10 Things To Know On The Go: 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

The 20th Epcot Food and Wine Festival kicks off tomorrow and runs until November 16, 2015 and with so many new offerings (and days) added to the festivities I thought it was time for…

Things to Know On the Go Header Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Epcot Food and Wine Festival

10 Things To Know On The Go:

2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

1. Admission

Admission to the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival is included with your daily admission to Epcot. And while the food, beverages, seminars, and other special events aren’t included there is a lot that is!

Epcot Food and Wine - Food and Wine with Spaceship Earth

During the Epcot Food and Wine Festival you can enjoy Eat to the Beat Concerts, the new Back to Basics Series at the Festival Center, Celebrity Chef demonstrations, Celebrity Chef Book Signings, Marketplace Discovery Passport, and Festival Center entertainment & exhibits.

2. Marketplaces

It’s a good thing that the Epcot Food and Wine Festival is 53 days this year, because the Festival will feature 30 unique global marketplaces, located around Epcot’s World Showcase and for the first time in Future World, where you can try small plates of food and beverage pairings from around the world.

Epcot Food and Wine - Global Marketplace

And before you explore, visit the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Center to pick up your Marketplace Discovery Passport to collect stamps and pick up a Festival Gift Card that you can conveniently wear around your wrist to make paying convenient.

3. Festival Center

The core of the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival can be found in the Festival Center located in the former Wonders of Life Pavilion.

You’ll find shopping, celebrities, demonstrations, exhibits, and more inside the Festival Center! I always like to start my visits at the Center to make sure I don’t miss anything!

Check out all the great things you will be able to find in the Festival Center here.

4. Eat to the Beat Concert Series

Eat to the Beat

This year’s Eat to the Beat Concert Series is full of great new artists and bands!, 

Take a peek at the Eat to the Beat Concert Line-up:

  • David Cook – September 25-27, 2015

  • Wilson Phillips – September 28-29, 2015

  • Christopher Cross – September 30-October 1, 2015

  • Starship – October 2-4, 2015

  • Smash Mouth – October 5-7, 2015

  • The Pointer Sisters – October 8-9, 2015

  • 38 Special – October 10-11, 2015

  • Rick Springfield – October 12-13, 2015

  • Sugar Ray – October 14-16, 2015

  • The S.O.S. Band – October 17-18, 2015

  • Air Supply – October 19-21, 2015

  • Fuel – October 22-23, 2015

  • Tiffany (NEW!) – October 24-25, 2015

  • Dennis DeYoung – October 26-28, 2015

  • Jo Dee Messina – October 29-30, 2015

  • Everclear (NEW!) – October 31-November 1, 2015

  • Boyz II Men – November 2-4, 2015

  • Sister Hazel – November 5-6, 2015

  • Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – November 7-9, 2015

  • Hanson – November 10-12, 2015

  • Maxi Priest (NEW!) – November 13-14, 2015

  • Chaka Khan (NEW!) – November 15-16, 2015

Daily show times for the Eat to the Beat Concert Series take place at 5:30 pm, 6:45 pm, and 8:00 pm in the American Gardens Theater.

Also new this year is the opportunity to book FastPass+ for the Eat to the Beat Concerts!

Note: All entertainment and artist appearances are subject to change without notice.

5. NEW: Remy’s Hide & Squeak

Epcot Food and Wine - Ratatouille Hide and Squeak Logo

Building on the past success of the sticker based scavenger hunts in World Showcase, beginning September 25, while supplies last, take part in Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak and help Remy as he ventures around World Showcase at Epcot collecting ingredients for his signature dish, Ratatouille.

Maps and stickers can be purchased for $7.95, plus tax at Epcot – Disney Traders, Festival Center, Pin Central, Port of Central, Port of Entry, and World Traveler (International Gateway) in the park. 

Note: Maps, stickers and surprise available while supplies last. No discounts apply. Purchasing limits may apply.

Epcot Food and Wine - Ratatouille Hide and Squeak Prizes

Whether you choose to search for each ingredient or not, return your map to the redemption location at Port of Entry by November 16, 2015 at Port of Entry to pick up your surprise pin!

6. Cranberry Bog

After taking a year off the Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog is back!

You can find the mobile Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog in its old place on the way to Future World as you walk to World Showcase from Spaceship Earth.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Shelley in the Cranberry Bog

Make sure you take a moment to talk to the actual Ocean Spray farmers that you can often find in their waders inside who are excited to share their passion for this unique form of farming.

7. NEW: Rockin’ Burger Bash

New to the Festival line-up of premium events this year is the Rockin’ Burger Block Party.

Epcot Food and Wine - Rockin Burger Bash

Party the night away and savor specialty sliders and beverages created by Epcot Chefs and inspired by recording artists who have left their mark on the world of potables.

While you enjoy these scrumptious treats, a DJ spins their best tracks. Find “your” burger, “your” drink, “your” music, and then vote on your favorite burger of the night!

For one night only, October 8, 2015, the Emmy-winning talent from the daytime hit The Chew will serve as block party hosts!

You can find out more about how to attend this new party experience here.

8. Learn from Epcot Chefs and Celebrity Chefs

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Epcot chefs

At the Epcot Food and Wine Festival you have the chance to learn from some of the most famous kitchens (including Epcot), restaurants, and cooking shows. These individuals make up an unbeatable collection of leading culinary experts.

Through special dining events and demonstrations, Guests will get the rare opportunity to see their magnificent skills in action and pick up tips from these maestros of mealtime.

You can find the full list of Chefs here, and events for chefs will vary. See the full schedule of events for details. Appearances are subject to change.

9. The Chew

For the first time ABC’s “The Chew” is leaving its Manhattan to broadcast from the 20th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

Epcot Food and Wine - The Chew Cast

The Emmy-Award Winning lifestyle series will tape five shows with co-hosts Mario Batali, Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, and Daphne Oz on October 7, 8 & 9 to air during the week of October 12 -16 on “The Chew.”

And while tickets may be sold out, you have a few more days to enter tickets from icFlorida!

10. Chase Lounge

If you are a Chase cardholders, you can visit the Chase Lounge in the American Adventure where you can grab a complimentary soft drink and try some interactive fun.

And these 10 Things To Know: 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival are just the tip of the iceberg! We’ll be bringing you tons of coverage during the Festival, so make sure you follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

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A Peek Inside Inside Out

Inside_Out_(2015_film)_poster

For countless centuries humankind has strived to unlock the mysteries of the mind, only to discover is that while we can speculate and conclude, we may never truly know what goes makes us all tick.  That’s not to say we don’t have an idea of how we work, after all we’re the ones who live this life and somehow we get through just fine without truly knowing how we do it.  What we generally find is that, at the end of the day, the cliche is true, “we’re all human”.  Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc., Up) takes all these swirling notions, and… emotions and turns them into the beautifully clever movie Inside Out.

In Inside Out, Docter sets out to answer for us that ageless question of, “What’s going on inside that head of yours?” Great effort was made by Docter to take concepts by both Freud and Jung and combine them into something easily digestible by audiences, as their concepts are often quite convoluted, conflicting, and complimentary at the same time.  That’s not an easy task, some people spend their entire thesis trying to sort such things out.  To do this he reached back to one of his earlier works that many might be familiar with Cranium Command.

To do this the movie is set inside the mind of Riley, an 11 year old girl (based on both Docter himself and his daughter) whose life is drastically changed when her family moves from Minnesota to San Francisco.  Much like Cranium Command, Riley’s mind, and similarly those of her parents, dogs, cats, etc. are all controlled from a control room, Headquarters, by her emotions Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust.  In fact, even the teaser poster for the movie resembles the logo for the closed attraction. Their job is to help define and maintain Riley’s personality.  They do this by creating and storing core memories which drive the aspects of that personality.

Unfortunately, after moving, Riley’s once “perfect” world starts to fall apart under her and she has to learn to cope with the changes and learn to incorporate them into who she is, rather than let them ruin her life.  As Riley’s world starts to fall apart, so do the core aspects of her personality, depicted as floating island “lands” from a theme park, including a familiar “hub & spoke” design where Headquarters is the Hub.  Those lands crumble, and fall into an abyss of lost and forgotten memories.

The emotions look to Joy, their leader and Riley’s first emotion, to solve the problem.  From there things start to go wrong as Riley’s core memories are rejected by the system in Headquarters and through a series of mishaps both Joy and Sadness are whisked off with those core memories to long term memory with no way back to Headquarters.  Leaving Fear, Anger, and Disgust in control.  From there things turn sour for quite a bit for both groups, and this reflects to Riley in the real world.  Thankfully with the help of one of Riley’s imaginary friend Bing Bong things eventually get fixed, and Riley learns to accept, and move on.

Inside Out great, if not fantastic.  While I wouldn’t consider it Pixar’s best work it is near the top.  It’s extremely clever, with some amazing throw away lines mostly at Jung’s expense.  Everyone who has grown up, become a teenager, lived through a life altering change, etc. should relate to this movie.  In other words, pretty much everyone on the planet.  Something so relatable is really the pinnacle of every artist, and this might come to be known as Docter’s pinnacle work.  Go see Inside Out, you’re going to enjoy experiencing these emotions.

In addition to doing the web design and programming for the On the Go in MCO website, Todd Perlmutter is a host for the Disney Film Project Podcast.

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2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Additions

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Epcot Walt Disney World

Today the 2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival begins and runs until May 17th, and I was lucky enough to be an invited guest of the Walt Disney World Resort to take a special Behind-the-Scenes tour of some of the things you will find at this year’s Festival.

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Epcot Walt Disney World

Eric Darden, Horticulture Manager for the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, and Carla Shuman, a Walt Disney World Landscape Architect, served as our guides as we walked around the Festival as all the pieces were coming together.

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Epcot Walt Disney World
Eric Darden and Carla Shuman leading our tour

2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival New Additions

1. The 2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival can’t Let It Go!

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Epcot Walt Disney World

The Anna and Elsa topiaries are beautiful and are sure to be a hit this year!

One of my favorite touches is that Anna’s side is full of a vibrant assortment of flowers, while Elsa’s side is delicate white flowers representing snow. I personally wish that Olaf was joining them, but I do love their faces and the scale of the topiaries.

This is sure to be a crazy busy spot for photos, and PhotoPass Photographers will definitely be stationed there for the duration of the Festival.

2. Botanas Botánico joins the Outdoor Kitchen line-up

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Epcot Walt Disney World

This year Botanas Botánico, located between the Morocco and France Pavilions, joins the Outdoor Kitchens group with great food options and a beautiful garden that tells a vivid story of indigenous foods.

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Epcot Walt Disney World

I had the opportunity to taste the Cachapa con Queso (Sweet Cortn Pancake with Farmers Cheese), and it is a light and flavorful treat that will be great on a hot day! The sweet corn and rich cheese are a wonderful combination.

3. Farmer Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Topiaries

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Epcot Walt Disney World

This year Farmer Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse have Spaceship Earth as their backdrop in an American Gothic-esque photo opportunity.

I loved Goofy here, and can’t wait to take my picture here this year.

4. Fun New Gardens can be found everywhere

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Epcot Walt Disney World

The Flower and Garden Festival this year features several new mini-gardens that are themed to their surrounding areas, educational experiences, and even upcoming movies.

I especially love the Shakespeare Garden, located near the United Kingdom Pavilion Restrooms, and the Inside Out Emotion Garden, located just outside of Journey Into Imagination with Figment, because while they are completely different their integration with their surrounding areas is a great added touch.

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Epcot Walt Disney World

5. 2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Merchandise

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Epcot Walt Disney World

The Disney Parks Blog shared a peek at this year’s Flower and Garden Festival Merchandise, and I am in trouble!

The Festival Exclusive Disney Dooney & Bourke might be one of my favorite prints of all time!

Steven Miller shared the Festival Merchandise information here.

6. Fun Fresh Weekends

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015 Epcot Walt Disney World

Every year the Flower and Garden Festival is full of great presentations, performances, and more, but this year the Festival launches Fun Fresh Weekends.

During select Fun Fresh Weekends, guests of the Festival will be treated to additional experiences. You can find the Fun Fresh Weekends schedule here.

I am excited to bring you more coverage of the 2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, because this year’s additions really make the Festival special!

Disclosure: I was invited guest of the Walt Disney World Resort to experience this Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Behind-the-Scenes tour, however all opinions are my own.

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Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Disney Dooney & Bourke Purses

I have to say that the latest addition to the Disney Dooney & Bourke line of purses, may be my favorite event based pattern yet!

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Dooney & Bourke Purses
Photo: Disney Parks Blog

The Disney Dooney & Bourke release will have four purses and will feature a special dated ‘2014 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival’ tag.

The Disney Dooney & Bourke purses (prices coming soon) will be:

  • Wristlet – $98
  • Crossbody – $268
  • Tote – $278
  • Satchel- $268

The black background with the gem toned Chef Mickeys, are perfect for fall! I especially love how the green pops!

The new Epcot International Food and Wine Festival print will be released at the Festival Center in Epcot starting September 29.

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Dooney & Bourke Purses
Photo: Disney Parks Blog

The Festival Center is located between the Universe of Energy and Mission: SPACE pavilions in Future World. We will have these items on display in that location when the event kicks off on September 19. This Dooney & Bourke collection will not be available on our Disney Parks online store at this time.

What do you think of the newest Disney Dooney & Bourke pattern? Will you be picking one up at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival?

 

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Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

 The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival runs September 19 – November 10, 2014, and I can’t wait!

Photo Sep 04, 1 06 42 PM

We were able to attend a sneak peek at this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival at the VIP area of the Living Seas, and this year looks like it stacking up to be absolutely amazing!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Chef Jens Dahlmann spoke on the changes that are coming to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and here are some of the highlights of what you can expect at this year’s marketplaces.

  • This year there will be 25 ‘Marketplaces’ at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
  • There are several returning favorite marketplaces, however some of the marketplaces have broadened, for example last year’s Florida Fresh is now Farm Fresh, allowing Chef Dahlmann to be more playful with the menu and ingredients.
  • The Hops & Barley menu has received a lot of attention, and as a result the items featured at the marketplace will be more sophisticated while still having a twist of fun.
  • With more cooking going on inside of each Marketplace, this year several booths will feature fried items for the first time.
  • Favorites from the France Marketplace have received a HUGE facelift!
    • The escargot will now be presented on a tart with creamed spinach, bacon, and parmesean cheese. The brioche presentation was a fan favorite, but this new set-up sounds delicious.
    • Creme brulee caramel fluer de sel: sea salt caramel crème brulee with caramalized sugar has arrived, and it is quite possibly one of the most delicious things I was able to sample. Again with the new marketplaces focusing on preparing items on-site, the sugar will be caramalized inside the kiosk.

So enough yammering, let’s get to the food!

2014 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Media Preview

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Ensalada de Carrucho which is a Caribbean Conch Salad with Onion, Tomato, and Cilantro from Puerto Rico.

This was my first time trying Conch Salad, and it did not disappoint! Prepared in a more traditional way the Ensalada de Carrucho is extremely refeshing with a unique texture.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Grilled ‘Yard Bird’ with Braised Greens and House-Made Habanero Sauce from Farm Fresh.

The grilled ‘Yard Bird’ aka chicken in this dish had a really great flavor and crispy skin, however the star fro me was the braised greens that were cooked to salty yet still firm perfection. My only wish for the dish was that there was more of the house-made habanero sauce, because it added some moisture, sweetness, and kick to a very savory plate.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Florida Grass Fed Beef Slider with Pimento Cheese from Hops & Barley paired with MmmHops Pale Ale from Fife and Drum.

If I could only eat one thing for the entire Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, this would be my choice! The Florida grass fed beef in the slider had a great flavor that served as a wonderful anchor for the heat in the pimento cheese, crunch from the sweet raw onions, and sweetness from the bun. As a gal with South Carolina roots, the pimento cheese is beyond delicious!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

The MmmHops Pale Ale from Fife and Drum, yes this is the Hanson Beer, pairs well with the slider’s heat with a crisp bite that helps cool things down from the spicy pimento cheese.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Baked Lobster Alfredo from Hops & Barley.

While I am an absolute sucker for lobster, the baked lobster alfredo seems like a great choice towards the end of the festival on a night that is a little chillier. The dish is extremely rich with generous chunks of lobster. Talk about comfort food!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Sauerkraut Pierogi with Pork Goulash from Poland.

I grew up eating a lot of potato and cheese pierogies, so when I saw a sauerkraut pierogi on the Poland menu I was really excited because it was two of my favorite things in one dish! I found that the sauerkraut pierogi had a interesting, but tasty texture that was a great contrast to the spicy sauce of the pork goulash.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Roasted Verlasso Salmon with Quinoa Salad and Arugula Chimichurri from Patagonia.

Usually salmon isn’t really my thing, but the roasted Verlasso salmon had an amazing taste that was taken to the next level with the arugula chimichurri!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Crème Brulee Caramel Fluer de Sel: Sea Salt Caramel Crème Brulee with Caramalized Sugar from France paired with Nicolas Feuillatte Rosè from Desserts & Champagne.

Every year one of my favorite desserts at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival items is the Crème Brulee from France, and the Crème Brulee Caramel Fluer de Sel: Sea Salt Caramel Crème Brulee with Caramalized Sugar has taken my devotion to the next level. The predominant coffee and caramel flavors play so well off the savory hints of sea salt. The caramelization of the sugar topping completed on-site in the marketplace, really makes this dish special and definite must-do for your visit to the festival.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

 

The Nicolas Feuillatte Rosè from Desserts & Champagne paired so well with the Crème Brulee Caramel Fluer de Sel, because the berry notes really added a lovely sweetness to the slightly savory crème brulee. 

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

Fresh Baked Carrot Cake with Craisins and Cream Cheese Icing from Hops & Barley.

When you will eat this fresh baked carrot cake at Hops & Barley at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, you are going to feel like you just stole a treat from your Grandmother before dinner! The carrots, walnuts, and craisins are all on the larger scale inside the cake to give it a very homemade feel and familiar taste. What makes this carrot cake so special, is that it is served warm and iced inside the Hops & Barley marketplace for an interesting combination of temperatures and textures. If you like carrot cake, you definitely have to give this a go!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: 2014 Preview

I really had a great time at the Media Preview for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and I left with a new spring in my step about this year’s marketplaces! 

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Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Premium Event Registration!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2013

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is quickly approaching, September 19 – November 10, 2014, and the chance to register for Premium Events begins on July 31, 2014 at 7 am EST by calling (407) 939-3378!

Since the Premium Events tend to fill up pretty quickly, it is a good time to take a look at what events will be offered to see if there is anything that you might be interested in registering for during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

The new Premium Events for this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival:

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival - Demonstration

  • Dining Through the Decades, A Tribute to Walt Disney (October 24) $99 per person or $119 per person
  • Experience Puerto Rico – The All Star Island (September 20) $99 per person
  • Epcot International Food & Wine Festival — Boot Camp Series interactive epicurean adventure (September 21, October 5, 12, 19, Nov. 2) $119 per person
  • Food for Thought (Fridays, plus Saturday October 11) $169 per person
  • Mediterranean Food & Wine Pairing (Wednesdays) $55 per person
  • Italian White Truffle & Wine Pairing Dinner (October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30) $295 per person

Here are some of the most popular Epcot International Food & Wine Festival events returning in 2014:

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

There are even more special dining opportunities at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, such as the Italian and French pairings and lunches, a Japan “Hibachi Experience”, and a Mexican tequila lunch. You can find more information on the World Showcase Dining Events during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival here.

You can also book the popular Culinary Demonstrations ($15), Mixology Seminars ($15) and Wine Seminars ($15). For more information about Culinary Demonstrations & Seminars during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival here.

Always keep in mind the following things about the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival:

  • Admission to Epcot is required. While most Epcot International Food & Wine Festival events are included with admission to the Park, several experiences require a separate purchase or a separate admission fee, including food and refreshment samples, entry into Premium Experiences and entry into Cultural Dining Opportunities. Availability is limited for some experiences.
  • Events may be rescheduled or cancelled at any time.

 

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Tables In Wonderland Food & Wine Pre-Sale Starts Today

image copyright Disney
image copyright Disney

 

This year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is just around the corner starting in a little over a month and a half from now. Tables In Wonderland members have the opportunity to take advantage of pre-sale tickets to select demonstrations and seminars starting today at 9:00am EST. The pre-sale tickets are available exclusively over the phone by calling 407-939-3378. Tables In Wonderland members are eligible for a $2.00 discount on select bookings Mondays – Thursdays, but only when these events are booked over the phone. Tickets to Food & Wine Festival events go on sale to the general public on Thursday, July 31st at 7:00am EST and will also then be bookable online at www.epcotfoodfestival.com.

More information from the Tables In Wonderland release directly:

 

To prepare for the sale, please see below for information on the Festival Demonstrations.

2014 Culinary Demonstrations

2014 Beverage Seminars

2014 Mixology Seminars

All appearances, presentations and events are subject to change without notice. The above links are temporary links and will be disabled once the information is available on www.epcotfoodfestival.com.

Additionally, the below events will be available online, via www.epcotfoodfestival.com:

–          Culinary Demonstrations

–          Beverage Seminars

–          Mixology Seminars

–          “3D” Disney’s Dessert Discovery (General Admission Only)

–          Party for the Senses (General Admission Only)

–          Dining Through the Decades, a Tribute to Walt Disney   (General Admission  Only)

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Candlelight Processional Packages Available

Candlelight Processional
Photo: Disney

It’s Christmas in July as the Disney Parks Blog announced that  Candlelight Processional Dining Packages can be booked starting today.

For those who don’t know, the Candlelight Processional is a holiday tradition at Walt Disney World! During this moving show, a celebrity narrator accompanied by a full orchestra and choir fill the America Gardens Theater at Epcot with Christmas songs and stories.

Candlelight Processional
Photo: Disney

Candlelight Processional Dining Packageare available on select days during the holiday season, and start at $35 for lunch and $50 for dinner for adults. Included in the Candlelight Processional Package is a delicious meal at an Epcot restaurant and a guaranteed seat for one of the Candlelight Processional performances.

You can find more information, including all the restaurants participating here.

Here are some things to know about the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages before you book:

  • Seating at the Candlelight Processional is first-come, first-served unless you’ve reserved a Candlelight Processional Dining Packages.
  • Dining packages are paid for at the individual restaurant, where you’ll receive your Candlelight Seating badges for seating at the America Gardens Theatre for the booked showtime.
  • Advance reservations are highly recommended for the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages and can be made up to 180 days prior to your visit.
  • Park admission is required and is not included in the price of the dining package.

Note: Availability is limited. Guests can call 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) or book online at www.disneyworld.com/holidays.

Also released today, was a partial list of celebrity narrators for this year including Candlelight veterans Whoopi Goldberg and Jodi Benson, and the addition of two fabulous new narrators Academy-Award-winning actress Sharon Stone and Saturday Night Live alum Ana Gasteyer.

Candlelight Processional
Photo: Disney

Here is the early schedule of Candlelight Processional Narrators:

  • Jodi Benson – 11/28 – 11/29
  • TBD – 11/30 – 12/2
  • TBD – 12/3 – 12/4
  • Whoopi Goldberg – 12/5 – 12/6
  • TBD – 12/7* – 12/8
  • TBD – 12/9 – 12/11
  • TBD – 12/12 – 12/14
  • Sharon Stone (New) – 12/15 – 12/17
  • Ana Gasteyer (New) – 12/18 – 12/20
  • Marlee Matlin – 12/21 – 12/23
  • TBD – 12/24 – 12/25
  • TBD – 12/26 – 12/27
  • Steven Curtis Chapman – 12/28 – 12/30

Some things to keep in mind about this early list of Candlelight Processional celebrity narrators:

* Narrators are subject to change without notice.

* Show Times are at 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m. & 8:15 p.m. each night.

*Show Times on December 7 are 6:45 p.m. & 8:15 p.m. only


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Tables In Wonderland Food And Wine Sneak Preview

tables in wonderlan

 

Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival Sneak Preview “Taste Your Way Around The World”
Where: East Hall, World ShowPlace Pavilion at Epcot®
When: Saturday July 19, 2014 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Price: $143.78, tax & gratuity included
Counting down the days to the Festival? Looking forward to international marketplaces featuring tasty tapas-sized dishes and refreshing beverages? Eager to try your hand at mixology? Ready for some Culinary Demonstrations? Excited to enjoy an exhilarating outdoor concert?

With the 19th Annual Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival just around the corner, we would like to invite Tables in Wonderland members only to a “sneak preview” of this year’s Festival! Join us as we sample the food and hear speakers talk about the new and exciting things we have in store for you this year! Learn what new marketplaces will be added, as well as new special events. Be one of the first to be “in the know” as we taste our way around the world!

Please visit the following website www.disneyurl.com/SneakPreview for self-booking and instant confirmation.
The website will go live and begin taking reservations on Monday, June 23, 2014 at 10:00am.
When you go to the website please have the following information ready:
Tables in Wonderland Ticket Number (number beginning with a W and includes a date)
First and Last Name of everyone in your party (you may purchase up to 10 tickets)
Home address
Phone number
Credit Card Number
Billing Address of the Credit Card
Personal Email Address
Food Allergies (if any)
Seating Requests: Please add the Name/Registration Number of any guests on a separate booking you wish to be seated with.
Please Note: Request’s will be accommodated as available and are not a guarantee.
Things to note about this event:
The event is limited to 250 Guests, and is exclusive to Tables in Wonderland members. Park admission not required.

Menu:
The menu for this event is inspired by the International Marketplaces:

Buffet Reception

Africa: South African Bobotie with Turkey and Mushrooms
Scotland: Sea Scallop with Spinach Cheddar Gratin and Crispy Bacon
Puerto Rico: “Papa Rellena” Crispy Fried Potato Balls stuffed with Pork and Beef
Terra: Blackened Chick’n Breast, Farr, Spicy Gumbo Sauce featuring Gardein Chick’n Breast

Hawai’i: Aulani Sunset featuring Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum
Terra: Paperboy Red
Block & Hans: The Great American Wine Company, Chardonnay
Block & Hans: Domaine Chandon, Brut Sparkling Blanc de Noir

Plated Dinner

Patagonia Course

Roasted Verlasso Salmon with Quinoa Salad and Arugula Chimi Churri
Paired with Cono Sur Bicicleta Viognier

Farm Fresh Course

Griddled “Yard Bird” with Braised Greens and House Made Habanero Sauce
Paired with the Chateau St. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Eroica® Riesling

Puerto Rico Course

“Carne Guisada con Arroz Blanco” Slow Braised Beef with Puerto Rican Grown Rice
Paired with Medalla Light

Dessert Trio
Hops and Barley: Fresh Baked Carrot Cake with Craisins® and Cream Cheese Icing
Refreshment Port: Croissant Doughnut
Bean to the Bar: Warm Drinking Chocolate
Paired with Rosa Regale

If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, which you have not already told us about, please send an email to WDW.Tables.In.Wonderland@disney.com to give us time to accommodate your needs.

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Patriotism in the Parks – The American Adventure


American AdventureI thought it was long overdue that I resurrect this fun series I started a couple years ago. Patriotism in the Parks is meant to focus on Americana in the Disney parks. You can check out my previous posts about Victory Gardens, the Hall of Flags and the Hall of Presidents. This time around I’ll be taking a look at the American Adventure in Epcot.

The American Adventure is a three part experience if you want to do it right. The five story building in Epcot’s World Showcase is built with forced perspective to make the colonial style building only appear to be three stories tall. Housed inside, the American Adventure attraction is the primary reason most people visit this pavilion. To me, it is a fantastic show, and one of my favorites, but if you don’t check out the other two attractions here, you are missing out!

The American Heritage Gallery is probably the part of the American Adventure that is most easily overlooked. It is situated along the right side of the lobby rotunda and has played host to revolving exhibits over the years. Currently, the exhibit is based around the Kinsey Collection, primarily consisting of African-American art and artifacts. You can read more about it in the press release here. I highly recommend taking at least a good 10 – 15 minutes to browse this beautiful gallery.

VoicesVoices of Liberty is the second attraction located in the American Adventure. This for me, may be my favorite by a slight margin over the American Adventure attraction. These a capella singers take on primarily traditional Americana and colonial songs. Occasionally they will mix in some newer material, but for the most part their material is comprised of songs most of us are familiar with from school if you grew up in this country. At the holidays they change their set to cover mostly Christmas carols with a few other holiday songs interspersed. My favorite time to see them all year is the Fourth of July! Their military medley and rendition of Golden Dream from the American Adventure move me to tears each time.
Ben and Mark

The American Adventure attraction is about a 30 minute show featuring dozens of audio animatronics on stage taking guests through the history of this great nation. Ben Franklin and Mark Twain acts at hosts/narrators as the story of the founding of America progresses into the 18th, 19th, 20th and even 21st centuries. We learn about the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Westward expansion, World War II, up to today, and a lot in between. This is one of my favorite shows featuring audio animatronics and features some great music, as well as video and radio clips of famous events throughout America’s history. The attraction focuses on several snapshots in time to give a broad overview of how America became the country it is today.

Have you visited the American Adventure in Epcot? What is your favorite part of this pavilion?

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