PHOTO REPORT: Epcot 2/28/17 (Goodbye Art Fest, Hello Topiaries, Bonjour Belle, Figment is Back, Etc.)
Our latest photo report brings us to Epcot between events, as the Festival of the Arts moves out for the topiaries and food booths of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2017…
Welcome to Epcot
The rumored gondola station site sits and waits at the International Gateway entrance to Epcot.
The security procedures here were improved, adding a second metal detector, so now there is one for each line.
A monorail ride in shows the departure of the Festival of the Arts and the arrival of the Flower and Garden Festival.
A moral stand just above the flower beds, marking the quick transition between the two seasonal events.
It also isn’t often that you see one hour lines for the attraction…
MouseGear
A lot of merchandise in MouseGear has moved around again. Candy and snacks have mostly moved to the Innoventions side of the store.
Some new summer housewares.
Some new mugs for sale inside MouseGear.
These gian Winnie the Pooh character mugs retail at $19.99 each.
Candy Peal Pinwheels can now be found for sale at most locations. Several different versions are available including Toy Story, Dumbo, Cars, and Mickey Mouse.
In the wake of the announcement that The Walt Disney Company are planning on buying out the Disneyland Paris Resort, they are planning to raise the price of Annual Passes across the board from March 29th. This has been rumoured for a long time, with the most expensive Annual Pass costing just €223 ($236) for a full year, making it a very inexpensive place to visit compared to the US parks. The new price breakdown is as follows: This is a departure from the affordability of the old pricing tiers, as below: To offset the insane price rise, they will be including parking and Photopass in the Infinity pass, not unlike Disneyland California Signature & Signature Plus passes. As an added bonus to the Infinity pass, guests will now get a discount on Disney hotels of 50%, with 40% off with Magic Flex and Magic Plus passes. What do you think of the price increase? Let me know in the comments. Returning again this summer, get ready to build a snowman, because a major winter storm is heading across the fjords all the way to Disney Cruise Line! That’s right folks, Elsa, Anna and the whole gang are taking a little vacation from the small country of Arendelle and heading off to explore the world aboard Disney Cruise Line. On select sailings aboard the Disney Wonder and Magic throughout May, June, and July 2017, Elsa and the whole gang will be vacationing and bringing back guests a ‘Winter in Summer Celebration’ that include new experiences, a deck party, a stage show and much more! Here are some things to look forward to this coming celebration: Memorable Moments With Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf Guests can finally “For the First time in Forever” meet Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf aboard the DCL and take pictures with them, as well as have them sign autographs. Not only that, but you can find the royal visitors year round! Younger guests who take part in the Oceaneer club can also find ‘Frozen’ adventures year-round as well as kids receiving special surprise visits from the Royal Sisters themselves! Frozen Inspired Dining Experiences sure to make you worth melting for! For those wanting a little ‘chill’ to help beat the summer heat, there are some unique dining experiences just for that. Inspired by the film, you can feast on a menu that features traditional Nordic Fare. For adults ages 21 and older, you can visit the nightclubs aboard and order a specialty frozen drink as pictured above. On Castaway Cay, you can find an Olaf inspired Winterey watering hole which feautures a hand-selected offering of frozen drink such as “Olafs Flurry Freeze” and “Svens Carrot Delight.” Frozen Activities On a surprise morning, the whole atrium lobby will be spiraling into frozen fractals all around when the lobby itself will be decorated with sparkling icicles adorned all along the grand staircase. Then at night take to the deck for a frozen-fied nighttime celebration, “Freezing the Night Away with Elsa and Friends.” Little adventurers can go explore and do a scavenger hunt with Anna where you can go on a chocolate chase and then those wanting to make flurries in frozen fractals, they can make ice and snow in “Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?” To prepare for the deck party, you will be able to learn some Scandinavian dance moves with “Oakens Maypole Swirl and Twirl.” In a Port Adventure like only Disney can do, Anna and Elsa join a traditional Norwegian summer celebration for their first appearance in the land that inspired their story. As part of the Disney Cruise Line Northern European summer season, the Disney Magic sails to Ålesund, Norway. (Matt Stroshane, photographer) Adventures Ashore On the select sailings of the Disney Magic to Norway, you can see the land that inspired Arendelle from Frozen in Ålesund, Norway. There you can immerse yourself into the sport of Norway with the help of Anna and Elsa in this storybook village. Exclusively aboard the Disney Wonder in the Walt Disney Theatre, Frozen, A Musical Spectacular tells the classic story from the animated feature Frozen and is presented like never before with an innovative combination of traditional theatrical techniques, modern technology and classic Disney whimsy. (Matt Stroshane, photographer) Spectacular Shows Only on the Disney Wonder can you experience the magic and Frozen fun of “Frozen the Musical Spectacular.” Also year-round aboard the Disney Magic, join Anna, Elsa and Olaf in teaching a young girl the power of her dreams in the Disney Cruise Line original production, “Disney Dreams… An Enchanted Classic.” How will you choose to “let it go” this summer? Will you “for the first time in forever” have the “coldest” vacation of a lifetime? Food trucks are all the rage at Walt Disney World these days, but I’m not sure there has ever been a cooler looking food truck than the vintage-style RV that’s now rolling around Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground… The truck has a classic style, but also has some wonderful nods to the Walt Disney World of the 1970’s. It is located (currently) out by The Meadows and the recreation area. When we visited, it opened for business starting at 5PM. The “earlobe” was the original logo icon of Walt Disney World, then referred to as the Vacation Kingdom of the World. The level of detail is amazing, right down to the map sitting up in the driver’s area. Kids, ask your parents about a world before smart phones and GPS. The classic Walt Disney World logo adorns the side, but there is also a map of the United States with decals for states visited. I’d love to know how they got to some states without visiting the ones in-between… Many of the decals on the back are reproductions of the older bumper stickers sold at the resort. There are also references to Copper Creek and other places within Wilderness Lodge… Let’s take a look at the menu… There is also a selection of moonshine concoctions. Let’s try a few of the items out… This sounded amazing. It wasn’t. The ingredients were great, but it is the lower-quality Disney hamburger patties, not of a quality like D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs. The Chipotle barbecue sauce, the onion ring, and the onion kaiser roll were great, but you can’t have a good burger without a good beef patty. The french fries are of the usual quality as well, which I feel hurts the dish. This was terrible. It tasted like moonshine with a sugar-free pumpkin flavor syrup, which is what I assume goes into making this thing. In fairness, the other options have been good whenever I have had them at Trail’s End or Crokett’s Tavern at this resort, so maybe stick to the others, or just go to either of those locations. I’d be happy to give the Fort Wilderness Fresh Fixin’s food truck another try, but they did not leave a good first impression. Design-wise, it is top notch and super cool. The level of detail and how well it fits its surroundings is exactly what you expect from Disney, but perhaps that sets an unobtainable expectation for the food and drink. Either way, the menu can always be fixed, and at least we got something really cool-looking out of it. The VisitPandora.com website takes itself pretty seriously, delving into the backstory of the ACE organization that will be guiding you through Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Well, they now even have a live chat feature, where you can talk to one of their experts… Down in the lower right corner of the site, you’ll find the opportunity to chat with Kam Demarco, Lead ACE Field Expert. Kam’s bio can be found on the about us page, along with several of his imaginary colleagues. The live chat is completely automated, so sometimes responses generate something genuine and cool, and other times… well, you’ll see… Let the jokes about “alien wraps” begin… You can talk to this thing for hours, and it will continue to spew facts. Every once in awhile, you may ever spur a good response to a question. You’ll just have to keep trying to uncover all of the amazing facts and tips this live chat can offer! This post is brought to you by… I’m joking, but how awesome is this logo from the VisitPandora.com website? Anyway, Pandora: The World of AVATAR opens May 27th at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Yesterday, the Port Orleans Resort Hotels at Walt Disney World held their annual celebration of Mardi Gras on Fat Tuesday with a parade. The event started at 10AM and winded from Riverside down to French Quarter. Cast members and their invited guests showed off some fantastic cart creations in the parade, including a Monorail, a Walt Disney World Railroad Train, and even a Steamboat with a working paddlewheel! Take a look: The theme this year was transportation, offering all sorts of imaginative vehicles. The parade ended with a visit from Tiana in a horse-drawn carriage. Happy Mardi Gras! As we inch closer to the opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar in summer 2017, Disney has announced a new limited edition pin collection coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park starting today, March 2. This item is the first AVATAR related item to be sold at Walt Disney World, marking a milestone for the project. March, April, and May Pin Releases for Pandora: The World of AVATAR Countdown There will be one new pin released each month from March to May. The first pin in this collection (above left) will be released on March 2. The second countdown pin (center) will be released on April 6. The final individual limited edition pin (above right) will be released on May 4. Each individual pin will have an edition size of 1,250 and will be released at Discovery Trading Company in the park. Artist Dylan Cole designed the travel posters which inspired this pin collection. Attendees may recall getting a first look at the travel posters during the D23 Expo in 2015. Dylan provided design work on Disney’s “Maleficent,” and is currently Co-Production Designer for the upcoming “Avatar” motion picture sequels. Today, guests may see these posters near Tiffins restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. The final two pins in this collection, called “Completer pins,” will only be found in the five-pin boxed set containing all five travel posters. The boxed set will have an edition size of 250, and will be released during the opening of this new land on May 27. There will be a purchase limit of two limited edition pins, per style, per guest, per release. These pins will not be available via Shop Disney Parks app or the Disney Parks online store. While Coronado Springs has stolen a lot of the thunder with the announcement of a 15 story tower and massive expansion, the far-longer-rumored expansion of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is beginning as well, but Disney is saying very little on the project… Also during this exciting time, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will be reimagined with new additions to the resort’s current marketplace, Centertown, including new waterfront dining and retail shopping areas. This centralized location will offer the resort’s guests more convenient access to services, amenities and dining. This doesn’t really tell you a whole lot about the overall project. Why? Well, it would be kind of hard to sell the Copper Creek Villas at Wilderness Lodge (which aren’t even on sale yet) when people know that another Disney Vacation Club Resort is on the way. The following information comes from cast members at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and is in no way official as of yet. This is simply what they are being told at this time. The expansion of Old Port Royale that begins May 1st and runs through Summer 2018 will reportedly include moving the Shutters table service restaurant onto the waterfront and will include a new bar and lounge. Small grab and go locations are also being constructed elsewhere around the resort, including one in Trinidad South. The counter service location and shop space inside of Old Port Royale will be completely reimagined during this process. Other pieces of the project include the demolition of the Customs House and the move of all important guest facilities to Old Port Royale as well. A centralized pathway system over the water (similar to another facet of the Coronado project) is also planned to allow guests an easier way to traverse the large resort. Of course, the focus of the project will be a new, 10-story tower with 600 guest rooms that will make up the Disney Vacation Club wing of the resort. This and the rumored gondola system are yet to be announced, and knowing DVC, it could be a while until they are formally. The tower should also have a rooftop dining restaurant similar to the one being constructed at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Hopefully Disney will come forward with more information soon, but in the meantime, guests staying at Caribbean Beach should keep in mind that it will be a “war zone” in there starting this May. Guests are being compensated with $75 gift cards per night until the Old Port Royale project is completed. Sales for Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, the newest Disney Vacation Club resort, will begin next week. Current Disney Vacation Club Members will have the first chance to purchase real estate interests beginning on March 8, with general sales following on April 5. The resort, which is currently under construction, also has a scheduled opening date: July 17. Once open, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins will be the 14th Disney Vacation Club development and the second at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Copper Creek Villas & Cabins offers Disney Vacation Club Members and guests a new frontier for magical vacations where the comforts of home and the wonders of the wilderness are deeply rooted in the magic of Disney. Inspired by the legendary mining and railroad history of the Pacific Northwest, Members and guests will discover rustically elegant accommodations, where cozy touches mix with modern designs to create a tranquil retreat. Offering one of the widest ranges of accommodations found at Walt Disney World Resort, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins will feature 184 modern, nature-inspired vacation homes, including Deluxe Studios, one- and two-bedroom Villas, and even three-bedroom Grand Villas, which sleep up to 12. Artist rendering of the cabin interiors Here are what the floor plans for each room type look like: Deluxe Studio, Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Wilderness Lodge One Bedroom Villa, Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Wilderness Lodge Two Bedroom Villa, Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Wilderness Lodge Two Bedroom Lock-Off Villa, Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Wilderness Lodge Three Bedroom Grand Villa, Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Wilderness Lodge Cascade Cabin, Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Wilderness Lodge The new resort will also include 26 all-new luxurious waterfront cabins. Sleeping up to eight and featuring two bedrooms, two baths and large dining and living room spaces, the cabins’ floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed wooden beams and interior-exterior stone-hearth fireplace bring the beauty of the outdoors in, and offer plenty of room for families. After a long day of fun at the nearby theme parks, guests can return to their porch and relax in the built-in hot tub. Some even enjoy a view of the Electrical Water Pageant on Bay Lake! Additional developments at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge include the recently opened Geyser Point Bar & Grill, an open-air lounge overlooking Bay Lake. The resort’s quick-service restaurant, Roaring Fork is also undergoing refurbishments and is scheduled to reopen later this year with a refreshed look and expanded outdoor seating. Boulder Ridge Cove pool, a modern-day swimmin’ hole, will also open this summer. Those in search of extra pampering will want to stop by the all-new Salon by the Springs for poolside manicures, pedicures and hair services scheduled to open this summer. More details are to come, but for now, you can visit DisneyCopperCreek.com to explore this latest offering from Disney Vacation Club. The highly-anticipated new water ride at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, Miss Adventure Falls, will be opening with the park on March 12th, 2017. The final touches to the ride are being added this coming week. Down below is a look at one of the artifacts from the collection of Captain Mary Oceaneer, who is a sea-faring treasure hunter whose haul was caught in a rogue typhoon. Her character is part of the backstory behind the new ride, which includes ties to the Society of Adventurers and Explorers. It’s just one of the precious treasures you will spot from your four-person raft, as you twist and turn on this fun-filled white-water experience. Stay tuned as more details are realesed in the coming days for this new attraction.
Disneyland Paris Announces Annual Pass Restructuring and Price Hike
Disney Cruise Line to ‘Freeze in Frozen Fractal Fun’ This Summer
REVIEW: Amazing New Fort Wilderness RV Food Truck Isn’t Quite As Good As It Looks
Fort Wilderness Smoked Pork Belly Tillamook Cheeseburger ($13.49)
Pumpkin Spiced Tea ($10.75)
OVERALL
Live Chat with Pandora Experts Launches on VisitPandora.com, AVATAR Land Website
PHOTOS, VIDEO: Port Orleans Mardi Gras Parade 2017 Features Monorail, Peoplemover, & More
PHOTOS: Disney Launches Countdown to Pandora – The World of AVATAR Merchandise
RUMOR: 10-Story Tower, Waterfront Dining, and More Changes Coming to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
PHOTOS: On-Sale Dates Announced for Wilderness Lodge Copper Creek Villas & Cabins, Room Plans Revealed
Miss Adventure Falls Opens March 12th at Typhoon Lagoon