Archive for

21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival by the numbers

Walt Disney World Resort guests are invited to join the fun when the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival presented by Chase turns 21 from Sept. 14-Nov. 14, 2016. The longer-than-ever party will feature global and specialty cuisine, refreshing new beverages and three live concerts nightly.

The 62-day festival at Disney’s Epcot theme park will showcase 30 global marketplaces including four new Future World marketplaces featuring fresh culinary concepts to pair with select wines, beers, cocktails and other beverages. ABC’s Emmy Award-winning lifestyle series, “The Chew,” will broadcast from the festival for the second year and will participate in one of the new Future World festival marketplaces, The Chew Collective. The festival is believed to be the largest food and wine event of its kind in the world.

Here are some fun facts about the 21st festival celebration:

  • Now 62 days long, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival began in 1996 with a first run of 30 days
  • At the 2016 festival, 30 global marketplaces will include new offerings like The Chew Collective in Future World’s Next Eats festival area and Islands of the Caribbean along the World Showcase Promenade
  • Producers of ABC’s “The Chew” will tape 5 episodes of the show before 5 festival guest audiences numbering in the hundreds for each show
  • The 21st festival will feature 32 new marketplace dishes and 49 (as of right now) new cocktails, beers, wines and ciders
  • In 1998, 200 domestic and international wines were poured at the festival. This year, at marketplaces and premium events, more than 300 domestic and international wines will be offered
  • More than 50 wineries and more than 35 breweries from around the world, including local craft beer operations, will be represented at festival marketplaces
  • The new “The Best of Epcot Festivals 2016” cookbook by Pam Brandon and the Disney Chefs features 75 recipes from the global marketplaces.
  • 3 Rockin’ Burger Block Parties and 6 Party for the Senses grand tastings will take place at World Showplace during the festival run. In all, the festival will feature 204 premium events ranging from Signature Dinners and Food & Wine Pairings to Beverage Boot Camps and Festival Events in World Showcase pavilions
  • Guest chefs and Disney chefs numbering 250 will present culinary demonstrations and will cook for festival events
  • Celebrity chefs and visiting culinarians from 10 countries and 26 U.S. states will participate in the festival at culinary demos, book signings, and special tasting events and dinners.
  • Nearly 400 culinary demos, beverage and interactive seminars will take place during the 62-day festival
  • During Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak festival scavenger hunt, guests can help Remy scour the park for the ingredients to make his signature dish, ratatouille. Along the way, they’ll find 12 Remy statuettes hidden in each of 11 countries of the World Showcase and at the African Outpost location. Guests can redeem the 12 stickers they’ve collected for one of 6 special pins at Select merchandise locations
  • More than 375 hours of scheduled seminars will take place at the Festival Center for the 62 days of the festival.  These include culinary demos and beverage seminars, the new Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It! interactive events, plus more
  • 186 Eat to the Beat concerts will be performed; 8 musical acts will appear for the first time at this year’s festival featuring entertainment ranging from rock and soul to funk and blues
  • The Festival Passport (previously called the Marketplace Discovery Passport) was introduced in 2010 for the 15th annual festival; today, the free passport will feature pages with all 30 festival marketplaces
  • More than 1,200 fireworks will explode each night over World Showcase Lagoon in IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth nightime spectacular
  • Chase is the festival’s presenting sponsor for the 5th year; its Chase Lounge at the American Adventure Pavilion is open exclusively to Chase cardholders and offers an inviting place to relax and recharge
  • More than 225,000,000 festival dishes were served during last year’s 53-day festival
  • 100,000-plus desserts, including the Hard Soda Floats at Desserts & Champagne Marketplace, are expected to be served
  • In 1997, during the festival’s second year, festival planners introduced the first Grand Tasting culinary extravaganza; in 2002, the event was renamed and moved to World Showplace as Party for the Senses, now featuring up to 50 food and beverage stations and, in 2016, new and different themed entertainment for each event
Share this:
Comments Off on 21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival by the numbers Posted in Epcot

15 Fascinating Facts About the Making of Disney’s Moana

An adventurous young girl sets out with a demi-god to solve the mystery of her people in Moana, the upcoming film from Disney Animation. It sounds like a simple story, but as directors Ron Clements and John Musker can tell you, putting it on-screen is anything but simple.

Full Story

Share this:
Comments Off on 15 Fascinating Facts About the Making of Disney’s Moana Posted in Disney Movies

Disney World: Secrets of the Skipper Canteen

The Jungle Cruise is among the most popular and beloved Disney park attractions. Now, visitors at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom can augment their whimsical river journeys by grabbing a table at the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen restaurant.

Full Story

Share this:
Comments Off on Disney World: Secrets of the Skipper Canteen Posted in Walt Disney World

Disney Parks Launches 10th Annual Moms Panel Search

Today, Disney Parks kicks off the 10th annual search for applicants to join the 2017 Disney Parks Moms Panel. Moms, dads, grandparents, and guardians of all walks of life can serve as panelists for this award-winning, online trip-planning forum.

Disney Parks is seeking seasoned Disney vacationers with diverse backgrounds to lend fresh insights to the Disney Parks Moms Panel that offers advice to guests looking to plan their ultimate Disney getaway. The search is on for new panelists who can answer questions in any of the four languages now used on the forum –English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Adults who have experience with and a passion for Disney vacations are encouraged to apply now through September 14 by visiting www.momspanelsearch.com.

The Disney Moms Panel began in January 2008 as a simple, question-and-answer forum with only 12 members focused solely on the Walt Disney World Resort. Today, the Disney Moms Panel is a multilingual resource that has tripled in size with a diverse array of enthusiastic panelists with extensive knowledge of Disney vacation destinations and offerings, including Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, runDisney and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Over the years, more than 145 moms, dads and grandparents have participated on the panel and have answered more than 300,000 Guest questions.

“With this being the 10th year of our global search for Disney Parks Moms Panelists, I’m always in awe to see so many passionate and inspiring applicants share their Disney memories and emotional experiences as they vie for a spot on the Panel.” said Leanne O’Regan, Director of Content Relations for Disney Parks.  “Since 2008, the Panel has replied to hundreds of thousands of questions providing personalized answers and often sharing fun stories that help guests with their individual planning needs.”

Panelists tap into their own real-life experiences to thoughtfully answer a wide array of questions. Whether the questions are about visiting as a family on a tight budget, a parent of a child with special needs, or families traveling in groups looking to plan the ultimate getaway, there is truly a panelist for everyone.

 How to Apply

Disney Parks will accept applications for the 2017 Disney Parks Moms Panel from noon EDT on September 7, 2016, through noon EDT on September 14, 2016. Visit www.momspanelsearch.com to enter. The application process includes a series of written questions and essays in the first round; additional questions and essays along with a video submission in Round 2; with the final round being a phone interview. Applicants selected to be panelists for the Disney Parks Moms Panel will be announced in January 2017. Those selected must be available to attend a training session at Walt Disney World Resort in December 2016.

About the Disney Parks Moms Panel

The Disney Parks Moms Panel is an online forum where guests can get tips and insights for a Disney vacation from real moms, dads and grandparents who have mastered the art of planning Disney getaways. Guests can pose questions to panelists in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, and gain access to other Disney vacation planning tools. Featuring just 12 members in its 2008 inaugural year, the panel has more than tripled in size since. That growth is a result of the popularity of the forum and an ever-growing number of questions submitted by curious parents. For more information and to meet the panelists, visit www.DisneyParksMomsPanel.com.

 

Share this:
Comments Off on Disney Parks Launches 10th Annual Moms Panel Search Posted in Disney News

THE SEARCH FOR THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE BY SAM ALLEN

1_IMG_8088_editLarge2

While Mickey Mouse appeared in over 100 films during the Golden Age of Hollywood alone, his portrayal of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice in “Fantasia” is considered by many Disney enthusiasts to be his greatest role.

Full Story

Share this:
Comments Off on THE SEARCH FOR THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE BY SAM ALLEN Posted in WDW Daily News

The Science Behind Pixar Exhibition to Open October 15, 2016 at the California Science Center

Guests at the California Science Center will be inspired by the science and technology behind some of the most beloved animated films and their characters with the west coast premiere of The Science Behind Pixar Exhibition,opening October 15, 2016. This hands-on 12,000 square foot exhibition showcases the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts used by the artists and computer scientists who help bring Pixar’s award-winning films to the big screen.

Featuring more than 40 interactive exhibit elements, The Science Behind Pixar Exhibition demonstrates the technology that supports the creativity and artistry of Pixar’s storytellers. The exhibition is broken into eight distinct sections, each focusing on a step of the filmmaking process – Modeling, Rigging, Surfaces, Sets & Camera, Animation, Simulation, Lighting andRendering – providing guests with a unique view of the production pipeline and concepts used at Pixar every day. Visitors of all ages will engage in and learn about the filmmaking process through hands-on activities inspired by some of Pixar’s most treasured films, from the first-ever computer animated feature film Toy Story, to the Oscar®-winning film Inside Out. They will also have the opportunity to take their photo with human-size recreations of many of their favorite Pixar film characters, including Buzz Lightyear, Dory, Mike and Sulley, Edna Mode and WALL•E.

“The Science Behind Pixar Exhibition is a fun, hands-on experience where guests can explore the art and science of animation at Pixar as though they were part of the production team,” said Jeffrey N. Rudolph, President and CEO at the California Science Center. “It’s a great opportunity for them to participate in the step-by-step process where art incorporates science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to make all the elements of an animated film seem more believable.”

Visitors will be invited to experience different roles within the production pipeline. Exhibit highlights include:

  • Sets & Cameras – Discover how a bugs-eye view was achieved for A Bug’s Life, through camera angles and large-set design within the computer.
  • Modeling – Envision how Toy Story’s digital sculptures are created based on sketches from artists.
  • Lighting – Explore challenges similar to what Pixar artists faced in creating animated water with virtual light in Finding Nemo.
  • Rigging – See how the models are given a virtual skeleton to enable animators to add movement, like the virtual model of Sulley from Monsters, Inc., which has 30,000 posable points.
  • Surfaces – Feel immersed in the techniques behind adding color and texture to every surface of a film by designing “skins” for computer models of characters from Cars.

The Science Behind Pixar Exhibition was developed by the Museum of Science, Boston in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios, and is part of the Science Museum Exhibit Collaborative (SMEC) – of which the California Science Center is a member.

Share this:
Comments Off on The Science Behind Pixar Exhibition to Open October 15, 2016 at the California Science Center Posted in Pixar

The Walt Disney Company Executives to Discuss Fiscal Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2016 Financial Results via Webcast

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) will discuss fiscal full year and fourth quarter 2016 financial results via a live audio webcast beginning at 5:00 p.m. EST / 2:00 p.m. PST on Thursday, November 10, 2016.

Results will be released after the close of regular trading on November 10, 2016.

To listen to the webcast, point your browser to www.disney.com/investors. The webcast presentation will be archived.

Share this:
Comments Off on The Walt Disney Company Executives to Discuss Fiscal Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2016 Financial Results via Webcast Posted in Walt Disney Company

2016-2017 runDisney Race Season Officially Underway After Labor Day Weekend’s Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend

The 2016-2017 runDisney race season got up and running in September with a string of nine race weekends and events geared for runners of all ages and levels. In the U.S., each race weekend offers runDisney Kids’ Races, 5K, 10K, half marathon and a massive health & fitness expo, while Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend also features the full 26.2-mile marathon.

The runDisney series kicked off Labor Day weekend with the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna and concludes with the Tinker Bell Half Marathon presented by PANDORA jewelry in May. In all, more than 200,000 runners from around the world are expected to participate in runDisney events at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and, for the first time this season, Disneyland Paris.

Here’s a breakdown of all runDisney race weekends coming up this season:

Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna (Sept. 1-4): More than 32,200 runners participated in the various events during this 11th annual event. Many runners registered for more than one event, including more the than 6,000 runners for the 10K and the half marathon in the Dumbo Double Dare challenge.

Disneyland Paris – Val D’Europe Half Marathon Weekend (Sept. 23-25,): The much-anticipated debut of the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Weekend comes this fall. Kick-off parties, uniquely designed medals and a course that takes runners through the Disneyland Paris Resort area and the Parisian countryside sets this inaugural international event apart from other runDisney races. This race weekend features the Disneyland Paris 5K and Disneyland Paris Half Marathon, as well as the Castle to Chateau Challenge for runners who complete the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon and a runDisney race in the U.S.

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend presented by MISFIT (Nov. 3-5): This culinary-themed race coincides with the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. For the first time, what used to be a nighttime race will now take place in the early morning hours. Participants will run through multiple theme parks and finish at Epcot, site of an exclusive after-hours post-race party. New this year are the Disney Wine & Dine 10K and Lumiere’s Two Course Challenge, for runners who do both the 10K and the half marathon.

Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend (Nov. 10-13): This 3rd annual race weekend includes a 5K that pays tribute to the 75th anniversary of Captain America, while the 10K gets its theme from the upcoming film, “Doctor Strange”, the latest installment in the Marvel film franchise. The Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon caps the weekend’s events. Runners can put their super powers to the test by participating in the Infinity Gauntlet Challenge – running the 10K and the half marathon. There’s also a pasta party during the weekend’s events, where guests can indulge in a buffet dinner and interact with their favorite Marvel super heroes.

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna (Jan. 4-8, 2017): This is runDisney’s signature event, which began in 1994 and features a marathon that takes runners along a magical 26.2-mile journey through Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Known as one of the top family-destination races, this race weekend attracts more than 55,000 runners and their guests. Participants who didn’t get enough action during the race weekend can run from the parks to paradise by participating in the Disney Castaway Cay Challenge. The Monday after the marathon takes place, guests can sail on the Disney Dream and run a 5K on Disney’s private island in the Bahamas.

 Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend – The Light Side (Jan. 12-15, 2017): One of two Star Wars-themed races in the runDisney series, this race weekend at Disneyland Resort is one of the most popular runDisney events of the season. Runners can meet and pose for pictures with their favorite Star Wars heroes as well a variety of races including the Rebel Challenge – tackling the 10K and the half marathon.

Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (Feb. 23-26, 2017): With more than 26,000 runners participating throughout the weekend, this is 8th annual event one of the largest women-specific endurance events in the country. The fiercest princesses of them all can sign up for the Disney Glass Slipper Challenge, which involves running the 10K and the half marathon.

Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side (April 20-23, 2017): This race weekend is the newest at Walt Disney World, taking place for the first time last April. Before the race, runners have the opportunity to interact with their favorite Star Wars characters from the dark side of the force. The toughest runners can participate in the Dark Side Challenge by doing the 10K and half marathon on back-to-back days.

Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend presented by PANDORA jewelry (May 11-14, 2017): This 6th annual race coincides with Mother’s Day weekend and is Disneyland Resort’s women-specific endurance event. Runners can earn their “wings” across the weekend’s events, and those with a little more faith and trust can do the Pixie Dust Challenge – “flying” through the 10K and half marathon.

Some of the most special features of a runDisney event are the highly coveted medals for each race. In addition to the event-specific medals, runners also have the opportunity to earn a special Coast to Coast Challenge medal, given to those who complete a half marathon at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World resort in the same calendar year. Runners who specifically do the Disney Princess Half Marathon and Tinker Bell Half Marathon will receive a special pink edition of the Coast to Coast Challenge medal. And if the force is with them, runners who participate in both Star Wars-themed half marathons will earn the Kessel Run Challenge medal.

For more information on runDisney events, visit runDisney.com.

Share this:
Comments Off on 2016-2017 runDisney Race Season Officially Underway After Labor Day Weekend’s Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend Posted in runDisney

TOP 25 DISNEY SONGS

What’s your favourite Disney song? Maybe it’s that romance ballad that warms your heart, or that Broadway-esque number you like to stumble through at the top of your lungs after a dinner party has devolved, or the duet you and your friend think you’ve nailed at karaoke before realising nobody was paying attention.  Whatever the case, it’s a very personal thing, so we’re not positioning this list as definitive. It is, however, our top 25 Disney songs – from the company’s animated efforts only – of all time.

Full Story

Share this:
Comments Off on TOP 25 DISNEY SONGS Posted in Disney Music

Walt Disney World Refurbishments – Fall 2016

Magic Kingdom® Park
Monorail
The Walt Disney World® Resort Monorail System is undergoing refurbishment and may be on modified service and/or routes. If Guests plan to use this form of transportation during their visit they should check to be sure of the best option available on their day of travel, as alternative transportation options will be available.		 Through Summer 2016
Swiss Family Treehouse
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
“it’s a small world”		 Jul. 6 – Sep. 29, 2016
Aug. 8 – Nov. 18, 2016
Aug. 22 – Sep. 15, 2016
Epcot®
None  
Disney’s Hollywood Studios®
Pizza Planet Jan. 19 – Late 2016
Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
DINOSAUR
Dino Institute Shop		 Jul. 25 – Oct. 16, 2016
Jul. 25 – Oct. 16, 2016

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Annual Refurbishment Dec. 25, 2016 – Mar. 11, 2017
Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
Annual Refurbishment Oct. 23 – Dec. 24, 2016

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Soft Goods Refurbishment Apr. 2 – Sep. 24, 2016
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Grand Slam Pool
During this time Guests may use the Surfboard Bay Pool, located near the main lobby.		 Oct. 10 – Dec. 2, 2016
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Soft Goods Refurbishment
This work will be conducted between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. During this time, Guests may see or hear work in progress and certain pathways may be unavailable.		 Jul. 15, 2016 – January 2017
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Room Refurbishments
Guests may see or hear work in progress. Additionally, Guests may have an interruption to water service during the overnight hours.		 May 16 – Oct. 31, 2016
Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort
Beach Renourishment Project May 1 – Fall 2016
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Computer Pool
During this time Guests may use the Hippy Dippy Pool or Bowling Pool.		 Oct. 31, 2016 – Jan. 3, 2017
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory Refurbishment Jul. 11 – Late Fall 2016
Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
General Resort Refurbishments
Due to several refurbishment projects, Guests will very likely see and hear construction work throughout the villas, spa and dining areas. We will attempt to limit any work most likely to cause a noise impact to the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Sonya’s restaurant and Bleachers Bar & Grill have permanently closed to make way for exciting new experiences. In the meantime, the table-service restaurant, Shutters, will be temporarily relocated to the nearby SeaGrape Room.		 Now through Oct. 2016
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge & Villas
General Resort Refurbishments
Due to extensive refurbishment projects, Guests will very likely see and hear construction work in various areas throughout their stay. To minimize disruptions, we will attempt to limit work until after 9:00 a.m.
At this time, many popular areas will remained closed – including the Hidden Springs Pool (the leisure pool at The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge), beach, marina, playground and more. In addition, certain pathways, like our nature trail, will be unavailable, and surrounding views may be altered. However, the recently renovated Silver Creek Springs Pool will remain open and boat transportation to Magic Kingdom park will continue to be offered.		 Through 2017
Cub’s Den (Children’s Activity Center) – unavailable Through 2017
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Room Refurbishments
During this time, Guests may see or hear work in progress and certain pathways may be unavailable. To minimize any disruptions, we will attempt to limit work to 9:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m.		 Oct. 29, 2016 – Jun. 23, 2017
Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Convention Center
Expansion Work
During this time, Guests may see or hear work in progress and certain pathways may be unavailable. To minimize any disruptions, we will attempt to limit work to 9:00 a.m – 9:00 p.m.		 Aug. 4, 2016 – Feb. 1, 2018
Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
Guest Room Renovations
Renovation work is scheduled to take place between 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily. No guests will be accommodated in the renovation area as to minimize impact on the guest experience.		 June – September 2016

Disney Springs™
Planet Hollywood Jan. 6 – Fall 2016
Fulton’s Crab House – reopening as Paddlefish Apr. 4 – Fall 2016

Golf Courses/Miniature Golf
None  

Information and dates subject to change without notice.

Share this:
Comments Off on Walt Disney World Refurbishments – Fall 2016 Posted in Walt Disney World
« Older Entries   Recent Entries »