Category: Epcot

Epcot guests can enjoy farewell flights when the classic Soarin’ returns to The Land pavilion in Future World starting May 27. The attraction reopens at Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort before the new film, Soarin’ Around the World, debuts next month at Disney parks in Shanghai, California and Florida. Disney FastPass+ service will be available starting May 21 for this limited opportunity to enjoy the classic Soarin’ experience at Epcot.

Don’t miss your chance to experience Soarin’ Over California at Disney California Adventure now through June 15, and at Epcot through June 16.

The new film, Soarin’ Around the World, debuts June 17 at Disney California Adventure park at Disneyland Resort and Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort the day after its world premiere at Shanghai Disneyland and highlights landmarks from across the globe.

Via Napoli at Epcot recently celebrated the serving of their 1 millionth pizza pie since the restaurant opened back in 2010. In celebration, the menu has undergone a minor shakeup, including the addition of some new signature pizza pies.

They’re even offering a limited time pasta special – Truffled fettuccine carbonara with guanciale “italian Bacon” egg noodle and pecorino cheese.

New Pizzas include Affumicata – White pizza, smoked salmon, arugula, pomodorini, and stracchino, as well as a Broccolini pie which includes fresh cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, porchetta robiola, and broccoli rabe.

These additions to the menu do not detract any offerings that have made the restaurant a hit at Epcot over the last 6 years, meaning guests have more than ever to choose between. MAybe you can even leave some room for dessert…

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The annual Disney culinary tour of flavors from six continents will expand in 2016 with nine extra days of sipping and savoring at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 14-Nov. 14, 2016. The 2016 festival, presented by Chase at Walt Disney World Resort, will grow from 53 to 62 delicious days, add a new interactive culinary experience and debut new marketplace tastes from around the world.

Growing in scope each year since 1996 as one of America’s top food festivals, the Epcot event features inspired flavors at more than 30 global marketplaces.

This year, “Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” hands-on workshops at the Festival Center offer guests a chance to learn a variety of culinary skills from chefs, bakers, mixologists and other pros. Nightly Eat to the Beat concerts kick up the energy with new musical acts covering a broad range of musical styles and eras including rock, pop and rhythm and blues. Even more Disney resort festival experiences are planned, with a new brunch, cooking school and other fresh culinary adventures.

For a second year, global marketplaces will extend into Future World to offer a wider range of taste sensations. Culinary icons like Cat Cora, Norman Van Aken, Masaharu Morimoto, Elizabeth Falkner, Buddy Valastro and Jamie Deen will entertain foodies and inspire their palates at new and returning premium events that include reimagined Party for the Senses grand tastings with new concepts and themes.

Festival guests can pair wines, beers and ciders with savory and sweet dishes as they stroll the World Showcase Promenade using their complimentary festival passports as a guide.

New marketplace menus debut and festival favorites return – Hard soda float, anyone? Guests can choose a favorite hard soda to mix with vanilla ice cream for a sweet treat at Desserts & Champagne marketplace. A savory vegan dish will debut at the Greece marketplace, and the popular Farm Fresh marketplace will showcase Florida’s bounty with new savory dishes.

Multiple new Eat to the Beat concert acts debut; fan favorites return to play 186 festival concerts, in all –Wang Chung (Everybody Have Fun Tonight!) will open the Eat to the Beat concert series Sept. 14-15. More new acts in the concert series lineup, including Delta Rae and Toad The Wet Sprocket – will rock their chart-topping tunes. Other popular acts, including Wilson Phillips, Boyz II Men and Jeffrey Osbourne, will return to the America Gardens Theatre stage this fall.

Celebrity chefs, wine experts and mixologists join the fun – Celebrities ranging from Rock Harper to master sommelier Andrea Robinson will share their food and beverage know-how during demos and premium events. At the new “Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” workshops, guests will put expert advice to use whether mixing cocktails, decorating cakes or using herbs to kick up a dish’s flavor.

The popular Festival Private Label California Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are back and available by the bottle or by the glass.

Ratatouille returns — Chef Remy of “Ratatouille” returns with his fun-for-the-family culinary scavenger hunt.

Festival Center cooks on all burners –Festival Center highlights will include the complimentary Back to Basics weekend series featuring epicurean tips and tricks from the pros, book and bottle signings and The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar, hosted by Ghirardelli and offering guest samples.

Rest and recharge at the Chase Lounge – Chase debit and credit card members – including Disney Visa card members — will find complimentary non-alcoholic refreshments, a charging station and comfortable seating for a relaxing break at the Chase Lounge at American Adventure.

Plan for a premium adventure:

• Rockin’ Burger Block Party and Party for the Senses grand tasting events will showcase creative bites and palate-pleasing sips from eminent chefs and beverage experts plus new live entertainment.
• New resort premium events to book will include a Grand Floridian brunch with a twist and a new cooking school experience.

Included with Epcot Admission:

Back to Basics series, special book signings, Eat to the Beat concerts, cultural adventures, Marketplace Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.

Special Programming by Reservation:

The Party for the Senses grand tasting events, signature dinners and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. When a reservation booking date is announced this summer, guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) and get details at epcotfoodfestival.com. Join the discussion on social media using #epcotfoodfestival.

Starting in early May, guests visiting Epcot will be able to spot Dory and some of her friends from the new film “Finding Dory” at the park’s “Turtle Talk With Crush” attraction.

Some of her new pals you can expect to spot within the attraction include Destiny the whale shark, Bailey the beluga whale and Hank the “septopus” (that’s a seven-legged octopus). Crush’s son and best pal Squirt will also be swimming by for the first time, as well you may spot Nemo and his dad Marlin.

“Finding Dory” swims into theaters on June 17, 2016.

I took a quick stroll through Epcot, the Boardwalk and the Yacht and Beach Club earlier this week and have some newsworthy photos to share, so let’s take a look at what’s new and exciting:

The Circle of Life is still closed until April 22nd

Not sure that it actually counts as anyhting new for the event, but there are Flower and Garden Festival signs in Living with the Land

I don’t know what adding these signs does for the sake of the Festival…

The men’s restroom near Soarin’ is now behind walls

The Seas is carrying a lot of the new Finding Nemo related merchandise

New Epcot popcorn bucket features Mission:SPACE

We rode Journey Into Imagination (for some reason) and the train stopped between screens in the first room…. this ride is falling apart again.

Meanwhile, tarps are finally up for work on the new DVC member lounge which will be located upstairs

Haunted Mansion Tsum Tsum are available at ImageWorks

A new Stormtrooper shirt in MouseGear

Also, a new kid’s hoodie

There is now an entire line of compact mirror key-chains available

I think they have finally just given up on Ellen and the giant Dinosaur attacking her at the Universe of Energy as they have been gone for over a year now

Work continues on the Royal Sommerhus, which will officially open in June, but should actually soft-open sometime in May

Frozen Ever After is also set for a June opening, but we expect it to open in May as well

Over at the Boardwalk, work is well underway on the Ample Hills Creamery

As well as the massive remodel of Flying Fish

The Yacht Club has a lot of great new resort-specific merchandise

Going back to the Boardwalk, they have a lot of great, unique pieces as well

If you’re missing your sweet treats on the Boardwalk, they are now available inside the Screen Door shop