PHOTO REPORT: Epcot 1/30/17 (Festival of the Arts, New Merchandise, New Bands, Etc.)
Our latest photo report brings us to Epcot for the Festival of the Arts, new merchandise, and more!
It’s a Zoo Out There
A slew of new open edition pins were released recently, including Zootopia and compact mirror designs.
There is no actual mirror in these pins, but the silver works sort of like one. I don’t know, these seem kind of dumb to me…
This one actually has a mirror, which makes sense.
The last piece of history pin for 2016 was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, so I had to have it.
It has been out for a few weeks now, but the new Mickey Mouse Bubble Glow Wand is proving popular with guests.
And now, some ducks.
Security at the Speed of a Sloth
Since December, the security screening at Epcot has been a disaster, with everyone going through the metal detectors. Guests with bags now have their bag inspected while they go through the detector, which is some cases takes 1-2 minutes per guest. I hate to say this, but the Universal Orlando process where bags go through a screening machine (I believe Disneyland Paris has this as well) works a million times better than this. Safety is obviously important, but it shouldn’t take anyone 30 minutes to get into a park.
Epcot turnstiles are often mess as well, as never quite enough seem to be open at peak times. The annual pass holder entry lines are a mixed bag, more often than not being longer that the regular lines, especially in January.
Here is the line for guests with bags to go through security from another day.
And here is an annual pass holder entry line on a Festival of the Arts weekend…
Around Our World
Work continues on Choza Tequila outside of the Mexico pavilion, which will open sometime this year.
A new group called Wies N Buam is now performing in the Germany pavilion at Epcot.
The new Dixie napkin holders are suddenly appearing everywhere around the resort.
I finally decided to try to the flavored popcorn at the cart by Imagination! on a recent visit to the park.
I ordered the Buffalo Bleu Cheese…
It was really great, I will be back for more!
Someone I was meeting up with said they would be there in 45 minutes, so I wanted to waste 45 minutes…
WHAT ARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, BOB?
It was about 30 degrees outside and these were on…
If you ever thought that the already huge pretzels sold in the Germany pavilion at Epcot were just not big enough, do we have some great news for you today… The carts and counter service location in World Showcase’s Germany pavilion are now selling what they call a Jumbo Pretzel, which comes out to about $10.00 with tax. How can a pretzel be $10 you ask? It can be $10.00 when it is this big. Just how big is this? To give you a better idea of the size of this monstrosity, please check out the video below: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdVKjCkEtOM] Who would need a pretzel this large? Well, in my experience, pretzels are often a shared snack between groups of guests, so selling a giant one isn’t that crazy. Sadly, I feel the same about this pretzel as I do about the smaller version that they once sold here. It is fairly bland and mostly flavorless, even with copious amounts of mustard, and I imagine the only way to enjoy one is to ensure that you are buying it when they are fresh out of the oven. Well, based on the size of these, it is nice to see that the show building for the Rhine River Cruise attraction is being used for something, even if it is just dough storage… This is a joke by the way. Personally I would stick with the cream cheese or Mickey Mouse pretzels sold elsewhere around the Walt Disney World Resort, but if you need this much pretzel, you now know where to find it. Most people think of knockwurst and sauerkraut at the mention of “German food,” but with a nod to healthier eating, Chef Wade Camerer at the Biergarten Restaurant has introduced a few new flavors for this Autumn season. Starting September 1st, the Germany Pavilion will be featuring bright seasonal vegetables and fruits, soups and has added a few new dishes to the menu at both the Biergarten Restaurant and the quick-service restaurant, Sommerfest. Sommerfest will be introducing a new dish called currywurst, which is a tasty sliced sausage topped with a savory curry ketchup, served with a paprika potato chip. In addition to the currywurst, Sommerfest will also be serving a grilled leberkaese, or German meatloaf Reuben, served with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese. Lastly, Sommerfest is catering to kids with the favorite, Nudel Gratin, or mac and cheese. All of these new featured dishes at Sommerfest are on the Dining Plan. Chef Camerer says that Epcot Executive Chef Jens Dahlmannn, a native of Germany, as well as sous chef Hans Groeger, have both been an inspiration and benchmarks for authenticity. They have made it their mission to serve original tastes of Germany. “Guests often think of German food as one style,” says Dahlmann. “We want to show the diversity of cuisine from Germany’s many regions.” In the Biergarten Restaurant, the buffet serves up many dishes from across the country. From Bavaria to Rhineland, the buffet offers samplings such as leberkäse (meatloaf) with sweet mustard and potato dumplings. Chef Camerer says that for the Autumn season, the veggies will switch to carrots, parsnips, Swiss chard, and he’s adding a cheese course with German cheeses and pretzel bread croutons. He’s also adding a selection of smoked meats to the buffet, including smoke hams and liverwurst. Chef Dahlmann also requested his childhood favorite, chicken fricassee, be added to the buffet lineup, a true comfort food with chicken, mushrooms and peas in a creamy sauce served over rice. Using authentic ingredients in the dishes, like pickles imported from Germany, and serving freshly-made apple strudel, makes dining at the Biergarten Restaurant a genuine experience for their guests. You will be needing to loosen your lederhosen after trying all of these new flavors at the new German Pavilion! Which new dish will you try?
WDWNT Reporter Josh Siegel visited Epcot last night and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:
The Germany train village is decorated for the holidays
Candlelight Processional
Santa’s Village at the American Adventure
Plenty of holiday merchandise available
Precious Moments Disney dolls
More Precious Moments
You can build your own Disney Christmas village with these pieces
Decorations at the American Adventure
Hanukkah display
How to make one large gingerbread house
Katsura Grill at the Japan pavilion is now open
It looks nice after the long remodel
A look at the menu
Epcot Christmas tree
New directional signage is up around Future World
The signage is either blue or green, again pointing to the eventual renaming of Future World East and West as Blue/Green that we have been talking about for a few years
Topiary display near Innoventions
A booth on the walkway between Future World and World Showcase behind walls
Stage set for Joyful!
The tip board still works and is decorated for the holidays!
The Stitch topiary lights up at night
Lilo and Stitch signed the back
Bambi
Thumper and Flower If you can’t have real snow…
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Epcot yesterday and took a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look: The RFID ticket test is over for now while they work out the bugs… They should be back soon The holiday topiary display is up Bambi Stitch bit the card… No line for Spaceship Earth Holiday floral behind Spaceship Earth The tip board still works! It now sports a Holidays Around the World image Club Cool has been decorated for the holidays Joyful! is back Another set of topiaries by the fountain New sign outside of Kim Possible World showcase Adventure kiosks The Epcot Christmas tree is up More decorations Canada is still behind tarps No Off Kilter, but Papa Noel was performing for Holidays Around the World Rose and Crown decorated France storyteller stage On to France France decorations The temporary Japan booth from Food & Wine remains as Yakitori House is still closed Walls still up at Yakitori House A look inside… The Storytellers stage in Japan More walls Walls also up around the small food vendor A look from above A look inside Workers finishing up Candlelight Processional running Santa’s Village is open at the American Adventure Precious Moments doll signing Candlelight Processional booth… and I won’t comment on anything else in the photo… Santa and Mrs. Claus Kwanzaa booth There is a sign for the gingerbread house outside of the Liberty Inn Mmmmmmm…. The Liberty Inn is decorated The snowman Mickey buckets are back The overflow restrooms are back for the Candlelight Processional Long line to enter the theater Storytellers in Italy The train village in Germany now celebrates the season Germany decorated Storyteller on the schedule in Germany Germany stage Mmmmmm…. Ornaments and alcohol, a great mix! China stage Storytelling going on in Norway Decorations on La Hacienda The Mexico stage Decorations on La Cantina Stitch also got caught up in some lights… Donald and Goofy are ice skating Bambi looks on… goodbye sweet prince… WDWNT Reporter Frank Brito took a visit to Epcot and the Magic Kingdom on Friday and has provided plenty of newsworthy photos to share from his trip: Even by the stroller rentals you can buy a Duffy I spent a few days at Walt Disney World recently to experience the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. I took plenty of newsworthy photos to share, so let’s take a look: It’s the 15th edition of the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot
REVIEW: Germany at Epcot Now Has Jumbo Pretzels Bigger Than Your Head
Germany Pavilion at Epcot Gets New Flavors & Major Menu Changes
Josh Siegel’s 12/15/11 Epcot Photo Report
Adam Roth’s 11/28/11 Epcot Photo Report
Frank Brito’s 10/22/10 WDW Photo Report
Tom Corless’ 10/2-10/5/10 WDW Photo Report
