Disney Event Highlights for November & December 2013

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Tempts Guests Through Nov. 11 with Great Tastes, Rockin’ Bands and Celeb Chefs

Disney guests are flocking to the 18^th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival for inspired new sips and noshes, live concert performances and celebrity chef demonstrations.  The popular fall festival continues through Nov. 11, 2013 at Walt Disney World Resort.

This year’s Scotland Marketplace is new on the festival’s global tasting tour with a vegetarian version of the traditional Scottish haggis, as well as Scottish salmon and a Glenfiddich whisky flight.  More than 25 ethnic and specialized marketplaces surround the World Showcase Promenade, and many dishes feature a beverage “perfect pairing” suggested by Walt Disney World sommeliers.

At the Festival Center, Disney guests can catch culinary demonstrations by celebrity chefs like Paula DaSilva, Erika Davis and Ingrid Hoffmann.  Daily wine tastings and mixology seminars offer new sips and tips to guests.  And the iconic Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog, filled with more than 300,000 floating cranberries, is back for a third year.

Nightly Eat to the Beat concerts keep on rockin’ through Nov. 11 with a stellar lineup that includes two first-time festival acts:     

• Nov. 1              NEW!  Spin Doctors “Two Princes”
• Nov. 2-3          NEW!  Christopher Cross “Sailing”
• Nov. 4-5          Hanson “Get the Girl Back”
• Nov. 6-8          Dennis DeYoung, original member of the group STYX “Come Sail Away”
• Nov. 9-11        Big Bad Voodoo Daddy “Go Daddy-O”

Authentic Taste seminars, Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog, special book signings, Eat to the Beat concerts, cultural adventures, Marketplace Discovery Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.

The final Party for the Senses (Nov. 2) grand tasting event and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission.  Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) to make reservations.  Information and reservations for select programs is at www.epcotfoodfestival.com.

Disney’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend Set for Nov. 8-9

runDisney will serve up miles of fun during Disney’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend Nov. 8 – 9, 2013.   More than 14,000 registered runners will take on this unique nighttime 13.1-mile course starting at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, running through Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and finishing at Epcot.  After crossing the finish line, runners can join family and friends for a special ticketed post-race party inside Epcot until 4 a.m.  The Finish Line Party features more than 25 kiosks offering fine cuisine and wine from the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, plus Disney characters, music and the opportunity to ride various attractions such as the newly reimagined Test Track Presented by Chevrolet and Soarin’.

New this year is the Disney Wine & Dine Pre-Race Taste on Friday, Nov. 8 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  This special ticketed event offers runners and fans a private reception on the set of Lights, Motor, Action! Extreme Stunt Show, featuring food and beverages from the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, music and Disney characters.  In addition to the half marathon, Disney’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend features Mickey’s Jingle Jungle 5K at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, runDisney Kids’ Races at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and Disney’s Health and Fitness Expo on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 8 – 9, at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. For more information, visit http://www.rundisney.com/wine-and-dine-half-marathon

Dazzling Displays of Art Highlight Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney Nov. 8-10, 2013

For its 38^th year, Festival of the Masters presented by Michaels is transforming Downtown Disney into an art lovers’ paradise Nov. 8-10, 2013.  The prestigious open-air fine arts festival features more than 300 artists creating and showcasing their unique works in painting, photography, sculpture, chalk, glass and more.  Exhibits feature more than 130 award-winning artists, nearly 20 up-and-coming Emerging Masters, the Disney Artist Village, live performance artists and more.

A crowd favorite, the Disney Artist Village will return with one of the largest displays of official Disney art available for purchase and will include meet and greets with the more than 25 artists behind those masterpieces. Located between Cirque du Soleil and House of Blues on Downtown Disney West Side, the Disney Artist Village tent will feature Disney character art created by masters from various Disney disciplines including Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney’s Yellow Shoes Creative Group. Disney Artists also will perform live shows as they create new works of art onstage and will host interactive chats about art and what it can be. Both the art chats and live performances will take place at Waterside Stage in the Marketplace.

New this year, “Mixers and Masters” will highlight artistic cocktails throughout Downtown Disney. Select dining locations will feature specialty drinks for sipping and strolling including the Pinkberry Martini from Wolfgang Puck Café, Blue Nile from Rainforest Café and Huckleberry Lemonade at Splitsville. Guests can learn what goes into making an artfully delicious cocktail during daily presentations on Waterside Stage. “The Art of Mixology” will feature 10-minute demonstrations with experts three times a day.

Guests also can become part of the festival with interactive fun. Various activities presented by Michaels will be available, including “Make It Take It” crafts, coloring Disney-inspired masterpieces and the “Michaels Master Mural” where guests can help create a mosaic-like mural. Children are invited to creatively chalk sections of the Marketplace for the Children’s Chalk Art display; help build a giant LEGO masterpiece and create an interactive LEGO mural.

Other activities will include:

• Live entertainment by performers from La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil

• House of Blues 15^th year celebration of its Folk Art Festival with more than 30 accomplished artists

• Special artist appearances at Hoypoloi and Pop Gallery

• Live entertainment at various venues, including House of Blues, Bongos Cuban Café, Raglan Road, and Splitsville

The event takes place from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission and self-parking are complimentary at Downtown Disney; valet parking is available during the event from 12 p.m. – 2 a.m. via Entrance 4 at Downtown Disney West Side. For more information about Festival of the Masters, including exhibit times and parking information, please visit DisneyFestivaloftheMasters.com.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Celebrates the Holidays at Magic Kingdom

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will have 19 magical nights from November 8-December 20. For a quarter century, Walt Disney World Resort guests have been mesmerized by this must-see event, a grandly festive tradition immersing families in the holiday spirit. Dates for 2013:

Nov. 8, 11, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22
Dec. 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20

Beginning at 7 p.m. (after regular park hours), guests with special event tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party can enjoy all the holiday splendor with lively stage shows featuring Disney characters all dressed up for the holidays, a unique holiday parade and favorite holiday traditions including complimentary cookies and hot cocoa, and snow flurries on Main Street, U.S.A. The fun continues with a holiday “Celebrate the Magic” castle projection show and Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season nighttime fireworks spectacular. Guests can enjoy new experiences and attractions at New Fantasyland.

NOTE: this is a hard ticket special event after regular park hours; purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended.

Glow With the Show Ears Brighten The Holiday Season At Walt Disney World Resort

During the holiday season guests of the Walt Disney World Resort can enjoy a dazzling addition to festive favorites with Glow with the Show Ear hats.

Beginning in November with the premiere of Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season fireworks spectacular at Magic Kingdom, the Glow With the Show Ear hats will place guests in the middle of the magic. With every dancing light, musical note and vibrant explosion in the sky, the Glow ears will illuminate, change colors and patterns to synchronize with every spectacular moment during these yuletide shows.

The new Glow With the Show Ear hats debuted at Walt Disney World Resort during the 15^th