This week, Walt Disney Resorts released a lot of information and news that has a lot of people pretty excited.
Food & Wine Festival
Bits and pieces of this year’s festival have been released a little at a time.
The biggest news is that the festival has been extended this year. It will run Sept. 14 through Nov. 14 at EPCOT.
Just like with every year there will be special events, cooking demonstrations, visits by celebrity chefs, concerts and the festival favorite tasting booths scattered throughout World Showcase.
Chefs:
This year will see the return of some festival favorites including the Cake Boss Buddy Valastro, Jamie Deen, Masaharu Morimoto (owner of Morimoto’s Asia in Disney Springs), Elizabeth Faulkner, Cat Cora and more.
Something for the Mousekatots:
Back for this year your tots will have the opportunity to play with their pal Remy in his Ratatouille Hide and Squeak scavenger hunt by looking for Remy statues for the opportunity to win prizes.
Festival Center (The former Wonders of Life pavilion)
This will be the hosting location “Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” workshops where visitors can learn from chefs, mixologists, bakers and more. Many of these events will have an additional fee associated.
There will be some complimentary demonstrators in the “Back to Basics” programs. Visitors will have the chance to see mini-demonstrations, get autographs and experience Ghirardelli’s The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar.
Eat to the Beat concert series
Another popular festival event is the Eat to the Beat concert series. Disney offers three performances (5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m.) each day by a celebrity band or performer.
A lot of performers have not been announced, but according to Disneyfoodblog.com, these are the ones that have been scheduled so far:
Sept. 16-18: Starship
Sept. 19-20: Air Supply
Sept. 24: Fuel
Oct. 10-11: 38 Special
Oct. 12-13: Jeffrey Osbourne
Oct. 17-19: Dennis DeYoung and the Music of Styx
Oct. 20-21: Christopher Cross
A Soarin’ Farewell
Walt Disney World is offering guests the chance to say a final farewell to the classic Soarin’ attraction at EPCOT before the new video starts and offers guests an updated experience.
From Disney Park’s official blog:
“EPCOT guests will enjoy farewell flights when the classic Soarin’ returns to The Land pavilion in Future World Starting May 27. The attraction reopens at EPCOT in Walt Disney World Resort before the new film, Soarin’ Around the World, debuts next month at Disney Parks in Shanghai, California and Florida. Disney FastPass+ service (currently available).”
Fastpass+ have been going, well, fast. So if you want to check this out one last time, grab your boarding passes before they are all gone.
The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic Dining Package
The Walt Disney World Resort announced this week that they will offer a new unique dining and performance package to guests starting May 28 and available for a limited time.
The dining portion of the package includes your choice of either Tusker House Restaurant or the new Tiffins restaurant.
Dinner at Tusker House is $49 for adults and $30 for children 9 and under. Tiffins is $67 for adults and $32 for children. Tax and gratuity is not included in the cost of the meal that includes either the buffet at Tusker House or an appetizer, entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage at Tiffins.
All reservations must be made no later than two and-a-half hours prior to your scheduled show time.
After dinner guest will go to a special spot to view the Jungle Book performance that will include live performers, popular songs and other special events.
To book the package, call 407-WDW-DINE.
These are the biggest pieces of news that came out this week. Personally, we are most excited about the Food & Wine Festival. This has been a favorite special event for us over the years and we are really looking forward to attending again this year.
What are you most looking forward to for you upcoming Disney vacation? Leave in the comments section below.
Mousekatots 