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BOOKINGS BEGIN JULY 21 FOR PREMIUM EVENTS FOR EPCOT INTERNATIONAL FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL

While there are plenty of events included with Epcot® admission for the 21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, this year’s “premium events” include some don’t-miss options.

Here’s just a sampling of what’s in store for guests this year:

  • Four all-new interactive culinary adventures in the Disney resorts encourage guests to ask the experts, taste and cook alongside our chefs at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney Yacht Club Resort.
  • The new “Mix It, Make It Celebrate It” hands-on workshop gives guests the opportunity to learn from the pros – cake decorating, garnishing, cocktail mixing and other fun activities.
  • The always-popular Cheese Seminars return. Guests can learn “the wheys of the world” paired with wine, beer and other beverages with Max McCalman along with other experts.
  • Rockin’ Burger Block Parties are back for just three Fridays at World ShowPlace – and each party features a celebrity chef and all-you-can-eat specialty sliders paired with beverages. Guests can join Chef Maneet Chauhan on Sept. 30, Chef Alex Seidel on Oct. 14, and Chef Jehangir Mehta on Nov. 11.
  • Guests will want to masquerade in chic yellow and black for the Yelloween Masquerade Party for the Senses Oct. 28 and 29, an elegant, dance-the-night-away, gourmet tasting party with Champagne, wine, craft beers and specialty cocktails paired with food.
  • This year’s Party for the Senses will be every weekend in October (that’s it!). Oct. 8 features all the new chefs from Disney Springs; Oct. 15 is a reprise of last year’s popular evening with Disney chefs from around the world.
  • What’s Cookin’ With … some of the country’s top celebrity chefs will begin the morning with a delightful plated brunch and sparkling wine toast. The fun starts with a demo, and the chefs answer questions from the audience and share secrets of their successes. The brunch is on select Fridays and Sundays at 10 a.m. Guests include:
    • Friday, Sept. 16 – Elizabeth Falkner
    • Sunday, Sept. 18 – Bryan Voltaggio
    • Friday, Sept. 23 – Andrea Robinson
    • Sunday, Sept. 25 – Robert Irvine
    • Friday, Sept.30 – Graham Elliot
    • Sunday, Oct. 2 – Buddy Valastro
    • Friday, Oct. 7 – Jamie Deen
    • Sunday, Oct. 9 – Cat Cora
    • Friday, Oct. 14 – Emily Ellyn
    • Friday, Oct. 21 – Andrew Zimmern
    • Sunday, Oct. 23 – Rock Harper
    • Sunday, Oct. 30 – Geoffrey Zakarian
    • Friday, Nov. 4 – Alex Guarnaschelli
    • Sunday, Nov. 6 – David Guas
    • Friday, Nov. 11 – Sarah Fioroni
    • Sunday, Nov. 13 – Jehangir Mehta

Be sure to book reservations for guests when the phone lines open: 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378) at 7 a.m. next week on Thursday, July 21, 2016. Please note Chase cardholders can book with limited availability beginning 7 a.m. July 19, 2016

And don’t forget, the Back to Basics series, special book signings, Eat to the Beat concerts, cultural adventures, Festival Passport and attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Theme Park admission.

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‘CLUB VILLAIN’ RETURNS TO DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS SEPTEMBER 2-OCTOBER 29

Back by popular demand, Sunset Showcase presents Club Villain, a special-ticketed event filled with fabulous performances, delicious food, bewitching cocktails and enchanting encounters with some of the greatest Disney villains.

The mysterious Dr. Facilier is host of Club Villain, welcoming his guests and friends from the other side to his parlor of mystical mishaps, with musical numbers and a wicked mix from his house DJ. Also stopping by to socialize are those divas of evil, Maleficent, Queen of Hearts, Cruella De Vil and the Evil Queen.

Club Villain provides a spellbinding evening for guests to enjoy fiendish concoctions from the Potions Bar, savor culinary delights from New Orleans and beyond, mingle with the villains and dance the night away!

Club Villain returns Fridays and Saturdays from Sept. 2 – Oct. 29, with an additional offering on Halloween, Oct. 31. This two-hour show experience will take place at 5:15pm and 8:30pm nightly inside the Sunset Showcase. Guests can check-in 30 minutes prior to the right of the entrance to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith.

The price is $129 per person (tax and gratuity included) and includes decadent delicacies with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages . Advance reservations are recommended and can be made up to 90 days in advance by calling 407-WDW-DINE or online at Disneyworld.com/Dine. A separate ticket admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is required.

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PIZZERIZZO OPENING THIS FALL AT DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

PizzeRizzo will open this fall in Muppets Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studio® at Walt Disney World® Resort. Rizzo The Rat owns and operates the pizzeria, which is located in the former Toy Story Pizza Planet. Here, guests can enjoy a casual Italian-American dining experience in a whole new way, through the eyes of the lovable, wisecracking Muppet.

Walt Disney Imagineering hid hints of Rizzo, his extended family and friends who have visited PizzeRizzo over the years throughout the two-story quick-service location. In addition to the expansive indoor and outdoor seating area, guests will be able to dine in a “cheesy” banquet room, or take five in a special booth designated just for Rizzo’s celebrity friends.

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New “Savor the Savanna” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Offers Private Tour, Exclusive Viewing

As the sights and sounds of the savanna come to life at dusk in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, visitors to the theme park now have the opportunity to experience them in an up-close-and-personal way with the new “Savor the Savanna” tour. This premium offering affords guests a private two-hour safari trek through the 110-acre Harambe Wildlife Reserve, with a spectacular world of creatures, such as gentle giraffes, playful wild dogs and regal lions, roaming about.

The leisurely pace and a knowledgeable Harambe guide help to ensure no one misses the array of exotic animals in a variety of unique habitats. The safari vehicle will stop frequently for the best wildlife viewing and photo opportunities, and the guide will point out fascinating facts along the way.

A highlight of the adventure is a stop for dinner at an exclusive viewing area. Here, guests will enjoy a selection of regional beers, wines and specialty drinks and savor African-inspired tapas, right in the middle of the breathtaking savanna. It’s a bounty of flavors bursting with delectable tastes and textures.

After the journey, guests will receive a special keepsake memento of their unforgettable evening to take home.

Cost for this exclusive experience, which is limited to a maximum of 12 participants, is $169 per person. Each participant must be at least eight years old, and valid theme park admission is required. To book reservations, guests may call 407-WDW-TOUR or visit DisneyWorld.com/tours.

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This new female character from “Guardians of the Galaxy 2” looks amazing in her first image!

We were big fans of Guardians of the Galaxy, and not only because it featured swoon-worthy Chris Pratt. It was an overload of fun and adventure, duh! Naturally, we’ve been excited about the sequel ever since that first set picture, and now we have even MORE reason to feel giddy: Concept art by Andy Park has revealed a kickass new female character.

Full Story & Photo

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WWE Stars Cena, Rollins, Ambrose, Bellas among Seven at WW Chicago in August

In one of the most impressive gatherings of professional wrestling talent in Wizard World history, fans can meet some of wrestling’s biggest names when WWE® Superstars John Cena®, Seth Rollins™, Dean Ambrose™, Sasha Banks™, The Bella Twins™ and Becky Lynch™ attend Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, August 18, 19 and 20 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

“We’re very excited to have such a large group of incredibly talented WWE® Superstars attending Wizard World Chicago,” said John Maatta, CEO of Wizard World. “The addition of these world-class athletes to Chicago’s already impressive lineup of stars from film, television, comics and more will give fans a unique and exciting experience, and shows Wizard World’s commitment to including all forms of pop culture entertainment at its shows.”

The dates and times for each appearance are as follows:

Thursday, August 18

  • WWE® Superstar Seth Rollins™ (4-7 p.m.)
  • WWE® Superstar Sasha Banks™ (5-8 p.m.)

Friday, August 19

  • WWE® Superstar John Cena® (3-7 p.m.)
  • WWE® Superstar Dean Ambrose™ (4-7 p.m.)
  • WWE® Superstar Becky Lynch™ (2-5 p.m.)

Saturday, August 20

  • WWE® Superstars The Bella Twins™ (11 a.m.-2 p.m.)

They will greet fans, pose for photo ops, sign autographs and more, at the largest and longest-running Wizard World show.

Read more

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How to Make the Most of Your Nights at Walt Disney World

Visiting Walt Disney World can be stressful and tiresome, especially when the weather in Florida creeps toward the triple digits. If you want to avoid the summer heat while still packing in everything you came for, believe it or not, you can.

Full Story

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Disney Springs Grand Opening Summer Celebration Details

This summer Disney Springs is the place to be by day and by night! With a Grand Opening Summer Celebration taking place all season long, Disney Springs features an array of hard-to-pass-up deals and a variety of delectable new dining options at the newest neighborhood–Town Center, plus free nightly entertainment featuring more than 20 different acts performing across all four neighborhoods – The Marketplace, Westside, The Landing, and Town Center.

To kick off the grand opening season, on July 15, the best of summer and Central Florida came together to celebrate Disney Springs-style – in Town Center, with an outdoor party under the stars where guests strolled into all sorts of discoveries designed to delight the senses — renowned chefs serving up scrumptious samples from their restaurants, performances by nationally recognized entertainers, and proprietors showcasing their products and store designs that make shopping at Disney Springs simply special.

Wrapped in Florida-inspired, made-for-strolling promenades, arcing footbridges, flowing streams and waterfront charm, Disney Springs treats Walt Disney World Resort guests to an exciting blend of shopping, dining and entertainment with a Disney touch. By day or night guests can expect a vibrant scene at Disney Springs, whether they are shopping world-class brands, enjoying high-quality entertainment, having that special dining experience, pleasure boating on Village Lake or hopping a balloon skyward for spectacular views of Walt Disney World and beyond.

Now and every day, guests can enjoy the benefits of a dramatically transformed exciting new waterfront district for world-class shopping, unique dining, and high-quality entertainment featuring more than 150 establishments across its four neighborhoods.

Discover Disney Springs like never before! Here are just a few of the highlights:

Town Center – Spectacular Shopping and Award-winning chefs

  • Some of the most unique and recognizable names in retail such as UNIQLO, Vince Camuto, Anthropologie, Zara, Lilly Pulitzer, Columbia Sportswear, LACOSTE, Under Armour, kate spade new york, Sephora and Oakley all call Town Center home.
  • Among new dining choices awaiting Town Center guests are restaurants developed by James Beard award-winning chefs. Frontera Cocina serves up gourmet Mexican cuisine and creative cocktails from the menu envisioned by celebrity chef Rick Bayless, a six-time James Beard Foundation winner. Chef Art Smith, two-time winner of the James Beard Award brings a unique taste of gourmet southern cuisine and Florida agriculture to the heart of Disney Springs with Homecoming Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine.

The Landing – Inspired dining, breathtaking waterfront views, and unique boutiques

  • High-quality retailers including Erwin Pearl for fashion jewelry and Havaianas for sandals are found along lantern-lined byways.
  • Dine off a shipshape menu at The BOATHOUSE or enjoy, at Morimoto Asia, Pan-Asian cuisine from celebrity chef Matsaharu Morimoto, of Iron Chef fame. STK Orlando offers guests a fine dining experience set in chic, contemporary surroundings. Finish off the evening with a relaxing stroll to grab a signature gelato at Vivoli Gelateria or a crafted cocktail at Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar.

The Marketplace — Family-friendly delights for guests of all ages

  • Beautiful waterside shopping that combines new experiences such as an over-the-water pedestrian causeway, along with classic Disney favorites, including an expanded new Bibbity Bobbity Boutique inside the newly re-designed World of Disney store.
  • Nearby, the new Lime garage makes getting to the Marketplace a breeze

The West Side – Exuberant entertainment retail and dining options

From new acts at Cirque du Soleil to iconic restaurants to colorful food trucks to bowling with a stylized twist at Splitsville, West Side offers something for everyone. There is even the opportunity to lift off in a tethered balloon. Characters in Flight rises from the banks of Village Lake for eye-popping, 360-degree views (on a clear day you can see Florida’s east coast).

Two new slot-smart parking decks where green lights indicate available spaces make parking convenient to the entire Disney Springs scene – and it’s free. Valet parking also is available. Disney Springs is easily accessed from I-4, Central Florida’s major interstate, and connected to the rest of Walt Disney World Resort by motor coach and watercraft.

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Sprinters Who Train at Disney Earn Spots on U.S. and Jamaican Olympic Teams For Rio Games

The U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials recently took place in Eugene, Oregon and several hopefuls who regularly train at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort participated. These athletes train at Disney under the watchful eye of former U.S. Olympic Track & Field head coach Brooks Johnson, who has coached at least one athlete in every Olympics since 1968. Continuing that streak, sprinter LaShawn Merritt and hurdler Andrew Riley have earned spots on the United States and Jamaican National Olympic Teams, respectively.

Riley, who made NCAA history in 2012 when he became the first male athlete to win national titles in the 100-meter and 110-meter hurdles in the same year, is making his second Olympics appearance. Riley qualified to represent Jamaica in the 2012 London Olympics.

For Merritt, this will be the veteran sprinter’s third Olympics. Merritt took home gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics when he won the 400-meter dash and was on the team that won the 4×400-meter relay. Merritt also has 11 World Championships medals, eight of which are gold.

Merritt entered this month’s trials focusing exclusively on the 400-meter race, but decided to enter the 200-meter trials as well. In what came as a surprise to many, Merritt posted a world-leading time of 19.74 seconds in the 200-meter semifinals and would finish second behind fellow veteran sprinter Justin Gatlin (19.75) in the 200-meter finals.

In earning a spot in both races, Merritt puts himself in position to pull a 200-400 double in Rio. This is especially difficult at the Olympics, where the races are on back-to-back days instead of three days apart, like in the trials.

While Merritt is chasing sprinting legend Michael Johnson’s 400-meter world-record time of 43.19, he could also set his eyes on another milestone: Johnson is the only male ever to win gold in both the 200-meter and 400-meter in the same Olympics, a feat he accomplished at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

The Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, take place Aug. 5-Aug. 21.  But before they go for gold, Riley, Merritt and Coach Johnson will return to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex mid-July to complete training.

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Headless Horseman Haunts Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Resort

Halloween time, a season for fun-loving spirits of all ages, adds spooky excitement to the Disneyland Resort from Sept. 9 through Oct. 31. Special Halloween-themed attractions–Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy–return to Disneyland Park, while the haunts who reside year-round at The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror invite guests to “drop in” at Disney California Adventure Park.

The separately ticketed Mickey’s Halloween Party also arrives at Disneyland in September with a thrilling new surprise: The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow rides through the park, bringing new chills to the family friendly party. The character is from Disney’s animated feature, “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.”

MICKEY'S HALLOWEEN PARTY (ANAHEIM, Calif.) - The "Halloween Screams" fireworks spectacular lights up the skies surrounding Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland park, as part of the entertainment exclusive to the annual Mickey's Halloween Party. Returning for 17 nights in 2016, beginning Friday, Sept. 23, Mickey's Halloween Party is a time for guests to dress up for a ghoulish good time and enjoy seasonal scares such as Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday. (Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland)

MICKEY’S HALLOWEEN PARTY (ANAHEIM, Calif.) – The “Halloween Screams” fireworks spectacular lights up the skies surrounding Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland park, as part of the entertainment exclusive to the annual Mickey’s Halloween Party. Returning for 17 nights in 2016, beginning Friday, Sept. 23, Mickey’s Halloween Party is a time for guests to dress up for a ghoulish good time and enjoy seasonal scares such as Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion…

Currently at the Disneyland Resort, guests continue to enjoy the 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration, with sparkling décor in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, plus a dazzling array of after-dark shows, all of which are presented nightly throughLabor Day, September 5.

As the summer season turns to fall, Mickey’s Halloween Party will begin Friday, Sept. 23, for 17 select nights. The after-hours party treats guests to unforgettable entertainment including the sensational “Halloween Screams” fireworks spectacular, a guest favorite that is exclusive to Mickey’s Halloween Party. Adults and children are encouraged to dress in costume for the party as they trick-or-treat throughout Disneyland for a scary good time. Guests may check www.Disneyland.com for Mickey’sHalloween Party costume policy guidelines prior to their arrival.

Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party* go on sale for Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club members and Disney Visa card holders on Thursday, July 21. General public ticket sales begin Thursday, July 28.

Highlights of Mickey’s Halloween Party, a separate-ticket event, include:

  • New for Mickey’s Halloween Party in 2016, The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow rides his ghostly black steed and carries his flickering jack-o-lantern through the heart of Disneyland, heralding the arrival of Mickey’s Halloween Party character cavalcade, presented on the 17 nights of this special party.
  • Entry to Disneyland Park before the party is included with a Mickey’s Halloween Party ticket. Guests have the opportunity to play in Disneyland park for three hours before the party starts, and then go trick or treating – for candy and healthy treats – in the ultimate Disney neighborhood.
  • The “Halloween Screams” fireworks spectacular, presented exclusively for guests of Mickey’s Halloween Party, is hosted by “Master of Scare-omonies” Jack Skellington.
  • Party guests will rock out at Tomorrowland Terrace in a family-friendly dance party.
  • Guests can “Party Like a Villain” as Disney villains appear in select locations for photos and character greetings. Mickey Mouse and his pals will appear as well, dressed in their Halloween costumes.
  • Enhancing the eerie atmosphere along Main Street, U.S.A., animated Halloween images – ghosts, bats, pumpkins and skeletons – appear and disappear mysteriously on the facades of buildings throughout the evening.
  • The ghoulish Cadaver Dans quartet performs Halloween tunes aboard a drifting graveyard-themed raft, on the fog-filled Rivers of America in New Orleans Square and Frontierland.
  • Nearly all the favorite Disneyland rides and attractions, plus Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, will be open to party guests.

On select, non-Mickey’s Halloween Party nights, guests visiting Disneyland will enjoy a special treat:  the “Fantasy in the Sky”fireworks spectacular. In addition, the dynamic “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” will march down Main Street, U.S.A., each day throughout Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort.

Guests in search of Halloween chills may “drop in” to visit the ghostly full-time residents of The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terrorin Disney California Adventure. Here, in the remains of the Hollywood Tower Hotel, dwell the spirits of hotel guests who disappeared during a “supernatural” event on Halloween Night in 1939.

With the arrival of Halloween time, Jack Skellington makes his annual appearance in Disneyland to take over the Haunted Mansion and bring Haunted Mansion Holiday back to New Orleans Square. Haunted Mansion Holiday is inspired by the classic animated film “Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas” and transforms the Mansion with a collision of Halloween spookiness and Christmas cheer. Oct. 3, 2016 marks the 15th anniversary of this special attraction’s premiere in Disneyland.

Spooky Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy in Tomorrowland draws guests back again and again during the Halloween season. The unique Halloween-themed experience launches voyagers into a haunted section of the universe, where ghosts appear out of the starry darkness and swirling galaxies of Space Mountain, reaching out as if to grab guests as they speed through space. The exhilarating drops and curves are punctuated by piercing screams, creepy sound effects and haunting music.

In Frontierland, the traditional Dia de los Muertos is observed through Tuesday, Nov. 1, with a holiday skeleton display in the plaza near the entrance of Rancho del Zocalo.

Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party* may be purchased online and on mobile devices at Disneyland.com/party, as well as at the Disneyland Resort main gate and by phone at 714-781-4400. Guests may check for availability for the 17 nights: Friday, Sept. 23; Monday, Sept. 26, Wednesday, Sept. 28; Friday, Sept. 30; Monday, Oct. 3; Wednesday, Oct. 5; Friday, Oct. 7; Monday, Oct. 10;Wednesday, Oct. 12; Friday, Oct. 14; Monday, Oct. 17; Wednesday, Oct. 19; Friday, Oct. 21; Monday, Oct. 24; Wednesday, Oct. 26;Saturday, Oct. 29; and Monday, Oct. 31, Halloween night. Online and mobile purchases are not available the day of the event. Parking is not included in the ticket price, and parking fees will apply.

Tickets purchased in advance are available at a discount on select nights. Tickets purchased on the day of the event are $89each. All tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 29, and Monday, Oct. 31, are $99 each. Mickey’s Halloween Party is a non-smoking event. Smoking will be permitted only in the Esplanade outside the Disneyland main entrance.

For more information about Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort, see http://www.Disneyland.com/Halloween. Entertainment and attractions are subject to change without notice. Guests may visit the site for additional details.

*Mickey’s Halloween Party tickets are subject to availability and are valid only for specific event dates and hours. Space is limited. Limit eight (8) tickets per person, per event date. Tickets are nonrefundable and may not be resold. May not be combined with other discounts. Costumes subject to Disney guidelines and should not be obstructive or offensive. Ages 2 and under: no ticket required. Entertainment may be cancelled due to inclement weather or otherwise. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

The Twilight Zone® is a registered trademark of CBS, Inc. and is used with permission pursuant to a license from CBS, Inc.

Haunted Mansion Holiday inspired by “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

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