The Flower & Garden Festival kicks off 90 days of beautiful floral fun on March 6 with two different AP magnet designs and with a valid annual pass, guests can pick up one of each. Each of the new designs are complementary for Passholders, but each one will be offered on different dates.
Passholders can add two new event-specific magnets to their collection: a Pluto magnet will be available March 6-April 10, and Daisy will be available April 11-June 3 (both available while supplies last).
This is the first time both of these characters will be featured on complimentary Passholder magnets. To pick yours up, stop into Mouse Gear or Port of Entry and show your valid annual pass card and photo ID.
The ongoing evolution of Epcot includes plans “BIG plans” andtoday, Disney announced several new enhancements for the park, including a new “play pavilion” set to replace area previously known as Wonders of Life.
The new pavilion in development will include first-of-their-kind experiences devoted to playful fun, inviting guests into an innovative, interactive city bursting with games and hands-on activities. Friends and family will interact with favorite Disney characters in an energetic metropolis unlike anything ever seen before at Epcot. The as-yet-unnamed space will come to life under the vast dome of the pavilion previously known as Wonders of Life (more recently the Festival Center) and will debut to guests in time for the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary.
“This innovative, new pavilion is beyond anything we’ve ever created and is completely unique to Epcot,” said Zach Riddley, portfolio executive, Walt Disney Imagineering. “Built on the power of play, it introduces an immersive and interactive ‘city’ where you can explore, create and interact with some of your favorite Disney characters. This is an experience worthy of our bold vision for Epcot – and another signature element of our transformation.”
Two more exciting new projects were also revealed today:
Changes are coming to the Epcot main entrance, where the plaza will welcome guests with new pathways, sweeping green spaces and a newly reimagined fountain. This new design will pay homage to the original park entrance with fresh takes on classic elements. As part of this new entry experience, Leave A Legacy photos will move into a beautiful setting just outside the park’s gateway. Additional significant redevelopment will begin between Spaceship Earth and World Showcase Promenade; more details about the transformation of this area will be announced at a later date.
Guests will be able to visualize the exciting plans for Epcot when doors open later this year on a new Experience Center in the Odyssey Events Pavilion. They will discover engaging and interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation, energy and excitement driving the future of the park all throughout this unprecedented period of transformation.
“Epcot is beloved for its focus on imagination, innovation, fun, food and family,” said George A. Kalogridis, president, Walt Disney World Resort. “It’s a timeless place where the real is made fantastic through the magic of Disney. It has a very bright future ahead and the best part is that we’ve only just begun to dream.”
These new announcements join other projects already underway as part of the Epcot evolution. Larger-than-life Super Heroes will descend upon the park with the opening of a Guardians of the Galaxy-themed attraction. This new experience will be one of the longest enclosed roller coasters in the world and feature a brand-new ride system when it opens in 2021.
Other exciting new developments underway at Epcot include:
“Beauty and the Beast” sing-along in the France pavilion, showing in addition to the pavilion’s current film, Impressions de France
Circle-Vision 360 film for the China pavilion and updated O Canada! 360-degree show
Signature Dining experience inspired by the natural beauty of Japan
Space-themed table-service restaurant adjacent to Mission: SPACE, inviting guests to travel high above the earth for an unforgettable dining experience
Epcot Forever, a 2019 limited-time nighttime experience over World Showcase Lagoon set to classic Epcot tunes, followed by an all-new nighttime spectacular debuting in 2020.
As we previously reported, a multi-year transformation of Epcot is underway that will reimagine the park while keeping true to the original vision. Today, Disney announced that the entrance to the park will be redesigned as part of this transformation.
There will be exciting changes to the way you come and go at Epcot. As you can see in the concept art, changes are coming to the Epcot main entrance, where the plaza will welcome guests with new pathways, sweeping green spaces and a newly reimagined fountain. This new design will pay homage to the original park entrance with fresh takes on classic elements.
“Epcot has always been, and always will be, an optimistic celebration of the real world that is brought to life through the magic of Disney,” said George A. Kalogridis, president, Walt Disney World Resort. “The exciting plans we have on the horizon will honor Epcot’s rich legacy of creativity and innovation while continuing to exceed the expectations of our guests for decades to come.”
As part of the new entry experience, Leave A Legacy photos will be moving into a beautiful setting just outside the park’s gateway. The Leave a Legacy program, launched during Epcot’s Millennium Celebration in 1999, giving guests the opportunity to commemorate their visit to Epcot at the turn of the last century.
Photo-capture stations took their pictures, which were then etched onto steel tiles and mounted on one of 30 monoliths in the Leave a Legacy Plaza. Each stone ranges in height from 3 to 19 feet, and the heaviest one weighs more than 50,000 pounds!
Additional significant redevelopment will begin between Spaceship Earth attraction and the World Showcase Promenade. More details about the transformation of this area will be announced at a later date.
Carol Burnett visted Walt Disney World this weekend while the comedy legend was in town for a stop on her latest comedy tour.
She took time to share a laugh with Goofy at Epcot. There they are pictured in the photo above recreating Carol’s famous “ear tug,” a movement she did at the end of every episode of The Carol Burnett Show.
Carol Creighton Burnett is an actress, comedian, singer, and writer who is best known for starring in her CBS variety/sketch comedy show The Carol Burnett Show which ran from 1967 to 1978.
Her Disney roles include her guest appearances on The Muppet Show in episode 515, the host of the Disney Sunday Movie episode “Great Moments in Disney Animation”, Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular, Walt Disney World’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, and Queen Aggravain in Once Upon A Mattress. She also voiced Haru in The Secret World of Arrietty.
Starting this week you can meet Wreck-it Ralph and Vanellope from Disney’s animated adventure “Ralph Breaks the Internet” in a brand new location at Epcot!
The encounter opened up last fall, when their movie debuted in theaters in a temporary location inside Innoventions West. Now you can bump fists and pose for pics with this lovable video game “villain” and his adorable pal in the Imagination! pavilion.
The staff of the Imagination Institute is now conducting a new experiment, creating a portal into other dimensions. That portal has opened a window on the internet for Ralph and Vanellope to step through, right into the ImageWorks area of the Imagination! pavilion, where you can meet with them every day.
The hit film “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is now available on Digital and comes to Blu-ray on February 26. Available for the first time on 4K Ultra HD!
Construction on Disney’s new Skyliner gondola system is moving along rapidly and today the first gondola cable cars were were spotted being installed today Walt Disney World.
We got a glimpse of the gondolas making their way onto Disney property back in June and now we are getting a look at exactly what these will look like while hanging on the line.
As you can see in the photos below the gondolas are being added to the line at the International Gateway Disney Skyliner station at Epcot.
THIS JUST IN: First Look at Disney’s Skyliner Gondola being put on at EPCOT’s International Gateway
When it’s finished, the transportation system will connect Disney’s Art of Animation, Pop Century and Caribbean Beach resorts and other locations with Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the International Gateway at Epcot.
There is no official date, but the Disney Skyliner project is expected to be completed by fall of 2019.
Grab those paintbrushes and get ready to please your palate with the colorful flavors of the 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Arts! This year’s menus are decorated with a whole gallery of items including returning favorites as well as new items that will dazzle your taste buds.
Highlighting the visual, performing, and culinary arts, the festival runs from January 18 to February 25, 2019, and features 13 Food Studios along with other festival-exclusive dishes served at various locations throughout the park.
As for the menus for the wonderful Food Studios sprinkled throughout the park, here’s your official Disney Parks Foodie Guide with all the info a budding, hungry artist could ever want!
GF – Gluten-Friendly V – Vegetarian
The Deconstructed Dish (Located in Showcase Plaza)
Food Items:
Deconstructed Reuben with Shredded Corned Beef, Thousand Island Dressing, Pickled Red Cabbage, and a Rye Curl
Deconstructed BLT with Crispy Pork Belly, Tomato Jam, and Soft Poached Egg
Deconstructed Strawberry Cheesecake: Whipped New York Style Cheesecake with Fresh Florida Strawberries, Sugar Cookies and Micro-basil
Beverages:
Pop-Artsicle: Red, White, and Blue Frozen Slushy (Non-alcoholic)
Deconstructed Breakfast: Twinings® Spiced Apple Chai Tea Shake garnished with Maple Syrup, a Waffle Crisp and Candied Bacon (Non-alcoholic)
Imagery Sauvignon Blanc, California
Mad Genius Red Blend, California
Deconstructed Breakfast: Twinings® Spiced Apple Chai Tea Shake with Cream Bourbon garnished with a Waffle Crisp and Candied Bacon
The Artist’s Table (Located in The American Adventure)
Food Items:
Beef Wellington with Mushroom Bordelaise, Fennel Cream, and Roasted Baby Vegetables
Pan-Seared Scallop with Chorizo, Roasted Red Pepper Coulis, and Parmesan Crisp (GF)
Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie
Beverages:
Sipping Chocolate Flight: White, Milk, & Dark Chocolate (non-alcoholic)
Saugatuck Brewing Co. Neapolitan Milk Stout, Douglas, MI
Lexington Brewing Company Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale, Lexington, KY
Lindemans Framboise Lambic, Belgium
Barrymore Rosé, Monterey County, CA
Carmel Road Drew’s Blend Pinot Noir, Monterey County, CA
Symphony in Chocolate Flight: Mozart Cream Liqueurs paired with Sipping Chocolates
Chocolate and Beer Pairing Flight
Cuisine Classique (Located in the Germany Pavilion)
Food Items:
Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib with Parsnip Purée, Broccolini, Baby Tomatoes, and Aged Balsamic
Seared Corvina with braised Ratatouille and Lemon-Thyme Beurre Blanc (GF)
Saint-Honoré Tart: Caramel Cream Tart with Caramel Glaze topped with Cream Puffs
Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie
Beverages:
Angry Orchard Rosé Hard Cider, Walden, NY
Concrete Beach Brewery Rosé Ale, Miami, FL
Frozen Rosé
Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva Art Series, Logrono, Spain
Domaine Savary Chablis, Burgundy
A Play on Rosé Flight
Pop Eats! (Located in Showcase Plaza)
Food Items:
Sous Vide Chicken Roulade with Apples and Sage served with Warm Brie Fondue, Blueberry and Beet Gel and garnished with Apple and Beet Chips (GF)
Shrimp Ceviche with Lime Mint Foam (GF)
Almond Frangipane Cake layered with Raspberry Jam and Callebaut Belgian Chocolate (V)
Pop Art Tart: Modern-designed Sugar Cookie with Strawberry Filling (V)
Beverages:
Blue Sky Black Cherry Boba Freeze (non-alcoholic)
#RainbowSherbertGlitterDreamAle by Playalinda Brewing Co., Titusville, FL
Popping Bubbles Cocktail
Masterpiece Kitchen (Located in the Canada Pavilion)
Charcuterie Palette with Artisan Cured Meats and Cheeses featuring Nueske’s® Applewood Smoked Beef
Vanilla, Rose Water and Pistachio Panna Cotta
Beverages:
Weihenstephaner Original Lager, Freising, Germany
Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque Brut Champagne
The Meeker Vineyard Winemakers’ Handprint Merlot, Sonoma County, CA
Pinord La Dama Reserva Familiar Brut, Spain
Pinord La Dama Reserva Familiar Brut Rosé, Spain
Classic Sidecar with a Chocolate Twist
Painter’s Palate (Located in the Odyssey Festival Showplace)
Food Items:
Smoked Salmon and Cream Gâteau with Egg Yolk Cream, Paddlefish Caviar, and Micro-herbs
Trio of Savory Croissant Doughnuts:
Whipped Boursin® Garlic & Fine Herbs Cheese with Fresh Herbs (V)
Chicken Salad with Shaved Fennel and Fresh Herbs
Spicy Tuna with Wasabi and Seaweed Salad
Gallery Bites: A Trio of Hors d’Oeuvres
Chilled Shrimp with Cucumber Cream Cheese on a Crostini
Traditional Deviled Egg with Candied Bacon
Crispy Truffled Risotto Ball with Truffle Aïoli (V)
Pop Art Tart: Abstract-designed Sugar Cookie with Strawberry Filling (V)
White Chocolate Figment Puzzle on an Artist Palette
Mickey and Pluto White Chocolate Painting with Chocolate Easel (GF) (V)
Festival of the Arts White Chocolate Painting with Chocolate Easel (GF) (V)
Beverages:
North Coast Brewing Co. Scrimshaw Pilsner Style Beer, Fort Bragg, CA
M.I.A. Beer Company Jazz IPA, Doral, FL
Central 28 Beer Company Miss Mary Brown Oatmeal Brown Ale, DeBary, FL
Popcorn Pairing Flight
Decadent Delights (Located in Showcase Plaza)
Food Items:
White Chocolate and Purple Sweet Potato Mousse, Caramel, Coconut and Maple Meringue
Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Pretzel Crunch
Lemon Blood-Orange Tart
Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie
Beverages:
3 Daughters Strawberry Blonde Nitro, St. Petersburg, FL
Breckenridge Nitro Vanilla Porter, Breckenridge, CO
Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, England
Biagio Moscato d’Asti, Piedmont
Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port, St. Petersburg, FL
Cold Fashioned Coffee Cocktail
Neapolitan Beer Flight
Refreshment Outpost (Located between the China and Germany Pavilions)
Food Items:
Chilled Shrimp, Quinoa, Layered Vegetables, Spiced Yogurt and Red Pepper Coulis
Fife and Drum (Located in The American Adventure)
Food Items:
Musical Float: Layered Strawberry, Lemonade and Blue Raspberry Slushy with Vanilla Ice Cream and White Chocolate (non-alcoholic)
Block and Hans (Located in The American Adventure)
Beverage Items:
Ciderboys Grand Mimosa Apple Orange Hard Cider, Stevens Point, WI
Refreshment Port (Located in Showcase Plaza)
Food Items:
Lobster Chips: Lobster-topped house-made Chips with Lobster Bisque Cheese Sauce, pickled Jalapeños and Citrus Cream
Beverages:
Glazed Pork Belly Bloody Mary: Classic Bloody Mary with Absolut Vodka garnished with Maple IPA Glazed Pork Belly, Pickled Carrots, Celery, Stuffed Olives and Cherry Tomato
Taste Track (Located in Future World East)
Food Items:
Lobster Bacon Macaroni & Cheese served in a Warm Bread Cone
Paintbrush Churros: Cinnamon Sugar Churros Dipped in Colorful White Chocolate
Beverage Items:
Pancake Milkshake (non-alcoholic)
Banfi Rosa Regale Sparkling Red, Piedmont
L’Art de la Cuisine Française (Located in the France Pavilion)
Food Items:
Crème de Brie en Petit Pain: Warm Creamy Brie in a House-made Bread Bowl
Dariole de Saumon à la Provencale, Sauce Beurre Blanc, Fleuron: Salmon Terrine with Zucchini and Tomato, Beurre Blanc Sauce, Puff Pastry Fleuron
Moelleux Aux Chocolats Valrhona: Molten Chocolate Cake with Pure Origin Valrhona Chocolates
Beverages:
Crémant de Bourgogne Veuve d’Ambal Expression: French Sparkling Burgundy Wine
Alsace, Riesling Reserve Willm
Bordeaux, Château Prignac, Medoc, 2014
Frosé: Frozen Côtes de Provence Rosé Wine with Grey Goose Vodka and Peach Purée
Mosaic Canteen (Located in the Morocco Pavilion)
Food Items:
Spiced Beef with Pine Nuts and Dried Cherries, Hummus and Pita Chips
Mediterranean Flatbread with Zaatar, Olive Oil Artichoke, Olives, Mozzarella and Feta Cheese
Chebbakia: Hand-twisted Strips of Fried Dough coated with Honey, Rosewater and Sesame Seeds
Beverage:
Casa Beer
Bonassia Red, Meknés, Morocco
Embrace the Arak: Massaya Arak, Orange Juice and Grenadine
El Artista Hambriento (Located in the Mexico Pavilion)
Food Items:
Sopes de Chilorio: Slow-braised Pork marinated in Ancho Chili Paste served on Fried Corn Dough with Black Beans, Queso Oaxaca, Crema Mexicana and Salsa Verde
Callo de Hacha en Salsa de Jengibre y Habanero: Two Seared Scallops with Ginger-habanero Sauce atop Yucca Purée
Chocoflan: Creamy Mexican Custard and Chocolate Sponge Cake topped with Cajeta and Hazelnuts
Beverages:
Allende Mexican Craft Beer
Frida Lychee Margarita: El Velo Blanco Tequila, Lychee Purée, Botran Rum, and Fresh Lime Juice
Diego Dragon Fruit Margarita: Bruxo Mezcal, Dragon Fruit Purée, Ginger Cordial, and Guanábana Liqueur
Takumi Table (Located in the Japan Pavilion)
Food Items:
Taiyaki: Fish-shaped Japanese Sweet Stuffed Pastry with Red Bean Paste and topped with Whipped Cream and Sesame Custard
Sushi Donut: Donut-shaped Sushi featuring Salmon, Tuna, Shrimp, Avocado and Masago accented with Citrus-soy Gelée and Wasabi on the side
Beverages:
Sapporo Draft Beer
Masu Sake in a Traditional Personalized Wooden Cup
Melting Snow Cocktail: Sake, Peach Schnapps, Cranberry Juice, and Japanese Calpico
The Painted Panda (Located in the China Pavilion)
Food Items:
Crystal Mooncake with Fruit Filling and garnished with Toasted Coconut
Dragon and Phoenix: Spicy Sautéed Shrimp with Spinach Noodles
Plum Infused Cherry Tomatoes
Beverages:
“Panda” Bubble Tea: Classic Milk Tea with Black and White Boba Pearls (non-alcoholic)
Jasmine Draft Beer
Fortune Cookie: ByeJoe Spirit, Amaretto, Coconut and Pineapple
Kung Fu Punch: Vodka, Triple Sec, Mango Syrup, Orange Juice and Soda Water
Tomato Plum Cocktail: Plum Wine with Plum Infused Tomatoes
L’Arte di Mangiare (Located in the Italy Pavilion)
Spuma al Miele d’Arancio: Orange Honey Mousse with Peaches and Mint Marjoram Cream
Beverages:
Peroni Nastro Azzurro Pilsner
Moretti La Rossa Double Malt Beer
Prosecco, Villa Sandi
Moscato Fior d’Arancio, Montegrande
Corbinello, Montegrande
Pinot Grigio, Bosco del Merlo
Merlot, Montegrande
Amaretto Bellini: Amaretto, White Peach Purée and Prosecco
Vodka Rossini: Vodka, Strawberry Purée and Prosecco
Funnel Cakes (Located in The American Adventure)
Salted Caramel Funnel Cake
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company
Future World East: Espresso-nist Latte – A shot of Joffrey’s Italian Espresso mixed with rich Baileys Espresso Crème Liqueur, topped with Steamed Milk and Whipped Cream
Canada: Starry Night Latte – A delicious shot of Joffrey’s Italian Espresso mixed with Creamy Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, topped with Steamed Milk and Whipped Cream
Showcase Plaza: Surreal Cinnamon Latte – A shot of Joffrey’s Italian Espresso mixed with RumChata and Cinnamon Whisky, blended with Steamed Milk and Whipped Cream
The American Adventure: Bourbon Brushstroke Latte – A shot of Italian Espresso mixed with Bourbon Whiskey Cream liqueur, blended with Steamed Milk and Whipped Cream
In addition, guests can savor show-stopping cuisine with a side of sizzling Disney Broadway hits with the Disney on Broadway Concert Series Dining Packages. You can feast on the finest fare from around the world at participating restaurants before enjoying guaranteed seating at one of three concerts held the same day.
If you need help booking your magical vacation, contact Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Vikki for help. My services are completely free and I will always find you the lowest rates. Let me do all the work so you don’t have to!
The festival takes place Jan. 18 through Feb. 25 and on your first visit to the festival, receive a complimentary Passholder magnet that will feature Figment for the first time. Just stop into Mouse Gear or Port of Entry and show your valid annual pass card and photo ID.
Passholders can complete their “Figment” look by receiving a 20% Passholder discount on a Festival of the Arts MagicBand, which will feature the playful, purple dragon, plus a Figment spirit jersey, T-shirt, ornament and more. They can also pick up Passholder-exclusive festival merchandise that will include a t-shirt and coaster set featuring Mickey Mouse, a pin featuring Pluto – and an exclusive Figment cookie available for purchase at Taste Track from Jan. 18 through Jan. 26.
Passholders can also enjoy a 10% discount for dining packages for the Disney on Broadway Concert Series throughout the festival, and a special 20% discount on dining packages at Biergarten Restaurant and Coral Reef Restaurant for lunch and dinner through Jan. 31. The Disney on Broadway Concert Series returns this year with live performances seven nights a week and features six new performers!
As we previously reported, Epcot’s nighttime spectacular “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” will be ending next year. To commemorate the occasion Disney is bringing a new ‘IllumiNations’ dining package is coming to Epcot.
The IllumiNations Dining Package is $85 per adult (ages 10 and up) and $35 per child (ages 3 to 9), tax and gratuity included. Separate Epcot admission is also required.
You’ll dine on fine cuisine, seated at a lagoon-side patio, and enjoy specially-reserved viewing for the farewell season of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.” Beginning Jan. 18, 2019.
With the “IllumiNations” Dining Package, you can sit back and relax on the patio of the Rose & Crown Dining Room, located in the United Kingdom Pavilion, while dining on classic British fare and enjoying sweeping views of World Showcase Lagoon. The Rose & Crown patio offers a unique view of the nighttime spectacular – while it’s true that there are fantastic views of “IllumiNations” from all around World Showcase Lagoon, this location offers a unique perspective that is perfect for a romantic night out or a delicious end-of-the-day finale with family and friends. The package includes a prix fixe menu that features a selection of Rose & Crown favorites, as well as unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
You’ll start your meal off with a Scotch Egg or the United Kingdom Cheese Platter, and follow up with popular entrées such as Rose & Crown’s signature Fish and Chips, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Pan-roasted Scottish Salmon, or Bangers and Mash. And for dessert, you’ll love this Pudding Platter Trio featuring Sticky Toffee Pudding, English Trifle, and Chocolate Nougat Bar. Kids can enjoy a soup or salad with their choice of Cheese and Turkey Flatbread, Turkey Meatball Pasta, Cheesy Pasta, or Fish and Chips as well as either Fruit Salad or Trifle for dessert.
The “IllumiNations” Dining Package is a great new way to experience “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” before the show takes its final bow at the end of summer 2019. Reservations are available starting January 17 for reservations starting on January 18.
The experience, showtimes, and menu items are all subject to change without notice, and alcoholic beverages will only be served to guests 21 and up with valid ID.
If you need help booking your magical vacation, contact Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Vikki for help. My services are completely free and I will always find you the lowest rates. Let me do all the work so you don’t have to!
The Happiest Place on Earth isn’t so happy after The Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced they’re investigating the theft of clothing that belonged to a retired animatronic character at Walt Disney World.
The stolen items belong to “Buzzy”, who was part of the now-closed Wonders of Life pavilion attraction Cranium Command at Epcot.
Cranium Command offered a fun look at how “the lean, mean thinking machine,” the human brain, worked. Guests first watched a video in which a rookie recruit, Buzzy, was assigned to take the controls of a 12-year-old boy’s brain. They then entered a theater to join Buzzy inside the boy’s head and saw firsthand how the boy’s brain reacted when different things happened throughout his day.
According to officials, someone snuck into a backstage area that’s not open to the public and took a red jacket, green cap and rubber molded hands.
An incident report lists the items’ value at $600, but it wasn’t known what a black-market collector might pay for parts of a Disney attraction.
The sheriff’s office says they’ve interviewed a suspect. The man was charged with resisting arrest after refusing to hand over his phone, but no charges have been filed in the theft.
