Happy HalloWishes Dessert Party Reservations Now Available

Halloween Party 1

Every year Magic Kingdom celebrates the Halloween season with the family friendly Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on select nights September through October 31.  There are special parades, exciting dance parties, stunning fireworks, and tons of trick-or-treating stations filled with candy for everyone! Adults and children alike really get into the spirit of the event by dressing in costume, trick-or-treating, and dancing the night away with all of the characters. This year Disney is offering a Happy HalloWishes Dessert Party as part of the fun. Here’s everything you need to know about the premium event courtesy of Disney:


On select evenings from Friday, September 2 through Monday, October 31, enjoy Mickey’s “Boo-To-You” Halloween Parade from a special reserved Main Street, U.S.A. location. Experience fun, frightful floats and kooky-spooky Disney Characters dressed in their Halloween finest—followed by a private dessert party with to-die-for views of the Happy HalloWishes fireworks bursting above Cinderella Castle!

AHalloween Party 6t a table draped in black tablecloth with a flickering jack-o’-lantern, dine on Halloween-themed cupcakes and desserts prepared that same day by our pastry chef, with a bountiful buffet of sweet treats like chocolate-dipped strawberries, chocolate mousse, ice cream, cheeses and fresh, seasonal fruits. Make a toast to the best ghost at your table with sparkling cider, signature lemonades, specialty Halloween drinks, hot chocolate, coffee or tea—and then marvel as the sky above explodes with color, music and light!

The Happy HalloWishes Dessert Premium Package costs $79 for adults or $47 for children (ages 3 to 9), plus tax. A separate Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ticket is also required and is not included in the price of the package.

The package will be available on the following dates:

  • September 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29 and 30
  • October 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30 and 31

For more information or reservations, please click here or call 407-WDW-DINE. Remember tickets for this event are extremely limited, so book now before they’re gone!


Still need tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? Here’s all of the info:

September 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, and 25: $72 plus tax (ages 10+), $67 plus tax (ages 3-9)
September 29 and 30: $79 plus tax (ages 10+), $74 plus tax (ages 3-9)
September 23: $85 plus tax (ages 10+), $80 plus tax (ages 3-9)
October 2 and 6 $86 plus tax (ages 10+), $81 plus tax (ages 3-9)
October 4, 10, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, and 27: $91 plus tax (ages 10+), $86 plus tax (ages 3-9)
October 7, 14, 21, 28, and 30: $95 plus tax (ages 10+), $90 plus tax (ages 3-9)
October 31: $105 plus tax (ages 10+), $100 plus tax (ages 3-9)

The party is held at Magic Kingdom from 7pm to 12am. You’ll want to purchase your tickets as soon as possible if you plan to attend, because they do sell out. Please click here to purchase now!

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Excited for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? Will you be booking
the dessert party? Please leave a comment!

ABC’s “The Chew” To Broadcast From The 2016 Epcot International Food And Wine Festival

The Chew 1

Disney is releasing more and more information about what we can expect during this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. A fan favorite back this year is ABC’s “The Chew” returning once again to film a week’s worth of episodes during the foodie event. Here’s the latest details courtesy of Disney:


ABC’s Emmy Award-winning lifestyle series, “The Chew,” returns to Walt Disney World Resort this fall to broadcast five shows from the 21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.  “The Chew” shows, to record October 5 – 7 against the park’s iconic Spaceship Earth backdrop with co-hosts Mario Batali, Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly and Daphne Oz, will air on the ABC Television Network October 10 – 14, 2016, at 1pm EST, 12pm PT (check local listings).

The Chew 2The dynamic, Emmy Award-winning co-hosts, who delighted audiences last year with stories of their Disney adventures as they whipped up delectable dishes and drinks, will share tasty new recipes and a bounty of festival surprises with their Epcot audiences.  Throughout the festival’s 62-day culinary celebration, which runs September 14 – Novenber 14, “The Chew” also will feature segments highlighting food and beverages from “around the world” of Walt Disney World Resort and its four theme parks and Disney Springs.

Fans of “The Chew” and the annual Epcot festival can savor bites inspired by the popular talk show at The Chew Collective in the Next Eats festival area of Future World.  Three delicious dishes – Grilled Beef Skewer with Romaine, Apricots and Feta Cheese; Ricotta and Zucchini Ravioli with Rustic Tomato Sauce and Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Mousse with a Caramel Drizzle – will be the stars of the menu. Festival guests also can sip this year’s exclusive new Festival Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon at The Chew Collective.  Last year marked a historic first when festival marketplaces expanded into the park’s Future World area.

“We had a fantastic time filming our show last year at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and sharing the magic with Park guests and our home viewers.  It’s the perfect pairing!” said Mark Schneider, executive producer of “The Chew”  “We look forward to returning for even more fun and great food with our fans and celebrity guests. For us, it’s a terrific way to kick off our new season.”

The Chew 3Epcot vice president Melissa Valiquette said this year’s return of “The Chew” promises plenty of “foodie fun” for festival guests. “We’re delighted that ‘The Chew’ will return this fall to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival,” Valiquette said.  “Our festival fans are also fans of ‘The Chew,’ and we welcome this powerhouse of a daytime show that dishes up foodie fun with its own unique brand of culinary magic to our ever-evolving festival.”

At the Festival Center, guests can watch screenings of “The Chew” show highlights, cooking and entertaining tips, and same-day episodes of “The Chew” Monday through Friday at 1pm. Instructions on how to obtain show taping tickets will be announced at a later date.

In addition, “The Chew” will re-broadcast its 2015 shows taped at Epcot the week of July 25, 2016 as part of the network’s summer programming lineup (Monday-Friday, check local listings).


501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Are you a fan of “The Chew”? Are you hoping to see the taping?
Please leave a comment; we would love to hear from you!

New Experiences And Returning Favorites At The 2016 Epcot International Food And Wine Festival

F&W 2016 4

Now that the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival has come to an end, Disney is releasing more information about what we can expect during this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. With more celebrity chefs, dining options and brand new resort cooking experiences, this year’s festival is destined to be one of the best. Here’s the latest details courtesy of Disney:


A new lineup of popular celebrity chefs and a series of first-time Disney resort cooking and dining experiences will add fresh culinary appeal to the 21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival presented by Chase at Walt Disney World Resort.

The annual Disney tour of tastes from six continents, running 62 days from September 14 – November 14, has become one of America’s top food festivals and features inspired flavors at more than 30 global marketplaces. For the second consecutive year, ABC’s Emmy Award-winning lifestyle series, “The Chew,” will arrive to produce a full week of programs on the show’s exclusive Epcot festival stage.

  • Culinary notables Geoffrey Zakarian, Maneet Chauhan, Duff Goldman, Elliott Farmer, Masaharu Morimoto and Graham Elliot will step up to the stove to host their first festival special events such as seminars and culinary demonstrations. Other chef icons like Robert Irvine, Cat Cora, Norman Van Aken, Elizabeth Falkner, Buddy Valastro and Jamie Deen will return in 2016 to entertain foodies and inspire their palates at premium events that include Party for the Senses grand tastings featuring reimagined entertainment.
  • First-time festival resort experiences include Brunch with a Twist at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa; Culinary Adventures with a Master Chef for a hands-on chef’s table experience in a professional working kitchen; The Secret of Flavor three-course lunch that gives guests a “sensory-food connection” at Yachtsman Steakhouse; and a tropical “Zombie” encounter during Behind the Scenes at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
  • “Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” hands-on workshops at the Festival Center will offer guests a chance to learn a variety of culinary skills from chefs, bakers, mixologists and other pros.
  • For a second year, global marketplaces will extend into Future World to offer a wider range of taste sensations. New this year will be: The Chew Collective in the Next Eats area of Future World; the Wine & Dine Studio and Chocolate Studio, also in Future World; plus Islands of the Caribbean marketplace in World Showcase.

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. Up to 47 percent of the menu food items are new or reimagined dishes.

Boyz II MenMultiple 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 September 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 culinary demos, beverage seminars and a variety of other events spanning the festival’s 62 days.

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

RemyRatatouille returns — Chef Remy of “Ratatouille” returns with his fun-for-the-family culinary scavenger hunt that features six brand-new collectible pins this year.

Festival Center cooks on all burners –Festival Center highlights will include new festival merchandise, 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.

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.

Intimate dining and tasting events to book will include the “Umami” Tokyo Pairing and other Epcot restaurant experiences as well as multi-course lunches and dinners at Disney Springs and resort restaurants.

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.

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) for more details.


501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Will you be attending the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival?
Please leave a comment; we would love to hear from you!

Disney World Enthusiast Weekly Round Up July 3, 2016

Here’s the Disney World Enthusiast Weekly Round Up for July 3, 2016!

Latest Disney World Enthusiast Articles

Electrical Light ParadeTip Of The Week

When there are two performances of the evening parade scheduled at Magic Kingdom, the second show will always be less crowded as so many exhausted guests have already left the park for the day making securing the ideal viewing spot even easier.

Looking for more tips like this? Click here!

Wishes 1Disney Did You Know

Every night during Wishes at Magic Kingdom 655 individual pyrotechnics are launched from 11 different locations to create the magical nighttime spectacular.

Walt DisneyWalt’s Words

“Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever.”

Creative Countdown 2Disney World Enthusiast Giveaway

From now through Friday, July 15, 2016 at midnight, please enter daily to win a Countdown To Disney. Just click here and follow the instructions to be entered into the giveaway. Be sure to take advantage of the bonus entries, and please tell your friends and family to enter as well!

Behind The Magic Podcast

Be sure to catch up on this week’s episodes when Zeek, Rachel, Jerry, and I discuss Disney news, rumors, and so much more.

  • Monday ~ Mouse Whispers No More Rockin?
  • Tuesday ~ WDW Safety Changes
  • Wednesday ~ Behind The Further Adventure’s Of Walt’s Frozen Head
  • Thursday ~ Behind Big Thunder Mountain
  • Friday ~ Behind Alice Through The Looking Glass

For more details about our podcast and to listen, please click here!

Featured Advertiser

BitbeltHave you heard of this incredible gadget – Bitbelt? If you aren’t familiar, this handy creation secures your MagicBand so that it doesn’t accidentally become lost. Anyone that carries a child, a backpack, or wears a jacket at Disney World knows how easily a MagicBand can become unclasped. That’s where this little beauty comes in! Simply place a Bitbelt on your MagicBand and save yourself the trouble of having to search for a lost band or take the time to get a replacement. Bitbelts come in a dozen different colors and in two sizes – adult and junior. They are only $4.99 each plus they offer discounted pricing when you purchase multiple Bitbelts in one order. And if you think Bitbelts are great for MagicBands, they are also available for your fitness trackers. Never lose a pricey Fitbit again! For more information about Bitbelt, please click here!

501 WaysFeatured Book

The difference between an average and an outstanding Walt Disney World trip is in the details. Kristi Fredericks helps make your dream vacation a reality with her numerous tips and tricks to save money, time, and sanity while at the happiest place on earth in her new book “501 Ways To Make The Most Of Your Walt Disney World Vacation”. For more information, to read an excerpt, or to purchase, please click here.

Considering A Disney World Vacation

Book Your Disney VacationJennifer Hardy, a Disney Vacation Planner with Destinations in Florida, is the official travel partner of Disney World Enthusiast. She can help you book your next Disney vacation whether it is to Disney World, Disneyland, or aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Currently Jennifer has some incredible deals for discounted travel to Disney World. For more information about Jennifer’s amazing and absolutely free services or to get a free no-obligation quote, please click here!

You’re Invited

Next Disney VacationJennifer Hardy, from Destinations in Florida, and I have teamed up to create a brand new Facebook Group called Next Disney Vacation! It is the perfect place to talk about your next Disney vacation, voice your opinions, ask your questions, get them answered, and share the magic. Whether it’s Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, or the Disney Cruise Line, Jennifer and I are ready to help. Everyday you’ll find posts, photos, trivia, tips, and more that we find all throughout the Disney Universe. If you’re counting the days until your next Disney vacation or just dreaming of one, we would love to have you join in the fun and conversation! Please click here to be a part of our group!

dwe logo small size white bkgdComing Up Next Week

Next week I’ll have some dining and planning information plus all of the latest Disney World news!

Have a wonderful week!

Behind The Magic Podcast Recap June 27 – July 3, 2016

Welcome to Season 6 of Behind The Magic Podcast!

This “snack credit” of podcasts is a unique 15-minute Disney podcast hosted by Zeek, Rachel, Jerry and myself. Every day Monday through Friday you can join us for entertaining Disney information, discussions, guests, games, and more. We’ll be surprising you each and every day with our funny stories and Disney insider knowledge. And of course, we’ll also keep you up-to-date on all of the latest Disney news and gossip.

Here’s a quick peek at what you can expect each day:

  • Monday ~ Mouse Whispers Mondays with all of the latest Disney gossip and rumors!
  • Tuesday ~ Topical Tuesdays with exciting Disney discussions!
  • Wednesday ~ With Us Wednesdays with celebrity guests from around the Disney Universe!
  • Thursday ~ Theme Park Thursdays with fun information, facts, and stories about the parks!
  • Friday ~ Feature Film Fridays with fun information, facts, and reviews of Disney films!

This Week’s Episodes

This week’s episodes include:

  • Monday ~ Mouse Whispers No More Rockin?
  • Tuesday ~ WDW Safety Changes
  • Wednesday ~ Behind The Further Adventure’s Of Walt’s Frozen Head
  • Thursday ~ Behind Big Thunder Mountain
  • Friday ~ Behind Alice Through The Looking Glass

For more details about each episode and to listen, please click here!

We hope you enjoy our show!