WDW Daily News

It’s the time we’ve all been waiting for: the opening of the 2023 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE going on now through Nov. 18th at Walt Disney World! Pack a Festival Passport and prep your palettes, because we’re exploring a thrilling lineup of festival merchandise, entertainment and innovative eats (like the Pickle Milkshake!) Guests won’t want to miss.

Can’t-Miss Culinary Creations

Over at our Brew-Wing Lab at the Odyssey — more on that soon! — Guests will want to snag the all-new non-alcoholic Pickle Milkshake. Only the mayhem of our motley Muppet crew could whip up something so delightfully original! Brew-Wing Lab at the Odyssey also features two plant-based options, the IMPOSSIBLE Buffalo Chicken Tenders and the Buffalo Brussels Sprouts. Plant-based offerings at other Global Marketplaces include the Falafel Pita at Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina, the IMPOSSIBLE Burger Slider with wasabi cream and spicy Asian slaw at Flavors from Fire and the Guava Cake at Shimmering Sips hosted by CORKCICLE.

Did you know that there are more than 25 Global Marketplaces along with four brand new locations? At the four new Global Marketplaces Guests can delight in savory bites at Char & Chop, pair wine with artisanal cheeses at Wine & Wedge, or snack on champagne and seafood at Bubbles & Brine. Plus, satisfy a sweet tooth at Swirled Showcase, featuring soft-serve ice cream and refreshing sips like the Frozen Apple Pie. All four new Global Marketplaces will open Sept 22.

But our journey is just beginning, so let’s keep exploring more festival fun!

A Must-Do Muppet Takeover

Remember that Pickle Milkshake? Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant, Beaker, from Muppet Labs have been hard at work bringing whimsy your way. Their creatively chaotic handiwork is up for taste-testing at Brew-Wing Lab at the Odyssey! Sample a variety of wings, like the Peanut Butter and Jelly Sticky Wings, or enjoy an array of beers and ciders. And while Guests are there, try the Frozen Fusion featuring Twinings Pomegranate and Raspberry Herbal Tea infused with orange ice cream molecules.

This Muppet makeover to our iconic Brew-Wing Lab at the Odyssey, a staple for the last several years at the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE, is sure to meep expectations. And after a day of snacking and sipping, there’s a selection of other experiences Guests can enjoy on a full stomach.

Fun Festival Merchandise

Pin collectors, Figment fans and Annual Passholders can browse four collections of all-new festival merchandise! Shop the classic Festival Event Logo Collection featuring a Spaceship Earth-inspired Loungefly Backpack and CORKCICLE stemless wine cup, the Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse Picnic Collection with contributions by Dooney & Bourke, the home-inspired Disney “Encanto” Collection, or the Figment Annual Passholder Collection. No matter their taste, there’s something for every member of the crew.

Live Music and Local Talent

Our Eat to the Beat Concert Series presented by Florida Blue Medicare returns with a star-studded lineup of live music! Enjoy local bands and well-known acts from July 27 – Nov. 13, featuring the talent of Funkafied, Phillip Phillips, Boyz II Men, Sugar Ray and so many more.

Guests will have three showtimes each night to catch the performance: 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM. Get to the America Gardens Theatre at the American Adventure Pavilion early to stake out a spot, or guarantee seating with the Eat to the Beat Dining Package. With this package, Festivalgoers can feast on fine dining at one of our participating restaurants before enjoying the show. Take note – this offering is only available Fridays through Mondays. Tuesdays through Thursdays, Guests can jam with our local acts!

Super Scavenger Hunts

Looking for more fun for the whole family? Try one of our two festival-inspired scavenger hunts — or a third to celebrate the upcoming spooky season! Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak takes Guests on a savory scavenger hunt around the World Showcase to find hidden statuettes of Remy; and with Emile’s Fromage Montage, sample tasty cheeses from across the globe while collecting stamps on your Festival Passport. Lastly, Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit sends Guests through the park on the lookout for hidden decorative pumpkins themed to Disney characters.

Once Guests have had their fun, each of these scavenger hunts ends with a unique surprise! Check the Festival Passport for details on where to purchase maps or game boards to kick off these adventures — and where to redeem them for a prize. Do take note that Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit runs from Sept. 29 to Oct. 31, while the other two experiences are available from July 27 while supplies last.

We can’t wait for another season of foodie adventures and flavorful fun. The festival runs from July 27 to Nov. 18, 2023, and we can’t wait to see everyone there.

Disneyland performances of Fantasmic! are currently paused until Spring 2024. Stay tuned for more updates.

The Disney Dream is about to get even ‘dreamier’ this summer as Disney Cruise Line guests can now participate in a brand-new prismatic pop dance party taking place on the upper decks during select sailings.

Complete with colorful new fun for the whole family and a 90s throwback feel, it will be all feet on deck for Disney Cruise Line guests at Mickey’s Color Spin Dance Party, and we’re excited to reveal more details about this vibrant and energetic celebration perfect for Disney music lovers of all ages.

For starters, it’s not a deck party without appearances from Mickey Mouse (in all-new attire), Minnie Mouse and many of their favorite friends – even Max! – and they are all dressed up and ready to bust a move. Each character is assigned a color, and when the wheel lands on their color – it’s time to party!

This unique deck party is interactive from start to finish. After a sing-along preshow of “Into the Unknown,” each spin on the color wheel will have families singing, dancing and yes, even doing the wave and hand jive to unique renditions of iconic Disney songs with an upbeat techno twist.

Partygoers can dress like their favorite character for the festivities or join the color crew dancers, who will don colorful throwback track suits on stage.

Mickey’s Color Spin Dance Party is coming to select sailings on the Disney Dream beginning with this week on the voyage to the Norwegian Fjords and Iceland.

Over at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, there are two locations that will be opening their doors once again to feed hungry patrons with mouthwatering delights. On July 27, Trail’s End Restaurant and Crockett’s Tavern reopen with refreshing new looks and delicious bites Guests are definitely going to want to try.

From sleeping under the stars to exploring the woodland trails, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground reminds us how beautiful it is to experience the magic of the great outdoors together. These new menus at Trail’s End Restaurant and Crockett’s Tavern complement the resort’s signature laid-back style and offer the dining flexibility our Guests are looking for, no matter how they plan to enjoy their day at Walt Disney World.

Upon reopening, both dining locations will have a fresh, new look that enhances the resort’s quaint charm and honors its heritage at the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort, with warm wooden furnishings, beamed ceilings, and rustic accents.

Now, onto Trail’s End Restaurant. This spot has been reimagined to a quick-service restaurant filled with tasty items to fill our bellies. Whether Guests are looking for family-sized entrees and sides to bring back to their cabin or campsite, or freshly prepared individual-sized entrees to feast on inside the restaurant’s casual seating area, there are plenty of tasty options to choose from.

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“Disney Junior & Friends Playdate,” a three-day event celebrating the magical, entertaining and music-filled stories of Disney Junior’s hit series, will bring the magic straight to preschoolers and their families at Disney California Adventure park on Friday, August 18, and at Downtown Disney District on Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August 20.  

The celebration will kick off Friday, Aug. 18 at Disney California Adventure park, and will feature:

• A Playdate Party Parade featuring beloved Disney Junior characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, Elena of Avalor, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Vampirina, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Goofy, Pluto, and Mira, Royal Detective.
• A special “Disney Junior Live! Playdate” stage show will delight young audiences with the world-premiere of the new Disney Junior short-form series “Playdate with Winnie the Pooh.”
• The seasonal “Alice’s Wonderland Bakery Unbirthday Party” will offer a lively, hands-on cupcake decorating course inspired by the Disney Junior series. 
• A “Spidey and his Amazing Friends” photo wall at the Hollywood Backlot in Disney California Adventure.
• Plus, you can enjoy regular Disney Junior programming at Disney California Adventure, including the popular “Disney Junior Dance Party!” 

The fun moves to the Downtown Disney District on Saturday, Aug. 19 and Sunday, Aug. 20, including:

• Disney Junior-themed treats at Marceline’s Confectionary. 
• A “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” photo wall at Downtown Disney.

Throughout the weekend, guests will be able to participate in a find-and-search experience featuring Disney Junior-themed clues around Disney California Adventure park on Friday and Downtown Disney on Saturday and Sunday.

Additional details including a full schedule of events will be posted here leading up to the event. 

Throughout the year, families visiting with small children will find unforgettable character moments, rides, shows and more across Disneyland Resort.

*Schedule, events, offerings and appearances subject to restrictions and change or cancellation without notice, including but not limited to dates, times and sessions. Both theme park admission and park reservation for the same park on the same date are required for park entry. Visit Disneyland.com for important information to know before visiting the Disneyland Resort.

Summer is off to a bright start at Walt Disney World Resort as Disney H2O Glow After Hours lights up the night at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Guests can slide on into an illuminated evening featuring their favorite splashing attractions (at night!), a glowing menu of delicious sips and eats, a DJ dance party with favorite Disney characters and more. Sprinkle in shorter wait times and guests have the perfect way to “glow-up” their vacation.

Take a look at a few of our favorite ways to have a wave of fun during this splashing after-hours event:

Get “Glowing” on the DJ Dance Floor

Kick off the after-hours party on the right foot and get your “glow on” with a high-energy DJ dance party. Full of lights, music and a few of your favorite Disney Characters, this dance party is what brings Disney H2O Glow After Hours to life!

Glow with the Flow on Splashing Attractions

Whether they’re shooting down Crush N’ Gusher or relaxing through Castaway Creek in our special H2O Glow After Hour tubes, guests will experience favorite attractions in a whole new NIGHT light. Plus, with this exclusive after-hours event, the wait times are even shorter!

Glowing Goodies & more

What party is complete without delicious sips and eats? Not only do guests get to enjoy ice cream novelties, popcorn and select fountain beverages with their after-hours ticket, there’s a “glowing” menu of unique and tasty dishes for purchase. Guests can l dive into food offerings such as the ManGLOW (Mango) Barbeque Chicken and Waffles, Watermelon Poke Bowl, Pineapple ManGLOW (Mango) Mai Tai, Moonlight Mudslide and so much more!

Ready to have a deLIGHTful time? Join us select nights through early September for the glowing party of the summer. 

From: Disney Cruise Line:

NEW – This Disney Treasure update is coming to you from sunny Celebration, Florida, the headquarters for Disney Cruise Line. Today, the Disney Cruise Line team is thrilled to be debuting an image of the ship’s stern for the very first time! For 25 years, each Disney Cruise Line ship has been adorned with characters from beloved Disney adventures. The Disney Treasure will follow this tradition with its own signature character sculptures that honor the ship’s motif of adventure, Peter Pan and Captain Hook. Harnessing the power of Tinker Bell’s pixie dust, Peter Pan will levitate next to the Disney Treasure to add the finishing touch to the ship’s stern filigree. Meanwhile, Peter Pan’s longtime rival, Captain Hook can be seen leaning out a porthole with a vengeful expression on his face. Paintbrush and paint bucket in hand, Peter Pan sports a mischievous grin as he glances back at Captain Hook, who is dripping in yellow paint.

Magic Kingdom is getting ready to celebrate the Fourth of July Holiday. Here are a few pictures of the buntings.

By: Disney Destinations

The celebration of The Walt Disney Company’s 100^th anniversary is underway, and we’re excited to share Disney100 will ramp up at Walt Disney World Resort beginning late September! Throughout the year, we’ve been celebrating the fans and storytellers who have sparked the joy that is Disney over the last century. It’s been so fun to see all of the special surprises at Disney Parks across the globe helping fans and families relive beloved Disney memories and experience new, heartwarming stories.

Guests may have heard that EPCOT will be the center of the Disney100 celebration at Walt Disney World, marking not only a century of magic and innovation, but also ushering in the future as the multi-year transformation of the park wraps up.

So, what’s in store for this limited-time celebration at EPCOT? Keep reading to learn about everything that will debut on Sept. 22!

Taken a selfie with any of the Disney100 backdrops located at all four theme parks and Disney Springs? Guests will be able to snap a photo with a new platinum Mickey Mouse sculpture in World Celebration with Spaceship Earth in the background. And don’t forget about the dazzling Disney100 Magic Shots and PhotoPass offerings currently available across Walt Disney World.

Be sure to check out the all-new mural at the heart of World Celebration to see how many of the 100 Disney characters Guests can find in the incredible scene. This expansive mural located along the walkway to World Showcase will feature some of your favorite characters hidden throughout the various neighborhoods of EPCOT. The rest of World Celebration will also be decked out in Disney100 platinum banners and décor.

Guests will be able to meet, hug and snap a photo with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their platinum best in the Imagination! pavilion. They won’t be the only ones sparkling in honor of the celebration. Spaceship Earth will light up each night with special colors and lights accompanied by the Disney100 anthem, a unique rendition of When You Wish Upon a Star.

Sip and savor tastes of the Disney100 celebration with four limited-time food & beverage locations during both the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays! We can’t wait to sample all of the culinary delights and delectable drinks that evoke new and timeless Disney memories.

That’s not the only exclusive food and beverage Guests will be able to enjoy during the celebration! They won’t want to miss out on the purple metallic Mickey Balloon Premium Popcorn Bucket available only at EPCOT during Disney100.

We can’t wait to welcome Guests to EPCOT to see the ongoing transformation of the park and join the excitement of the Disney100 celebration at Walt Disney World from Sept. 22 to Dec. 31, 2023. Be sure to share favorite Disney100 memories on social with #Disney100. And stay tuned to the Disney Travel News for details about even more new experiences debuting during the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival and EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.

The 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE is right around the corner, and today, we’re excited to share more details – including a brand-new experience that brings a whole new meaning to molecular gastronomy!

From July 27 to November 18, guests can take a culinary tour across six continents at this celebration of cuisine from around the world. From delectable Global Marketplaces and fresh new merch to nightly live entertainment, there’s so much for guests of all ages to enjoy.

Flavorful Fun is Brew-Wing at Odyssey

Don your lab coats and prepare to experiment with delicious flavors as Brew-Wing Lab at the Odyssey invites guests on a flavorful adventure, featuring the culinary creations – and madcap mishaps – of Muppet Labs!

That’s right – Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his faithful assistant, Beaker, of Muppet Labs will welcome Guests to their taste-testing headquarters, where the inventive duo are busy creating scientific snacks and mind-blowing beverages. Guests will have a chance to sample some of their kooky concoctions like the Unnecessarily Spicy, Yet Extremely Tasty Scotch Bonnet Pepper-Curry Wings, or the Pickle Milkshake. Consider it a flavor experiment in the name of science!

Global Marketplaces to Satisfy Every Palate

Get ready to sip and savor at more than 25 Global Marketplaces including returning favorites such as The Fry Basket, Flavors from Fire, Canada, India and Spain marketplaces. Also coming later this fall, the culinary team will add four new Global Marketplaces to commemorate the Disney100 celebration: Char & Chop, Wine & Wedge, Bubbles & Brine and Swirled Showcase. Stay tuned to the Disney Travel News, where more details will be shared in a Foodie Guide soon.

Sizzling Sounds at America Gardens Theatre

Wrap up a fun-filled day by enjoying live musical entertainment at the Eat to the Beat Concert Series presented by Florida Blue Medicare, featuring a blend of chart-topping musical acts and a taste of Orlando’s local talent. Guests can secure a spot for these performances with an Eat to the Beat Dining Package.

Note that to experience any in-park offerings, guests must have valid theme park admission and may need a theme park reservation depending on type of admission and date of visit. The ability to visit a theme park is subject to the park’s capacity limitations. As we continue to count down the days until the beginning of the festival, stay tuned to Disney Travel News for more updates.