Sunday, September 23, 2012

News and Rumors 9/17/12 - 9/23/12







News and Rumors are gathered from various different sources. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken as such. 


News

Magic Kingdom

  • An update is on it's way for Pirates.  It is rumored that mermaids will be the addition.



Epcot  


  • Disney has announced it's events for Epcot's 30th Anniversary.  Guests will be able to attend select presentations in World Showplace:  1-2 pm – Designing the Future – Past and Present: A panel of Disney Imagineers remembers 30 years of building tomorrow! 4:30–6 pm – Epcot: How it Changed the World with Marty Sklar 6:30–8 pm – Epcot: How it Changed the World with Marty Sklar.  At 3 pm, an anniversary moment will take place at the America Gardens Theatre. Finally, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth will play at 9 pm, followed by a special 30th Anniversary tag.
  • Disney Visa Cardholders will have the opportunity to visit a special, private Chase Lounge during this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival on the second floor of the Festival Center, the former Wonders of Life Pavilion.  The lounge will be open from 9 am – 7 pm, and it is required that you show your Disney Visa card in order to gain access.  Disney has announced it's events for Epcot's 30th Anniversary.  Guests will be able to attend select presentations in World Showplace:  1-2 pm – Designing the Future – Past and Present: A panel of Disney Imagineers remembers 30 years of building tomorrow! 4:30–6 pm – Epcot: How it Changed the World with Marty Sklar 6:30–8 pm – Epcot: How it Changed the World with Marty Sklar.  At 3 pm, an anniversary moment will take place at the America Gardens Theatre. Finally, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth will play at 9 pm, followed by a special 30th Anniversary tag.


Disney's Hollywood Studios

  • Wreck-It Ralph, along with Vanellope Von Schweetz, will be debuting sometime this November in the Magic of Disney Animation. 
     

Disney Resorts  

  • The new Alice in Wonderland Water Playground has opened at the Grand Floridian.


General WDW News

  •  To celebrate the new Disney movie Frankenweenie, Downtown Disney is offering a special event from September 28 – 30 at in the Westside.  Events for that weekend include: special 3D showings of Nightmare Before Christmas (4:15 pm and 8 pm) and Alice in Wonderland (at 6:30 pm and 10:30 pm) at the Downtown Disney AMC with a special extended preview of Frankenweenie during the movies, a New Holland Pet Cemetary photo spot, special merchandise will be available for purchase, special treats will be served, such as Franken Fusion Lemonade and a Frankenweenie hot dog and for the first time ever at Walt Disney World, guests will have the opportunity to meet Jack and Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas


Rumors


  •  Pete's Silly Sideshow is expected to debut on September 30th.
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Going To this year's Epcot International Food and Wine Festival?  Make sure to read all the delicious details in this book.

Monday, September 17, 2012

News and Rumors 9/10/12 - 9/16/12




News and Rumors are gathered from various different sources. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken as such. 


News


Magic Kingdom

  • The Be Our Guest Restaurant will be offering beer and wine at the dinner seating, making it the first time alcohol will be served at the Magic Kingdom.


Epcot

  • Blair Underwood has been added to the Candlelight Processional lineup from December 5-7th.
  • A new permanent meet and greet area is being added to the France Pavilion.
  • Guests who visit on Epcot 30th birthday, Oct. 1, will receive a limited-edition button, a souvenir guide map, an invitation to presentations in located in World Showplace, plus more



Disney's Animal Kingdom

  • Kali River Rapids offers complimentary lockers for two hours while you ride the attraction.  The lockers are located near the bathrooms by Kali's main entrance. 
  • The Boneyard has a quick refurb from Sept. 18th - 20th. 
  • Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, and Tigger will leave Disney's Animal Kingdom on Sept. 30th


Disney Resorts

  • The Little Mermaid section is now open at Disney's Art of Animation Resort, making the resort completely finished. 



Rumors

  • Talking Mickey may be coming back to Town Square Theater at the Magic Kingdom.
  • Festival of the Lion King my end in 2013 for good. 

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Thursday, September 13, 2012

Be Our Guest Restaurant to Offer Beer and Wine

©Disney

 The Be Our Guest Restaurant, when it opens in November as part of the New Fantasyland, will be the first restaurant ever at the Magic Kingdom to serve alcohol.


The Magic Kingdom has been a dry park ever since it opened in 1971, so what made Disney decide to finally start serving alcohol after all these years?

The answer...the ever popular answer from Disney...guest feedback.

According to guest feedback, guests wanted some alcoholic beverage options to go with their gourmet dining experience.  The upscale restaurant will offer different beers and wines that will pair well with the French cuisine that will be served.

Wines served will be mostly French, with a few Californian wines included. Beers served will also be mostly French, but a few Belgium choices will be available as well.

For those who would like to take a look at the wines and beers that will be offered, Disney has included the menu on their website.

I can honestly see both sides of the coin on this one.

First of all, I understand why people would be upset about this choice.  The park is dry for a reason, it wasn't a place where people needed to be sloppy drunks.  It was a place for people to come with their families, as a family, and have the bonding time together.  It is also a time honored tradition that it not be included.

However, I also see the other side of this one.

First, families visiting Disney are different than they used to be. Sure, most are the 2 parents, 2 children combo that is featured on ever Disney promotion ever.  But now, Disney is also appealing to the extended family demographic, with people like grandparents and aunts and uncles joining along.  Families get together over big meals like this usually, and big family meals like this usually have some sort of alcoholic beverage present.

Plus, this restaurant is the first real upscale restaurant in the Magic Kingdom (I'm sorry, but Cinderella's Royal Table does not count, even though they try to make it count) and upscale restaurants (especially upscale French restaurants) have a little sip to go with the entrees and desserts to help accompany the flavors of what is being served.  So in that regard, it makes complete sense.  This is not a place where people's focus is going to be on getting sloshed.  It's focus is just to complement the dishes that are prepared.

Personally, I am torn on this issue.  Part of me thinks that this is an absolutely terrible idea because it is a time honored tradition for the Magic Kingdom to remain dry, but part of me thinks that times are changing and I don't really see a problem with people enjoying a little vino with their dessert, if they so choose.

I mean, I know that this isn't going to turn the Magic Kingdom into World Showcase 2.0 where by the end of the night, you can pick out the people who have had more than one too many.  However, part of me wonders, will this eventually open the floodgates.  We'll start with alcohol being served here and then in a few years, they'll add it to another dining establishment, and then another, and then another, until this park is covered in spots to imbibe.  (Technically, I don't believe this will happen...just sort of playing devil's advocate here.  I mean Disney has already stated that the one place that would be a shoe in for serving alcohol, Gaston's Tavern, will not be selling it.  So, I'm really not extremely worried.)

This brings me to you.  This is such a hot button topic that I want to know your thoughts on the matter.  Do you think this is a good idea?  Or does it spit in the face of everything Disney has done since the Magic Kingdom opened?  Make sure to let me know in the comments or even on my Facebook page! 

Sunday, September 9, 2012

News and Rumors 9/3/12 - 9/9/12






News and Rumors are gathered from various different sources. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken as such. 
 

News

Magic Kingdom

  • This year the crane that will be onsite to install the lights for the Cinderella Castle Dream Lights will be on site from Sept. 16th - Oct. 1st. 
  • We found out the drink that will be featured in Gaston's Tavern will be called LeFou's Brew, a no sugar added, frozen apple juice with a hint of toasted marshmallow and a passion fruit-mango foam on top.  The restaurant will also feature cinnamon rolls. 


Disney's Hollywood Studios

  • The Hollywood Hills Amphitheater where Fantasmic! is shown, is going to be receiving 1000 new seats which will be placed in the current standing room only area. 
  • The Studios Backlot Tour will be down for a refurbishment from Oct. 8th - Nov. 16th.  
  • Honey I Shrunk The Kids Adventure Playset will also be down for a refurb from Oct. 8th - Nov. 16th. 



Rumors


  • A new meet and greet location could be coming to the front of Epcot.  
  • According to reports, Avatar-land may be delayed, if coming at all.  Of course, all speculative, of course.  It seems this will be common rumor until we see concrete proof from this new land. 


Going To this year's Epcot International Food and Wine Festival?  Make sure to read all the delicious details in this book.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Review: DFB Mini-Guide-2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

Ok...I have made it no secret that Fall is my absolute favorite time to visit Walt Disney World.  You have the races, the meet ups, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, the fall foliage, the low crowds, and of course, a newer, to me at least, but just as amazing event, Epcot Food and Wine Festival time!

I, luckily enough, have been blessed to be able to go to this event the past two years by myself and I can't wait for the day when Brian and I live down in Florida so I'll finally be able to take him!  This is honestly one of the most fun events in all of Walt Disney World each year.  With this year's events rapidly approaching, I thought it was the perfect time to talk a little more in depth about this glorious "holiday". 

I will admit, the first year planning was a little scary and a lot overwhelming.  How was I supposed to know about everything that took place during the event?  Unfortunately for me, my quest for learning about the details was my own method of self discovery.  Fortunately for you, that is not how you will have to learn about the ins and outs for this event.

You see, AJ Wolfe, from the Disney Food Blog, has created these amazing resource e-books all about the food and beverages that surround Walt Disney World  and she just created a new book that is exactly what any one who is going to this year's Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is going to need.

My first thought about the e-book was, this is really only going to come in handy for first time visitors to the event.  And yes, let me tell you...if you have never been to the event, this is something you NEED to pick up and have on your smartphone while you are down in Florida for this year's festivities.  But let me tell you...I know now that this book will come in handy for the veterans of Food and Wine too. Through this book, I learned a thing or two that I had no clue about! 

There was just so much great stuff included in this book.  You have an introduction of what the Festival entails for the newbies and you have information about what's new for the seasoned veterans (up until the time when I read this book, I had no idea there was going to be a Watermelon Patch for the kiddos!).

Another great thing that is found in here is information about all the signature events that are taking place.  I was so impressed that the info is spelled out day by day of all the activities that are happening during this 46 day event. There is information about every seminar that will be taking place and every special event that will be offered as well.  Of course, these are things I never have any real time to do, since my trips during Food and Wine are such go-go-go vacations, but for those who manage to get to participate in these events, it will certainly help in your planning process.




What really impressed me about this e-book was how each marketplace booth is spelled out as to all the different offerings they'll have, as well as photos of some of the items being sold.  This is huge for someone like me who maybe thinks something sounds weird when it's described, but the picture makes me decide, you know what, I want to try that!  I almost wish there were more photos showing absolutely everything that the event would be selling!  (Tip for AJ's 2013 edition!)  Honestly, this right here is probably the biggest selling point in why you should own the book.  There is nothing more handy than having a tool like this at your disposal while you are touring around Epcot, trying to figure out what menu items you should purchase and which ones are on the maybe list. 

This e-book also takes an in-depth look at the bands that will be performing during the Eat To The Beat Concert Series.  Since it's an e-book, there are even links that will allow you to download the songs the artists are known for in the iTunes store.  This way, you can learn all the lyrics for the songs you don't know previously! (I mean, who besides me, can sing the lyrics to "Where's The Love" from Hanson?)

Finally, for those who are on the look out for the Foodie rock stars (and by that, I mean the celebrity chefs that will take part in this year's event) there is detailed information about them too, explaining a little bit about their backgrounds.

Now, this is one of AJ's books, so you can't forget one of her famous portions of any of her books and those are the food crawls that are included.  If you are on a mission to sample different cheeses or desserts, or even a kid's tour with food samples picked out specializing in just those specific items from the marketplace booths, AJ's Food Crawls are THE PLACE to make sure to accomplish that, along with have a little fun too!

Also included is information about the different races that will be held surrounding this event, the new Tower of Terror 10 miler and the Wine and Dine Half Marathon.  There are details found here about anything and everything related to these two races.  

Would I recommend the DFB Mini-Guide: 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival e-book?  Of course I would!  It is honestly the go to book for anyone who will be travelling to Disney during this time period.  Even if you aren't planning on spending a lot of time at the event, it is still a must read.  And trust me, if all you plan to do during your Disney vacation is nosh and explore during the Food and Wine Festival, well, then I don't have to tell you what a great tool this book is for you!

Don't have a copy of The Disney Food Blog Mini Guide: 2012 Food and Wine Festival yet?  Never fear!  I shameless ask that if you are interested in owning this book, that you purchase it from this link.  I will readily admit that part of the proceeds will go back to this blog.  However, that doesn't influence the fact that I still think this e-book is fabulous!  It just helps me out a bit in running this site.  (Don't you love expenses?)

Please click here to download and support this site


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Sunday, September 2, 2012

News and Rumors 8/27/12 - 9/2/12






News


Magic Kingdom

  • Periwinkle (Tink's sister) will be making her debut at Tinker Bell's Magical Nook in Adventureland starting Sept. 9th.  
  • A new pre-parade dance party will be added to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party this year.  The new dance party will allow guests to learn and dance along to the song "Calling All The Monsters". 
  • Duffy will be found during MNSSHP starting Sept. 11th.
  • Enchanted Tales With Belle, the new character experience for the New Fantasyland, is in limited previews with invited guests only.  Here are the preview videos, in case you haven't seen them:  







General WDW News

  • Fastpass + will begin testing again on Sept. 18th.


Rumors
  • Carsland rumors for DHS is heating up rapidly.
  • Two new comedy shows, similar to either Streetmosphere or the World Showcase Players in the UK, could be coming for the New Fantasyland.  
  • Wreck It Ralph is said to be coming to DHS, but it's said that Vanellope will be joining him as well.
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