Epcot has some entertainment news this week as well as some reminders about the Epcot International Food and Wine festival. We will also be taken a look at some Frozen news and other happenings at the theme parks and resorts in Walt Disney World. Join us we take a look at what is happening “Around the Mouse” this week.
Walt Disney World Theme Parks
Epcot
New! New Performance at Italy Pavilion: Sbandieratori Di Sansepolcro has soft-opened in Italy as one of the new World Showcase entertainment acts in Epcot. This authentic, spectacularly choreographed flag-throwing Cast wears magnificent period costumes and performs to live music. Sbandieratori is a rich, 500-year historic tradition in Italy and is sure to excite the senses. It’s a dynamic and photogenic performance that’s not to be missed. Sbandieratori Di Sansepolcro performs daily in the courtyard of the Italy pavilion at Epcot World Showcase. Show times for Sbandieratori Di Sansepolcro are 11:20 a.m., 12:10, 1, 2, 3, 4:20 and 5 p.m.
Reminder! Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Under Way: From now until November 10, taste your way around the world at 28 International Marketplaces. Remember to check out the Eat to the Beat Concert Series at America Gardens Theatre at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m.. There are also many special festival experiences at the Festival Welcome Center hosted by Transitions® adaptive lenses™ – open daily 9 a.m. – park close including: Culinary demonstrations – daily at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. ($15 per person); Wine and beverage seminars – daily at 12, 2 and 4 p.m. ($15 per person); Mixology seminars – daily at 6 p.m. ($15 per person); The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar- Hosted by Ghirardelli® Chocolate Company – daily from 9 a.m. – park close (Free); Back to Basics (new this year!) – Sundays at 12:15, 2:15, 4:15 and 6:15 p.m.; Book, bottle signings and meet and greets; Seasons of the Vine film; Intermissions Cafe – 9 a.m. – park close; The Festival Center Wine Shop and The Stockpot Shop – 9 a.m. – park close. Check out of photos of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival here.
Reminder! Canadian Lumberjacks Show Now Officially appearing as World Showcase Entertainment in Canada: Throughout Epcot, Walt Disney World presents world-class performers who immerse Guests in a unique cultural experience through a rich mix of live show atmosphere entertainment. The Canadian Lumberjacks show is one of several new World Showcase entertainment offerings coming to Epcot. Enjoy the excitement of axe throwing, chopping, sawing and lots more, as you cheer and applaud for the Canadian Lumberjacks. These lumbermen, representing Canada’s great timber and logging areas, demonstrate their skills in time-honored games of the great forest. The Canadian Lumberjacks hold competitions daily on the Mill Stage in Canada at Epcot.
Magic Kingdom Park
Reminder! “Frozen” Characters Magic Kingdom Park Presence Expanded: “Frozen’s” popular characters will also have a bigger presence at Magic Kingdom Park this holiday season. In addition to the ongoing character appearances, Queen Elsa will use her powers to transform Cinderella Castle into an ice palace every night starting November 5th. And Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party-goers can see Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf in “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.”
New! More Nights Sold Out for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is officially sold out for Tuesday, Oct. 28, Thursday, Oct. 30 and Friday, Oct. 31.
New! Adventureland Merchandise Changes: To make way for a new merchandise concept, Island Supply in Adventureland will close after Oct. 22 and reopen later this year as a different shopping experience. Product sold at Island Supply will be available at Agrabah Bazaar (nearby in Adventureland).
Reminder! Single Day Memory Maker Add On in Testing: A test is being conducted at Magic Kingdom Sept. 26-Oct. 31 in which a new single-day Memory Maker addon is available for sale to Guests when purchased with a one-day Magic Your Way ticket or a ticket to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This package is sold exclusively at Vacation Planning at the Transportation and Ticketing Center. It is not known if this offering will continue past Oct 31. The price is $39. And don’t worry … if you aren’t able to make it to this year’s party, no trick, we’ve got a special TREAT for you! Simply log into your My Disney Experience account and claim PhotoPass ID COMEJOINTHEPARTY to receive a unique Bonus shot of some of our favorite ghosts! HINT: “We’ve got 999 happy haunts here, but there’s room for a thousand ..!”
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
New! “Big Hero 6″ Meet and Greet Coming Mid-November: By mid-November, the stars of Disney’s new animated comedy-adventure, “Big Hero 6,” are flying into Disney’s Hollywood Studios to greet their fans. Guests will be able to meet Hiro Hamada and his huggable buddy Baymax inside The Magic of Disney Animation attraction, where they can tour the lab at San Fransokyo Institute of Technology and pay a visit to Hiro’s garage workshop. Disney’s “Big Hero 6” opens in theaters in 3D on Nov. 7.
New! Wandering Oaken’s is Back: Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post, one of the most popular parts of last summer’s “Frozen Summer Fun LIVE!” event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, is back and staying put through the holidays! Oaken’s has re-opened in a new space, on Streets of America near Studio Catering Co. and “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show.” The new Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post & Frozen Snowground! features a larger-than-ever play area with real snow, plenty of “Frozen” merchandise, and those yummy “Frozen”-inspired cupcakes and other treats. And every 30 minutes or so, you may even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights shimmering in the night sky.
Reminder! New Magical ‘Once Upon a Time’ Photo Opportunity to Celebrate the Arrival of ‘Frozen’ Characters to Storybrooke: On Sunday nights this fall you’ll find Elsa, Anna and Kristoff on ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” series. In celebration of their arrive in Storybrooke. Disney PhotoPass and ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” have teamed up to provide you with an exclusive “Once Upon a Time” Magic Shot at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. A Disney PhotoPass Photographer will take your photo in front of a “Once Upon a Time” background, then when you visit MyDisneyPhotoPass.com and claim your photo you’ll find a magical surprise – Elsa and The Evil Queen have joined you! To make this celebration extra special, your “Once Upon a Time” Magic Shot is complimentary for a limited time! Just have your photo taken at the location at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, claim your photo atMyDisneyPhotoPass.com and download your “Once Upon a Time” Magic Shot for no charge*.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Reminder! Cotton-top Tamarins Return to Discovery Island: The cotton-top tamarins were not out for guest viewing while preparations for a new enclosure, located across from Creature Comforts were going on. The new home features a pair of cotton-top tamarins—Gemma and Draco. Cotton-top tamarins are a favorite at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park!
Reminder! Affection Section Closed for Refurbishment: The Affection Section petting area at Rafiki’s Planet Watch is closed for refurbishment through Nov. 10. Although Affection Section is closed, Guests may still experience the animal encounters in and around Conservation Station. Other offerings at Rafiki’s, including Gi-Tar Dan, Out of the Wild merchandise location and Chip & Dale character greetings are still available during this time. The Affection Section will reopen to Guests Nov. 11.
Reminder! Discovery Island Popcorn Kiosk Reopened: The Discovery Island Popcorn kiosk reopened after refurbishment on Oct. 11.
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
New! One Year Anniversary for Newest DVC Resort: The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is celebrating its one-year anniversary on Thursday, Oct 23.
New! Disney’s Beach Club Resort Refurbishment: Disney’s Beach Club Resort will be undergoing refurbishment through the next 20 months. Guest rooms will be refurbished with new hard and soft goods.
New! Travel + Leisure Readers Recognize Disney Vacation Club Resorts: Congratulations to the seven Disney Vacation Club Resorts included in Travel + Leisure’s roundup of the top 50 hotels for families in the United States for 2014. Voted on by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine, the honored resorts include: Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas.
New! Disney Visa Discount Increased for Resort Carriage Rides: Disney Visa® Cardmembers will now receive a 15% discount for carriage rides at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. When booking this discount, you must use a Disney Visa Card for the guarantee. You will also be asked to present the card at check-in to validate the discount.
Reminder! Hess Gas Station near BoardWalk Temporarily Closed: Due to maintenance and updating of equipment, the Hess gas station and convenience store near Disney’s BoardWalk Resort will be temporarily closed beginning at 7:00am on Monday, October 13. It is anticipated this project will take one to three weeks to complete.
Walt Disney World Resort – General
New! Made with Magic Replaces Glow with the Show: Formerly known as “Glow with the Show,” Made with Magic is the new name for all light up items that interact with select Disney nighttime spectaculars. As a complement to “Glow with the Show” ears introduced a few years ago, Made with Magic items will excite, delight, light up and interact with select Disney experiences at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland. Products include Mickey Mouse ear hat, Minnie Mouse-inspired headband, Mickey Mouse glove and Sorcerer Mickey wand. Each item will retail at $25.00. The Sorcerer Mickey wand will have multiple light-up functions and will give guests the ability to change the light patterns of other Made With Magic items. Guests can also place the Made With Magic items in a color-changing demo mode, when they aren’t present at “Made With Magic”-enabled entertainment.
New! Starbucks Menus Updated with Holiday Offerings: Beginning Nov. 12, Main Street Bakery at Magic Kingdom Park and Fountain View at Epcot a will offer a variety of holiday items as part of the Starbucks 2014 Holiday Promotions. Soft launch will occur on Nov. 1.
New! Two New Kiosks Open at Downtown Disney: Two new kiosks recently opened in the Lily Pad area near Fulton’s Crab House at Downtown Disney. Guests can grab great gifts on the go at Set the Bar, as well as Sublime Gifts and Finds – both operated by Something Silver, Inc. Both kiosks offer a 15 percent discount for Disney Annual Passholders. Set The Bar is a dream shop for the cocktail enthusiast, where they curate a selection of beautifully crafted cocktail and
entertainment wares, both nostalgic and novel. From decorative flasks and cocktail shakers to inventive wine and spirits chilling products, Set the Bar has it all for both the novice and the expert. Sublime Gifts and Finds seeks to delight guests with new and interesting products like unique greeting cards, inspirational books and journals, hand-poured soy wax candles and elegant ceramics, to name a few. It’s like a treasure hunt you can peruse – always finding something new, something beautiful, and something you can easily envision giving as a gift or being part of your home.
Reminder! PANDORA Jewelry Coming to Disney Parks: Coming this November, PANDORA’s Disney jewelry collection features hand-finished .925 sterling silver and 14K gold charms inspired by some of Disney’s most beloved characters. The image below showcases the new sterling silver Disney Parks “Wonderful World” bracelet, which features PANDORA’s unique threading system and a ball clasp engraved with the castle logo. Select merchandise locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts will release the 16 Disney Parks-specific PANDORA Jewelry items beginning November 3. You will also find select items on our Disney Parks online store on that day at DisneyStore.com/Pandora. Guests can also find an additional 25 charm designs from the Disney jewelry collection at PANDORA stores throughout North America, starting October 31.
New! Brand New Appearing at Downtown Disney House of Blues: Brand New will perform at House of Blues at Downtown Disney WestSide on Oct 27, 2014. Opening acts are Cymbals Eat Guitars and Foxing. Doors open at 7:00 pm, show starts at 8:00 pm. The concert venue is general admission standing. This event is all ages. Tickets are $37.99.
New! MyMagic+ Honored with ‘Innovation by Design’ Award: Per the Disney Parks Blog: “We’re pleased to share that MyMagic+ – our collection of tools taking the guest experience to the next level at theWalt Disney World Resort – was recently honored with an “Innovation by Design” award by the popular magazine and website, Fast Company. MyMagic+ received the top spot in the “Experience Design” category when Fast Company revealed the 10 best designs of the year at their annual “Innovation by Design” Awards and Conference in New York City. Winning entries were honored as the smartest, most ambitious design experience developed in concert with business and culture.”
Merchandise Events
This year’s 2014 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival has wonderful merchandise, as always, but here are a few other special appearances you won’t want to miss.
Festival Center – Paola Gutierrez (October 3, 24 and November 7) and William Silvers (October 4, 18 and November 1)
Art of Disney – Rob Kaz (October 24 – 26) and Michelle St. Laurent (October 30 and November 1 – 2)
Coming in November! Tim Rogerson and The Beekman Boys.
October 10 – November 3: The latest releases from Precious Moments doll designer and artist Linda Rick, including her new Halloween collection are coming! Linda will appear throughout the day October 10 – 12 and again October 31 – November 1 at Once Upon A Toy in Downtown Disney Marketplace.
Lori is a lifelong fan and visitor of Walt Disney World! Her love of Disney World has grown through visits with her own family as well as through planning magical vacations for others! Lori is an expert in maximizing vacations while sticking to a travel budget. Contact her about saving an extra 5% off your Disney vacation with an insider tip! Book your vacation with Lori at (845) 698- 0102 or request a price online.
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