Contemporary Resort Offering 3 New Year’s Eve Events for 2017, Including PIXAR & Princess and the Frog Parties

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

Reservations open July 11 for three ways to ring in the New Year at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, including the completely new PIXAR and Princess and the Frog themed events.

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For an evening of dining and dancing, “Disney Countdown to Midnight” includes delightful dining, live music, libations and more. An interactive band and DJ will fill the dance floor (and we hear that Mickey and Minnie may make a special appearance). Then welcome in 2018 with a flute of bubbly and a viewing of those legendary New Year’s Eve fireworks in the Magic Kingdom. Hours are 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Fantasia Ballroom. This party is designed for guests 18 and older.

“Pixar Party: A New Year’s Eve Celebration” is for children of all ages, a family-friendly way to ring in the New Year with a Disney•Pixar-inspired dinner. Sarge welcomes you to the Ballroom of the Americas that features vignettes of beloved Pixar movies. From Andy’s Room in “Toy Story” to and Metro City with The Incredibles, the immersive celebration will include theatrical backdrops, dramatic set pieces and fun props that re-create the fantastic worlds of the Pixar films. And, of course, favorite characters will be on hand from “Toy Story,” “The Incredibles,” “Cars” and “Up.” Kids can have fun at Pixar face painting, a balloon artist and a boot camp with Sarge, while an interactive DJ will spin hits from Radio Disney (he’s going to be in a “Cars”-inspired DJ rig from Radiator Springs). Dinner is buffet style. At midnight, head outdoors to ring in the New Year with a viewing of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Hours are 8 p.m.-12:15 a.m.

Fine dining is the theme of the third party, “Down in New Orleans: A Disney New Year’s Eve Dining Experience” in the Grand Republic Ballroom. Inspired by the Disney animated film “The Princess and the Frog,” the room is beautifully decorated French Quarter style to transport you to the Big Easy. Stations will feature flavors such as oyster beignets, smoked salmon mousse cones with caviar, Kobe beef tartare and sheep’s milk ricotta gnocchi. Signature dishes will include herb-crusted Louisiana redfish, crayfish etouffee, Balck Angus beef cooked two ways, braised short ribs and filet of beef with truffled celery root silk. A N’awlins jazz band will entertain during dinner, joined later in the evening by a vocalist who will bring to life the Academy-Award-winning classics from the film. Then slip outside with a glass of bubbly just before midnight to ring in 2018 with a private viewing area for the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Hours are 7 p.m.-12:15 a.m.

For reservations, call 407-WDW-DINE.

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REVIEW: “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is Fun, But Is It Spider-Man?

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

Look Out! Here Comes The Spider-Man!

But……He Aint My Spider-Man.

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Have you ever seen a movie that you feel gets so much right but also gets so much wrong? That is Spider-Man: Homecoming for me. And I am completely torn because as movie, this is a really great and fun movie. But as a fan of Spider-Man, I couldn’t help but wonder at times, what was Marvel thinking?

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I’ve been a fan of Spider-Man basically for as long as I can remember. Someone says Marvel to me and the first thought that comes into my mind is Spider-Man. What was so great about him was that he was one of the first superheroes that was relateable to kids because he was one of them. He wasn’t a millionaire. He was not chosen by the Gods to defend the Earth. He lived with his aunt and uncle in Queens. Peter experienced the same issues that most of us had to deal with in school. Peter had to deal with homework, high school crushes, bullying, and like every kid, he just wanted to be liked by his fellow students. But Peter’s life changed for him the day he was bitten by a radioactive spider that gave him super hero strength and the abilities of a spider, like crawling on walls, incredible reflexes and spider-sense. And if you have to sum up why Peter is Spider-Man, it comes down to the advice he received from his Uncle Ben when he said, “With great power comes great responsibility”. That is something that Peter once took for granted when he first became Spider-Man, but it became a powerful lesson for him after his choice resulted in the death of Uncle Ben.

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After Marvel had some major financial problems, they decided to sell the film rights to most of their superheroes in order to stay afloat. Sony acquired the film rights for Spider-Man back in 1999 for a measly $7 million dollars. If Marvel were to ever acquire the Spider-Man movie rights back from Sony, it would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of a billion or more dollars. Without a doubt, Spider-Man is the face of the Marvel Universe and Disney has been dying to reclaim their poster child back ever since they purchased Marvel back in 2009 for $4 billion. It’s like Disney having Goofy, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse and Pluto, but no Mickey. And although there have been 5 Spider-Man movies made under Sony, and they have each made a ton of money for the company, they just are not as beloved as movies with lesser know characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Marvel has always had excellent writers for their movies and they just seem to get the characters more than studios like Sony and Fox (who own the rights to X-Men, Wolverine, Fantastic Four and Deadpool). Luckily the fates aligned and Sony and Marvel came up with a deal that would mutually benefit both companies. This allowed Spider-Man to become part of the MCU and he first debuted in Captain America: Civil War, which was the best reception he has seen since he has been on the big screen. Sony gets all the profits and Marvel has creative control of the character and the fans get to see Spider-Man with The Avengers. Everyone is happy! Maybe not Disney though…

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Spider-Man: Homecoming takes place right after the events of Civil War. Tony (Robert Downy Jr.) and Happy (Jon Favreau) drop Peter (Tom Holland) off at his Aunt May’s (Marisa Tomei) apartment and Tony let’s Peter know that he can keep the suit that he used during the airport battle in Civil War. Peter was given a taste as to what it is like to be an Avenger and he cant wait for his next mission. Only problem is that it is starting to seem that Tony really doesn’t need him as Spider-Man anymore. Peter decides to take to the streets of Queens in his new duds as Spider-Man and finds it’s not all it was cracked up to be. Peter finally encounters The Vulture (Michael Keaton) and this new villain gives him a lot more trouble than your regular bank robbers. Peter is obsessed with taking The Vulture down, but things go from bad to worse and Tony decides that it was too early for him to have given Peter the suit and takes it away from him. Now Peter needs to win back the respect of Tony as well as prevent the Vulture from achieving his ultimate goal.

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As a film, I think it’s great and it’s a lot of fun. Its got an interesting story, great actors (for the most part), its got comedy and its got Spider-Man, and a special guest star in Iron Man. Marvel needed to come on board because Sony just never got Spider-Man or his villains right, with maybe the exception of Spider-Man 2. This is the first Spider-Man that really feels like it fits in with the MCU. I love that Marvel seems to feel in their movies that they need to first get the story right and then make sure that they have their characters properly represented, but as a Spider-Man fan, I feel Marvel, who is supposed to know the character, really dropped the ball at times. My biggest problem is Spider-Man’s suit. It is too tech heavy and he relies far too much on the enhancements that the suit has to do his job than to just be Spider-Man. Spider-Man’s suit was always a symbol and used to hide his identity. It was never a tool and never should be.

Is this a view from Iron Man’s mask or Spider-Man’s? Unfortunately it’s the later.

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Some minor spoilers relating to the suit follows. Peter finds out that although his suit can do many things, there are additional abilities that are blocked by a program that Tony installed called the “Training Wheels” protocol. Once he hacks and disables that protocol, he unlocks every ability of the suit and he is basically Iron Man without the armor.

OK, so I am going to try and list as many functions and abilities that I was able to remember (took notes while watching the movie) that Spider-Man’s suit has:

  • Karen – a built in AI program that acts a therapist and relationship expert to Peter.
  • Droney – an overly cute drone called that flies around and behaves like R2D2.
  • An Iron Man like built in user interface.
  • 576 web shooter combinations including taser webs, grenade webs and ricochet webs.
  • Reconnaissance mode that tracks criminals.
  • Advance combat mode (which I assume makes him fight in different fighting styles).
  • Advanced interrogation mode that alters Peter’s voice to sound like Christian Bale’s Batman.
  • Instant kill mode that assists him in killing all of the enemies around him.
  • Enhanced X-ray vision.
  • Enhanced magnification vision.
  • Enhanced thermal (heat) sensors.
  • Vacuum sealing suit.
  • Parachute that comes out of his back spider symbol.
  • Spider wings that acts as a glider.
  • Built in heater.
  • Built in camera that records everything Peter sees.
  • Mobile phone.
  • Face time with Tony Stark.
  • Built in GPS.

width=The tech in this suit is just too much. And although I love the look of the suit, and missed it when he went back to his home made suit, I just wish it was “just” a suit. I really feel that Marvel failed at getting Spider-Man totally right for once. Not a complete failure, and they definitely got more things right than wrong, but to me this was a big thing. I can understand if it might not be a big thing for everyone though, but it is to me. Marvel was so focused on tying Spider-Man to the MCU that they forgot who he really was and he kind of came off as Iron Man’s Boy Wonder at times. I also missed Spider-Man web swinging through the city. I understand that since this took place in Queens, that there were not tall building and skyscrapers that he could normally swing from. I really didn’t want to see him running down the street after criminals or driving in a car, especially in his Spidey suit. It may be more realistic but it’s just not as much fun to see as him swinging throughout the city.

This scene is not in the movie but shown in every trailer.

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It was cool to see Iron Man in the movie and I do think that it is great that Spider-Man will be now popping up in future Avenger movies, but does Spider-Man really need to be an Avenger? Nope. Spider-Man for the most part is a solo act. Sure they will team him up with the Avengers and the Fantastic Four in the comics, but that is mostly to boost their sales. Spider-Man is more of a solo superhero. His story is far more interesting when it is about himself and he is not part of a team or a sidekick. I know they added Iron Man to this film in order to help increase ticket sales and Spider-Man’s popularity in the films but Marvel just needed to get Spider-Man right without gimmicks and special guest stars.

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So far, I know I ragged pretty hard on the movie, but like I originally said, on it’s own it is a very good, a funny film and one you should really see. Tom Holland is a fantastic actor and he does such a great job in this movie. Toby McGuire was a great Peter Parker but not the best Spider-Man. Andrew Garfield was a great Spider-Man but an awful Peter Parker. This kid nails both sides of the coin, and from the moment he is on screen, he is Peter and he is Spider-Man. You also have Jacob Batalon who plays Peter’s best friend Ned and if not for Holland’s great performance, he almost steals the show. Of course you have Robert Downey Jr returning as Tony Stark, but surprisingly everything you have seen in trailers and TV spots is mostly the amount of time he has on screen. And there is very little Iron Man at all. And I think that is smart because Iron Man should not always be there to bail him out. Spider-Man has to fight his own battles and overcome his own obstacles.  Downey as usual does a great performance as Tony Stark but was he really worth $40 million for I think less than 15 minutes of screen time? Also Tony and Happy (Jon Favreau), for the most part, are both real jerks throughout this movie.

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I though Michael Keaton was great as The Vulture and his performance is definitely up there with Tom Hiddelston’s take on Loki as one of the best villains in the MCU. But to me, Keaton did appear more menacing in the trailers then he did on screen and I would have liked to have seen him more psychotic and threatening. They definitely added some sympathy to Keaton’s character, but I appreciate that he was so smart and calculating. I wasn’t that impressed with the mechanics of The Vulture. Felt it was too mechanical and almost like an Iron Man suit with maybe some stolen Falcon parts. I like that we only had one villain instead of throwing in as many villains and story lines as possible. This had two story lines. Stopping The Vulture and Peter at school, and that was great. And yes, there are some familiar villains names from the comics that appear, but they were very low key. The main baddie was The Vulture.

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The musical score was disappointing. Guess it was better than most of the scores in the MCU but Michael Giacchino is a great composer and felt he just mailed this score in with very little effort. Maybe there is a theme, but nothing memorable. Was hoping that he was going to knock it out of the park but nope.

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Marisa Tomei as Aunt May: just a complete waste. I did not like her at all and did not buy that everyone and their brother was in love with her. She wasn’t overused but just felt that she really added nothing to the movie. I will admit that she did have the best line in the picture at the very end though.

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Both Marvel and Sony said from the very start that they were going to focus less on Peter’s romances, like they did with every single Spider-Man movie before, and make it more like a John Hughes film with Peter dealing with everyday life, getting in trouble with his friends and just growing up. And they definitely accomplished that. There was some romance in this movie but it definitely wasn’t major. The story was more about Peter wanting to impress Tony and being accepted by his school mates. And Peter and Ned were a whole lot of fun. This movie also reminded me of a PG version of Superbad too and I love that movie. Definitely some nice comedy and light moments and superhero movies like Spider-Man need to be fun and not dark and foreboding like Batman.

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There are two after credit scenes once the film is over. One appears shortly after the movie is over, and the other one is at the very end after the last credit roles. The first one is more tied to this story and a potential reveal of a new, well known villain in the comics, and the second one is more of a big joke, but it is actually funny and thought it was worth it to stick around. Just don’t expect anything shocking or revealing.

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With all of the negatives that I said, I still liked this movie as a whole, especially the performances and the humor. Tom Holland really knocks it out of the park with his portrayal of both Spider-Man and Peter Parker. And you have to love Jacob Batalon as Ganke, I mean Ned (some will get that reference). What really bothered me most was Spider-Man’s “tech heavy”suit. Spider-Man is not Iron Man and at times that is what they tried to make him out to be in this movie. Big mistake on Marvel’s part. Definitely go see it and bring the kids and have a great time!

I give Spider-Man: Homecoming a 7/10. If they would have gotten the suit right, an 8 for sure.

D23 Expo 2017 Rumors – Zootopia Themed-Land Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

Since we are only a few weeks removed from the opening of Pandora: The World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the imminent announcement of another large project for that park seems unlikely, but nonetheless, the rumor is making the rounds.

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The city of Zootopia is big and immersive, perfect for a theme park

If the rumors are to be believed, plans are already in place for another massive themed-land in the park, utilizing the space that is Rafiki’s Planet Watch, as well as the unused plot of land meant for the larger Tiger River Rapids attraction (before it was budget cut and made Kali River Rapids, opening in 1999). The land would reportedly be the city of Zootopia from the hit 2016 film of the same name.

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While details are vague, the main idea seems to be to reutilize the track from the Wildlife Express train for the commuter train seen in the film, transporting guests aboard a screen-based experience into Zootopia the same way Judy Hopps arrives. Otherwise, the land would likely have an E-Ticket experience and some secondary attractions, as well as shopping and dining straight out of the movie. Pawpsicles anyone?

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Again, we aren’t putting any money on this one being announced next week as we aren’t too far from the $500 million expansion of the park that just took place, but it sounds like Disney may at least be planning for the future of Animal Kingdom beyond Pandora. But hey, Disney darling Ginnifer Goodwin wants it to happen, so maybe that helps?

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Captain’s Grille is Becoming Ale & Compass Restaurant, Gastropub for Yacht Club Resort

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

When Captain’s Grille returns in October 2017, it will become Ale & Compass Restaurant, a gastropub.

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A whole new Ale & Compass concept will debut at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort in October, when the lobby bar & lounge is transformed with a new interior and expands to 58 seats, offering a new menu of classic cocktails and light bites. But the biggest change is the adjacent Captain’s Grille, which becomes Ale & Compass Restaurant.

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The Ale & Compass Restaurant menu is still in the works, but the re-imagined restaurant will have a gastropub ambience with New England-inspired comfort food, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. An on-stage hearth oven is the focal point. Décor is inspired by the cozy warmth of a lighthouse, as a comforting respite from the outside world. The casual, table-service restaurant will be on the Disney Dining Plan.

VIDEO: Disney Releases The First Four Episodes Of “Star Wars: Forces Of Destiny”

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

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Disney has released the first 4 episodes online of their new Star Wars animated series, Forces Of Destiny. These are surprisingly good! I wish they were expanded to full half hour episodes though. It’s nice to hear both Daisy Ridley and Ashley Eckstein return to provide the voices for Rey and Ashoka! And I definitely prefer this hand drawn style over the CGI that is presented in Rebels, although Anakin looks a bit wonky. Still, a very decent start!

Star Wars: Forces Of Destiny – Episode 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVVa2g4X4MU

Star Wars: Forces Of Destiny – Episode 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPhiPd-EXCA

Star Wars: Forces Of Destiny – Episode 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL6OPMp4IUY

Star Wars: Forces Of Destiny – Episode 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTxJpEkR7CE

Source: Disney

Latest Issue Of Disney Twenty-Three Celebrates Thirty Years Of Disney Legends

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

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DISNEY TWENTY-THREE CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF DISNEY LEGENDS   

TIM ALLEN, HAYLEY MILLS, PAIGE O’HARA, REGIS PHILBIN, ANIKA NONI ROSE, KURT RUSSELL, LEA SALONGA, RICHARD SHERMAN, DICK VAN DYKE, AND DOZENS OF HONOREES FEATURED IN EXCLUSIVE NEW PHOTOGRAPHS AND INTERVIEWS 

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Disney Legends award, created to honor those who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy. To mark the occasion, Disney twenty-three has created a unique stand-alone issue featuring all 267 current honorees, as well as the 10 new Legends, who will be inducted next week at D23 Expo 2017. Since 1987, the award has been given to individuals who have worked with and for Disney in front of the camera and behind the scenes, from the shining stars of the silver and small screen to the creative minds behind its films, attractions, music, and entertainment.

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For the issue, exclusively for Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, Disney twenty-three Photo Editor Ty Popko photographed 40 Legends in Disney settings: from Walt Disney’s Office Suite and the Walt Disney Archives to Walt Disney World Resort and the Good Morning America studios. Featured Legends include Tim Allen, Hayley Mills, Paige O’Hara, Regis Philbin, Anika Noni Rose, Lea Salonga, Richard Sherman, and Dick Van Dyke. Kurt Russell, also photographed for this issue, gives a first-person account of his time working for Walt himself and the many Disney adventures he has had over the years.

Plus, Disney animator Eric Goldberg crafted a piece of artwork exclusively for this issue featuring more than 30 Disney Legends, including Julie Andrews, Steve Martin, Angela Lansbury, and Robin Williams, at a fabulous “Legend-ary” party. As a bonus, D23 Gold Members attending D23 Expo 2017 will be able to receive a complimentary print of the artwork at the event.

Also included in the fall issue of Disney twenty-three:

  • A Disney Legends-themed Ask Dave with Disney Legend Dave Smith
  • Photographs from Disney Legends Awards ceremonies through the years
  • A tribute to Annette Funicello by Richard Sherman

Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps, is offered exclusively to D23 Gold and Gold Family Members as a benefit of their membership. The new issue will begin arriving in late July.

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Jiko, Boatwright’s, Grand Floridian Cafe, and More Disney Restaurants Join Discounted Magical Dining Month Event

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

For Orlando’s annual Magical Dining Month, there will several Disney-owned restaurants participating for the first time in 2017. For those unfamiliar with the event…

Celebrate Orlando’s amazing culinary scene during Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month sponsored by American Express. Beginning August 25 during a special preview week, and continuing through October 1, over 100 Orlando area restaurants will offer prix fixe dinners for just $35. Indulge in imaginative appetizers, entrees and desserts sure to leave you spellbound.

One dollar from each meal will benefit Freedom Ride and BASE Camp Children’s Cancer Foundation.

Included in the deals are the following, including some 3rd party restaurants located at Walt Disney World:

Boatwright’s Dining Hall at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

Choice of Appetizers
Amelia’s Salad
fresh greens, seasonal ingredients, and house vinaigretteMardi Gras Fritters
house-made pimiento cheese fritters with pepper jelly

Crawfish Bisque
traditional-style bisque with crawfish tails, a touch of sherry, finished with crème fraîche

Choice of Entrèes
Jackson Square Etouffee
crawfish simmered in rich seafood sauce over riceChicken and Dumplings
pan-seared chicken breast, hand-rolled potato dumplings, mixed vegetables, and cream sauce

General Fulton’s Prime Rib
slow-roasted prime rib with our specialty crafted chicory-coffee blend, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and horseradish cream

Choice of Desserts

Crème Brûlée

Seasonal Sorbet

Bourbon Street Pecan Pie

Grand Floridian Cafe, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Choice of Appetizers
Seasonal Citrus and Cucumber Salad
organic baby lettuce, orange, cucumber, pomegranate, sunflower seeds, and coriander vinaigretteCaramelized Onion Soup Gratinee
traditional French onion soup

Old South Chicken Wings
crispy-fried and spun with Key lime-datil pepper sauce

Choice of Entrèes
Grilled Pork Chop
10-oz pork chop, boursin cheese-potato croquette, and roasted baby carrots with peppercorn cream sauce and onion jamMiso-Glazed Salmon
lemon sticky rice, French beans, wasabi peas, and ginger-soy vinaigrette

Pan-Roasted Chicken Breast
buttery mashed potatoes, green beans and mushroom chicken jus

Choice of Desserts
Small Desserts
(Select Two)Mocha Pot de Crème
coffee-flavored custard and whipped cream

Wild Strawberry Cheesecake

Fresh Berry Tart
layer of almond cake topped with seasonal berries and apricot glaze

Chocolate Timbale
chocolate gateaux with bittersweet chocolate mousse

Il Mulino at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
Choice of Appetizers
Arancini
Italian rice balls over spicy marinara sauceInsalata Caesar
the classic Il Mulino Caesar salad

Insalata Trattoria
organic greens, seasonal vegetables, truffle vinaigrette

Choice of Entrèes
Salmone
broiled salmon, light garlic, olive oil, wild mushrooms,
broccoli rabePollo Piccata
European cut chicken breast, lemon, white wine

Penne Rigate
penne,Il Mulino original marinara, ricotta cheese

Tortellini Alla Panna
meat tortellini, crisp peas, cream sauce

Choice of Desserts
Torta Al Cioccolato
flour-less chocolate cake, whipped cream, zabaglioneCheesecake Al Italiana
Italian style cheesecake, whipped cream, zabaglione

Tiramisu
layered espresso and coffee liqueur, infused lady fingers, mascarpone cream

Jiko – The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Choice of Appetizers
Jiko Salads
Epcot land pavilion greens, stone fruit, pistachio halva, grilled halloumi cheese, apricot ginger dressingInguday Tibs in Brik
mushroom, spinach, cheese in crispy Tunisian filo, apples, curry vinaigrette

Choice of Entrèes
Bo Kaap Malay Seafood Curry
calamari, red shrimp, mussels, coconut curry sauce, saffron riceBotswana-style Seswaa Beef Short Rib
cassava-potato purée, sambal, baby carrots, and mushrooms

West African Koki Corn
mushrooms, poblano-tomatillo purée, roasted red pepper sauce

Choice of Desserts
Malva Pudding
melktart ice cream, kataifi, kanu tuile, Cabernet geléeSafari Sunset
carrot cake, cornbread calamansi, and lemon cremeux, Kenyan coffee streusel, citrus gel, valrhona dulcey mousse, candied carrots

Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs
Choice of Appetizers
Black Cod Nanbanzuke
lightly tempura fried black cod marinated with vegetablesShrimp Yum Woon Sen
poached Key West shrimp, bean thread noodle salad, soy-lime dressing

Beef Bulgogi Tacos
thin sliced beef short ribs, house kim-chi, spicy gochujang sauce

Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll (add $5)
hand chopped big eye tuna, scallion, spicy mayo, sesame, tempura flakes

Choice of Entrèes
Red Miso Glazed Faroe Island Salmon
wok sautéed baby bok choy, Shaoxing gastriqueMorimoto Asia Ebi Chili (Shrimp with Chili Sauce)
stir fried shrimp, vegetable fried rice, slow cooked farm egg

A-5 Wagyu Beef Burger Steak
Szechuan chili sauce, tofu, asparagus

Half Rack Morimoto Spare Ribs (6pc) (add $9)
pork ribs, cilantro, hoisin sweet chili glaze

Choice of Desserts

Green Tea Panna Cotta

Mango Coconut Soup
with fresh local berries

Asian Pear Chocolate Mousse

Olivia’s Cafe at Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Choice of Appetizers
Crab Cake
pan-fried and served with avocado purée, house-made roasted pepper rémoulade sauce, and chayote saladConch Fritters
with Key lime-mustard and rémoulade

Tomato-Mozzarella Salad
cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and fresh oranges with mixed greens, ciabatta crostini, and balsamic glaze

Choice of Entrèes
Seven Mile Sea Scallops
pan-seared scallops over polenta foam topped with an edamame succotash and tomato vinaigrettePlantation Key Pork Chop
brined bone-in pork chop glazed with an apple-white balsamic gastrique served with roasted sweet potatoes, apples, onions, Brussels sprouts, and tossed in a bacon vinaigrette

Southernmost Buttermilk Chicken
mashed potatoes, southern gravy, and seasonal vegetable

Choice of Desserts
Key Lime Tart
baked daily and served with mango and raspberry sauceBanana Bread Pudding Sundae
house-made daily and served warm with bananas foster sauce and vanilla bean ice cream

Paddlefish at Disney Springs
Choice of Appetizers
Fried Green Tomatoes
elote, pickled watermelon, queso fresco, remouladeGreen Salad
romaine hearts, cucumber, grape tomato, red onion, yuzu

New England Clam Chowder
bacon, potatoes, cream

Conch Chowder
Bahamian conch, spiced tomato broth

Wheat Berry Salad
farmer’s market vegetables, arugula, lemon vinaigrette

Choice of Entrèes
Fish & Chips
beer battered flounder, sweet potato fries, tartar sauceShrimp & Grits
cheddar grits, spicy black pepper butter sauce

Half Chicken
Carolina mop sauce, edamame bacon succotash, pickled watermelon

Pork Chop & Applesauce
house-made applesauce, green beans

Catch of the Day
select one of our chef’s preparations

Bearnaise – béarnaise sauce, whipped potato
Beurre Blanc – white wine-caper butter sauce, whipped potato
Floribbean – Jerk spices, papaya-mango salsa, red skin potato

Choice of Desserts
Carrot Cake
cream cheese mousseKey Lime Pie
graham cracker, meringue

Strawberry Shortcake
farmer’s market berries, whipped cream

Ravello at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando
Choice of Appetizers
Insalata Mista
trevisana, arugula, lola rossa, moscato vinaigrettePolpettine
meatballs, mortadella, prosciutto, pomodoro sauce, mascarpone, grilled pan pugliese

Gelato Di Parmigiano
radish, artisan lettuce, cucumber, tomato vinaigrette Parmigiano cheese gelato, taralli crumble

House Made Charcuterie and Cheese Board

Choice of Entrèes
House Made Bucatini Amatriciana
guanciale, onion, pomodoro sauceChicken Putanessca with Polenta
taggiasca olive, capers

Pesce Spada
swordfish, sale speziato, salmoriglio, roasted potatoes, spinach, pomodorini, laggiasca olives

Choice of Desserts
Affogato
vanilla housemade gelato, café Umbrian espressoSicillian Cannolis
pistachio, candied orange

STK at Disney Springs
Choice of Appetizers

Little Gem Lettuce Caesar Salad

Key West Pink Shrimp Ceviche
with sweet potato, choclo and aji amarillo

Shaved Brussels
with dried cranberries, pickled onions and red wine dressing

Choice of Entrèes
Petite Filet Mignon
with olive oil crushed potatoes and smoked tomato sauceSea Scallops
with carrot butterscotch, pistachio gremolata and brown butter

Pappardelle Pasta with Duck Confit
wild mushrooms and Marsala wine

Choice of Desserts
Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie
with caramel sauce and vanilla ice creamSalted Caramel Budino
with vanilla chantilly and white chocolate crunch

Orange Dream Cheesecake
with brûléed oranges and whipped cream

The Turf Club at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
Choice of Appetizers
The Turf Club Grilled Romaine Salad
lightly grilled hearts of romaine, roasted tomatoes, balsamic vinegar glaze, Caesar dressing, and croutonsClassical French Onion Soup
beef broth, julienne onions, Melted Swiss, and Gruyère cheeses with croutons

Choice of Entrèes
Pan Seared Corvina
lemon risotto and garlic-basil cream reduction topped with a fresh tomato relishGrilled New York Strip Steak
hand-cut rosemary Parmesan fries and béarnaise sauce

Rigatoni Fiesolana with Shrimp
rigatoni pasta, shrimp, creamy tomato sauce with sausage, Portobello mushrooms, Parmesan, and fresh basil

Choice of Desserts
Chocolate-Espresso Torte
with raspberry sauce and vanilla-port wine ice creamMadagascar Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee
fresh fruit and butter breton crisp

The Wave at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Choice of Appetizers
Harvest Salad
seasonal accoutrements with local greens in a house-made vinaigretteSeasonal Soup
with chef’s accompaniment

Prince Edward Island Mussels
Chardonnay broth, fine herbs, garlic butter, grilled focaccia

Choice of Entrèes
Cioppino
sustainable fish, scallop, shrimp, mussels, spiced tomato-clam brothRoasted Joyce Farms Chicken Breast
with “Mexican street corn” and salsa verde

Dashi Noodle Bowl
sweet chili bean curd, stir-fried vegetables, udon noodles, dashi broth

Choice of Desserts

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake

Seasonal Sorbets

Todd English’s bluezoo at the Walt Disney World Dolphin
Choice of Appetizers
Caesar Salad
baby romaine, buttered croutons, shaved Reggiano, lemon garlic foambluezoo’s New England Style Clam Chowder
light and brothy with salt cured bacon, house-made oyster crackers

Choice of Entrèes
Simply Fish
marble potatoes, piquillo relish, hearts of palm puree, pea tendrilsSteak Frites
hanger steak, truffle puree, salsa verde, shake and bake fries

Chicken Francese
black rice, charred corn, corn silk, caper emulsion, frisee mache

Choice of Desserts
Warm Chocolate Banana Molten Cake
chocolate cream pudding, chocolate sauce, caramelized banana, banana ice creamSeasonal Sorbet
a trio of refreshing sorbets inspired by the season

For more information on these offers and more as part of this event, visit the official website for Orlando’s Magical Dining Month.

Disney’s First 4K UltraHD Release is “Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2”

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

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It may have taken Disney a long time to jump on the 4K UltraHD band wagon but they will finally start releasing movies on 4K Ultra HD. James Gunn made the official announcement on his Facebook page stating that “Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2” will be the first Disney 4K UHD and will be released on August 22nd. We are looking forward to more exciting news regarding Disney and 4K UHD with hopefully announcements for classic Disney animated titles and Star Wars in 4K!

From James Gunn:

Yes, it’s true, & I am UNBELIEVABLY EXCITED to announce that, after a couple of years of me begging and pleading, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will be coming to home video in 4K UltraHD. It will be the FIRST Disney release to be released this way.

4K UltraHD is almost certainly the best way you can see this movie at home – with more definition and the most vibrant colors possible on your home screen, and with the brightest brights and the blackest blacks. A being composed of light truly appears to be a being composed of light! This version is a roiling cinematic river of beauty and I’ve taken hundreds of hours personally making it look the best it can. This is one of the reasons why LIGHT and COLOR are such important elements of Vol. 2’s story, and why we screened the World Premiere in Los Angeles in essentially this format.

And yes for those of you asking, there will also be a 3D home release.

We will soon have lots more exciting announcements about the home release and some unbelievably cool additional content, including something that’s so amazing I’ve been chomping at the bit for months not being able to talk about it!

So more OFFICIAL announcements soon. Be careful what you listen to if it doesn’t come from here or Marvel Studios as sometimes things seep out into the world from artwork that isn’t finalized, etc.

And have a great Wednesday. Love to you all.

Source: James Gunn, Blu-ray.com

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Don’t Miss The 10-Hour Celebration of WDWNT’s 10th Anniversary, Featuring Fire Mountain, 45 Greatest Things Ever at WDW, & More!

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

Beginning back in 2008, it has been an annual tradition of ours to present a special WDW News Today anniversary program live here on WDWNT.com on July 8th, the day it was founded. With Saturday marking the incredible 10th anniversary of this website, we decided to kick it up a notch to begin our Tencennial Celebration…

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On July 8th, 2017, join us starting at 3PM eastern time for a 10-Hour Kickoff of WDW News Today’s Tencennial Celebration! The schedule for the show includes the following:

  • 3:00PM – Show Opening
  • 3:30PM – The Fan-ly Feud
  • 4PM – Disney Don’t Forget the Lyrics
  • 4:30PM – WDWNT.com’s 10 for 10 Discussion Series Debut
  • 5:30PM – The epic conclusion of “The 45 Greatest Things Ever at Walt Disney World” countdown from the WDW News Today Podcast
  • 7:30PM – Jeopardy: The WDWNT 10th Anniversary Edition
  • 8:30PM – Back to the Future LIVE! – Going Down in Flames: The Story of Fire Mountain at the Magic Kingdom
  • 11PM-12AM – “See Ya’ Real Late” with Tom Corless featuring WDWNT: The Match Game
  • 12AM-1AM – The Big Finish
  • And a few surprises over the course of the show!

The show will be presented in live audio at Listen.WDWNT.com (as well as on WDWNT: The App), several portions will be presented in video also via YouTube.

We hope you will join us this Saturday as we celebrate 10 years of WDW News Today and kickoff our year-long Tencennial Celebration!

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EDITORIAL: Do We Really Need “Star Wars” Spin-Off Movies?

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

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So what really went wrong with the Han Solo film? Probably the best answer is that it should have never been made. I’m a huge Star Wars fan and I know a lot of Star Wars fans out there and I have yet to hear from any of them that were looking forward to this movie or even wanted it to be made. Harrison Ford is Han Solo and for many of us he is the only one that should play him. As an example, this goes all the way back to The Prequels when casting Anakin Skywalker. We had never seen what Anakin Skywalker looked like but most of us had a preconceived notion, or expectation, of how the character should look and how he should be portrayed. And for some, the end result was disappointing. But it’s canon now and you can’t unsee it, and the same applies to everything that will be in the early adventures of Han Solo. Is it fair to put all of the blame on the actor or the writer? Not at all, but we so love the character that we just don’t want a performance or a story to ruin that character for us.

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I’ve been following the drama surrounding the exit of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller from the Han Solo movie and it comes down to a “he said, she said” argument. After the success of The Lego Movie and the 21 Jump Street movies, Lord and Miller were chosen by Lucasfilm to helm the production of the second Star Wars spinoff movie, Han Solo. Everyone at Lucasfilm was happy because they believed they had two very talented guys on board that would infuse some comedy and lightheartedness into the project. But it soon became apparent that Lord and Miller’s vision conflicted with the screen writer, Lawrence Kasdan, and the president of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy. Lawrence Kasdan was the screen writer for the project and a lot of  the success of The Empire Strikes Back goes to him. George Lucas asked Kasdan to come back and work for him on The Prequels, but Kasdan refused. Kasdan did however come back for The Force Awakens and it did seem like the magic that we had missed for so long was finally back. Bottom line is that Kasdan deserves a lot of respect for his contributions to the Star Wars franchise. Lord and Miller are known for going off script and instructed the cast of Han Solo to ad-lib frequently. Kasdan was upset that they were using his script more as a guideline, but when they felt like going off script, they did, and they did that a lot. Surprisingly it was revealed that Alden Ehrenreich, who portrays Han Solo in the movie, contacted Lucasfilm and informed them that he had concerns about his portrayal of the character. Lucasfilm had seen the dailies and an early rough cut of the film and told Lord and Miller that they did not like the changes that were made to Kasdan’s script. Going forward they had to stick to the script. But Lord and Miller chose to ignore them and continued to have their actors ad-lib and change the script around. Lucasfilm warned Lord and Miller and told them that they would have to do re-shoots and make severe changes to the movie but Lord and Miller refused and basically said this is why you hired us to make our version of the film. Lord and Miller were then fired and Ron Howard came on board with the difficult task of trying to salvage the footage that they did and have a movie ready to be released next May.

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The main problem is that Kennedy and Lucasfilm wanted to make a Star Wars movie first, with some comedy in it and Lord and Miller wanted to make a comedy first, that was set in the Star Wars Universe. On one side, you have a director’s vision and most feel it should not be tampered with. But on the other side, this is Star Wars and Star Wars is really bigger than anything out there. Kennedy’s job is to protect the characters that George Lucas created. You don’t want Han Solo to be flying the Millennium Falcon wearing a baseball cap that says “I Beat The Kessel Run” or a shirt that says, “I’m With Chewie” and it does appear that this movie was becoming dangerously close to a Spaceballs movie rather than a Star Wars movie.

width=Ron Howard has always had a good relationship with George Lucas and Lucasfilm. Lucas gave Howard his first starring role in American Graffiti and Howard directed the movie Willow for Lucas. But is Howard the best choice to take over this project? He was once an up and coming director with movies like Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind, but his last few movies were duds. There was Inferno, which was the Da Vinci Code sequel that no one wanted, and In The Heart Of The Sea, which was the story behind Moby Dick that sunk at the box office. And then the movies he directed right before those movies were Rush and The Dilemma. Anyone ever heard of those?

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Let’s go back to the history of the Star Wars spinoff movies. Originally they were called Star Wars Anthologies, which was a terrible name, but Lucasfilm decided they needed an even worse name and came up with A Star Wars Story. Lucasfilm wanted to keep the spinoffs separate from the Episodes and felt it was best to stick it right in your face that this is A Star Wars Story. It still didn’t work because I heard someone in my theater while watching Rogue One ask, “Where is Rey and Kylo Ren”? Just call them Star Wars: Rogue One or Star Wars: Han Solo. If the audience gets confused, they’ll learn, eventually.

width=One of the first directors that was hired to take on a Star Wars spinoff movie was Josh Trank. That movie was to focus on the early adventures of Boba Fett. Trank’s previous work was on Chronicle, and that mess of a reboot, Fantastic Four. After Fantastic Four, why would anyone hire this guy? They also hired Gareth Edwards for Rogue One and his previous movie was 2014’s Godzilla. Again, why hire a guy who directed probably the most boring Godzilla movie ever made that contained very little of the main character. Later it was revealed that while working on Fantastic Four, Trank was very difficult to work with and was the center of drama. He would lock himself in his trailer, have fights with the cast and he even destroyed a house he was renting while making the movie. So Lucasfilm acted quickly and fired Trank and the Boba Fett movie was put in limbo. Then Edwards completed filming Rogue One and a rough cut was made available to Lucasfilm and they weren’t crazy about. They announced that they were going to do 2 months of re-shoots and it turned out that they did not want Edwards back to supervise the re-shoots. So it was somewhat similar to what happened to Lord and Miller, except Edwards was OK with Lucasfilm altering his movie. And as much as I am concerned about the directors hired for the Star Wars spin off movies, Lucasfilm went out and hired Collin Trevorrow. Trevorrow directed Jurassic World and that movie made an insane amount of money at the box office, but that movie did not scream, “this director should helm the final chapter of the latest Star Wars Trilogy”. His most recent movie, The Book Of Henry, is getting blasted by the critics. And before Jurassic World, he barely did anything. I sometimes think that Lucasfilm is just throwing darts at a dartboard over what directors to hire and which movies to make. One thing I am grateful for Lucasfilm is that at least if they see something is not working, they hit the brakes. They don’t just allow directors to finish what they started if they feel there is something seriously wrong with the direction of the film. Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales says hello.

width=I think it is obvious that Disney and Lucasfilm are rushing these movies to recoup Disney’s $4 billion purchase of Lucasfilm. They are sacrificing quality for quantity and that never works out in the end. These spinoff movies are their own thing. They are not connected to the Star Wars Episodes, but I guess it is debatable with Rogue One. But still, Rogue One is Rogue One. It is not Star Wars: Episode 3.5. My point is the bread and butter for Disney and the fans should always be The Episodes or the Star Wars Saga. We all have a vested interest in those tales as they are the continuing story of the Skywalker family, so far. It seems that the time frame for the recent Episodes being released is about 2 years and in a way that may be pushing it. I would rather wait 4 years for an amazing Star Wars Episode than to have a deadline created by Disney so that they can pump them out every two years and they are expected to add to their revenues on their annual financial reports. It just seems like Disney is trying to follow the formula of the Marvel movies.  They now need one Star Wars movie every year, maybe even two in the future. That will be an addition $1 billion, at least, on their financials and make their shareholders happy.

width=Rogue One was constantly referred to as an experiment. They wanted to see how audience received a Star Wars movie not centered around the Episodes. And of course, how much money would they bring in. But the stories being thrown out there just dont sound interesting. Solo films for Han Solo, Boba Fett, Yoda, Obi Wan Kenobi. I think what would work better is to introduce unknown characters in their own adventures.

Here is a perfect example. Two cinematic trailers from the game, “Star Wars: The Old Republic”. Tell me you wouldn’t love to see something like this on the big screen.

Star Wars: The Old Republic – Knight Of The Fallen Empire trailer:

Or this!

Star Wars: The Old Republic – “Deceived” Cinematic trailer:

You slap Star Wars on the title and people will still come, but if you want them to keep coming back, make them good stories and dont rush them.

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I think Disney and Lucasfilm should take a step back and really think about the direction of these Star Wars spinoff movies. It seems from the very start they have been riddled with problems and a lot of it has to do with studio interference over a director’s vision and that for the most part, release dates are set in stone. But like I said, this is Star Wars, and Star Wars is like no other franchise. These are not the Star Trek movies. It’s almost expected that every odd number sequel in the Star Trek franchise will be bad. But Star Wars has a higher standard to live up to. Star Wars is a way of life for people.  Last year, after the release of The Force Awakens, Kylo was ranked number 901 in the list of most popular baby names. Spock wasn’t on the list. Maybe Ron Howard can work some magic and save the Han Solo movie, but even if he was originally announced as the director, I still would not have been interested in it. I just don’t want to see a Han Solo: The Early Years movie. Some things should remain a mystery and just because you can make a Han Solo movie doesn’t mean you should.