REVIEW: Liberty Inn at Epcot Revamps Menu; Changes to “The Safety Restaurant”

WDWNT on October 24, 2016

Epcot is Walt Disney World’s dining park. From the bounty of fantastic worldly table service restaurants, to the annual festivals filled with food and drink, there is always a plethora of exciting and unique dining options in the park. Lost in the shuffle is often counter service, and more so counter service eateries that serve American-style cuisine. I often refer to the Liberty Inn at the American Adventure as “The Safety Restaurant”. If there is a picky eater in the bunch, perhaps afraid of the international cuisine found elsewhere, this or the Electric Umbrella are probably where you are going to end up.

Liberty Inn, located inside The American Adventure at Epcot

Liberty Inn, located inside The American Adventure at Epcot

Recently, the menu at the Liberty Inn was altered, so we decided to head over one evening and try out the new entrees.

Liberty Inn Menu (October 2016)

Liberty Inn Menu (October 2016)

Liberty Inn Menu (October 2016)

Among the new options on the menu are a “Surf and Turf” meal and the Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Bacon.

Liberty Inn Menu (October 2016)

Liberty Inn Menu (October 2016)

While they don’t get pics on the main menu, there is a classic cheeseburger and the ubiquitous chicken breast nuggets.

Surf and Turf ($14.99)

 

Surf and Turf ($14.99)

Surf and Turf ($14.99)

Counter service steak is scary. To me, it’s scarier than the Exorcist house at Halloween Horror Nights this year, and that’s probably the one that freaks me out the most. In fact, the only thing scarier than counter service steak is counter service seafood. This dish combines both for what I would likely consider my most avoidable dish at Walt Disney World. That being said, I didn’t think it was terrible. The steak was fine, although a little tough and the shrimp was pretty much what you would expect if you have ever been to Columbia Harbour House. It’s a lot of food for $14.99, but probably not my number one choice.

Surf and Turf ($14.99)

Surf and Turf ($14.99)

Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Bacon ($11.49)

Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Bacon ($11.49)

Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Bacon ($11.49)

I love anything and everything buffalo chicken, so I was excited to try this. The buffalo flavor comes from the sauce, which is accompanied by a rather strange carrot apple slaw. The bun was pretty perfect, reminding me of the bun we had last week at Min and Bill’s. The chicken was a sizable piece and cooked nicely. I expected the apple and carrot slaw to ruin it, but it didn’t detract from what I feel is a really solid option if you are going to dine here. Oh, and there’s bacon too.

Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Bacon ($11.49)

Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Bacon ($11.49)

Overall

For me personally, this isn’t a place I typically dine at Epcot, but if someone asked me to go here, I would have no problem getting the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich again. The burgers here are fine as well, as is the chicken salad, and it is nice that there is a vegetarian “chicken” dish too. If you have a picky eater in the group, Liberty Inn is a counter service meal that at least won’t ruin your vacation.

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Card for 2016 Christmas Party Revealed

WDWNT on October 24, 2016

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will return to Magic Kingdom Park November 9, and this year Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom fans can pick up a special Goofy-themed game card on party nights.

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This year’s party-exclusive card is “Goofy’s Festive Fiasco” and, according to Imagineer Jonathan Ackley, “celebrates the glorious holiday chaos created by Goofy as he attempts to decorate for the season!”

RUMOR: Destination D Attendees Will Be The First to See Rivers of Light Next Month?

WDWNT on October 24, 2016

Since April 22nd, 2016, we have been on a rollercoaster ride of rumors of when Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom might debut. Once the show was officially delayed, we reported first that the show would not make its debut in the Summer of 2016. We then heard rumblings that the show was close to being completed, and then were even told that the show is now finished and completed with rehearsals at this point. Just last week, a rumored to be mistaken posting on the Walt Disney World website made it seem the show may not debut until next May. Now, something fishy on the Destination D schedule has many a guest speculating that event attendees may be the very first to see Rivers of Light this November.

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The event wraps up on Sunday, November 20th at Disney’s Contemporary Resort with a presentation by Joe Rohde about Disney’s Animal Kingdom. After that, there is an optional in-park gathering at a Disney theme park, with no further details being shared as of yet. That being said, it does require park admission and Disney’s Animal Kingdom is scheduled to close at 7:30PM that evening. However, one could argue that it would make more sense to end the event with the much anticipated AVATAR presentation, unless you wanted that final presentation to lead into something that tied into it. Rivers of Light would certainly tie into a presentation by Rohde about the future of Disney’s Animal Kingdom…

I will say this particular rumor comes with no inside information on my part. It is purely speculation based on rumblings throughout the internet since the Destination D: Amazing Adventures schedule was announced yesterday. Tickets for the event are still available if you are interested, and regardless of the Rivers of Light event happening or not, should be a wonderful time for any Disney fan who attends.

UPDATE: The schedule for the event on D23.com was updated to state that guests will not need theme park admission to attend the in-park meet up. This now makes it more likely that guests at Destination D will be the first to see the show.

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PHOTO: Disney Parks Moving Back to Resort Specific Cups

WDWNT on October 24, 2016

While it may not seem like a big deal to the average guest, many of us who love the subtle details and differences between the Disney Parks always loved that Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort used to sport different cups and plates at their fast food establishments from coast to coast. For the last few years, the two have shared “Disney Parks” branded cups and plates/bowls at all of their counter service dining locations. Well, then this showed up at the Disneyland Resort today…

Image courtesy of @dumbfrog on twitter

Image courtesy of @dumbfrog on twitter

If this cup is any indication, we may soon see resort specific cups, plates, and more once again. Only time will tell. Oh, and hopefully they will take Tower of Terror off of the cups in California…

Hostess with the Mostess – Top 5 Favorite Magic Kingdom Snack Results

WDWNT on October 24, 2016

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Welcome back to WDWNT’s Hostess with the Mostess! I just got back from my favorite place on earth! (Hence why I have not posted in a few weeks). While my family and I were galavanting around the Magic Kingdom, I made sure my husband tried some of those tasty snacks! Since my Magic Kingdom snack post was a few weeks ago, you can read it right here to refresh your memory.

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Here’s a quick recap of my favs!

My Top 5 Favorite Snacks at the Magic Kingdom

  •   5. Pot Roast Mac and Cheese
  •   4. Cinannamon Roll and LeFou’s Brew
  •   3. Nutella and Fresh Fruit Waffle
  •   2. Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich
  •   1. Pineapple Dole Whip

Now let’s see how you voted!

6. Our Other category came in last. M2bma shared that their favorite snack was the chocolate covered banana. I heard from a few other readers that their favorites included popcorn, Starbucks coffee, and of course the Mickey Mouse Ice Cream bar!

5. Pot Roast Mac and Cheese came in at number five. This was one of the snacks my husband had never tried before and he absolutely loved it. However, it looks like it did not get a lot of love from the readers, unless the score is low because so many are unaware of it’s cheesy goodness.

4. Nutella Fresh Fruit Waffle. So much yummiess wrapped up in one crispy waffle I was a little surprised it did not get more voters. I have great news to share. You might have already read last week that the Sweet and Spicy Chicken Waffle Sandwich is back! A long lost friend to the Sleepy Hollow family has finally returned! You can check it out right here.

3. Cinnamon Roll and LeFou’s Brew hits the number three spot. After you admire Gaston’s antlers and get your picture in his chair, take your brew outside to his fountain. Have you ever noticed the plaque? In true Gaston fashion he gave a fountain of himself to the people of “his” village. Just another piece of Imagnineering to take us further into the story!

2. Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich. This snack deserves number two! While I prefer the simple and creamy vanilla ice cream between my chocolately chip cookies, did you know you can choose other ice cream flavors? That’s right folks! You are not stuck with vanilla forever!

1. Pineapple Dole Whip. There was absolutely no competition for this snack. It had the most votes by far! Ron said, “During the Christmas season when the Magic Kingdom stays open till 2AM, it is a tradition in our family to have a Dole Whip right b/4 the park closes. Best late nite snack at Disney.” I love hearing about everyone’s family traditions! Thanks for sharing! I am not surprised by this outcome and I am sure this will be a favorite Magic Kingdom snack for “ears” to come. 😉

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Thanks everyone for voting and sharing your thoughts! My next countdown will be about the Food and Wine Festival foods! Start thinking about which ones are your favorite because as always, I will want to hear from you!

My Extra Magic Tip for the week: If you are on the dining plan and are just not feeling the dessert, you can substitute it for a side!

See ya real soon!

UPDATE: Disney Drops Twitter Pursuit After Image Concerns

WDWNT on October 24, 2016

According to Bloomberg:

Walt Disney Co. decided not to pursue a bid for Twitter Inc. partly out of concern that bullying and other uncivil forms of communication on the social media site might soil the company’s wholesome family image, according to people familiar with management’s thinking.

The producer of family fare like “Finding Dory” had gone so far as to hire two investment banks, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Guggenheim Partners LLC, to help evaluate a bid for Twitter. Disney management also listened to a presentation about the business from Twitter executives, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions were private.

There were other reasons for Disney not to pursue Twitter. The social media pioneer, creator of the 140-character tweet, is losing money and yet sports a market value of almost $12 billion. That would be a big deal even for Disney, which has a market value 12 times that. Some of Disney’s largest investors called the company over the past few weeks to express their displeasure with a Twitter purchase for those reasons, people close to the companies said.

Salesforce.com Inc. also decided against a Twitter bid, as did Alphabet Inc.’s Google.

Twitter could have been another milestone in the career of Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger. The 65-year-old can point to the success of other acquisitions made under his tenure such as Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm. In a public chat at Boston College earlier this month Iger talked about how critical it is for Disney’s brands to establish a direct connection to consumers via mobile devices.

Iger recruited Twitter co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey to the Disney board three years ago. Dorsey has said he respects Iger and considers him a mentor. Iger was invited to speak to Twitter’s senior staff about leadership at the beginning of the year.

Dorsey has been resistant to selling the company, however, hoping instead for more time to prove that a new live-video streaming strategy can help increase user growth, people familiar with the matter have said. Twitter’s board decided to retain bankers to explore the option after receiving interest from a prospective bidder that has since backed out.

Twitter has for years faced criticism for its hands-off approach to abuse and harassment on its service. Because people don’t have to use their real names, racist, sexist and anti-Semitic internet “trolls” have thrived on the platform. The company has pledged to become more serious about the issue in the last year, working on solutions such as letting people block keywords. Still, attacks this year have led to temporary departures of high-profile users including Leslie Jones, an actress in the movie “Ghostbusters,” as well as a New York Times journalist.

Twitter has only recently started exploring technological solutions to harassment on its service. Disney’s discomfort with abuse on the site indicates that it’s a larger problem for Twitter’s business prospects than its executives imagined.

Twitter shares rose less than 1 percent to $16.87 in early trading Tuesday.

VIDEO: Famous Musicians and Stars Dance to “I’ve Got No Strings” from Walt Disney’s Pinocchio

WDWNT on October 24, 2016

In what is a rather weird crossover, Beats by Dre Headphones decided to use “I’ve Got No Strings” from Walt Disney’s Animated Classic Pinocchio in their latest ad. Even stranger, a TON of celebrities appear in the ad. Take a look:

Celebrities in the video include Nicki Minaj, DJ Khaled, Karlie Kloss, Travis Scott, Amber Rose, Rebel Wilson, Ben Simmons, Pharrell, Steve Buscemi, William Chen, Young M.A, Sayo, Juno Temple, Michael Phelps, Karen Civil, Liza Koshy, Al Rocco, Miyavi, and PartyNextDoor.

Rumored New Disney World Attractions That Could Be Announced Soon – Tom’s Top 7

WDWNT on October 24, 2016

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Top 7,  a continuing countdown of my favorite (and occasionally, least favorite) things at the Disney Parks around the globe. Why seven? STOP ASKING!

Rumored New Attractions That May Be Announced Soon for Walt Disney World

Rumored New Attractions That May Be Announced Soon for Walt Disney World

Anyway, the first two times we counted down, we visited the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. I decided this week it might be time to stop talking about food and get to the real bread and butter of Walt Disney World – attractions. We live in a time of great uncertainty about the future of Walt Disney World. We are 5 short years away from the golden anniversary of the Vacation Kingdom of the World and Disney is already teasing us that they have some major announcements to make before then (as alluded to during the 45th anniversary ceremony at the Magic Kingdom earlier this month. See for yourself:

There is plenty on the table that hasn’t been announced yet, but here are my Top 7 rumored additions to Walt Disney World that we could be hearing about soon.

1. Guardians of the Galaxy at Epcot

The Guardians of then Galaxy could be exploding through the rubble of Epcot's Universe of Energy...

The Guardians of then Galaxy could be exploding through the rubble of Epcot’s Universe of Energy…

I think you’ve probably heard enough about this one at this point, but if all goes according to plan, it seems that a Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster will replace the Universe of Energy in Future World. I’m not going to waste much time on this one as I feel enough has already been said. You are going to notice a recurring theme and this list and that is that everything is tied to an intellectual property of the Disney Company. SURPRISE!

2. Wreck-It Ralph Racing Ride

Will Tomorrowland host a Sugar Rush racing ride straight out of Wreck-It Ralph?

Will Tomorrowland host a Sugar Rush racing ride straight out of Wreck-It Ralph?

Another one that seems almost definite at this point with Stitch’s Great Escape now operating seasonally, guests may be designing their own Sugar Rush race car and competing against each other in the first VR attraction in the parks since the Aladdin magic carpet ride experience jumped from Innoventions at Epcot to DisneyQuest in the 1990’s. Virtual reality has come a long way since then and is now becoming a theme park stable on rollercoasters, but has not been applied in an attraction quite like this yet.

3. Ratatouille in France at Epcot

Is "the little chef" coming to Epcot?

Is “the little chef” coming to Epcot?

Since the Ratatouille ride opened at Walt Disney Studios Paris, guests have speculated that it could make its way to the France pavilion at Epcot. The latest rumblings say it will not, but that doesn’t mean something else themed to Ratatouille couldn’t replace Impressions De France, right? 😉

4. Star Tours Scene for Rogue One – A Star Wars Story

The Death Star under construction appears in Star Tours, so it would be a perfect fir for a Rogue One addition

The Death Star under construction appears in Star Tours, so it would be a perfect fir for a Rogue One addition

This seemed like a forgone conclusion, but the rumblings on Rogue One being added to Star Tours have gone silent as of late. Walt Disney World running a holiday fireworks show rather than including Rogue One in Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular seems a bit odd, so maybe we won’t be seeing much Rogue One stuff in Florida. While Disneyland has replaced their Kylo Ren meet and greet with Darth Vader, we have still not announced any plans to even make that change.

5. TRON Lightcycle Power Run

TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disneyland

TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disneyland

One of Shanghai Disneyland’s top attractions, TRON Lightcycle Power Run still seems likely to land in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom or in Future World at Epcot. Who doesn’t want this one to happen? It may not fit perfectly in Epcot, but it’s a pretty nifty concept that should interest most guests.

6. The New Magic Kingdom Fireworks Show

The Magic Kingdom is due for a new fireworks extravaganza

The Magic Kingdom is due for a new fireworks extravaganza

“Tale as old as time.” Wishes has been the main fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom since October 2003. In 13 years, fireworks shows and nighttime spectaculars have come a long way. Despite constant updates of the projection mapping system for Celebrate the Magic, we still haven’t seen much evidence that a new nighttime show for the park is currently in production. Fun fact: The Magic Kingdom is the only classic style Castle park that still doesn’t have a projection-heavy new age fireworks display. We can only hope that 2017 is the year Disney World finally pulls the plug on Wishes for something modern and grandiose.

7. (Yeah, Seven) Inside Out at Epcot

Since Inside Out was released in theaters, guests have been Armchair Imagineering ideas for the human emotions in Epcot, feeling they are a perfect fit as the park once boasted a pavilion about human health and even a show about the inside of a young boy’s mind in Cranium Command.

But where would such an attraction go? Well, we originally though it might inhabit the old Wonders of Life pavilion, but current rumors say otherwise. Some believe that Figment will lose his Epcot attraction so that the Inside Out gang could take over the Imagination pavilion. It’s not too far fetched considering there is an Imagination in everyone’s mind… oh, and Figment makes a cameo in Riley’s imagination the film…

Can you spot Figment in Inside Out?

Can you spot Figment in Inside Out?

Improbable, Yes. Impossible, No. – The Timekeeper

Everything you see above may never come to fruition, much like anything not yet formally announced by the Walt Disney Company, but at this point, these are 7 additions or changes that are highly likely for Walt Disney World in the not-so-distant future.

What do you think? Which of these new attractions would you be excited for? Which ones would make you sad? Let me know in the comments below.

PHOTOS: First Look at New Star Wars Items Coming to Disney Parks This Fall

WDWNT on October 24, 2016

Disney today shared a preview of new Star Wars-themed products coming to the Disney Parks this fall.

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One of the coolest items has to be the Imperial Comlink Bluetooth Communicator. A comlink is a standard handheld communication device used by the Empire. You might recall seeing it used in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope when Luke Skywalker communicates from the trash compactor with C-3PO.

This Bluetooth enabled device allows you to take calls and play music when connected to your smart device. It’s rechargeable and comes with a belt clip.

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Arriving in mid-December, guests will find a new remote controlled Mouse Droid. You may also recall seeing this droid in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope when Chewbacca roars at one while on the Death Star. This remote control droid makes sounds and includes rechargeable batteries.

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On October 17, Disney will release three new Dooney & Bourke handbags inspired by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Look for these handbags in The Star Trader at Disneyland park in California or Legends of Hollywood at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida.

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Fans of Star Wars Droid Factory at Disney Parks will find two new carded Astromech droid action figures this fall. The R2-B00 figure is currently available, while the R2-H16 droid will be released during the upcoming holiday season.

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Speaking of droids, guests can keep warm this fall with new blankets inspired by BB-8 and R2-D2.

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Coming soon to the Disney Parks online store, there will be a second collection of Ewok plush. This collection of six plush includes a variant Wicket, Tokkat, Latara, Widdle, Shodu and Winda. The basket will also have Kaink who will also be released individually at Disney Parks in December.

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Finally, the Starspeeder 1000 playset we showed you in a recent photo report is now available. You may recall this playlet was first introduced in 2011. This playset has been updated with a new interchangeable destination disk featuring Jakku from Star Wars The Force Awakens. When placed in the front screen of the toy vehicle, you can hear dialogue from the Star Tours – The Adventures Continue attraction.

Episode 18: The Jedi, The Hero & The Princess Podcast “Four Birds and a Rhino”

WDWNT on October 24, 2016

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Nick and Brendt give a wrap -up of their most memorable NY Comic Con 2016 experiences. The group discuss WDW AP appreciation, Avatar reveals, Disney Parks possibly coming to live-action TV and more. Nick runs down the latest Star Wars headlines, Brendt goes over all the Marvel reveals from NYCC and Zoe talks Tsum Tsum and super Disney merch shopping. All that, and the return of “Dramatic Readings of Comments from the Disney Parks” and “Most Embarrassing Moments.”

Download the episode, Listen online, subscribe on iTunes and visit JediHeroPrincess.com