Tag Archives: Walt Disney World

Feb 25 2016

More Star Wars Experiences In Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Star Wars Fireworks

One of the best things about Walt Disney World is when they take something away, they usually give something back even bigger and better! If you’ve been following the Disney news lately, you’ve probably heard about the many closures happening at the beginning of April at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The good news for Star Wars fans is that Disney has just announced several new additions coming our way. Here’s the scoop:

Following the extraordinary popularity of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Walt Disney World Resort is unveiling even more Star Wars-themed entertainment at Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting this spring – including one of the most elaborate fireworks and projection shows in the park’s history.

Symphony In The Stars 1Just in time for spring, that “galaxy far, far away’’ will be closer than ever with the April 4th arrival of the new Star Wars live entertainment experience Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away and a menacing First Order stormtrooper procession at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And to kick off summer, the park is launching a new nightly fireworks and projection show called Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular that will eclipse anything of its kind in the park’s history.

These new Star Wars entertainment elements, coupled with other recently-added Star Wars experiences, make Disney’s Hollywood Studios the place for fans to celebrate their Star Wars passion.

Here are details on these latest entertainment features coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this spring and summer:

APRIL 4:

  • Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away: This new live, stage show celebrates iconic moments from the Star Wars saga with live vignettes featuring popular Star Wars characters, such as Kylo Ren, Chewbacca, Darth Vader and Darth Maul. The show will take place multiple times each day at the Center Stage area near The Great Movie Ride.
  • Star Wars WeekendStormtroopers March: At various times each day, the menacing Captain Phasma will lead a squad of First Order stormtroopers as they march in formation from Star Wars Launch Bay to the Center Stage area in an intimidating demonstration of the First Order’s indomitable strength.

SUMMER:

  • Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular: As the next generation of the current Star Wars-inspired fireworks show, this blockbuster nightly show, unprecedented in Disney’s Hollywood Studios history, will light up the sky with Star Wars-themed fireworks, lasers, light projections and other special effects combined with Star Wars-themed music and iconic characters and scenes from throughout the saga.

Through these state-of-the-art special effects that project onto the nearby Chinese Theatre and other surrounding buildings, guests will gaze at the twin suns of Tatooine, push through a field of battle droids, navigate through an asteroid field, soar down the trench of the Death Star and deliver the final blow to destroy Starkiller Base. The show, which will unfold through a series of acts, will be punctuated by a tower of fire as well as powerful spotlight beams that create lightsabers in the sky.

These latest Star Wars experiences join other new Star Wars elements recently launched at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, such as Star Wars Launch Bay. Since its debut in December, Star Wars Launch Bay has become a popular and central location where guests immerse themselves in the Star Wars saga through themed galleries, large-scale artifacts and Star Wars character encounters, including recently-added Kylo Ren, the menacing character from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Other recent additions that have attracted legions of fans since their December debut include:

  • Star Wars: Path of the Jedi, a cinematic reel celebrating the Star Wars
  • Star ToursThe enhanced Star Tours – The Adventures Continue that includes new characters and a new journey from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
  • The reimagined Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple, featuring new characters, including the Seventh Sister from the Disney X D series Star Wars Rebels.
  • The “Symphony in the Stars: A Galactic Spectacular’’, a nightly fireworks show set to Star Wars-themed music that will be reimagined as Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular this summer.
  • First Order stormtrooper patrols.
  • Star Wars-inspired food and beverage offerings.

With these new entertainment elements, Walt Disney World Resort guests can enjoy even more extensions of the record-setting movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens and further immerse themselves into the Star Wars galaxy like never before. Each entertainment element offers guests a uniquely immersive Star Wars experience, all adding to an unforgettable day and night at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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:

Which Star Wars addition are you most excited about?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

Feb 24 2016

New Olaf Meet And Greet Coming To Hollywood Studios This Spring

Olaf

If you are a fan of the adorable Olaf from Disney’s blockbuster animated film Frozen or at least know someone that is, then it’s time to book your next trip to Walt Disney World! Debuting this spring at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Olaf will be greeting guests with warm hugs at a brand new meet and greet location, Celebrity Spotlight, located in the Echo Lake area of the park.

While no official date has been released yet, rumors are that this spot will not be ready in time for the busy March Spring Break season and we can anticipate an April opening date at the earliest. Check back often as I will update this post as soon as more details are released!

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 excited to meet Olaf?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

Feb 23 2016

Full Menus For The 2016 Epcot Flower And Garden Festival Outdoor Kitchens

Epcot International Flower And Garden Festival

This year the 2016 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will be held for 90 days from March 2 through May 30. The theme is “Fresh Epcot” and once again this springtime event will feature beautiful blooms, exciting entertainment, and loads of delicious drinks and dishes. A few of the highlights are:

  • Epcot Flower & Garden FestivalDisney themed topiaries
  • Magical gardens and exhibits
  • Garden Rocks Concert Series
  • Fun festival themed merchandise
  • Entertainment for the kids
  • Festival Event Center offering hands-on demonstrations
  • Outdoor Kitchens with delicious drinks and dishes

Outdoor Kitchens

The Flower & Garden Festival will feature thirteen outdoor kitchens very much like what you see at the Food & Wine Festival in the fall. This year’s kitchens include Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market, Cider House, Fleur de Lys, Florida Fresh, Hanami, La Isla Fresca, Jardin de Fiestas, Lotus House, Pineapple Promenade, Primavera Kitchen, Taste of Marrakesh, THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews, and Urban Farm Eats. Be sure to pick up a Garden Passport and get stamped at your stops along the way. Passports will be available at the Festival Event Center, all Outdoor Kitchens, plus select merchandise locations. With just a few days until the kick off of the festival, Disney has released the full menus. Better grab a snack, you’re about to get very hungry!

Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market near Germany Pavilion

  • Chicken Fricassee with Green Asparagus and Peas served with Uncle Ben’s® Rice Pilaf
  • Roasted Bratwurst with Curry Ketchup and Paprika-spiced Chips
  • “Armer Ritter” Egg Battered Toast with Cherry Compote and Powdered Sugar
  • Hugo-Charles de Fere “Organic” Brut with Elderflower and Mint
  • Paulaner Original Munich Lager
  • Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen
  • Warsteiner Dunkel
  • Köstritzer Schwarzbier Black Lager

Cider House near United Kingdom Pavilion

  • Land-harvested Field Greens with Apples, Dried Blueberries, Stilton Cheese and Apple Cider Vinaigrette
  • Pear Cider-brined Shredded Corned Beef with Braised Cabbage and Pears and Branston Dressing
  • House-made Potato and Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare
  • Freshly Baked Lemon Scone with Crème Fraîche and Mixed Berries
  • Sonoma “The Pitchfork” Organic Pear Hard Cider, Healdsburg, CA
  • McKenzie’s Black Cherry Hard Cider, West Seneca, NY
  • Keel & Curley Mad Man Blueberry Hard Cider, Plant City, FL
  • Cigar City Brewing Tampa-style Lager, Tampa, FL
  • Snakebite – Cigar City Tampa-style Lager mixed with McKenzie’s Black Cherry Hard Cider
  • Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider, California (non-alcoholic)

Fleur de Lys near France Pavilion

  • Tarte à l’Onion Alsacienne – Alsatian Onion Tart with Sautéed Onions, Fresh Thyme and Rosemary on a Flaky Puff Pastry Crust
  • Cassoulet au Confit de Canard – Pulled Duck Confit with Braised Flageolet Beans
  • Macaron Chocolat Framboise – Large Raspberry Macaron with Chocolate Fudge and Raspberry Jam
  • Ice Pop Grand Marnier Peach Cocktail – Grand Marnier Peach Raspberry, Vodka, Iced Tea
  • La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush – Grey Goose Vodka Orange, St. Germain Liquor, White and Red Cranberry Juice
  • Merlot Bordeaux, Château La Gravière, 2013
  • Kir Imperial – Sparkling Wine with Chambord Black Raspberry Liquor
  • Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 – Fruity White Beer with Citrus Notes

Florida Fresh between Morocco and France Pavilions

  • Kale Salad with Dried Cherries, Almonds, Goat Cheese and White Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • Shrimp and Stone-ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes and Cilantro
  • Florida Larder Board – Orlando-made Ricotta Cheese, Cahaba Farms Micro Onions, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic, Country Pâté and House-made Pickles
  • Key Lime Sparkling Wine, Florida Orange Groves Winery, St. Petersburg, FL
  • Sea Dog Acai Berry Hefeweizen, Clearwater, FL
  • Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale, Florida Beer Company, Cape Canaveral, FL
  • Watermelon Cucumber Slush with Hendrick’s Gin
  • Watermelon Cucumber Slush (non-alcoholic)
  • Fresh-squeezed Watermelon Juice (non-alcoholic)

Hanami near Japan Pavilion

  • Frushi – Fresh Pineapple, Strawberry and Melon Rolled with Raspberry Coconut Rice, sprinkled with Toasted Coconut and Whipped Cream on the side
  • Chicken Edamame Bun – Steamed Bun filled with Chicken and Edamame and topped with Curry Sauce
  • Beef Teriyaki Udon – Thin-sliced Beef, Onions and Noodles tossed on the grill with Soy and Ginger
  • Sapporo Draft Beer
  • Yuzu Plum Wine Slushy – Sweet refreshing taste infused with the tangy flavor of Citrus
  • Suigei Sake – Bold flavor with a crisp, clean finish

La Isla Fresca near World Showcase Promenade

  • Jerk-spice Grouper or Chicken with Mango Salsa, Chayote and Green Papaya Slaw with Lime-Cilantro Vinaigrette
  • Jamaican-braised Beef with Pigeon Pea Rice and Micro Cilantro
  • Tres Leches with Guava Purée
  • Red Stripe Jamaican Style Lager
  • Frozen Simply Tropical™ Juice Drink with Cruzan Mango Rum
  • Frozen Simply Tropical™ Juice Drink (non-alcoholic)

Jardin de Fiestas near Mexico Pavilion

  • Tacos de Camarón – Tempura Shrimp served with Hibiscus Flower, Caramelized Onions and Habanero Sauce
  • Corn Tortilla Quesadilla served with Roasted Mushrooms and Zucchini Blossom topped with Green Tomatillo Sauce
  • Flan de Rosas served with Hibiscus Reduction
  • Tecate Light Beer
  • Rose Margarita
  • Elderflower Watermelon Sangria

Lotus House near China Pavilion

  • Gaoli Beef Bun
  • Beijing-style Candied Strawberries
  • Vegetable Spring Roll with Orange Sauce
  • Oolong Peach Bubble Tea
  • Kung Fu Punch – Vodka, Triple Sec, Mango and Orange Juice
  • Plum Wine
  • Honey Mango Wine Cooler
  • Dragon Pearl – Beer, Honey, Cream and Tapioca Pearls
  • Tsingtao Beer

Pineapple Promenade near World Showcase Promenade

  • Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Taro Chips
  • Pineapple Soft-serve
  • Sparkling Pineapple Wine, Florida Orange Groves Winery St. Petersburg, FL
  • Ocean Tropical Pineapple Hard Cider, Florida Beer Company Cape Canaveral, FL
  • Pineapple Soft-serve with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum
  • Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (non-alcoholic)

Primavera Kitchen near Italy Pavilion

  • Pollo alla Parmigiana – Breaded Breast of Chicken, Tomato, Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese
  • Mezze Lune Primavera – Egg Pasta stuffed with Ricotta and Spinach in a Creamy Sauce with Spring Vegetables and Pecorino Cheese
  • Cremoso al Pistacchio – Pistacchio Cream, Strawberries and Mascarpone Cream
  • Pinot Grigio
  • Chianti
  • Prosecco
  • Corbinello
  • Moscato
  • Bellini – Sparkling wine and Peach purée
  • Rossini – Sparkling wine and marinated Strawberries
  • Frozen Italian Primavera – Assorted fruit slushy, Limoncello and Vodka
  • Moretti Lager
  • Moretti La Rossa
  • Italian Seasonal Selection

Taste of Marrakesh near Morocco Pavilion

  • Harissa Chicken Kebab with Sweet Couscous Salad
  • Falafel Pocket with Cucumber-Tomato Salad and Tahini Sauce
  • Baklava
  • Desert Rose – Sparkling Wine topped with Pomegranate Liqueur
  • White Sangria
  • Guerrouane Red Wine
  • Casa Beer

THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews near The American Adventure Pavilion

  • Pulled Pig Slider with Crispy Onions and Coleslaw
  • Smoked Pork Ribs with Roasted Corn Salad
  • Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños
  • Warm Chocolate Cake with Bourbon-Salted Caramel Sauce and Spiced Pecans
  • The Great American Wine Company Red Blend, Sonoma, CA
  • Funky Buddha Floridian Hefeweizen, Oakland Park, FL
  • Orlando Brewing Company Uncle Matt’s Organic Grapefruit Pale Ale, Orlando, FL
  • 3 Daughters Rod Bender Red Ale, St. Petersburg, FL
  • Shipyard Maple Bacon Stout, Clearwater, FL
  • Frozen Lemonade with Firefly Blackberry Moonshine
  • Frozen Lemonade (non-alcoholic)
  • Sweet Tea (non-alcoholic)

Urban Farm Eats near Pineapple Promenade

  • Watermelon Salad with Pickled Onions, B&W Gourmet Farms Baby Arugula, Feta and Balsamic Reduction
  • Vegetable and White Bean “Naanwich” with Arugula Pesto and Oven-dried Tomatoes featuring Seeds of Change® Quinoa, Brown & Red Rice
  • Seared Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom Ragoût, Spring Vegetables and Marble Potatoes
  • Avivé Natural Peach Sparkling Wine, France
  • King Estate Acrobat Pinot Noir, Oregon
  • Sierra Nevada Otra Vez, Chico, CA
  • Urban Mary

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:

Which Outdoor Kitchen are you most excited to try?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

Feb 22 2016

Fun Facts About The 2016 Epcot International Flower And Garden Festival

Flower & Garden 1

After months of winter here in Colorado, I’m definitely having spring fever. In just a few days it will be time for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival to begin. This year I will have the pleasure of spending several days in Walt Disney World enjoying the festivities. I am beyond thrilled and of course, I am already counting down the days. Disney has lots of exciting things planned including past favorites as well as some new offerings. Here are some “fun facts” about the event courtesy of Disney to get you in the spirit:

Disney guests can enjoy 90 days of fresh festival fun during the 23rd Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 2 – May 30, 2016. Thirty million multi-hued blooms, 100-plus whimsical topiaries, nearly 1,000 native butterflies and dozens of new Outdoor Kitchen food and beverage tastes add multi-sensory festival fun to the “Fresh Epcot”-themed Walt Disney World Resort event.

Among this year’s fun festival facts:

  • Epcot Flower & Garden Festival30 million blooms blanket the park throughout the festival, which runs 90 colorful days and requires two complete crop rotations to keep floral displays fresh and seasonal.
  • 13 Outdoor Kitchens include the new La Isla Fresca and Cider House kitchens and gardens. Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market returns at Germany pavilion. Dozens of new sweet and savory food and beverage menu items add tasting fun and variety to the festival. Each marketplace will feature a garden planted with select produce and herbs to represent more than 50 overall beverage choices and more than 30 food items featured.
  • The festival’s front-entrance Fresh Food, Fun & Flowers topiary scene, inspired by a 1943 Donald Duck comic book called The Victory Garden features three new Disney Character topiaries — the first-ever Huey, Dewey and Louie topiaries in a comical gardening scene. More than 30 varieties of flowers, plants, and other garden materials are used to create the scene.
  • Epcot Flower & Garden FestivalThe new Floral Sun topiary scene behind Spaceship Earth paints the landscape with golden  colors, and 15 yellow “sunbursts” of red and yellow Joseph’s coat pop up in a Future World topiary bed.
  • Music Garden Melodies with Fab Five topiaries, a themed playground for children complete with innovative play systems featuring interactive musical gadgets, is one of the largest festival gardens created at nearly one-third acre. The garden includes a collection of plants with features that resemble musical instruments as part of the ambiance.
  • Anna and Elsa in full floral splendor appear (new last year) move to a fresh topiary vignette straight from the hit Disney film, “Frozen.” In the Norway pavilion scene that’s wired to twinkle by night, Elsa works her magic to conjure a colorful spring garden. About 25 varieties of flowers are planted to evoke the scene. Florals including hot pink, red, and orange Gerberas, blue and yellow Violas, violet Petunias and purple Dianthus blanket the spring transformation. Anna and Elsa topiaries are each about 6-1/2 feet tall and are created with plants that include variegated Ficus, green Ficus and the succulent Sedum Coral Reef. But Elsa will look taller because she’s standing closer to guests than Anna by about 8 feet.
  • At least 25 different plants, grasses and mosses of various colors, including pink and red begonias, dusty miller, palm fiber, palm seeds, ficus and lichen, are used to create and define facial and other features of festival character topiaries. The topiary team uses about 200 one-pound boxes of hairpins to attach plants and flowers to the topiaries.
  • Epcot Flower & Garden FestivalNearly 1,000 native butterflies represent up to 10 species at the expansive Butterflies on the Go butterfly house presented by GoGo squeeZ. Among the garden’s two dozen nectar plants are passion flower, coral honeysuckle, lantana, butterfly bush, blue porterweed, scarlet milkweed and canna lily.
  • 240 extra playground hours add extra festival magic for children and their families with the illuminated garden playgrounds staying open through park closing.
  • More than 500,000 plants, trees and shrubs are planted for the festival; 250,000 of those are annual blossoms installed for the festival.
  • Festival plants include 60 different species of trees, 47 types of palms, and 48 varieties of bedding plants.
  • 78 hands-on gardening demonstrations and seminars will be presented.
  • Forty 8-to-9-foot tall “flower towers” in an orange-and-green sunburst theme make colorful statements across the festival landscape.
  • MEpcot International Flower And Garden Festivalore than 200 floating mini-gardens, each three feet in diameter, of multi-hued New Guinea impatiens provide splashes of color on two ponds that border the walkway between Future World and World Showcase.
  • 700 container gardens of flowers, herbs, plants and vegetables in clay pots, barrels and urns enhance the landscape throughout Epcot.
  • 400 Walt Disney World horticulturists are needed to install the festival landscape, topiaries and many exhibits; 100 Epcot horticulturists maintain topiaries and other festival displays.
  • It takes more than one full year and about 24,000 cast member hours to prepare for the annual festival.
  • The festival’s weekend Garden Rocks Concert Series includes 13 bands known for their Top 40 hits across four decades. This year’s musical hit-makers from the 1960s through 1990s include four new-to-the-festival acts Blood, Sweat & Tears, Georgia Satellites, Darlene Love, and BRIAN HOWE, former lead singer of Bad Company.

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:

What part of the Flower & Garden Festival are you most excited about?
Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

Feb 21 2016

Disney World Enthusiast Weekly Round Up February 21, 2016

Here’s the Disney World Enthusiast Weekly Round Up for February 21, 2016!

Latest Disney World Enthusiast Articles

Space MountainTip Of The Week

If you are visiting Magic Kingdom when the park is open late, you’ll be happy to know that the crowd level drops dramatically after the fireworks. Many guests choose to leave after the show to try to beat the lines for transportation that will form once the park closes. You can take advantage of this extra hour or so to ride some of the more popular attractions that normally have lengthy waits. During one of my recent visits on a crowd level 10 day, my kids and I were able to walk right on Space Mountain at one in the morning!

Looking for more tips like this? Click here!

Tree of LifeDisney Did You Know

It took a team of 20 artists to carve approximately 320 animals into the Tree of Life.

Walt DisneyWalt’s Words

“When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.”

Wishes CDDisney World Enthusiast Giveaway

Look for a new giveaway beginning Friday, February 26, 2016! Good luck, everyone!

Behind The Magic Podcast

Be sure to catch up on this week’s episodes when Zeek, Rachel, and I discuss Disney news, rumors, and so much more. For more information about this week’s podcasts or 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!