The 2019 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival is in full bloom and the Violet Lemonade Minnie Ears are super cute and your definitely going to want them on your must have list this year.
I finally got my hands on a pair of these and they are totes adorbs. This cute set of ears have violet glittery ears and a band covered with violet flowers and lemon wedges!
These ears go great with the “Put A Little Zest in Your Fest” merchandise, much of which features prominently the yummy frozen Violet Lemonade as you can see below:
A lot of the merch also comes in matching violet and is adorned with the same violet flowers and lemon wedges.
After you have the whole ensemble you want to cap it of with a Violet Lemonade Ale from Playalinda Brewing Company while you stroll the park.
You can find festival merchandise at Mouse Gear, the Festival Merchandise area in the Odyssey Center, and Festival Markets located around the park. A selection of Festival merchandise will be available on ShopDisney.com.
If yer lookin’ for some good eatin’ and fine fixin’s, then look no further! Tuesday, Disney announced that Whispering Canyon Café at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has a rootin’ tootin’ new menu thats comes with skillets galore!
The fun-filled restaurant is known for its sassy cast members, Old Western games, and fine frontier fare, which now includes a whole new array of all-you-care-to-enjoy signature skillets for lunch and dinner and, starting March 26, breakfast skillets as well.
And while you chow down on these signature skillets, the rowdy canyon townsfolk are there to serve you, and their boisterous goings-on aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Do the hokey pokey, ring the dinner bell, and even ask for ketchup (at your own risk, of course). But that’s enough hootin’ and hollerin’ for right now – take a look at these delicious new items below!
Starting with a hearty lunch option the Signature Lunch Skillet comes with maple-chipotle BBQ slow-smoked pork ribs, barbecued pulled pork, and citrus-herb chicken.
On the dinner menu, you can try the Traditional Dinner Skillet with oak-smoked mustard BBQ beef brisket, maple-chipotle BBQ pork ribs, slow-smoked pulled pork, and citrus-herb chicken. You can also pig out on The “Pig” Dinner Skillet with heaping helpings of braised pork belly, maple-chipotle BBQ pork ribs, slow-smoked pulled pork, and mustard BBQ “piggy wings.” Both of these particular skillets come with western-style sausage as well.
Sea-farers can order the Land and Sea Dinner Skillet, which comes with house-smoked salmon, citrus herb chicken, vegan sausage, and charred portabellas.
You can also feast on the Vegan Dinner Skillet – filled with maple-chipotle BBQ jackfruit, spicy vegan sausage, mustard-glazed beefless tips, and herb-brushed trick’n chick’n.
In addition, each one of these hearty all-you-care-to-enjoy skillets comes with a different assortment of sides that may include coleslaw, sautéed green beans, buttered corn, oven-roasted carrots, charred peppers, BBQ cauliflower, Yukon mashed potatoes, or roasted potatoes. You’ll also get to chow down on freshly-baked cornbread served with delicious honey butter with every dinner skillet.
Now, if you’ve got a hankerin’ for something sweet, then you can order the Apple Pie. This mouth-watering slice of pie comes dusted with powdered sugar and is served with a big ol’ scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Thirsty cowpokes will also enjoy a selection of newly-themed cocktails such as the Bourbon Cowboy, which comes garnished with apple slices and pairs great with any lunch and dinner skillet. Selections of wines and draft beers are also available to help you wet yer whistle.
In addition, starting on March 26, you’ll also be able to feast on an array of breakfast skillets. Rise and shine to a delicious chuck wagon breakfast with the Heritage Skillet or the Carnivore Skillet. The Heritage Skillet comes with country potatoes, hickory-smoked bacon, and pork sausage links. For the meat-lovers, the Carnivore Skillet comes loaded with house-smoked ham, hickory-smoked bacon, pork sausage links, and oak-smoked beef brisket. Oh, and did I mention that both of these skillets come with house-made buttermilk-cheddar biscuits, scrambled eggs, and Mickey Waffles? That’s right cowpokes, MICKEY WAFFLES FOR EVERYONE!
For those looking for a lighter start to your morning, the Lighter Side Breakfast Skillet is a great option. It comes with Bircher Muesli (Swiss oatmeal), egg white spinach frittata, turkey bacon and turkey sausage, country potatoes, fresh fruit, yogurt, and of course, more Mickey waffles! Are you hungry yet? Because I sure am! So jump right on your hobby horse and trot on over to pay us a visit.
A worker died after falling at a construction site behind the France pavilion in the Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World, according to Orange County Sheriff’s officials.
58-year-old George Grimes fell shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday. Deputies did not specify what the man was doing when he fell.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of one of our team members in a tragic accident,” the company said in a statement “We are working closely with the local authorities.”
The Reedy Creek Fire Department said the man died at the scene. No additional details were available.
With spring break approaching, now, more than ever is the time for Florida residents to experience all that’s new and exciting at Walt Disney World Resort. And with sunshine and warmer weather also comes special theme park tickets and great rates on stays at select Disney resort hotels.
Discover Disney Special Ticket Offer
For a limited time, Florida residents can purchase a four-day Discover Disney Ticket for less than $49 per day plus tax (valid for admission to one theme park per day). Here are the ticket details for home-staters:
3-day Discover Disney Ticket (one theme park per day) – $175 (plus tax), that’s less than $59 per day (plus tax)
4-day Discover Disney Ticket (one theme park per day) – $195 (plus tax), that’s less than $49 per day (plus tax)
Tickets can be purchased now through June 27, 2019, and must be used by June 30, 2019. Valid proof of Florida residency is required. With these special tickets, residents can visit any three or four days through June 30, 2019, with no blockout dates.
Tickets are nonrefundable and nontransferable and exclude activities and events separately priced. 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!
Great Springtime Rates at Select Disney Resort Hotels
Pairing the Discover Disney Ticket with great Florida resident rates at select Disney resort hotels is a great way to experience a Walt Disney World Resort getaway. Florida residents can book through June 30, 2019, and save up to 35% on rooms at select Disney resort hotels for stays most nights April 28-June 30, 2019.
Staying at a uniquely themed Disney resort hotel offers great benefits including early access to FastPass+ planning, Extra Magic Hours at Walt Disney World Resort theme parks and complimentary motorcoach, ferryboat and monorail transportation around Walt Disney World Resort.
When making their spring getaway plans, Florida residents should be sure to check out all that’s new across Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in 2019:
Magic Kingdom Park rocks out to the new “Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party” several times daily, and guests can meet Mickey and Minnie together – in their new celebration outfits – in Town Square Theater.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios marks its 30th anniversary May 1, and what a year to visit! Favorite Pixar pals invite guests to join in An Incredible Celebration as a rollicking street party transforms Pixar Place and guests can meet Mr. Incredible, Mrs. Incredible, Frozone and Edna Mode. At Walt Disney Presents, Mike and Sulley from Disney·Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.” serve up monstrous greetings. Over in the all-new Toy Story Land, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and the gang invite you to ride the Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania! and Alien Swirling Saucers attractions. And guests can check out the new Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, opening March 31.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom celebrates the 25th anniversary of the animated classic “The Lion King,” and the “Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party” will have guests dancing to the beat on the park’s Discovery Island. Guests can also explore Pandora – The World of Avatar featuring AVATAR Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey.
At Epcot the Garden Rocks Concert Series expands to seven nights a week during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. The 90-day festival runs through June 3 and features dozens of Disney-crafted topiaries and beds of multi-colored blooms that transform the Epcot landscape into a floral extravaganza.
Only a select few restaurants are approved and highly rated with either the prestigious AAA Diamond or Forbes Travel Guide Stars awards each year. Friday, Disney announced that Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has once again received these impressive accolades for 2019.
Victoria & Albert’s has received the renowned AAA Five Diamond Award each year since 2000 and, for the second year, the coveted Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award. Victoria & Albert’s is the only restaurant in the state of Florida to be awarded both the AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards – with only 26 other restaurants in the Unites States holding both awards. Every night, Victoria & Albert’s brings guests the ultimate in fine dining with classic Victorian elegance, haute American cuisine, and an atmosphere of refined opulence.
AAA rates and approves nearly 32,000 restaurants throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Only 0.2 percent of the restaurants are awarded the AAA Five Diamond rating and 2.1 percent receive the AAA Four Diamond. These ratings represent a combination of overall food, service, décor, and ambiance.
Out of the over 1,600 restaurants across the globe rated by Forbes Travel Guide, only 69 restaurants received the preeminent Five-Star rating. Forbes Travel Guide’s expert inspectors anonymously test each restaurant against up to 900 rigorous standards. Only the best of the best achieves the esteemed Five-Star rating.
From Millennia Pink to Purple Potion, Disney has been on a streak of releasing trend setting Minnie Ears latley. And if you thought Rose Gold was cute, then get ready for the new Briar Rose Gold Minnie ears, coming soon to Disney Parks!
There has been no shortage of trendy new Minnie Ears at Disney Parks recently and these are sure to be the next must have merch. The new Rose Gold inspired ears put a new spin on massively popular ears with a new unique design!
The new ears were previewed earlier today on the Disney Style Instagram account as you can see in the post below:
The padded ears and headband are covered in glittery gold and there is a super cute gold sequined bow in the middle.
No details on how much these beautiful golden ears will cost, but they will most likely set you back about $27.99. The new ears are expected to hit both Disneyland and Walt Disney World on April 1st.
Disney Parks announced today it will open Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge ahead of schedule at Disneyland Park in California on May 31 and at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida on Aug. 29.
On opening day for phase one, guests will be transported to the remote planet of Batuu, full of unique sights, sounds, smells and tastes. Guests can become part of the story as they sample galactic food and beverages, explore an intriguing collection of merchant shops and take the controls of the most famous ship in the galaxy aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
Phase two, opening later this year, will be Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the most ambitious, immersive and advanced attraction ever imagined, which will place guests in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance and will blur the lines between fantasy and reality. In light of tremendous demand, Disney made the decision to open the land in phases to allow guests to sooner enjoy the one-of-a-kind experiences that make Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge so spectacular.
Guests planning to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park between May 31 and June 23, 2019, will need valid theme park admission and will be required to make a no-cost reservation, subject to availability, to access the land. Information on how to make a reservation will be available at a later date. Guests staying at one of the three Disneyland Resort hotels during these dates will receive a designated reservation to access Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge during their stay (one reservation per registered guest); valid theme park admission is required.
Once guests step foot on Batuu, they will be part of the action as it unfolds around them. They may choose to aid a smuggler, join the Resistance or pledge their loyalty to the First Order. In this all-new environment, guests can make choices about their experience that could impact their adventures as they travel throughout the land by using the Play Disney Parks mobile app in a whole new way. This depth of storytelling is part of the total immersion that will distinguish the two, 14-acre lands – the largest and most technologically advanced single-themed land expansions ever in a Disney park – from any other themed land in history.
The new lands build off decades of collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm Ltd., a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production, including the Star Wars franchise. The work on Star Wars between these two creative powerhouses dates back to 1987, when the groundbreaking Star Tours attraction opened at Disneyland Park in California.
A new generation of Audio-Animatronic’s are being introduced into Disney Parks and this new iteration of the technology will be bringing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to life in a whole new way!
A1000 advanced robotics are the next evolution of the A100 Audio-Animatronic figures that were first introduced by Walt Disney Imagineering in the mid-1980s. This standardized system for building humanoid robotic figures incorporates new electric functionality, replacing former hydraulic functions, producing extremely realistic, lifelike movement. Future figures in humanoid form can all use this system to ensure the same degree of realism and advanced levels of movement.
The advanced figures that were developed for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – like this animated figure of Hondo Ohnaka from the Star Wars animated television series – are a hybrid of A1000 technology enhanced with custom-built elements. Take a look at the video below:
The character can be seen talking and gesturing, and had the video not shown footage of the animatronic figure being assembled, it could easily be mistaken for a human being in make-up.
Hondo Ohnaka is a part of a ride called Smuggler’s Run and will presumably give you your mission briefing before you board the Millennium Falcon. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at California’s Disneyland Resort in summer 2019 and Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort in fall 2019.
We recently got invited to the dessert party at Hollywood Studios and I can tell you this – if you’re looking for an experience that’s out of this Galaxy, look no further than the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Check in is right outside Star Wars Launch Bay, starting around 6:45pm. You’ll receive a special souvenir lanyard to wear. I recommend showing up as early as possible to have plenty of time to enjoy the party.
Once you’re checked in you’ll head inside the Launch Bay where a member of the crew will give you your table assignment.
The desserts are plentiful. We saw assorted cheesecake bites, chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter icing, a Death Star sized bread pudding that can be topped with vanilla ice cream, and many more. You can even enjoy your very own Blue Milk panna cotta!
If you’re looking for more savory options there were plenty of those too. Smoked sea salted flatbread, sliced prosciutto, hummus, mozzarella cheese, and more.
There is also a great drink selection, all included in the price of the party. Non-alcoholic options included a specially made punch, soda, coffee, and tea, while guests over 21 can choose from several themed cocktails. Make sure you bring your ID to this party, the Stormtroopers will be checking!
Another perk of this party is that it’s a great opportunity to meet the characters in Launch Bay with little to no wait. You’ll have a designated time to meet the Commander on Deck, aka Kylo Ren, and Chewbacca and BB-8 are available to meet during the party. Also, Stormtroopers patrol the room, providing a lot of great chances for pictures and interactions. The Stormtroopers are usually on the move when patrolling Hollywood Studios, so this is a special treat for all you First Order subjects.
After you’re done stuffing yourself with dessert and punch it’s time to head out to your reserved fireworks viewing area, where you’ll get to experience Disney Movie Magic and Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. On the way out you get a souvenir drink stein to commemorate your experience.
I’ve heard people say that the viewing area is too close to the fireworks, but I disagree. I think it’s a prime spot that puts you front and center for the entire show. It really feels like you’re surrounded by the show.
If you have any questions about the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party or would like to start planning your next Disney trip, contact Kimberly at Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Kimberly.
The Details:
If you’re a Stars Wars fan who wants the best spot for fireworks without waiting, no lines to meet Star Wars characters, and delicious desserts, then this is the Party you’ve been looking for!
The price is $79.00 per adult (age 10 and over) and $45.00 per child (age 3 to 9); tax and gratuity are included.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios admission is also required and is not included in the price of A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney Dining plan entitlements may not be redeemed for this event
Nancy Clancy, the high-spirited young girl from Disney Junior’s hit animated series “Fancy Nancy,” is making “une grande entrée” into Disney Parks this spring!
Just in time for the 30th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 1, you’ll be able to find Nancy at an all-new character greeting location in the park’s Animation Courtyard, where she’ll be meeting all her friends in front of her backyard playhouse. Nancy will also soon be part of the breakfast-time fun during Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine at Hollywood & Vine, the place to eat, play and laugh along with favorite Disney Junior friends including Vampirina, Doc McStuffins and Roadster Racer Goofy.
Later in May, Nancy will be heading to Disneyland Resort, too! There, you’ll get to see her just outside the “Disney Junior Dance Party!” in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure park.
Disney Junior’s animated family comedy “Fancy Nancy” follows six-year-old Nancy, whose imagination and enthusiasm for all that is exquisite transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary – from her vast vocabulary to her creative and elaborate attire. Nancy uses ingenuity and resourcefulness to exemplify that even if life doesn’t always go as planned, it’s important to make the most of each day and encourage others to do the same.
“Fancy Nancy” airs weekdays on Disney Channel and daily on Disney Junior, and is also available in the DisneyNOW app.
