Author: Nate

  • Delicious Disney Churro Bites Home Recipe

    Delicious Disney Churro Bites Home Recipe

    The parks are temporarily closed, but if your looking for a new way to bring the Magic of Disney home you can still enjoy a delicious Disney churro with this DIY recipe!

    This recipe is inspired by the delicious snack that can be found at all of Disney’s parks across the globe. The recipe serves four people and is a perfect snack!

    Take look at the ingredients and instructions below:

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup water
    • 8 tablespoons butter
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
    • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
    • 3 eggs
    • 1 ½ cups vegetable or canola oil
    • ½ cup sugar

    Instructions

    1. Combine water, butter, salt, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon in 1 ½-quart saucepan over medium heat. Bring pot to rolling boil.
    2. Reduce heat to low.
    3. Add flour and stir vigorously until mix forms a ball. Remove from heat and let rest for 5-7 min.
    4. Add eggs, one at a time, and stir until combined. Set aside.
    5. Heat oil in medium skillet or 1-quart saucepan over medium-high heat or until temperature reaches 350˚.
    6. Spoon dough into piping bag fitted with large star tip. Pipe 1-inch strip of dough over saucepan, cut with knife, and drop into hot oil. Repeat until churro bites fill saucepan with room to fry. 
    7. Fry churro bites until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon or mesh spider strainer.
    8. Drain churro bites on paper towel.
    9. Mix sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon in medium bowl. Toss in churro bites until coated. Place on serving plate and serve with favorite dipping sauce.
  • Disney World to Pause Monthly Annual Passholder Payments

    Disney World to Pause Monthly Annual Passholder Payments

    Thursday Disney announced that Disney World will “stop and waive” payments for its annual passes while the theme parks are closed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    The company said previously that annual pass payments would continue during the closure.

    With the updatied policy, Disney will stop collecting payments starting April 5. Disney will also refund payments that were collected between March 14 and April 4. Take a look at the announcement from Disney below:

    Monthly passes, however, will not be extended and instead expire on their original expiration date.

    For passholders who paid for their passes in full, they will be given the option of either extending their passes for the number of days the parks were closed or receiving a refund for those days.

    This news comes a week after Disney said its U.S. theme parks would remain closed indefinitely.

  • Disney World Still Raising the Flag in an Empty Magic Kingdom Every Day

    Disney World Still Raising the Flag in an Empty Magic Kingdom Every Day

    Walt Disney World is closed during the coronavirus pandemic, but cast members are making sure the flag at Magic Kingdom is still raised everyday.

    Video shared by Walt Disney World Resort President Josh D’Amaro on Instagram shows the security team still on duty at the Magic Kingdom raising the American flag. It’s a traditional they have kept up daily despite the park being empty.

    The video shows only the movement of the guards and the flag. Birds are heard in the background. Cinderella Castle stands at the far end of the street. Take a look at the video below:

    “While our world looks very different today, one thing endures…the American flag still flies over Walt Disney World,” D’Amaro wrote. “I’m inspired how our Security Cast Members continue to raise it each and every morning at Magic Kingdom while they are on duty protecting the magic. It’s a symbol that we’re still here and will not falter. I hope this inspires you as well. We will be back. Thanks to all our incredible Cast Members who continue to maintain the magic until that day. Until then, please take care of yourselves and your families. We will see you soon.”

    Disney World, which has been shut down only a handful of times in its 48-year history, is closed until further notice.

  • Disney Purchases More Land Near Magic Kingdom

    Disney Purchases More Land Near Magic Kingdom

    More land has been purchased near Magic Kingdom by The Disney Company.

    The land was bought last month by Celebration Company, a subsidiary of Disney, according to Orange County records and the 26.3 acres of land sits right next to Reedy Lake.

    Disney purchased the land from Lake Reedy Development Group, LLC, the same company it purchased 235 acres of adjacent land from in late December.

    Both pieces of property sit just west of Magic Kingdom and northwest of Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course.

    Just like with that purchase, Disney hasn’t publicly said what it plans to do with the land.

  • Get $200 to Watch Your Favorite Disney Movie

    Get $200 to Watch Your Favorite Disney Movie

    The company Reviews.org is looking for 10 people willing to sit through their favorite Disney film one more time in exchange for $200 and a year-long subscription to Disney+.

    It’s called their Disney+ Dream Job application. They previously launched a similar job application in October, asking people to binge watch Disney movies for 30 days.

    They have re-launched this campaign to relieve some financial strain to 10 families who may be facing hardships due to the coronavirus outbreak. Take a look below for details and sign up information.

    Here are the qualifications:

    • Must be 18 years or older and a U.S. resident

    If interested, applicants can send an email with the subject line “Dream Job”, your name and favorite Disney film to giveaways@reviews.org.

    For more information: CLICK HERE.

  • Disney Parks Donate 100,000 N95 Face Masks to Hospitals

    Disney Parks Donate 100,000 N95 Face Masks to Hospitals

    Since taking the unprecedented steps of closing U.S. Disney theme parks and stores and suspending cruises, Disney has continued to focus on ways they can make a difference during this time.

    In response to requests from hospitals that are in need of additional protective garments and medical-related supplies, Disney Parks has donated 150,000 rain ponchos to MedShare, a humanitarian aid organization, for distribution to hospitals in need. The idea was inspired by nurses across the country who inventively found that rain ponchos can be an excellent way to protect their clothing and prolong the use of PPE, while also freeing up gowns when needed. 

    “The COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything we’ve seen before,” said Charles Redding, MedShare CEO and President. “We have to find ways to pool our resources and work together to help the healthcare workers who are doing their very best to treat patients and contain COVID-19. We appreciate Disney partnering with us to support hospitals and healthcare workers on the frontlines.”

    Disney Parks also recently donated more than 100,000 N95 masks to the states of New York, California and Florida, and is finding additional ways to give back.

    These efforts follow the recent donation of more than 270 tons of food to local food banks from Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris, and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. Since March, Disney Parks have provided nearly $3M in in-kind donations benefitting communities around the globe. 

    Disney Parks has a longstanding history of helping hospitals and communities, dating back to the 1930s, when Walt, himself, took Disney characters and animators on outreach visits. Sharing the magic of Disney continues today through contributions, collaborating with nonprofit organizations, in-kind gifts and employee volunteerism. These are some of the ways Disney brings positive, lasting change to communities around the world.

  • Disney Publishing Worldwide Authors Providing Free eBooks

    Disney Publishing Worldwide Authors Providing Free eBooks

    Disney Publishing Worldwide authors are joining forces to provide a free eBook, drawing workshops and online videos sharing their favorite excerpts.

    For all the young adult fiction fans asking, ‘What might have happened if Anna and Elsa never knew each other?’, we have a free download of Conceal, Don’t Feel: A Twisted Tale by Jen Calonita, available from March 30 through April 4 via Apple BooksGoogle PlayAmazonBarnes & Noble and Kobo.

    As the future Queen of Arendelle, Princess Elsa’s life is full of expectation and responsibility—not to mention, questions. What type of ruler will she be? When will she have to pick a suitor? Elsa as she answers all these questions and more. Check back here to see how you can enjoy more Disney Books for free in the coming weeks.

    Emmy Award–winning writer and New York Times best-selling Disney Hyperion author, Mo Willems invites you to join him in the studio for virtual lunchtime doodling sessions, weekdays at 1pm ET/10am PT. Recent videos include a DIY board game and lessons on fun drawings to make for a birthday celebration. To draw along live, visit the Kennedy Center website and to binge the entire series, head to the Kennedy Center YouTube channel.

    Already downloaded Conceal, Don’t Feel, and crave more? Don’t miss Twisted Tales on @DisneyBooks Instagram. Authors Liz Braswell, Elizabeth Lim, and Jen Calonita will share passages from several Twisted Talesbooks – the series that dives into alternate “what-if” scenarios inspired by familiar animated Disney films.

  • Disney Cruise Line Suspending all New Departures through April 28, 2020

    Disney Cruise Line Suspending all New Departures through April 28, 2020

    With the wellbeing of Disney Cruise Line guests and team members as its top priority and in line with direction from health experts and government officials, Disney Cruise Line has decided to extend the suspension of all new departures through Tuesday, April 28, 2020. 

    In light of this cancellation, Disney Cruise Line is offering clients with cruises already booked during this timeframe the choice of a 125% future cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date, or a full refund.

    The credit will be automatically applied to their account at the start of business on Tuesday, March 31, 2020.  You may place a reservation on hold by applying it as a payment option when booking a new reservation online.

    The future cruise credit is equal to 125% of the original voyage fare and is only valid for sailings departing within 15 months of the original sailing. The future cruise credit is applied per person and is non-transferable, non-refundable and has no cash value.

    Standard prevailing rates apply and guests are responsible for any balance due after the future cruise credit has been applied. If you end up not being able to use the future cruise credit, you will be eligible for a refund up to the amount you paid in full. Standard cancellation policies and terms and conditions apply to future sailings. Guests who previously received a 125% future cruise credit are not eligible for an additional future cruise credit.

  • VIDEO: Disney Offers Virtual Viewing of New Disneyland Parade

    VIDEO: Disney Offers Virtual Viewing of New Disneyland Parade

    Disney fans are searching for ways to bring magic and joy into their everyday lives and today, Disney has released a special virtual viewing of the all-new “Magic Happens” parade, which recently debuted at Disneyland park!

    This daytime spectacular celebrates the awe-inspiring moments of magic that are at the heart of so many Disney stories.

    So gather with family at home to watch this stunning moment of magic. Take a look at the video below:

    “Magic Happens” features nine newly designed floats, highlighting magic from classic Walt Disney Animation Studios tales, such as “The Sword in the Stone,” “Cinderella” and “Sleeping Beauty,” to more recent stories, including “Frozen 2,” “Moana” and “The Princess and the Frog,” as well as Disney and Pixar’s “Coco.”

    The new floats were created as pieces of moving art, with their lines and aesthetic design telling a story along the parade route, while also evoking a sense of magic. The stories seen in “Magic Happens” are rooted in iconic Disney lore, but the soundtrack, costume design and choreography are heavily influenced by today’s contemporary designers. Be sure to listen up for the energetic musical score and new songs, co-composed by singer-songwriter, Todrick Hall.

  • Baby Zebra Born at Walt Disney World Resort Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic

    Baby Zebra Born at Walt Disney World Resort Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic

    What’s black and white and cute all over? The newest member of the herd over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! The park has just announced the birth of a Hartmann’s zebra foal.

    Although Walt Disney World Resort is temporarily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Disney’s Animal Care team is continuing to provide top-notch care to thousands of animals.

    A Hartmann’s Zebra foal was born early Saturday morning (Mar. 21) to first-time-mom, Heidi… and it’s a girl! Check out the video below to see a few moments of sweet mother-daughter time.

    The foal, who has yet to be named, is about 65pounds, and is quite strong – she was standing within 30 minutes of birth. Already very active and curious, this little lady is much like her mother and has very long legs.

    Heidi is showing she’s a natural at parenting skills as she stays close to her baby to bond with her and nurse. Bonding is especially important, as a young zebra will imprint on its mother’s scent and memorize the unique markings on its mother’s hind legs to tell her apart from the rest of the herd. In a few weeks, after the pair develop a strong bond, they will be introduced to the Kilimanjaro Safaris savannah. 

    The foal was born as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) program, which is overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and ensures responsible breeding and genetic diversity of thousands of species of animals. Her arrival marks the third zebra birth at Walt Disney World this year.

    Hartmann’s mountain zebras are found in sub-Saharan Africa and are a vulnerable species due to habitat loss and hunting. To learn more about zebras and other species we are working to protect, visit DisneyAnimals.com