Let’s go surfing now: The Disney animated movie Lilo & Stitch is getting a live-action/computer-generated remake, The Hollywood Reporter reported on Wednesday.
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Rafiki’s Planet Watch to reopen in Spring 2019 at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom
It’s true that Rafiki’s Planet Watch is closing on Oct. 20 – but only temporarily.
A spokesperson for Walt Disney World confirmed to USA TODAY Saturday that the attraction, part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, is anticipated to reopen for guests in Spring 2019.
Vampirina Now Appearing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Just in time for the Halloween season, Vampirina has joined the breakfast fun at Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine at Hollywood & Vine. This Disney’s Hollywood Studios® spot is the place to eat, play and laugh along with favorite Disney Junior friends including Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins and Roadster Racer Goofy.
Vampirina (aka “Vee”) is the star of the hit Disney Junior series, “Vampirina,” which blends spooky fun, heartfelt storytelling and Broadway-caliber music in stories that follow Vee as she faces the joys and trials of being the new kid in town after her family moves from Transylvania to Pennsylvania, including making friends and attending a new school in the human world. Along the way, Vee learns that it may be easier to blend in with her peers, but it’s more valuable to celebrate the qualities that make each individual unique.
And Vampirina’s not just here for Halloween; she’s here to stay! Starting this November, your Clients will be able to meet her every day in an all-new character greeting location in the park’s Animation Courtyard. Vee will be hanging out in a replica of her room, excited to see Guests and snap a photo.
If your Clients have little ones who love Vampirina, you’ll definitely want to put Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on their must-do list for their next trip to Walt Disney World® Resort. It’ll be fangtastic!
Disney World Halloween: Fun and fantasy minus the fear
Virtually all theme parks showcase the dark side for their Halloween events, with walk-through haunted houses that go for the jugular – figuratively and literally. But Disney World‘s Magic Kingdom, home of princesses, fairies, pixie dust and the innocuous “It’s a Small World,” foregoes chainsaw-wielding zombies and PG-13 gore and focuses on what it does best: parades, fireworks, shows, and E-Ticket rides. To dispel any ambiguity, The Mouse calls its fall event “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.”
Reservations Now Open for Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Life under the sea is pretty great, so we’re bringing it to the surface and inviting your Clients to be part of our Caribbean world with Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort! This casual, family-friendly table service restaurant features a menu that blends Latin and Caribbean flavors with market-fresh ingredients served up with warm island hospitality and waterfront views.
With a diverse variety of items that range from seafood and steak to salads, sandwiches, and burgers, the menu balances classic spices with tropical flavors to create bright, fresh tastes. Start off your meal with a tasty appetizer such as the Caribbean Pull-Apart Rolls (served with guava butter, mango chutney, and Jamaican jerk oil), Jamaican Meat Pies with Guajillo chili sauce, or the Arepa with slow-cooked pork and chili-mango barbecue sauce.
Signature entrées include Skirt Steak “Chimichurri” with crispy yuca, Citrus-Stuffed Sustainable Whole Fish with turmeric brown rice and cilantro-lime vinaigrette, and Sautéed Shrimp and Tamales with sautéed peppers and salsa verde. You can also try the Crab Cake-topped Burger with lettuce, tomato, and horseradish mayonnaise or the Crispy Avocado Bacon Burger with chimichurri and pico de gallo.
The menu also includes several vegan options such as the Island Curry “Eggless” Sandwich served on multigrain bread and the Plant-Based Bahn Mi Sandwich with cucumbers, pickled vegetables, and Miso-Sriracha mayonnaise.
For dessert, tropical fruit flavors elevate these decadent dishes. Mile Marker Zero, inspired by the culture of Key West, features Iced Key Lime Pops with sea salt and tropical sauce. Then there’s the Banoffee Pie with banana custard and chocolate ganache served in a graham cracker tart with caramel sauce as well as the Floating Island Sundae with fresh Caribbean fruit, meringue, guava, and Guanabana sorbet.
The kid’s menu features unique but familiar fare with entrees like Whole Grain Penne with zucchini and roasted tomato sauce, Jerk Grilled Chicken, Grilled Shrimp Skewer with Cilantro-Lime Cream, and a Jamaican Meat Pie. Sides include items such as sautéed green beans, mac and cheese, pizza biscuits, cauli-fries with carrot ketchup, and more!
And for those looking for a refreshing drink to pair with their meal, there are tropical island-inspired beverages for everyone in the family! From refreshing non-alcoholic fruity and frozen mocktails to island-inspired cocktails with Caribbean rums, your Clients won’t have to look far for that perfect pairing. Guests can customize their own rum flight or browse a selection of Caribbean and domestic craft beers, or sit back and relish wines that complement the Latin flavors of the menu.
When your Clients step into the dining room, they’ll see how Sebastian’s Bistro celebrates the natural beauty of the Caribbean, from coral patterns and kelp filigree to lure-inspired art and nautical designs. All around the restaurant, they’ll enjoy abstract artwork and underwater landscapes, and they might even see a familiar crustacean floating about! Located in the Old Port Royale area, the restaurant blends perfectly with the lush landscapes and vibrant colors that can be found throughout Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, which transports Guests to a paradise full of fun and relaxation.
Reservations are now available for Sebastian’s Bistro for bookings starting on Oct. 8, 2018 and can be made by visiting the Walt Disney World® Resort website or by calling (407) WDW-DINE (407 939-3463). For more information on the ongoing refurbishment of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, stay tuned to Disney Travel News.
Mobile Ordering Now Available at More Disneyland Resort Quick-Service Food Locations
As we’ve previously shared, mobile ordering through the Disneyland® App recently expanded to even more quick-service restaurants around both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure® Parks. And just last week, new locations at Disneyland Park – Edelweiss Snacks, Stage Door Café, Refreshment Corner and Royal Street Veranda – were added to the lineup, which now includes more than 20 participating locations!
Mobile ordering makes it easier than ever for your Clients to order, pay and pick up fresh food while spending a day at the parks. All they need is their phone and the Disneyland app, and your Clients can place and order anywhere at DisneylandResort! Whether your Clients are strolling down Main Street, U.S.A., or waiting to hop on Haunted Mansion Holiday, mobile order makes it easy for your Clients to plan ahead, save time and make the most out of their day.
In addition to the full list of menu offerings at each of these locations, your Clients can also currently order some seasonal favorites at these new locations, including the Halloween Hot Dog at Refreshment Corner and seasonal funnel cake at Stage Door Cafe, now through Oct. 31, 2018.
The mobile ordering feature on the Disneyland app is just one of the many ways we continue to enhance the Guest experience at Disneyland Resort, including Disney MaxPass, also on the Disneyland App.
Check out this video for a look at mobile ordering at Disneyland Resort.
Miguel Joins A Musical Celebration of ‘Coco’ As Plaza de la Familia Returns to Disney California Adventure Park
Now through Nov. 4, 2018, you are invited to bring your friends and family to Disney California Adventure® Park to experience Plaza de la Familia, our special seasonal festivity celebrating Disney•Pixar’s “Coco” and the everlasting bonds of family.
New this year, Miguel joins “A Musical Celebration of Coco.” Presented several times daily, this entertaining street show brings together the traveling Storytellers of Plaza de la Familia. Singing host Mateo is joined by the GRAMMY® Award-winning Mariachi Divas, authentic Folklórico dancers and townspeople from Coco’s Land of the Dead. The performers engage their audience with beloved songs from the film, transporting everyone into the story of Miguel’s fantastical journey as seen in “Coco,” and Miguel himself appears in the form of a whimsical, hand-animated dimensional figure.
“A Musical Celebration of Coco” is only part of the fun at Plaza de la Familia. From the iconic Mexican Árbol de la Vida (Tree of Life) photo location to the new craft activity where your Clients can design their own paper alebrije mask of the characters Dante or Pepita, Plaza de la Familia fills the Paradise Gardens area of the park with live entertainment, delicious food, crafts and interactive experiences. Guests won’t want to miss it!
Halloween Time 2018 at the Disneyland Resort Fun Facts: Haunted Mansion Holiday
Not only does 2018 mark the 25th anniversary of “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,” but also the 18th time that Jack Skellington has visited the 999 Happy Haunts who dwell in the Haunted Mansion, transforming this attraction into Haunted Mansion Holiday. Each year, Jack dresses up as “Sandy Claws” as he and his ghost dog Zero bring ghoulish delights from Halloween Town to visit Disneyland Park.
One of Jack’s holiday traditions is leaving a special treat for the ghosts who dance around the Haunted Mansion’s Grand Hall. The annual centerpiece for this “waltz of the weird” is always a huge, creepy gingerbread creation. Jack delivers new and thrilling surprises every year.
The Ghost Host of Haunted Mansion Holiday always says, “even a gingerbread house can be scary,” and this year’s design definitely lives up to that description. In 2018, the Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house is overtaken by an enormous five-foot multicolor spider with an intricate “stained glass” design on its back. The creepy crawler’s eyes are glowing green as it bobs up and down in an attempt to pry the house from its foundation. The spider, just like the rest of the house, is made out of 90 pounds of gingerbread, 30 pounds of confectioner’s sugar, 10 pounds of white chocolate and 45 pounds of fondant.
A team of 12 pastry chefs created this year’s Gingerbread Mansion. Three of them have been part of the Haunted Mansion Gingerbread House team since the annual holiday transformation began 17 years ago.
Frightfully Fun Facts about Haunted Mansion Holiday
- Supernatural Sweets – Every year, a new ghoulish concept for the Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house is created for the celebration scene in the mansion’s Grand Hall. This strange and wonderful treat is almost always “supernatural.”
- The Eerie Exterior – More than 400 flickering candles create a ghostly glow on the façade of the Haunted Mansion. Each night, more than 100 jack-o-lanterns shine their ghoulish
- The Haunted Elevator – Jack Skellington and his ghost dog Zero appear in a fully animated sequence on the ceiling of the “stretching” room, which transports guests into the depths of the
- The Portrait Gallery – Ghost dog Zero makes a surprise appearance among the spooky, transforming portraits in the gallery
- The Graveyard – The graveyard inside Haunted Mansion Holiday is covered with nearly 7,500 square feet of snow. More than 20 gallons of UV (ultra-violet) paint is used to enhance the snow’s eerie glow. Nearly 1,000 tiny, orange lights decorate the
- Graveyard Ice Angels – The iconic Graveyard Ice Angels are designed with a jagged, ice-carved look. Their ethereal wings and snow-glow colors shine with a more ghoulish luster than ever this
- Deck the Halls – Each season, thousands of feet of “Black Gnarly” garland is draped and hung inside and outside Haunted Mansion Holiday. Jack’s faithful dog Zero gathered more than 200 bones to use as décor, garland and
- “Come Out to Socialize” – More than two dozen additional animated figures “materialize” inside the mansion whenever Jack brings his Haunted Mansion Holiday around. From man-eating wreaths to vampire teddy bears, they wait all year to join in the holiday
- Home Creepy Home – Creepy cobwebs are artistically kept (not swept!) year-round to make Jack Skellington and the 999 Happy Haunts feel right at
- Seasonal Séance Room – Madame Leota’s “13 Days of Christmas” are featured in 13 spinning fortune cards that tell of the Christmas gifts which, as she proclaims, “My ghoul love gave to me…”
- Kim Irvine, daughter of the original Madame Leota – For this seasonal attraction, Imagineer Kim Irvine gives a spirited performance as the Haunted Mansion’s favorite psychic, floating inside the Haunted Mansion’s Crystal Ball in the Séance Room. Her mother Leota Toombs, Disney Legend and long-time Imagineer, first gave life to the floating head.
- Haunting Gingerbread Smells – The haunting scent of tasty gingerbread wafts throughout the Grand Hall, tempting Happy Haunts and guests
- ‘Hurry Back!’ – A more “animated” Sally bids farewell to “Sandy Claws” Jack Skellington as he, and Haunted Mansion Holiday guests, depart from the
23rd Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Offers New Tastes
The aromas and flavors of more than 30 global food and beverage marketplaces, plus a full menu of new offerings such as “Sunday Brunch with the Chef,” welcome guests during the 23rd Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Aug. 30-Nov. 12. One of America’s top food festivals since 1996, the 75-day Epcot dine-around extravaganza will surprise guests with new and inspiring sips and bites throughout the park’s World Showcase and several Future World venues. Highlights include:
- The grandest of the festival’s don’t-miss tasting events, Party for the Senses in World ShowPlace, will welcome acclaimed chefs and vintners Sept. 22, Oct. 6, 13, 20 and Nov. 10. They will showcase creative bites and palate-pleasing sips with sensational live entertainment.
- “Eat to the Beat” concerts – 225 in all – will rev up the America Gardens Theatre stage three times nightly with new musical acts including Vertical Horizon, 98 Degrees, Sheila E. and others. Selections span a broad range of eras and genres from rock and pop to rhythm and blues.
- “Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” hands-on workshops Wednesdays and Thursdays provide new opportunities for guests to interact with visiting chefs, mixologists and other pros.
Throughout the festival, guests will find something for everyone in the family:
- A Ratatouille-inspired adventure is back as Chef Remy encourages families to play together during Remy’s Ratatouille Hid ‘n’ Squeak scavenger hunt.
- On Friday and Saturday evenings, enjoy an interactive Character Dance Party.
- In the new Junior Chef Kitchen, children become the chefs and eat what they make in this complimentary experience each Sunday in the Festival Center.
This is just an appetizer for what’s to come this fall. The 23rd Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is included with theme park admission, but certain programs require a separate ticket and/or reservation; for full details, visit TasteEpcot.com.
Breakfast is Coming to The Plaza Restaurant at Magic Kingdom Park
Beginning Nov. 4, 2018, you can enjoy breakfast at The Plaza Restaurant at Magic Kingdom® Park. Start the day by fueling up with a family-friendly hearty breakfast. Choose from dishes like the Classic All-American Breakfast featuring scrambled eggs with breakfast potatoes, sausage, bacon, a biscuit, and Mickey Waffles. There’s also the Lobster Benedict with crispy fried green tomatoes, buttery lobster, two poached eggs, and hollandaise. This dish is also served with house-made breakfast potatoes. In addition, you can create your own omelet with fresh ingredients including sausage, bacon, ham, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and cheese.
Kids can enjoy options such as the popular Mickey Waffles! This dish comes with fresh-cut fruit, sausage, and bacon, and the Mickey Waffles are served over banana cream, dusted with powdered sugar, and topped with Mickey-shaped sprinkles. Breakfast at The Plaza Restaurant will be served daily from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for a limited time starting on Nov. 4, 2018 and ending on Jan. 5, 2019. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by visiting DisneyWorld.com/dining or calling 407 WDW-DINE (407 939-3463). Breakfast at The Plaza Restaurant is one Table-Service entitlement on the Disney Dining Plan.
