Full Eat to the Beat Concert Series Lineup Released for Epcot Food and Wine Festival 2017

WDWNT on June 25, 2017

Eleven new acts join the Eat to the Beat concert series this fall during the 2017 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, the longest event ever in the festival’s history.

width=

Festival first-timers include The Hooters, Baha Men, Lauren Alaina, Mark Wills, American Authors, Devon Allman, Postmodern Jukebox, 10,000 Maniacs, Kenny G, Blue October, and Squeeze.

Here’s the full lineup:

  • Delta Rae — August 31-September 1
  • NEW! The Hooters – September 2-3
  • NEW! Baha Men — September 4-5
  • Fuel — September 6-7
  • Starship featuring Mickey Thomas – September 8-10
  • NEW! Lauren Alaina – September 11-12
  • Plain White T’s — September 13-15
  • Sister Hazel – September 16-17
  • Air Supply — September 18-20
  • David Cook — September 21-22
  • Everclear — September 23-24
  • Sugar Ray — September 25-27
  • 38 Special – September 28-29
  • NEW! Mark Wills  — September 30-October 1
  • NEW! American Authors – October 2-3
  • Christopher Cross – October 4-5
  • NEW! Devon Allman – October 6-8
  • Dennis DeYoung: The Music of STYX — October 9-11
  • Taylor Dane — October 12-13
  • Jeffrey Osbourne – October 14-15
  • NEW! Postmodern Jukebox — October 16-17
  • NEW! 10,000 Maniacs — October 18-20
  • Toad the Wet Sprocket — October 21-22
  • NEW! Kenny G — October 23-24
  • Billy Ocean – October 25-26
  • Tiffany – October 27-October 29
  • Hanson — October 30-November 1
  • NEW! Blue October — November 2-3
  • Living Colour — November 4-5
  • Boyz II Men — November 6-8
  • Big Bad Voodoo Daddy — November 9-11
  • NEW! Squeeze — November 12-13

Performances are 5:30, 6:45 and 8:00 p.m. daily, and included in Epcot admission. As always, the lineup is subject to change. The 2017 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival runs August 31-November 13 at Walt Disney World Resort.

BREAKING: Permit Filed for Rumored Ratatouille Ride in France at Epcot (with Update)

WDWNT on June 25, 2017

Disney has just filed the first permit for the rumored new Ratatouille ride at the France pavilion at Epcot (that we told you about yesterday).

width=

You can see from the aerial image that the area encompassed by the permit entails all of the empty expansion pad between France and Morocco (expansion pads were originally designated for the addition of countries to World Showcase), as well as some additional space directly behind the France pavilion. The show building will be built on the expansion pad, and the queue area will travel behind the existing France pavilion and connect to the existing guest area in front of the pavilion.

According to the permit (which can be downloaded in full here), the area inside the red outline totals 5.70 acres. Currently, 1.10 acres are paved, 0.31 acres are occupied by buildings (mostly trailers), and 4.29 acres are “pervious” aream which is either dirt or landscaping.

The plans are to pave an additional 2.94 acres of the current “pervious” area and build retention ponds on the other side of Avenue of the Stars (the service road that circles World Showcase) to hold the additional runoff from the added impervious area. Several buildings will also be removed, but some additional buildings will be built to replace them.

As you can see from the imagery, some of the expansion pad is used for storage of food kiosks from the Epcot festivals, which will easily be relocated.

I’ve analyzed the multiple drawings in the permit and additional documents filed and have drawn up the rough plan below which shows the extent of the work, where existing structures are located, and where many of them will be relocated. In addition the dark shaded area shows a new access road to be built to serve the back of the restaurants in the France pavilion, since the current access road will be blocked by either the show building or the queue area. (Note: If I’ve mislabeled any of the backstage buildings, please let me know so I can correct it. I’m only going by what I can see on the permits and don’t have firsthand knowledge! Email me directly at jason@wdwnt.com in case I don’t see it in the comments.)

width=

The ride is rumored to be the trackless Ratatouille: The Adventure attraction from Disneyland Paris.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today for more information on this new construction. Once things get underway, we hope to have construction photos for you on a regular basis, as you’ve come to expect from WDWNT!

 

PHOTOS: Work Commences on Possible Club 33 Location at Epcot

WDWNT on June 25, 2017

Since it was announced that Club 33 would be expanding to four locations at Walt Disney World, many have speculated what the location of the private lounges/restaurants in each park might be. As we speculated with construction walls present at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that their location will be the old Catwalk Bar, it seems that some walls now up in Epcot may point to that park’s private club location.

width=

The American Adventure lounge in World Showcase now has its main entrance walled-off. This does not happen routinely, even before the space is used prior to the park festivals.

width=

This space has been used as the Chase Lounge at past Food and Wine Festival events, but may now be getting a conversion into Epcot’s Club 33. The spot would make sense as it offers great views and is connected via elevator to a kitchen downstairs.

While this is not confirmed and we are purely speculating, it does seem likely. However, the park does offer several other possibilities if this is not it.

Seas Pavilion at Epcot Hosting World Ocean Day Event on June 8th

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

If you are a guest traveling to Epcot on June 8th, you are in for a nice treat. Epcot will be celebrating World Ocean Day which is on June 8th and the festivities will be taking place inside of The Seas With Nemo and Friends.

width=

width=

Special displays as well as activities will be happening throughout the pavilion. Education Instructors as well Conservation Specialists will be on hand for you to ask any questions you may have about wildlife in the ocean. You can also head on over to the Coral Reef restaurant next door and pick up an exclusive white chocolate ocean-themed dessert developed just for World Oceans Day.

width=

REVIEW: Crazy Churro, Apple Pie, and Berry Explosion Ice Cream Sundaes Debut at Epcot’s Taste Track

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

Taste Track at Epcot, just steps away from Test Track in case the name didn’t give it away, has had a tumultuous history. Since it was constructed in 1998, it has more often than not been closed. In recent years, Disney has rotated through a few different menus at the location, including a short lived lineup of grilled cheese sandwiches. Well, the location is now open daily once again, but is now serving some crazy ice cream sundaes in addition to more traditional fare.

width=

If you know us here at WDWNT by now, then you know that we had to try all 3 of these new sundaes out. Let’s see if they live up to their menu pictures…

Berry Explosion Sundae ($6.50)

width=

Vanilla Ice Cream layered with Berries and Pound Cake, topped with Whipped Cream, Strawberry Pearls, and Cotton Candy

If you like strawberries and pound cake, do yourself a favor and get one of these. It is filled with generous chunks of strawberries and a nice piece of pound cake towards the bottom, which goes perfectly with everything in here. The cotton candy on top is probably unnecessary, but I’ll be damned if this isn’t just about the most photogenic dessert at Walt Disney World because of it.

Chocolaty Churro Sundae ($6.50)

width=

width=

Chocolaty Churro Sundae ($6.50) at Taste Track, Epcot

Vanilla Ice Cream and Hot Fudge, topped with Whipped Cream, Chocolate Curls, and a Churro

I had such high expectations for this and it did not live up to them (and it wasn’t nearly as photogenic as the sundae above, nor the one pictured on the menu board). Don’t get me wrong, if you want ice cream on top of a churro, this is great, but it just isn’t very exciting. It’s just vanilla ice cream with hot fudge and whipped cream. I would at least throw some caramel sauce in here to make it a little more interesting, but again, it’s not a bad option for a couple of dollars more, if not just to get some ice cream with a churro during these hot summer months.

Apple Pie Sundae ($6.50)

width=

Vanilla Ice Cream and Caramel Sauce, topped with Whipped Cream, Caramel Popcorn, Salted Caramel Pearls, and Warm Apple Pie

Basically a caramel sundae with a McDonald’s Apple Pie broken in half and shoved in it, this is enjoyable, but nothing to write home about. The flavor is mostly just vanilla, similar to the Churro Sundae above. This isn’t a bad option if you want a caramel sundae with apple pie in it, but based on the menu photos, I think we just expected much more out of these and the Berry Explosion was sadly the only one that delivered. Save your ice cream money for Beaches and Cream or Ample Hills.

Disney & PIXAR Short Film Festival at Epcot Closing Next Week for Refurbishment

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

The Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival located in the Imagination Pavilion at Epcot will closed for a one week refurbishment next week.

width=

The attraction will be closed starting June 12th and will re-open on June 19, 2017. It is unclear if the films offered will be finally rotated out or if this is just a general refurbishment of the theater.

The films currently offered as part of the attraction include Get a Horse, La Luna, and For the Birds.

FIRST LOOK: 5 More Fantastic Items Being Released for EPCOT Center’s 35th Anniversary This Fall

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

A few months ago, we revealed to you the very first items in the line of Epcot 35th anniversary merchandise coming to the park this Fall. Now, we take a look at 5 more items that will be joining the retro merchandise collection  around the time the park celebrates its birthday on October 1st:

width=

First up is an open edition mystery pin collection featuring the classic Future World pavilion icons.

width=

width=

The pins appear to have a metallic finish, which looks quite nice.

width=

Next up is a lanyard pouch featuring the icons, as well as a metal EPCOT Center icon.

width=

Paying homage to the vintage camera strap, a rainbow lanyard will be available as well. If you look closely, you can see the Epcot 35 logo through the top portion as it will be present around the neck area.

width=

An open edition Figment Epcot 35 pin will be available.

width=

Last but not least, there is an Epcot 35 vintage-style jersey tee.

All of this merchandise will be released around October 1st, 2017. No pricing or additional information on these products is available as of yet.

Epcot Introducing “Frozen Ever After Dessert Party” with Fireworks Viewing and After-Close Attraction Ride

WDWNT on June 12, 2017

Epcot is getting a new fireworks dessert party focused around the Frozen Ever After attraction in Norway.

width=

Frozen Ever After takes guests through the kingdom of Arendelle from the Disney animated hit, “Frozen.” Located in the Norway Pavilion at Epcot, Frozen Ever After celebrates a “Summer Snow Day” on a journey through a frozen willow forest, past Troll Valley and up to Queen Elsa’s palace high up on the north mountain. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

The dessert party portion of the event will take place just steps away from the current FastPass+ viewing area for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. After guests enjoy a spread of delectable desserts, drinks, and the nightly fireworks show, they will then be whisked over to Frozen Ever After to enjoy a ride on the attraction with little-to-no-wait after normal park closing time.

The event will be offered on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays starting in July, replacing the IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party which concludes July 14th. The price will be $79 per adult and $47 per child. Bookings should open following a Disney announcement.

SaveSave

Disney World Introducing Premium Cruise Around Crescent Lake and Epcot Starting June

WDWNT on May 31, 2017

I’ve seen some weird (and overpriced) premium events at Walt Disney World, but this is probably one of the stranger ones…

width=

Beginning June 1st, guests can book a “Premium Day Cruise Around the World” emanating from Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Guests will step aboard a vessel at Bayside Marina that will take them all around Crescent Lake and the World Showcase Lagoon for one hour. Bagged snacks and soft drinks will be included along the way, but guests can also purchase additional items through private dining. Each boat can accommodate up to 10 guests.

Cost is $149 per boat, up to 10 guests (plus tax). Guests can call  407-WDW-PLAY to book now.

BREAKING: First Permits Filed for Replacement of the Universe of Energy at Epcot

WDWNT on May 31, 2017

We first brought you the rumor that something was planned for the Universe of Energy pavilion almost a year ago. Although the plans seem to have been delayed, we now are seeing the first concrete indication that something is about to happen at the northeast corner of Epcot. Disney has filed paperwork with the South Florida Water Management District indicating plans to reroute a drainage canal behind Universe of Energy and create two new retention ponds to hold additional runoff from “onsite improvements that will add impervious area.”

width=

It is clear from the filings that this canal drainage modification is just the beginning of a much larger construction project in the works. You can see from the above image that the construction area incorporates not only the canals and a large area of land, but also the Universe of Energy attraction itself.

width=

The western half of the canal area highlighted in red is scheduled to be filled in. This would likely be where the additional “impervious area” is being added. And what exactly will this impervious area be? Likely an additional show building to be used for a future attraction coming to the Universe of Energy pavilion.

width=

In the above image you can see an area labeled “Back of House” directly behind the Universe of Energy and Wonders of Life, where the canal will be filled. The fact that the project boundary outlined includes all of the Universe of Energy show building plus much of the walkways and entrance areas in front of the pavilion, while specifically excluding the Wonders of Life pavilion, likely means that a fairly significant construction project is planned – significantly more than simply an overlay. Expect a complete gutting of the existing building and a whole new entrance area where the existing mirrored fountain now stands.

width=

The above hydrologic evaluation plans show a huge rectangular area behind Wonders of Life and directly on top of the filled canal area that could be the new show building.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today for more information as we receive it.