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CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL DINING PACKAGES ARE RETURNING—AND WE NOW HAVE THE PRICES!Reservations for the 2026 packages wil...
09/10/2026

CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL DINING PACKAGES ARE RETURNING—AND WE NOW HAVE THE PRICES!

Reservations for the 2026 packages will open on October 14.

Guests can choose from 15 EPCOT restaurants offering advance reservations, including:

🍽️ Garden Grill
🇨🇦 Le Cellier
🇮🇹 Via Napoli
👑 Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
🇩🇪 Biergarten
🇫🇷 Chefs de France
🐠 Coral Reef
🇬🇧 Rose & Crown
🍣 Shiki-Sai
…and more!

Packages range from $59 to $109 per adult at advance-booking restaurants. A limited same-day package may also be available at Regal Eagle Smokehouse for $43 per adult.

Your package includes a meal and guaranteed seating at a Candlelight Processional performance later that day. Seating within the reserved section is still first-come, first-served.

The Candlelight Processional runs during EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays from November 27 through December 30, 2026.

Important: EPCOT admission is required and is not included with the dining package.

Would you pay for a dining package to guarantee your seat—or take your chances in the standby line? 👇

DVC POLL: If you could own points at only ONE Walt Disney World DVC resort for the rest of your life, which would you ch...
09/10/2026

DVC POLL: If you could own points at only ONE Walt Disney World DVC resort for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

🏝️ Polynesian
👑 Grand Floridian
🌴 Beach Club
🦒 Animal Kingdom Lodge

Vote in the poll—but here’s the catch:

You have to consider the entire ownership experience: location, rooms, transportation, dining, annual dues, point chart and contract expiration.

👇 Then tell us in the comments:

Which resort did you choose—and why is it better than the other three?

If your resort isn’t listed, comment with your choice. Let’s see which DVC resort really has the most loyal owners!

MAJOR REFURBISHMENT UNDERWAY AT KIDANI VILLAGE ~ UPDATE!Guests staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas–Kidani Village ...
09/09/2026

MAJOR REFURBISHMENT UNDERWAY AT KIDANI VILLAGE ~ UPDATE!

Guests staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas–Kidani Village should be prepared for several temporary closures as Disney continues a phased refurbishment of the resort’s lobby and surrounding areas.

Here’s what DVC members need to know:

🛎️ Main lobby: Refurbishment is scheduled through October 9. Check-in has temporarily moved to The Palace Library.

🦒 September 28–October 9: The North Side Corridor will close, including:

* Second-floor North Side lobby elevators
* Outdoor deck
* Savanna-viewing area

🎮 October 26–November 6: The South Side Lobby Corridor will close, including:

* Community Hall
* The Palace Library
* Arcade
* Laundry room
* Lobby restrooms
* South-side outdoor viewing platform

Guests may see and hear construction during daytime hours, and Disney notes that these dates could change.

The good news is that Kidani’s villa refurbishment is reportedly complete. Work has now shifted to the DVC villas at Jambo House, which are expected to be finished in January 2027.

Kidani has one of the most beautiful and distinctive resort lobbies at Walt Disney World—but would this amount of construction make you move your reservation to another DVC resort? 👇

🎄 CHRISTMAS PARTY DINING RESERVATIONS ARE OPEN! 🎄If you’re attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year, Disn...
09/09/2026

🎄 CHRISTMAS PARTY DINING RESERVATIONS ARE OPEN! 🎄

If you’re attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year, Disney has now opened dining reservations to all guests.

Options include:

🏰 Cinderella’s Royal Table
🌹 Be Our Guest Restaurant
🍔 The Plaza Restaurant
🏴‍☠️ The Beak and Barrel
🎆 Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party—with either reserved Tomorrowland Terrace seating or Plaza Garden viewing

The Christmas Party runs on select nights from November 8 through December 22, 2026.

One very important detail: Booking a restaurant or dessert party does not get you into the event. You must also have a valid Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ticket for that same night.

Would you use valuable party time for a sit-down dinner—or would you eat beforehand and focus on the entertainment? 👇

“Buy where you want to stay” is overrated advice for most DVC buyers.Yes, the 11-month booking advantage matters for cer...
09/08/2026

“Buy where you want to stay” is overrated advice for most DVC buyers.

Yes, the 11-month booking advantage matters for certain resorts, room categories and travel dates. But many owners would be better off buying the contract with the best combination of:

💰 Purchase price
📅 Contract expiration
🧾 Annual dues
📍 Acceptable seven-month availability

If you’re flexible about where you stay, why pay thousands more just to call one resort “home”?

I’d rather own more affordable points and experience different DVC resorts than pay a premium for an 11-month advantage I may only use occasionally.

Am I wrong?

Is “buy where you want to stay” still the best DVC advice—or is it something people repeat without considering how most families actually travel? 👇

CORAL REEF CLOSES TOMORROW—BUT WE MAY NOW KNOW WHEN IT WILL RETURN!Coral Reef Restaurant at EPCOT will temporarily close...
09/07/2026

CORAL REEF CLOSES TOMORROW—BUT WE MAY NOW KNOW WHEN IT WILL RETURN!

Coral Reef Restaurant at EPCOT will temporarily close beginning September 8 for planned maintenance.

The encouraging news: Disney’s reservation calendar is now showing dinner bookings beginning November 4, suggesting an approximately eight-week closure.

Here’s what’s confirmed:

The closure begins September 8.
Disney now describes the work as “planned maintenance.”
Disney says the restaurant will reopen later in 2026.
Dinner reservations are appearing beginning November 4.
Coral Reef remains dinner-only, with available times starting at 4:00 p.m.

What Disney has not confirmed:

Disney has not separately announced November 4 as the official reopening date.
No details have been released about changes to the dining room or menu.
Reports of a guest-facing refurbishment remain unconfirmed.

Coral Reef has one of Disney World’s most distinctive dining rooms, overlooking an aquarium containing more than 2,000 sea creatures. The restaurant opened with The Living Seas pavilion in 1986.

Would you like to see Disney preserve the classic Coral Reef experience—or use this closure for a major menu and dining-room overhaul? 👇

UNPOPULAR DVC OPINION: Saratoga Springs is one of the most underrated resorts in all of DVC.I know what the critics say:...
09/07/2026

UNPOPULAR DVC OPINION: Saratoga Springs is one of the most underrated resorts in all of DVC.

I know what the critics say:

“It’s too spread out.”
“The buses take forever.”
“It doesn’t feel Disney enough.”
“It’s always available for a reason.”

But those are some of the same reasons I love it.

🏇 It’s peaceful after a chaotic day in the parks
🚶 You can walk to Disney Springs from certain sections
🍽️ Dozens of restaurants and bars are practically next door
🏠 The renovated rooms are bright, comfortable and actually feel relaxing
🏊 It has multiple pools, so you’re not fighting everyone at one feature pool
💰 The point charts are often more reasonable than the “premium” resorts
📅 You can frequently find availability without planning every trip 11 months ahead

No, it doesn’t have a monorail running through the lobby or a castle outside your window. But not every DVC stay needs to feel like you’re sleeping inside a theme park.

Sometimes I want space, quiet, flexibility and easy access to Disney Springs—and Saratoga delivers all four.

I’ll go one step further: I would choose Saratoga over several DVC resorts that cost considerably more per night.

Am I right—or is Saratoga Springs availability simply proof that most DVC members disagree with me? 👇

What’s the DVC resort everyone else dislikes…but you absolutely love?

A MAJOR VERO BEACH POOL CLOSURE IS COMING!Disney has confirmed that the Feature Pool at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort will ...
09/06/2026

A MAJOR VERO BEACH POOL CLOSURE IS COMING!

Disney has confirmed that the Feature Pool at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort will close for routine maintenance beginning January 10, 2028, and remain unavailable through April 2028.

The closure will also include:

💦 Tiger Lily Water Play Area
⛳ Port Holes Miniature Golf
🏴‍☠️ The recreation area surrounding the Feature Pool

Guests may see and hear construction while the work is underway.

Why is this important for DVC members?

Vero Beach does not have a separate leisure pool, so this isn’t a situation where guests can simply walk to another pool on the property. The Atlantic beach will still be available, but that may not replace the pool experience—especially for families with younger children.

Disney has not announced:

* A specific reopening date within April
* A replacement swimming option
* Guest compensation or alternative arrangements
* Any closure of the villas, restaurants or beach

The timing does fall during Vero Beach’s cooler months, but losing the pool, children’s water-play area and miniature golf at the same time could significantly change the experience.

If you were planning a January–April 2028 stay, would this make you change your dates or choose another DVC resort? 👇

GRAND FLORIDIAN CAFÉ RESERVATIONS ARE RETURNING!It looks like Grand Floridian Café is preparing to reopen on November 2 ...
09/06/2026

GRAND FLORIDIAN CAFÉ RESERVATIONS ARE RETURNING!

It looks like Grand Floridian Café is preparing to reopen on November 2 following its multi-month refurbishment.

Dinner reservations have appeared in Disney’s booking system beginning November 2. That lines up with Disney’s official timeline, which says the restaurant will remain closed through October.

Here’s what we know:

* Grand Floridian Café has been closed since July 20.
* Brunch temporarily moved upstairs to Cítricos.
* Dinner reservations are now appearing beginning November 2.
* Brunch reservations at the reopened Café have not yet appeared for that date.
* Disney has not issued a separate announcement formally confirming November 2 as the reopening date.
* No refreshed menu or interior details have been revealed yet.

Grand Floridian Café is popular for its relaxed atmosphere and dishes including Buttermilk-Fried Chicken, the Signature Burger, Eggs Benedict and Buttermilk Chicken and Mickey Waffles.

This one is especially convenient when you want a sit-down meal near Magic Kingdom without entering the park.

Are you excited to see the refreshed Grand Floridian Café—or is there another Grand Floridian restaurant you prefer? 👇

DISNEY WORLD JUST ANNOUNCED A HUGE NEW LINEUP OF TREATS AND DRINKS!Approximately 45 new menu items are coming to locatio...
09/05/2026

DISNEY WORLD JUST ANNOUNCED A HUGE NEW LINEUP OF TREATS AND DRINKS!

Approximately 45 new menu items are coming to locations across the theme parks, resorts, Disney Springs and water parks this fall.

Here are some of the most interesting additions:

🧇 Birthday Cake Mickey Waffles at Art of Animation
🍓 Strawberry Mickey Waffles at Pop Century and Port Orleans
🍌 Caramel-Banana Mickey Waffles at All-Star Sports
🍫 Candy Bar Mickey Waffles at All-Star Movies

The churro lineup may be even more ambitious:

🍍 DOLE Whip Pineapple and Chili-Lime Churro Sundae at Animal Kingdom
🍓 Churro Strawberry Shortcake Sundae at Sunshine Seasons
🍪 Cookie Butter Mini Churros at Hollywood Studios
☕ Churro-misu Cold Brew at Animal Kingdom
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A shareable order of 21 bite-sized churros at EPCOT

Disney is also adding several new frozen drinks and milkshakes, including:

🥧 Key Lime Dream Slush
🍑 Peaches and Cream Slush
🔥 Mango Heat Wave
🍫 S’mores Gelato Milkshake at Connections Eatery
🎞️ Steamboat Willie Milkshake at The Plaza Restaurant
☕ Espresso Martini Milkshakes at Sci-Fi Dine-In and Whispering Canyon

A few important details:

* Disney says the new offerings are coming this fall.
* No single release date was announced, so items may debut at different times.
* Many drinks will appear at multiple locations.
* Several nonalcoholic slushes will also have alcoholic versions at select locations.
* Offerings remain subject to change and availability.

If you could try only ONE of these, which are you choosing: the DOLE Whip Churro Sundae, Churro-misu Cold Brew, Steamboat Willie Milkshake or Birthday Cake Mickey Waffles? 👇

📸 Disney Parks Blog

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