Get A Sneak Peek At The Exciting New Epcot Food And Wine Festival Merchandise!
We have a first look at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival merchandise coming this July 27th when the festival kicks off at Walt Disney World! We can’t wait to taste delicious food from all over the world, play the Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt and enjoy the fun Eat to the Beat Concert Series.
For merchandise, we for sure know we are getting a blue jacket with the festival logo on the front and back plus artwork featuring Chef Mickey with a tasty burger and a sign that says “Choose Your Course.”
We will also get a spirit jersey with colorful letters across the back that say “Food Brings The World Together” and a white one that says “Wine Your Way Around The World,” both great options to own and remember this tasty festival for years to come!
So mark your calendars and get ready to shop your favorite pieces on July 27th at shopDisney and Epcot.
New Tinker Bell Minnie Ears Filled With Pixie Dust!
All you need is faith, trust and these Tinker Bell Minnie Ears filled with pixie dust! We found these beautiful ears at Epcot for $34.99 and thought they were perfect for this spring and summer.
This ear headband features bright yellow ears with Tinker bell being moody on one side and happy on the other surrounded by pretty daisies! The bow is sparkly hot pink with a daisy charm in the middle.
They are bright and fun just like our favorite fairy! You can take a closer look at them in our Instagram post:
The Bacon Brothers, a Duo featuring A-list Hollywood actor Kevin Bacon and Emmy-winning composer Michael Bacon, will play at EPCOT’s Eat to the Beat
EPCOT’s Eat to the Beat concert series lineup just gained a ton of additional cool points: The Bacon Brothers will be playing this year. The duo, featuring A-list Hollywood actor Kevin Bacon and Emmy-winning composer Michael Bacon, are slated to play during the concert series this year for the first time.
According to their website, the Bacon Brothers music is a “blend of folk, rock, soul, and country” influences. Many fans will likely be very familiar with one half of the Bacon Brothers, Kevin Bacon. Kevin is an A-list Hollywood actor who has appeared in a myriad of films including “Footloose” and “Apollo 13.” His brother, Michael, has an equally impressive resume as an award-winning composer whose work has appeared in a multitude of films and TV shows.
Eat To The Beat is a concert series that occurs each year during the International Food and Wine Festival showcasing local acts and popular bands. In addition to the Bacon Brothers, this year’s Eat to the Beat lineup includes acts like Boyz II Men, Sugar Ray, and Hanson. Guests can enjoy the concerts while sampling food and drinks from around the world, making for a truly immersive and memorable experience.
Eat To The Beat occurs Fridays through Mondays from July 27 to November 13, 2023 with shows at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM, with the Bacon Brothers taking the stage on August 13 and 14. Additional performances, featuring local bands, have been added on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s this year.
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel who specializes in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
Disney News Highlights: Happy Mother’s Day at Walt Disney World, How You Can Celebrate Mom, New Disney Pandora Charms, New Disney100 Cast Member Name Tags.
Motherโs Day Luau at Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs Join the Annual Motherโs Day Luau at Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs on Sunday, May 14th: Experience the Delights of Hawaiian Cuisine, Thrilling Entertainment, and Festive Celebrations
Disney Celebrates Moms of All Species this Motherโs Day Motherโs Day is this coming Sunday and Disney is celebrating moms of all species! From our very own mothers to the animal moms across Walt Disney World Resort โฆ including this โa-boar-ableโ red river hog mom and piglet at Disneyโs Animal Kingdom Lodge!
First Look at NEW Disney 100 Name Tags for Cast Members First Look at NEW Disney 100 Name Tags for Cast Members. Are you a cast member, or do you have a cast Member in your life? We are spoiled by having a Cast member in our home and are proud of all the work they do. One of the things that they, as a Cast members, enjoy is getting new Cast member ID tags. Retire the old one, and keep it for life, it reminds them of the time and place they worked at during that special time frame.
Orlando Mayor Demings and Disney Celebrate Opening of New Disney Springs Drury Plaza Hotel Drury Hotels Company proudly celebrated the grand opening of the highly anticipated Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando, located within the vibrant Disney Springsยฎ Area. As an Official Walt Disney Worldยฎ Hotel, this exquisite property showcases Druryโs renowned amenities and boasts a prime location just a short walk away from the enchanting Disney Springsยฎ.
Disney & Marvel Summer Movie Preview for 2023 Itโs almost summer movie season! Summer is a great time to experience all of the films coming to theaters. There are multiple Disney & Marvel summer movies that you wonโt want to miss this year!
Disney News Highlights
More Walls Go Up for Epcotโs CommuniCore Hall Walls Go Up for Epcotโs CommuniCore Hall. CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza, a multi-use facility and outdoor event space, respectively, bring the parkโs international festivals to the center ofย EPCOT. CommuniCore Plaza will have the flexibility to host intimate musical performances
Big Bear Mountain Unleashes Thrills at Dollywoodโs Grand Opening Experience the thrill of Dollywoodโs newest attraction, Big Bear Mountain, as it opens its doors to adventurers seeking excitement and breathtaking views. Nestled in the heart of Dollywood, this exhilarating mountain adventure promises an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. Brace yourself for an adrenaline-pumping ride through twists, turns, and thrilling drops that will leave you in awe.
Review: New Guardians of the Galaxy Cookie Blasts off in EPCOT Review: New Guardians of the Galaxy Cookie Blasts off in EPCOT. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hit theaters last week to positive reviews and had a huge box office return, raking in over $289 million. To celebrate the release of the finale of the trilogy, Disney Eats released a cookie in World Discovery Popcorn stand next toย Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewindย here in Epcot.
Bob Iger is Actively Considering Theme Park Expansion Opportunities Disney CEO Bob Iger shared a lot of news during the companyโs quarterly earnings call today. He shared that Disney is considering theme park expansion opportunities. The company is โclosely evaluatingโ growth and expansion for the parks.
New Disney Pandora Charms Spotted At Walt Disney World! We found two adorable Disney Pandora Charms atย Walt Disney Worldย that will add magic to your wrist. These charms are Disney Parks exclusive, so you will only be able to get them at Disney World or Disneyland the next time you visit, take a look:
Alan Menken Provides Latest Update on Live-Action Adaptation of Hunchback of Notre Dame We are only days away from The Little Mermaidโs Live Action release in theaters, but Alan Menken has his sights set on the horizon talking about future projects. Menken is the creative mind behind some of Disneyโs most iconic soundtracks, including Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, and more. Back in 2019 Hunchback of Notre Dame was speculated with Josh Gad attached to the project, but there has been little to substantiate the rumors.
Disney Night Coming to American Idol this Sunday Itโs time for the the most magical American Idol episode of the year. The Disney-themed episode of American Idol, during which the contestants sing fan-favorite Disney hits, will air Sunday at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on ABC.
Disney World Extends Theme Park Hours for Late May & Early June
Disney World has extended theme park hours for late May and early June! Guests kicking off their summer vacation at Disney World can spend more time experiencing the parks.
Park hours have been changed from May 28 through June 3, 2023.
Magic Kingdom will now be open an hour later from 9 am to 11 pm on May 30-31, and June 2. The hours remain unchanged for June 1 and 3.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios will now be open from 8:30 am to 10 pm on May 28th. That’s an hour later than previously scheduled. The park will also be open from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm May 29 through June 3. That is an extra 30 minutes for park hours.
Theme park hours for Epcot and Disney’s Animal Kingdom remain unchanged.
Early Entry & Extended Evening Hours
Guests staying at the Walt Disney World Resort hotels get to enter the theme parks 30 minutes before normal operating hours each day. Guests at Deluxe Disney Resorts also have the extra perk of Extended Evening Hours.
The following parks have Extended Evening Hours at the end of May and early June:
Epcot: May 29: 9 pm-11pm
Magic Kingdom: May 31: 11pm-1am
Do you like having extra time to explore the Disney World parks?
Want to plan your summer Disney vacation? Contact me today for a free vacation quote! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation!
Aerial overview of World Celebration Construction in EPCOT
Work is ongoing at Epcot and recently Twitter user Bioreconstruct shared an aerial look at the World Celebration construction. The projects happening in this area include: CommuniCore Hall and Plaza, Dreamers Point, and the gardens and pathways between. Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana is also in that area though it’s technically part of World Nature.
To the left of Spaceship Earth in the photo above is Creations Shop and Connections Eatery & Cafรฉ in the large white building. Across from that building is a smaller building with an L-shaped set of awnings attached. That is the new CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza.
In the picture on the left, you can see Journey of Water inspired by Moana is going up next to CommuniCore Hall. In the center, however, more trees have appeared as well. The trees look like they mark a path towards the new Dreamers Point, which will feature a statue of Walt.
There are several circular elements in an area that could be an additional viewing area for the CommuniCore Plaza stage. Bioreconstruct suggests palm trees could be planted in those circles. The stage is located under the awning by the number 1 in the above photo.
We can expect to see more greenery, trees, and gardens to pop up in the area if Disney’s concept art is to be believed. The center of World Celebration is set to house several gardens with rotating displays inspired by different EPCOT festivals. We can’t wait to see the area finished!
Aerial overview of EPCOT, with a growing forest in World Celebration. ๐ธMay 12. pic.twitter.com/PypC8ufkRh
The construction in Epcot is set to be completed later this year. We look forward to finally seeing the new neighborhoods complete!
Want to experience the new areas in Epcot? Contact me today for a free vacation quote! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation!
PB&J Soft-Serve Waffle Cone Now available at the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival
One of our favorite things about Epcot festivals is the food! There is a delicious PB&J soft-serve waffle cone available just for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.
Now through July 5, guests can enjoy a taste of childhood in a soft-serve cone! This soft-serve waffle cone is a twist on a classic with peanut butter and jelly swirl. You can find it at Refreshment Port. Is this a sweet treat you’d like to try?
Be sure to check out all of the Global Gardens during the Flower & Garden Festival!
Bamboo Garden โ China Pavilion Visit this garden to see bamboo in a variety of colors, patterns and sizes.
Blossoms of Fragrance Presented by Scentsy โ World Showcase Bridge Follow your nose and form lasting memories with the help of fresh, unforgettable fragrances.
Bold Bromeliads โ The Land Pavilion Observe a variety of unique and colorful plants that can adapt to a wide range of climates and conditions.
Bonsai Collection โ Japan Pavilion Learn about the art of bonsai, some of the finest living sculptures. Bonsai masters carefully shape and tend these miniature works of art, creating peace and balance with the earth.
Bouquet Garden โ France Pavilion See bountiful blooms perfect for a bouquet of cut flowers.
Butterfly Landing Presented by AdventHealth โ World Nature Near Imagination! View a kaleidoscope of butterflies up close, in all their extraordinary color. Learn about butterfly lifecycles and maybe even see one emerge from its chrysalis. Closes at dusk.
China Zodiac Garden โ China Pavilion Realize your finer attributes in this garden inspired by the 12 creatures of the Chinese zodiac.
The Community Garden โ World Celebration โ NEW! Connect with the earth and each other at this celebration of a diverse and thriving communal garden plot.
Connections Conservatory Garden โ Connections Eatery Settle into this thoughtful garden full of floral inspirations for your indoor spaces.
Desert Garden โ Mexico Pavilion Discover the special adaptations that allow plants in arid climates to adjust to the harshest of growing conditions.
English Tea Garden Presented by Twiningsยฎ โ United Kingdom Pavilion Unearth the history and art of tea-blending at this elegant English tea gardenโโfeaturing plants used in some of Twiningsโ finest blends.
Family-Friendly Garden Presented by OFF! Explore a camp-themed garden where little ones are invited to jump, play and climb.
Festival Blooms โ World Celebration Admire thousands of flowers that form colorful, living panoramas.
Floating Gardens โ World Nature Peer upon more than 150 petite plots drifting on the ponds that border the bridge to World Showcase.
There’s still time to visit Disney World during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival! Contact me today for a free vacation quote! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel and my services are complimentary.
First Look at the New Adventures by Disney Colombia Tour
Adventures by Disney is offering a new Colombia tour! Colombia inspired Walt Disney Animation Studiosโ โEncantoโ and now guests can explore this beautiful country.
Explore Colombia with Disney: Bogota, the Coffee Region, Cocora Valley and Cartagena๏ปฟ
This eight-day, seven-night trip begins in the capital city of Bogota, and your exploration of this beautiful country begins at the Paloquemao Market where youโll see a bounty of flowers and colorful fruits and vegetables. Youโll sample the unique fruits and learn about the healing properties of medicinal herbs. And speaking of food, youโll also experience your first hands-on activity learning how to makeย arepasย like Mirabelโs mom, Julieta, made for her family. After that, youโll tour the stunning Gold Museum, which houses more than 34,000 pieces of pre-Hispanic gold.
Next, youโll visit a fourth-generation coffee farm in the Coffee Region. During this privately guided experience, you will learn about harvesting and roasting the beans, as well as brewing the perfect cup of coffee. In โEncanto,โ you can spot towering wax palms surrounding the Madrigal home, Casita, and in the Cocora Valley within the Coffee Region, youโll spot these majestic palms all around this area. Next, youโll visit Salento and learn to play tejo, Colombiaโs national sport. Did you know you also see this played in โEncantoโ? During the musical scene, โThe Family Madrigalโ when Mirabel is walking through the village, keep a keen eye and you will catch it briefly in the background.
Your journey continues to the beautiful Caribbean coast and Cartagena. If you share a love for animals like Antonio does in the film, youโll be excited to learn that here youโll experience a private interactive visit with the Proyecto Titi Foundation where youโll learn about the cotton-top tamarin, trek through the dry forest to see these creatures in their natural habitat and discover how theย Disney Conservation Fundย sponsors the organization. Youโll even help a local farmer plant some of the tamarinโs favorite foods!
Also in Cartagena, youโll enjoy a walking tour of the Getsemani Neighborhood, known for its colorful murals and buildings, and youโll visit the San Felipe de Barejas Fort, one of the largest Spanish colonial fortresses and an engineering marvel that long ago protected the city from pirates. A visit to Cartagenaโs beautiful Rosario Islands caps off your vacation. The Rosario Islands are a collection of 27 islands and home to more than 1,300 species of marine animals and plants. Not only will you see this beautiful underwater landscape, but adventure seekers can snorkel through the shallow reefs.
Special โEncantoโ Visual Development Artwork from Lorelay Bovรฉ
Each travel party booked on the inaugural 2024 Adventures by Disney Colombia season will receive a signed lithograph of exclusive artwork from Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Whatโs it like to travel with Adventures by Disney? Every family-friendly itinerary is packed with adventure, hands-on experiences, authenticity, insider access and a lot of fun. As with all Adventures by Disney vacations, our Disney-trained Adventure Guides take care of the details, including activities for Junior Adventurers (younger guests), so everyone in the family can enjoy a hassle-free vacation from the moment you arrive at your destination. Upon your arrival, transportation is waiting to take you to the hotel, and throughout your trip meals are planned, logistics are taken care of, even snacks are provided for longer legs of the excursions. Thatโs the Adventures by Disney way!
Want to travel with Adventures by Disney? Contact me today for a free vacation quote! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation!
Alan Menken Provides Latest Update on Live-Action Adaptation of Hunchback of Notre Dame
We are only days away from The Little Mermaid’s Live Action release in theaters, but Alan Menken has his sights set on the horizon talking about future projects. Menken is the creative mind behind some of Disney’s most iconic soundtracks, including Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, and more. Back in 2019 Hunchback of Notre Dame was speculated with Josh Gad attached to the project, but there has been little to substantiate the rumors.
Comicbook.com recently asked the award-winning composer about a potential live-action Hunchback of Notre Dame. Menken responded in earnest, “I have no idea.” He added, “It’s a tough one, because theย Hunchbackย movie,ย Hunchbackย story involves a lot of real, real issues that are important issues and should be explored to be discussed. And there has to be an agreement about how we deal with those issues.”
Specifically Menken adressed controversial music by adding, “You know, do we do aย Hunchbackย without ‘Hellfire?’ I don’t think so … So it sits in this limbo right now, but theย Herculesย movie is apparently underway and I got some inklings of what’s going on, but just some, and I’ve been more involved with the Broadway show off ofย Hercules, which is coming, and it’s really exciting.”
Menken refers to the production of Hercules that recently wrapped up a limited engagement at the Paper Mill Playhouse. This is the second version of a staged musical. Menken seems devoted to this project, meaning that for the time being, any hopes of a live-action Hunchback of Notre Dame will have to wait.
Do you want to see Hunchback of Notre Dame and more live-action Disney remakes? Please let us know what you think in a comment.
We Rode Pipeline: The Surf Coaster at SeaWorld Orlando – Our Review. The worldโs first surf coaster. The first stand-up coaster built in the last 27 years has opened to previews, and we got a chance to ride the newest “Surf” coaster. Designed to make you feel like you are riding the waves, whether on Hawaii’s North Shore or along the California coast, this is an interesting ride, to say the least.
Feel the awesome power of the ocean in a whole new way on Pipeline, the first-of-its-kind surf coaster. Experience the rush of launching 110 feet up and feeling every bank and curve as though youโre really riding the waves, thanks to innovative dynamic seats that give you unparalleled freedom of movement. Experience the ultimate thrill with the addition of this seventh coaster to the Coaster Capital of Orlando.
Read Below for our thoughts on Pipeline: The Surf Coaster below. You can also watch our video ride POV and check out the new land.
Seaworld Orlando is known as The Coaster Capitol of Orlando for a reason, having the most coasters and winning readers’ polls for the best coaster, with Mako leading the way. Seaworld has opened two coasters in just under two years, Icebreaker being the other one.
The newest Coaster Pipeline is a great addition to the park, and I think guests are going to enjoy riding something new. There are elements that will lift you off your feet in an exciting thrill. The air time is tremendous, but the landing can be a little rough (if you have male parts). The coaster runs really smoothly and quietly.
The harness and ‘Seats’ are snug and make you feel secure, while actually riding the Surf Coaster we had the issue of not knowing where to put our hands. Should we keep them up like we do on other coasters, hold onto the top of the harness, or put our hands in the small groves they have where Seaworld thinks your hands should go?
We Rode Pipeline: The Surf Coaster at SeaWorld Orlando – Our Review
Pass Members will be the first to hang-ten on Pipeline: The Surf Coaster
Pass Member previews will be available from 12 p.m. โ park close, on select dates based on the Annual Pass tier:
May 12 – 15: Platinum Pass Members
May 18 – 20: Platinum and Gold Pass Members
May 21 – 23: Platinum, Gold, and Silver Pass Members
May 24 – 25: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Pass Members
May 26: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Pass Members plus Fun Card and Teacher Card holders
There is also a new shop below the ride called High Surf with your normal amount of shirts, tumblers, glasses, and so much more. One thing that was really nice is the Limited Edition Pipeline Coaster layout in frame and glass.
Become a Member
Become a Pass Member to be among the first to ride Pipeline in 2023! Pass Members get unlimited visits all year long and unbeatable benefits like free parking, free guest tickets and monthly rewards. Passes start as low as $15.00/mo.
Journey of Water Featuring Moana Nears Completion in EPCOT. Explore the wonders of water along an interactive trail thatโs fun for all agesโbased on the Disney animated film Moana. We rode Disney’s monorail yesterday and brought back some images from the ongoing construction.
We can see that water has been turned on in Disney’s newest attraction, along with new signage. Furthermore, the pond that surrounds the outside, on the Seas side, has been refilled. There are now directions telling you all about the Interactive Water Features.
Stroll along a self-guided outdoor trail where you can play and interact with water as it travels from the sky to the ocean and back again. Along the way, learn about the importance of water and discover its playful personalityโjust as Moana did on her heroic voyage.
First Signage Installed at Journey of Water Inspired by Moana in EPCOT
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is scheduled to open within World Natureโthe EPCOT neighborhood dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty and balance of the natural world.
Bathrooms at Connections Eatery and Cafe are Closed and Under Construction. If you are headed to Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind after rope-dropping Epcot and need to use the facilities, stop at the first one you see next to Spaceship Earth!
The Connections Cafe and Eatery bathroom is temporarily out of order. It is now blocked off with a black door and a sign pointing toward the nearest bathroom. No word on why the newest bathroom, which was constructed only a year ago, is already closed down and being worked on.
If you are grabbing a cup of coffee at Starbucks aka Connections Cafe, or enjoying a bite to eat at Connections Eatery, the closest bathrooms will be Spaceship Earth or the one across from Test Track connected to Creation Shop.
