September 20, 2019 - On the Go in MCO

Weekend in the Theme Parks: September 20-22, 2019

If you are looking for help planning your weekend in the theme parks, look no further!

Here’s what’s going on in the theme parks September 20-22, 2019, park by park!

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida

Halloween Horror Nights Universal Studios Florida 2019

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando returns to Universal Studios Florida to take fear to the max on select nights through November 2, 2019.

During this year’s all-new Halloween Horror Nights, the 80’s return with a vengeance bringing with them some of the biggest frights of the era with 10 totally terrifying haunted houses, five pulse-pounding scare zones, and outrageous live entertainment.

Don’t forget that you can save up to $52 on your HHN when you purchase it in advance online!

Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle debuts at Universal Orlando Resort this September

Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle is Coming to Universal Orlando Resort this September — Universal Orlando Resort

*** Shows this weekend begin at 8pm with show runnings lasting approximately 20 minutes ***

All-New Experiences at Universal Orlando Resort will Bring the Darker Side of the Wizarding World– including Death Eaters – to Life in Hogsmeade on Select Nights Through November 15

As darkness falls on select nights starting September 14 the all-consuming Dark Arts will be unleashed in Hogsmeade when the all-new light projection experience, Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle, will make its highly-anticipated debut at Universal’s Islands of Adventure at the Universal Orlando Resort.

The nighttime show utilizing state-of-the-art projection mapping, special effects and lighting to bring a new dimension of magic to life on the majestic Hogwarts castle.

But before the experience, an ominous green light and fog will permeate the village, signaling the arrival of the Death Eaters. They’ll eerily roam throughout Hogsmeade, lurking amongst guests – practicing the Dark Arts with complete disregard of wizarding laws.

This marks the first time that guests at Universal Orlando will be able to encounter Death Eaters – devoted followers of Lord Voldemort known for their allegiance and practice of the Dark Arts – as part of their experience in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade.

As the Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle begins Hogwarts Castle is illuminated with a darker side of the wizarding world sinister creatures and villains – such as Dementors, Aragog, Mountain Trolls, Thestrals and more – cloak the castle through a mesmerizing display of light, music and special effects.

To help battle these dark forces, guests will be asked to summon their inner strength and bravely face the Dark Arts and the visage of the powerful Dark wizard Lord Voldemort, until the Patronus spell – to cast one of the most famous, difficult and powerful defense of the Dark Arts charms in the wizarding world.

The highly anticipated Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle will run select nights September 14 through November 15 in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

Halloween Spooktacular kicks off at SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld Orlando Halloween Spooktacular — SeaWorld Orlando

Guests of all ages can join their favorite furry friends from Sesame Street as Count von Count, Elmo, Big Bird, and all the gang celebrate the season in our All-New Sesame Street Halloween Parade.

Families will also enjoy a Halloween Dance Party and meet spooky characters along our new trick-or-treat trail. For this special event, children are welcome to dress in their

Halloween costumes and take part in this frightfully fun Halloween experience.

The Halloween fun takes place every weekend September 21 through October 27 and is included with park admission.

PLEASE NOTE – This year SeaWorld Orlando won’t be giving out Trick-or-Treat bags, so you can bring your own or purchase one at the park starting at less than $1.

Craft Beer Festival at SeaWorld Orlando

November 2018 Theme Parks Events - SeaWorld Orlando Craft Beer Festival — SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld is serving up an incredible party for craft beer lovers. SeaWorld’s Craft Beer Festival features more than 100 crafts brews and specialty menus weekends September 7 – October 27.

Sample an unbeatable mix of domestic, international and local Florida favorites. Plus savor more than 20 food items expertly paired to match your preferred brew.

To get the most brews for your bucks, make sure to purchase a 12 ($54 plus tax) or 8 ($40 plus tax) Lanyard!

This is the one craft beer celebration you won’t want to miss!

WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs

Disney Springs is once again celebrating the return of Autumn with the WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs limited-time celebration returning September 20 through November 4, 2019.

The WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs takes foodies on a journey around the shopping, dining, and experience destination with stops at over 30 participating locations.

From specialty cocktails and ciders to desserts and dishes featuring the popular flavors of the season like pumpkin, squash, apple, cinnamon, and more you are sure to find your favorite (or even new favorite) seasonally-inspired dish.

You can also pick up a WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs event guide at various locations to help plan your visit.

In addition to all of these yummy items, you can also enjoy a variety of fall-inspired hard ciders at Dockside Margaritas and outdoor vending carts. And don’t forget to stop by Candy Cauldron and Goofy’s Candy Co. to snack on some fall-inspired treats like candy apples, cookies, cake pops, crispy treats, and more!

For more information on WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs, restaurant info, full menus, and to make reservations, visit DisneySprings .com or call 407 WDW-DINE (407 939-3463).

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Get your favorite costume ready and make your plans to live it up—collecting candies, sweets and delightful treats—all while Magic Kingdom park thrills and chills you with special fireworks, eerie entertainment and Disney Characters that go bump in the night as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party kicks off tonight at the Magic Kingdom!

Best of all: since this event is “not-so-scary,” children of every age can enjoy the fun!

The party starts at 7pm, but you can get in with MNSSHP ticket as early as 4pm, to enjoy the exclusive entertainment, merchandise, special treats, ride overlays, trick-or-treating, parade, and all-new nighttime spectacular hosted by Jack Skellington.

Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular (Fireworks Extravaganza)

Gather ‘round as your host—Jack Skellington—delights with this not so scary-tale that proves anything can happen at Halloween!

During a frightfully fun fireworks display, Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy are spirited away to a mysterious haunted house where they encounter dancing skeletons, waltzing ghosts and a sinister gathering of Disney villains!

Don’t miss this dazzling spectacular featuring state-of-the-art projection effects, lasers, light and fireworks during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Descendance Party

Join your favorite Villain Kids for some wickedly good beats and fun photo ops at Cosmic Rays beginning on the August 16th party.

Ride Overlays

Mad Tea Party – special lighting and music takes this wild attraction up an even madder notch
Pirates of the Caribbean – take care as live pirates join in on your adventure in search of treasure
Space Mountain – hurtle through total darkness to the “riffs and chords of a new hard-rockin’ soundtrack”.
Monster’s Inc. (NEW for 2019) – join your favorite comic cast of monsters as they learn all about Halloween in the human world

Returning favorites include:

“Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade,” which happens twice nightly and features favorite Disney characters dressed in their Halloween best, along with the Disney villains and a cavalcade of fiendishly fun floats. But the coolest part is that the Headless Horseman rides the route (weather permitting) before the parade.
- new this year are floats and updates to the parade. Joining the Haunted Mansion waltzing spirits will be the spectral bride from the attraction. There will also be two new Tomorrowland inspired floats: one featuring Buzz Lightyear and alien explorers and the other with the Incredibles and Edna Mode.
The popular live show “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular,” featuring the Sanderson Sisters and Disney villains the likes of Oogie Boogie, Dr. Facilier and Maleficent.
Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam in Fantasyland is the spot for all of the young partygoers to get their groove on with favorite Disney Junior characters like Doc McStuffins and Vampirina.
In Frontierland, prospector Cactus-Flower Cate rounds up youngsters for the “Frontierland Costume Promenade,” encouraging them to show off their costumes in a quest for the greatest treasure in the land – candy! The “Frontierland Costume Promenade” takes place just prior to each run of Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade.
Trick-or-treating throughout the park!
- If you have dietary concerns, Disney has you covered!!! There is a special way that you can trick-or-treat. You will go to the Trick-or-Treat locations throughout the park to collect tokens that can be redeemed for treats you can enjoy!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

2019 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Overview

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is celebrating its 24th year with even more global marketplaces, entertainment, special events, and fun as the festival happens daily through November 19, 2019!

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is:

A culinary mashup of global cultures and gourmet innovations with 30 festive global food and wine marketplaces extending from Future World to encircle the World Showcase promenade
Fun for the entire family including the Disney du Jour Dance Party in Future World & Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt
The popular Eat to the Beat Concert Series
- STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas September 20 through 22
And special add-on seminars, demonstrations, and parties throughout the festival!

You can find more information about special events like these and theme park news by following @onthegoinmco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

2019 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Overview

The 24th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, happening daily through November 23, brings a culinary mashup of global cultures and gourmet innovation will bring irresistible bites, sips, entertainment and family fun to the park.

With new favorite festival offerings and dates than ever, let’s take a look at everything you can experience at this year’s Epcot International Food and Wine Festival!

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Marketplaces

Epcot guests can taste their way around the park with 30 festive global food and wine marketplaces that extend from Future World to encircle the World Showcase promenade.

New marketplaces include the Appleseed Orchard Marketplace, where guests can pair apple-inspired beers, ciders and cocktails like the Apple Blossom Sky while nibbling on Charcuterie and Cheese. Brews, ciders and wines will be offered individually or as flights, and kids of all ages can enjoy a deliciously sweet Frozen Apple Pie drink.

More new sweet and savory treats can be found at The Alps Marketplace, a tasty new spot where guests can conjure a snow-capped setting while dipping into a dish of Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with Baby Potatoes, Cornichons, and Baguette, or Venison Stew with Crushed Potatoes paired with refreshing Frozen Rosé.

The Doughnut Box is debuting in Future World on October 1st with sweet eats and refreshing sips. Disney chefs have harnessed their creative energies for a festival spin on the donut craze, producing irresistible marketplace goodies that include a Black and White Coffee Cocktail garnished with a fresh yeast donut sprinkled with chocolate espresso bean crumbles, a Sweet Corn Fritter with Fresno and red pepper jelly, Strawberry-dusted Yeast Donut Holes. Also on the menu is a Strawberry Smoothie made with Blue Diamond Breeze Almondmilk and an exclusive festival beer called Boston Cream Donut Ale from Central 28 Beer Company, located in DeBary, Florida.

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Fun for Families

Back by popular demand, the Disney du Jour Dance Party in Future World will expand to seven days a week. Sundays through Thursdays, a DJ will lead the interactive fun. While on Fridays and Saturdays, Radio Disney stars will pump up the mix with live performances.

The celebrity lineup includes:

September 27-28 – Isabella Nicole (“Headphones”)
October 4-5 – Avenue Beat (“Delight”)
October 11-12 Sky Katz (“Like This,” Disney Channel’s “Raven’s Home”)
October 18-19 JAGMAC (“Like a Band”)
November 1-2 – AJ Mitchell (“All My Friends”)
November 8-9 – Kylie Cantrall (“That’s What I’m Talkin’ Bout”)
November 15-16 – Erin Bowman (“Keep Me Warm”)
November 22-23 –Tegan Marie (“Horses”)

Other family activities include Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt where you use your map to locate statuettes of Remy hidden throughout World Showcase and the Global Marketplaces for a fun surprise, compliments of Chef Remy!

The popular Candy Sushi interactive experience returns to Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion inviting kids of all ages to create sushi rolls using gummies, fun strips, and crisped rice to create a fun-to-eat treat!

Families can also enjoy the all-new Emile’s Fromage Montage,where they can sample a variety of delicious cheeses served in inventive ways. Guests can purchase any five cheese dishes from the official Global Marketplaces listed in the Festival Passport and collect a stamp for each cheese dish purchased. Once guests collect all five stamps, they can take the stamped Festival Passport to Shimmering Sips for a complimentary specialty cheesecake unique to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Series

Three times nightly, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series will rev up fans and rock the America Gardens Theatre stage through November 19 with the biggest musical menu of top talent in the festival’s history, including new acts Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Kris Allen (pop, alt-rock), Boyce Avenue (rock, pop), and D.

Returning festival favorites spanning a broad range of eras and genres include Sugar Ray, Hanson, Sheila E. and Boyz II Men. Showtimes Sundays through Thursdays will be 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday shows are slated for 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m.

Eat to the Beat Dining Packages are also available to let guests choose their favorite restaurant for a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner, plus guaranteed concert seating that evening.

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Premium Festival Events

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival offers a wide variety of Premium Festival Events such as Party for the Senses, Sunday Brunch with the Chef, Cheese Seminars and other special wine and culinary programs to take your experience to the next level.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival - Demonstration

The back-by-demand Sunday Brunch with the Chef series in World Showplace Events Pavilion will kick off Sept. 1 with Chef Jamie Deen and continue on select Sundays through November 17. The chef lineup includes Cat Cora, Carla Hall, Fabio Viviani, Andrew Zimmern, Buddy Valastro, Richard Blais, Robert Irvine, David Burtka, Graham Elliot and Aarti Sequeira.

Tailgate Tasting hosted by ESPN’s Monday Night Football will be available select Sundays through November 17. The 45-minute program will pair gridiron grub with a beverage tasting inspired by the cities of pro teams playing each Monday night. Guests will also learn how to prepare the dishes for their next tailgate party.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2013

The grandest of the festival’s hot-ticket tasting events, Party for the Senses at World Showplace Events Pavilion, will welcome acclaimed chefs and vintners September 21, October 5, 12 and October 19 (All Disney Chef Night!). This event showcases creative bites and palate-pleasing sips with sensational live entertainment featuring Femmes of Rock, who wowed guests last year with their blistering solos and innovative arrangements. (Note: The November 9 event is sold out.)

“Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” hands-on workshops on select Mondays and Thursdays through November 14 will offer new opportunities for guests to work side-by-side with visiting chefs, bakers, mixologists and other pros.

Popular TV chefs and other culinary icons will entertain guests and inspire their palates on select dates at festival seminars and other events. Big names on tap include Bryan Voltaggio, Kenny Gilbert, Jet Tila, Shaun O’Neale, Keegan Gerhard, Dan Pashman and Rock Harper.

Book & Bottle Signings by some of the world’s top vintners and chefs will return on select dates this year, in addition to the popular The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar, hosted by Ghirardelli, offering guests samples.

Culinary Demonstrations (available through November 16) and Beverage Seminars (available through November 17) will offer learning and tasting sessions select days throughout the festival.

Reservations and separate event admission are required for these premium festival events and can be made by calling (407) WDW-FEST or on TasteEpcot.com.

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Merchandise

While you are in the park, don’t forget about the exciting new merchandise to commemorate the festival!

Chef Minnie and Chef Mickeyare bringing an extra “sprinkle” of fun in a new merchandise line depicts those true originals busily making cupcakes and other delectable desserts with ingredients that include rose-gold accents and a little sparkle.

Guests can also celebrate the festival with returning favorites including the Taste Your Way Around the World, Brews, Figment, and Remy collections.

During the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat concerts through November 19, Disney du Jour Dance Party, Festival Passport, and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.

You can find more information about special events like these and theme park news by following @onthegoinmco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!