Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue — Inspired by the Honorable Sam Eagle — is a new fast-casual restaurant coming soon to The American Adventure pavilion in Epcot.
The restaurant takes its name from the venerable Sam Eagle, the Muppet known for his patriotism and strict sense of duty and honor. He takes all things seriously … and barbecue is certainly one of those things.
Regal Eagle Smokehouse will be the site for “Sam’s Centennial Cook-Off: A Salute to All Cook-Offs but Mostly Barbecue.” Guests will be the beneficiaries of this contest – described as “a competition fit for all patriots and pit masters” – as it brings in a variety of classic backyard barbecue selections from across the country to vie for Sam’s top honor.
Sam’s unmistakable visage will be part of the décor at this new restaurant. For instance, you’ll see him on the sign as you walk in …
… and inside, on a poster highlighting the barbecue competition.
He will also be incorporated into new Regal Eagle Smokehouse merchandise available exclusively at this tasty locale.
Keep checking the Disney Dorks for more information on this fun new restaurant and when it officially open its doors later this winter.
Epcot’s longest-running annual festival – the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – is revving up to be a show stopper, with a Garden Rocks Concert Series talent lineup like never before.
New to the Garden Rocks Concert Series on the America Gardens Theatre stage this year are Daughtry, Don McLean and other luminaries of various musical genres – so mark your calendars now!
Take a look at the entire concert line-up below:
March 4-5 – Peabo Bryson NEW
March 13-16 – Simple Plan
March 17-19 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
March 20-23 – Mark Wills NEW to Garden Rocks
March 24-26 – The Spinners
March 27-28 – Sister Hazel
March 29-30 – The Pointer Sisters
March 31-April 2 – Former Journey Lead Vocalist Steve Augeri
April 3-4 – Blood, Sweat & Tears
April 5-6 – Exposé
April 7-9 – Berlin
April 19-20 – Rick Springfield
April 24-27 – Plain White T’s
April 28-30 – Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles
May 1-2 – Don McLean NEW
May 5-7 – Ambrosia with Peter Beckett NEW
May 8-9 – Thelma Houston NEW
May 10-11 – The Allman Betts Band NEW to Garden Rocks
May 12-14 – Air Supply
May 15-18 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
May 19-21 – Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot NEW to Garden Rocks
May 24-25 – Daughtry NEW
May 26-28 – Marshall Tucker Band
May 31-June 1 – Survivor
See a favorite band or a new one you don’t want to miss? One of the best ways to join the concert fun is to book a Garden Rocks Concert Series Dining Package for one of the shows at 5:30, 6:45 or 8 p.m. Each package includes breakfast, lunch or dinner at select Epcot restaurants and guaranteed concert seating. Reservations will open to Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members Dec. 18 and to the general public Dec. 19.
December marks the 15th anniversary of Disney’s PhotoPass service at Walt Disney World, and you can celebrate all year long with special photos ops!
Disney PhotoPass Service debuted in December 2004, and has continued to introduce creative new ways to capture your memories. The most recent additions include the Tiny World and Super Zoom Magic Shots.
Tiny World Magic Shot
To celebrate this milstone anniversary there will be new Magic Shots introduced all year long! The PhotopPass service was first launched in Epcot, so the celebration will start there.
Now through January 6, 2020, you can enjoy a few bright and colorful photo ops after dark at Epcot. Check out the locations below where you can find photographers to capture these special moments for you. Both locations feature the iconic Spaceship Earth.
Future World near Spaceship EarthMain Entrance of Epcot
Cast Members have captured billions of photos in the past 15 years that let you relive all your magical Disney memories. In addition to new photo opportunities you can also enjoy 15% off plus free domestic shipping on select orders when you customize and order photo gift products through EZ Prints. That deal is available now through January 6, 2020.
Planning a Disney trip in the future? Above all, a Disney Travel agent makes your trip fun and stress free! Contact me at Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Kimberly to start planning your next trip. My services are always FREE when you book with me.
During a special media preview of 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, we got a first look at the new Ride Vehicle for the upcoming Ratatouille Ride coming to Epcot’s France Pavillion.
The attraction will expand the pavilion and shrink guests to Remy’s size and scurry to safety in a dazzling chase across a kitchen with the sights, sounds and smells of Gusteau’s legendary Parisian restaurant.
The loading area is made to look like to rooftops of Paris, with oversized chimneys and rain gutters. This is the area where riders will board trackless ride vehicles, which are made to look like rats.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure opens in summer 2020. In addition to the Ratatouille ride, the expansion of the France Pavilion will include new shopping, dining, and more.
Celebrating joyous holiday traditions from around the globe, this year’s festival is presented by AdventHealth and runs Nov. 29 through Dec. 30, 2019. It features a variety of yuletide decorations, flavors from around the World, and family-friendly activities.
There will be several characters ready to celebrate with you in their holiday best. Belle is my favorite Princess, and this year’s Festival you’ll find her strolling through France in her gorgeous red velvet and yellow brocade winter gown. Mickey and Festive are looking festive this year, and Chip and Dale will be arriving in adorable red and gold vests and jaunty hats to create some mischief.
Holiday Kitchens are returning this year, where you can sample holiday dishes from around the World.
Pork Schnitzel
The Yukon Holiday Kitchen will feature a Canadian Wild Rice and Ham Soup, served with a Pretzel Roll. The Bavarian Holiday Kitchen will have a Prok Schnitzel with mushroom sauce and Spatzle. I tasted this one and I found the sauce to be very delicious and earthy, with every bite full of mushrooms. The pasta was also cooked to the perfect al dente consistency.
If it’s an adult beverage you’re looking for, there’s a Hot Spiced Wine called Gluhwein from the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen that’s sure to warm you up. Holiday Sweets & Treat will feature a Chocolate Peppermint Shake made with Twinings Peppermint Cheer Tea and whipped cream vodka. The Refreshment Port will be serving up Eggnog with spiced rum. They were all so delicious and put me in the Christmas mood, but my favorite was the Peppermint Shake. It had crushed peppermint of top of the whipped cream that added just the right amount of minty-ness. (The Peppermint Shake and Eggnog also come in non-alcoholic versions)
Living with the Land is getting “spruced” up this year with a brand new Holiday overlay. Each night of the Festival, starting at sundown, the ride will be transformed into Living with the Land: Merry & Bright Nights. The greenhouses are filled with twinkling lights and cute holiday displays showing how you can use nature to decorate inside, or bring a little holiday magic outside. Make sure you check the Times Guide for operating hours.
In Mexico the Mariachi band will be wearing a holiday version of their tradional outfits and sprinkling some holiday tunes into their performance. Check the Times Guide for show times.
The Cookie Stroll is back and even better this year! If you want to “snack your way around the world,” this is the challenge for you. Buy one of each of 5 different cookies in World Showcase and you’ll be rewarded with a Mickey shaped sugar cookie!
And finally, all the fun merchandise to commemorate your trip to the 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays! This year Chip & Dale, those rambunctious brother, are the mascots for the festival. You will find them on Spirit Jerseys, coffee cups, ornaments, and an exclusive Passholder t-shirt. There are also several open and limited edition pins featuring Mickey and friends to add your lanyard.
Holidays at Daisey are always magical, and this year’s Festival of the Holidays is no exception. Expect to see more ways to celebrate than ever before. So, make sure you put a trip to Epcot on your Wish List this year!
Epcot International Festival of the Arts at Walt Disney World Resort will unveil its annual global celebration of visual, culinary and performing arts Jan. 17 and continue for 39 days through Feb. 24, 2020.
The event features visiting artists, an array of foodie delights and opportunities for guests to embrace their own inner artists.
The popular Disney on Broadway Concert Series returns to America Gardens Theatre with three daily performances headlined by Broadway stars who reprise favorite songs from past performances in award-winning shows. This year’s talent-rich lineup includes Kissy Simmons, who starred as Nala in “The Lion King,” and Kevin Massey of “Tarzan.” The show-stopping schedule currently features:
17, 20, 21, 24 and 25 – Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White (“The Lion King”)
18, 19, 22, 23 and 25 – Heidi Blickenstaff (“The Little Mermaid”; “Freaky Friday”) and Gavin Lee (“Mary Poppins”)
25 – Special performance featuring Simmons, White, Blickenstaff and Lee
26, 28, 29; Feb. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 9 – Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) and Kevin Massey (“Tarzan”)
10, 12, 13, 18, 19, 22, 23 and 24 – Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”; “Beauty and the Beast”) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan)
Additional January and February performances still to be announced.
All shows are included with theme park admission. The best way to experience a performance is by reserving aDisney on BroadwayDining Package, which guarantees seating for one show on the day of the dining experience. Packages are available to book starting Nov. 14, 2019, at participating Epcot restaurants; guests can visit ArtfulEpcot.com or call (407) WDW-FEST to make a reservation.
Food Studios Serve Up the Culinary Arts
Twelve festival Food Studios plus additional food and beverage locations will take culinary arts to the next level with scrumptious, imaginative dishes – artistically sculpted and ready for camera closeups.
Festival guests will discover seven-days-a-week fun including a colorful new interactive mural, that everyone in the family can help paint, workshops, artful photo ops, art galleries and mesmerizing performance art like the daily Epcot Living Statues and Art Defying Gravity shows.
More to See, Do and Eat During the Festival
Indulge in new culinary fun at the Le Cellier Brunch in the Canada pavilion, a leisurely prix fixe bounty each Saturday and Sunday in the relaxing Canadian chateau. Reservations required.
Explore the Green Landing Family Play Zone where Wall-E and Eve invite the entire family to enjoy a lush, green environment built for exploring.
Jump into photo-ops located throughout Epcot, such as the Peter Pan Storybook installation by the United Kingdom pavilion where guests can flap their fins in Mermaid Lagoon or get their pirate on at Skull Rock.
Grab a paintbrush and add color to a wall mural along World Showcase Plaza.
Join Figment’s Brush with the Masters, a scavenger hunt where the friendly dragon has painted himself into famous pieces of art in each World Showcase pavilion.
Marvel at and purchase works by Disney’s iconic artists in displays throughout World Showcase.
Watch visiting artists as they create new pieces, from Disney-inspired works to creative art across diverse mediums.
Create festival-inspired t-shirts and candles.
Premium festival experiences that include Paint with a Disney Artist and the World Showcase: Destinations Discovered guided tour are available to guests for a fee.
A multi-year transformation of Epcot is underway that will reimagine the park while keeping true to the original vision and with it comes new places to meet and interact with some of your favorite Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse himself!
Mickey will soon be making appearances in a new location at the Imagination! pavilion, as part of the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival. Just inside the entrance, you’ll discover Mickey greeting his fans and celebrating his on-screen stardom.
Formerly Mickey and pals could be found at Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot which closed back in July as part of the massive multi-year overhaul.
Mickey’s imagination has led to a career in the movies for 90 years and counting, featuring roles in dozens of short films such as “Get A Horse” which you can enjoy as part of the festival. Look for Mickey to arrive at the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival in early 2020!
The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays will return to the park November 29-December 30, and annual passholders can also commemorate their visit by picking up the first-ever Chip ‘n’ Dale magnet set!
This complimentary Annual Passholder exclusive will be available at Mouse Gear!
The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays also brings with it, the astounding sounds of “The Candlelight Processional,” the tastes and smells of Holiday Kitchens, the sweet fun of the Holiday Cookie Stroll and the returning guest-favorite, Chip & Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree.
And, Passholders can use their 20% discount on the Chip & Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree map and exclusive festival merchandise, including a T-shirt and ornament featuring Chip ‘n’ Dale.
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Disney’s animated classic, “The Little Mermaid” Epcot’s Coral Reef Restaurant will be offering a commemorative menu to celebrate the occasion.
With menu items like the Dinglehopper Shrimp Cocktail, Chef Louis’ Lobster Seafood Boil, and King Triton’s Key Lime Tart, this is a menu you’ll definitely want to dive right into!
If you’re looking to go under the sea, Coral Reef Restuarant is the place to do it! At Coral Reef Restaurant you can watch fish, sharks, turtles and rays swim in The Seas with Nemo & Friends aquarium while you eat.
When you dine here, you’ll also be able to take home a beautiful commemorative menu (only available while supplies last). This limited-time menu will be available starting Oct. 19. To make reservations, visit the Walt Disney World Resort website or check out the My Disney Experience mobile app.
Did you know there’s a room hidden away at the back of the United Kingdom Pavilion in Epcot? It’s Christopher Robin’s room! And you’ll also find that a silly, willy, nilly old bear named Winnie-the-Pooh is now back to meet guests!
If you happen to stumble upon this room, which has been closed for about three years, you’ll find it filled with all kinds of items that might come in handy for fun adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood. It’s in the back of “The Toy Soldier,” which is filled with toys, and also serves as the Kidcot Fun Stop in the UK.
When we were there on October 2nd, Pooh was meeting twice a day from 1:30 – 3:30pm, and 5:30 – 7:30pm, but make sure you check the current Epcot ‘Times Guide’ on your visit to plan accordingly, as times can change.
