such as their unofficial store mascot, Brickley the Sea Serpent. The other LEGO character displays are quite impressive and worth seeing while visiting Disney Springs. Shoppers can find brick toys of fan-favorite franchises for Star Wars, Marvel Comics, Disney, and other franchises.

The LEGO Store is reopening on Wednesday along with a handful of other Disney Springs stores, such as the World of Disney and Marketplace Co-op. To protect the health and safety of guests, the store will have capacity limits and require social distancing from other shoppers. Due to the current pandemic concerns, we expect to see some other minor changes. It’s unlikely that the play area will be open. Many kids enjoyed playing with the open LEGO bricks and figures, but it’s understandable if this isn’t available upon reopening.

Have you ever stopped for photos at the LEGO Store in Disney Springs? What are your family’s favorite LEGO toys? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Other Disney Stuff, Disney Springs, Parks & Resorts, Disney Springs Reopening, Lego, Lego Store, Walt Disney World Resort

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Disney News Other

Harry Potter Author J.K. Rowling Is Releasing A Free New Children’s Book Online

J.K. Rowling Is Releasing A Free New Children’s Book Online

J.K. Rowling took to her Twitter today for an amazing announcement (she made sure to specify it’s NOT Harry Potter related). She is releasing a children’s book she has started over 10 years ago and it’ll be free online. The book is called ‘The Ickabog’ and according to J.K. Rowling will be released on its own website starting today.

J.K. Rowling Is Releasing A Free New Children’s Book Online

J.K. Rowling will release a couple chapters a day up until the book is completed, “I’ll be posting a chapter (or two, or three) every weekday between 26th May and 10th July on The Ickabog website. We plan to publish some translations soon and will post further details on that website when they’re available.” The book is said to be a fairy tale about the truth and abuse of power. She goes on to say it was written over 10 years ago and isn’t necessarily about what’s happening in today’s time but the themes are timeless and can be any era or country.

J.K. Rowling is also planning on having children send in illustrations for the book which she plans to have published in November. There will be details on the website and her Twitter how to submit images for this new book. She has also said that she will be donating all the royalties from the published books to helping groups that were hit the hardest by Covid-19.

We can’t wait to read this new book from J.K. Rowling. The first two chapters of  ‘The Ickabog’ can be found at the website here. Make sure to keep checking back as she updates with brand new chapters.

Information is from J.K. Rowling’s Twitter and can be found here

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, J.K. Rowling new book, The Ickabog

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Disney News Disney Parks

NEWS: Tokyo Disney Resort’s Shopping District to Resume Business June 1st

Just yesterday, it was announced that the Japanese government would be lifting the state of emergency for Tokyo.

Fantasmic! at Tokyo DisneySea ©Disney

In response, it appears that some businesses and destinations are already beginning to reopen. Ikspiari, the shopping and dining district at Tokyo Disney Resort, just announced that it will be reopening on June 1st.

Ikspiari is located near the entrance to Tokyo Disneyland and makes for the Japanese equivalent of Downtown Disney or Disney Springs. The complex has been closed since late February but will be resuming business next Monday, June 1st.

Tokyo Disneyland

According to the Ikspiari reopening statement, measures will be taken to prevent the spread of infection and to promote the safety and security of employees and customers. If the complex reaches capacity, guests may be asked to wait temporarily for admission.

Tokyo Disneyland Concept Art ©Disney

As a reminder, Tokyo Disney Resort — and Ikspiari — are not owned by Disney. These properties are operated completely by Oriental Land Company and they pay a licensing fee to the Disney company. Still, the reopening likely marks a step towards the return of Tokyo Disneyland.

Click here to read about the removal of the state of emergency in Tokyo. 

What do you think of the reopening of Ikspiari? Tell us in the comments! 

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, disney parks, Featured, News, Tokyo Disney Sea, Tokyo Disneyland, Ikspiari, reopening, tokyo disney closure, tokyo disney reopening, tokyo Disney resort, Tokyo DisneySea

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Disney Parks Other

STEAM Tips from Walt Disney Imagineering: Technology, Science and Math

Imagineers use STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) every day to create groundbreaking experiences that are not only appealing, but also properly designed in terms of size, materials and coatings. To round out our series about STEAM tips from Imagineers, several of the technical artists at Imagineering shared their tips as it relates to technology, science and math.

Tip – Take things apart to see how different technologies are incorporated into one system

Tip – Take things apart to see how different technologies are incorporated into one system
Liz Diaz, a senior ride mechanical engineer, said, “Look at all the things around you and learn how they work. Take something apart (with permission if needed!) and see if you can’t put it back together. Attractions are created from many different technologies incorporated into one amazingly complex system. Learning how everything works helps to apply these different technologies in new and exciting ways.”

Tip – Be a great scientist by developing your observation skills

Tip – Be a great scientist by developing your observation skills
Alfredo Ayala, a Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development executive, suggests, “To be a great scientist you need to develop great observation skills. Robot animation requires the ability to merge real world physics with the art of acting, dance and music. Next time you talk with someone, notice their movements, the locations of their eyes and their facial expressions. Observe how they change when you ask them a question. This exercise helps you strengthen your observation skills. We are always exploring how math is present in art and technology.”

Tip – Take a class about logic and truth tables to make sense of complex scenarios

Tip – Take a class about logic and truth tables to make sense of complex scenarios
David Gaetke, a project coordinator, said, “Logic and truth tables are a great way to navigate through a complex scenario with many possible outcomes and multiple decision makers (did someone say ‘group project?’). First, you’ll want to map out the logic path for each scenario. There are some great resources online if you’re not familiar with how to do this. Then, weigh the pros and cons of each outcome. Finally, present your findings to your team and guide them through making a decision. I use this method to see what implications design decisions will have further down the road, or to make a decision between two seemingly similar options.”

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Uncategorized

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Disney Food Disney Parks Other

The 8 BIGGEST Disney World Menu Changes That Happened This Week!

We stopped by Disney Springs to check out the newly reopened locations and, of course, enjoy some eats!

Bruschetta

Disney Springs began a phased reopening on May 20thwith select third-party shops and restaurants welcoming back guests. And the new health and safety measures weren’t the only thing that was different — we also spotted menu updates at several of the Disney Springs restaurants. Here are the biggest menu changes we saw!

The Polite Pig

We swung by The Polite Pig and found a few new menu items waiting for us to enjoy! Pork Rinds are now available, complete with a pimento dipping sauce!

Pork Rinds

But wait, there’s more! They’ve also added a new Chef’s Special — Shrimp and GritsWith smoked grilled shrimp covered in a honey peppercorn glaze and served over a bed of creamy cheddar grits, this was just too good to pass up!

Chef’s Special at The Polite Pig

We also noticed creamed corn and a private barrel bourbon flight which were both new to the menu.

Polite Pig Creamed Corn and More

And just a heads up, we checked with a member of the team and confirmed that the Gideon’s Bakehouse cookies are not available at The Polite Pig right now. But don’t worry, they will be back eventually!

To read more about our meal at The Polite Pig, click here!

Starbucks

And Starbucks welcomed back guests — literally — with the “Welcome Back” drink — a blended mango dragonfruit refresher with coconut milk, strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple ginger syrup topped with golden ginger whipped cream!

Welcome Back Drink at Starbucks

This drink was super refreshing and we loved the combo of fruity flavors! No word on how long it will stick around, but if it’s available on your next visit to Disney Springs, we recommend giving it a try!

Check out our first visit back to Starbucks in Disney Springs!

Frontera Cocina

Frontera Cocina will be offering a modified menu for a limited time, so we stopped by to give a few of the options a taste! We tried the Play With Fire Margarita and the Chipotle Chicken Flautas, which were both fantastic!

Flautas and Margarita

The margarita was made with cucumber, jalapeño, fresh lime juice, agave nectar, a hibiscus salt rim, and your choice of Montelobos mezcal or Tromba Blanco Tequila. It was a great blend of sweet and tart, with just the slightest hint of heat!

Play with Fire Margarita

And the Chipotle Chicken Flautas were filled with a mix of mashed potatoes (!!!) and chicken, which made for a wonderful flavor combo! Frontera Cocina was two-for-two in our book!

To read our full review from Frontera Cocina, click here!

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill also sported some menu changes at both their table-service restaurant and to-go counter. The table-service restaurant is temporarily offering an all-day menu, rather than separate lunch and dinner menus.

Wolfgang Puck Modified Menu

Since the items inside skew more towards dinner, they’ve started offering more lunch items at the to-go window. And there are new desserts to-go as well — the Reese’s Cookie, Strawberry Shortcake, and Salted Caramel Banana Pudding all made their debut!

Plus, they’ve also started offering cocktails to-go, which were previously only available inside.

Wolfgang Puck To Go

We tried a few of the new to-go items as well as the tried-and-true favorite appetizer, bruschetta, from the restaurant.

Bruschetta

Spoiler alert, everything we had here was fantastic! But we have to give a special shoutout to the star of the show, the Salted Caramel Gelato topped Banana Pudding.

Check out our full experience at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill!

Earl of Sandwich

We also stopped by Earl of Sandwich, one of our favorite Disney Springs staples, to try the new-to-us Chocolatti drink. What exactly is a Chocolatti? We’re glad you asked!

It’s blended Ghirardelli chocolate topped with sea salt, whipped cream, and chocolate sprinkles.

Chocolatti

We liked how cool and refreshing this drink was, but it wasn’t quite as chocolatey as we were expecting. But if you’re looking for a more understated chocolate flavor, this might be for you!

Check out our first trip back to the reopened Earl of Sandwich!

Morimoto Asia Street Food

Morimoto Asia Street Food reopened on May 22nd, and we couldn’t wait to stop by and check it out! They’re offering a temporary menu with reduced options, but we still found plenty to satisfy our cravings!

We tried the Spicy Chashu Ramen, which we’ve previously seen offered on the Morimoto Asia table-service menu.

Spicy Chashu Ramen

The ramen was quite spicy and delicious! If you’re heat-adverse, you might want to stick to the Tonkotsu Ramen instead, but we loved the heat! We also noticed that they switched out the pork tenderloin bowl with a beef tenderloin bowl. 

Click here for our full experience at Morimoto Asia Street Food!

Wine Bar George

We also stopped by the delightful Wine Bar George and spotted some new Fries and Frozen drink pairings at their quick service spot, The BasketWe did confirm with a member of the team that these are suggested pairings, but they aren’t being sold as a combo deal at this time.

But see if you can resist these incredible pairings! How about the Queso Fries with the signature Frosé??

Queso Fries

Or maybe the Togarashi Fries with Friezling made with Dole Whip Lime is more your style?

Togarashi Fries

Or maybe you’re interested in the heavenly pairing of California Fries with Frozcato made with Dole Whip Pineapple?

California Fries

Or, last but not least, what do you think of the Buffalo Fries with Freaujolais?

Buffalo Fries with Freaujolais

Each of these baskets comes with a whole POUND of fries, so this is a great snack if you’re starting to feel hangry! Each flavor of fries was a winner in our book. What can we say, Wine Bar George has knocked it out of the park again!

Click here for our review of the loaded fries at The Basket!

Paradiso 37

We also noticed some menu changes at Paradiso 37They’re also offering limited menu options for the time being, as we saw with several Disney Springs restaurants.

Paradiso 37 Outside View

We did spot a few new items on the menu, including Beef Empanadas filled with beef, sour cream, and pineapple chutney and those Mini Ice Cream Cones are back!

Here are 4 awesome Disney Springs dining deals, including Happy Hour specials at Paradiso 37!

We were happy to be back in our element at Disney Springs, and having some new menu items to check out made it even better! We’re continuing to keep an eye on the eats and drinks available in Disney Springs, so stay tuned for more updates!

We were at the reopening of Disney Springs…here’s everything you need to know!

Which Disney Springs restaurant are you the most excited to visit? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, Disney Springs, Featured, Snacks, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, bbq pork bun, Disney Springs Earl of Sandwich, disney springs re-opening, disney springs reopen, disney springs reopening, disney springs restaurant, disney springs restaurants, disney springs starbucks, Earl of Sandwich, Frontera Cocina, Loaded Fries, margarita, Morimoto Asia Street Food, Paradiso 37, pork rinds, Ramen, reeses cookie, salted caramel banana pudding, spicy chashu ramen, Starbucks, strawberry shortcake, The Basket at Wine Bar George, The Polite Pig, Wine Bar George, Wolfgang Puck, Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill