WDW Daily News

Enhance your culinary adventure at the 2015 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, presented by CHASE®, with all-new experiences now available to Members and their Guests! From Meet and Greets with Festival Chefs to specialty cocktails, this unique lineup of special Member experiences during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is sure to offer something for everyone! See what exciting things are available this year to Disney Vacation Club Members:

– Meet with Festival Chefs: Available on Sunday and Friday mornings during the Festival, visit with dignitaries of the culinary world with a Meet and Greet opportunity for Disney Vacation Club Members and their Guests. Head to the Festival Welcome Center from 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. on the select days for a chance to meet with Guest Chefs from this year’s Festival for some culinary insights and photo opportunities! Please note that advanced reservations are required for this complimentary event. To make reservations, please visit disneyvacationclub.com.

– Member Monday Cocktail: What would a Food & Wine Festival be without a delicious beverage? Join Disney Vacation Club every Monday throughout the Festival for a Member Monday cocktail. A specialty cocktail will be available at Intermission Café in the Festival Welcome Center each Monday from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. for Members and up to three Guests, while supplies last. Have non-alcoholic drinkers in your party? An alternative version of the cocktail will be available as well.

– Party for the Senses Reserved Seating: Give your senses an all-new outlook with the sights, sounds, scents and tastes showcased at Party for the Senses, a specialty culinary event at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Members are invited to take part in an extra-special event night on October 3, 2015 with reserved seating available only to them and their Guests. Join Disney Chefs from around the world in a flavorful celebration where you will be guided through tasting stations to sample cuisine that bests represents their cultures. Add colorful acrobatics and dazzling storytelling for a setting that is quite spectacular! To reserve a spot for this very special evening, please call Member Services at (800) 800-9800. For more information, including pricing, please visit the My DVC Membership tab on disneyvacationclub.com.

– Candy Sushi Experience: Put your culinary skills to the test with a unique opportunity to learn to make candy sushi with a Disney Chef. Create this sweet treat Monday – Thursday mornings during the Festival at The Land pavilion. Please note that advanced reservations are required for this complimentary event. To make reservations, head to the My DVC Membership tab on disneyvacationclub.com.

Please note that Theme Park admission and at least one validMembership Card are required to attend the above events. What new Member eventare you most excited for at this year’s Festival? Share your comments below!

Guests who are headed to Walt Disney World® Resort during the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 25-Nov. 16, 2015, they can now make FastPass+ reservations for the Eat to the Beat concert series.

Four new acts debut and several fan favorites return for nightly shows at the America Gardens Theater.

• David Cook – Sept. 25-27, 2015
• Wilson Phillips – Sept. 28-29, 2015
• Christopher Cross – Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2015
• Starship – Oct. 2-4, 2015
• Smash Mouth – Oct. 5-7, 2015
• The Pointer Sisters – Oct.8-9, 2015
• 38 Special – Oct. 10-11, 2015
• Rick Springfield – Oct. 12-13, 2015
• Sugar Ray – Oct.14-16, 2015
• The S.O.S. Band – Oct. 17-18, 2015
• Air Supply – Oct.19-21, 2015
• Fuel – Oct. 22-23, 2015
• Tiffany (NEW!) – Oct. 24-25, 2015
• Dennis DeYoung – Oct. 26-28, 2015
• Jo Dee Messina – Oct. 29-30, 2015
• Everclear (NEW!) – Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2015
• Boyz II Men – Nov. 2-4, 2015
• Sister Hazel – Nov. 5-6, 2015
• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – Nov. 7-9, 2015
• Hanson – Nov. 10-12, 2015
• Maxi Priest (NEW!) – Nov. 13-14, 2015
• Chaka Khan (NEW!) – Nov. 15-16, 2015

Please note: Daily show times take place at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. Entertainment and appearances are subject to change without notice.

Next year, guests at Epcot in Florida and Disney California Adventure in California will journey to far-flung lands and fly above some of the world’s most unique natural landscapes and man-made wonders when the new Soarin’ Around the World makes its U.S. debut. 

Beginning Nov. 8, 2015, guests can enjoy Character dining all day long at Garden Grill Restaurant at Walt Disney World® Resort. Served family style and all-you-care-to-enjoy, the menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner are inspired by the garden-grown theme of The Land at Epcot®. And while they dine, guests can meet popular Disney pals, including Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Chip and Dale, as they revolve around vibrant views from the Living with the Land attraction. (Characters are subject to change).

For breakfast, served from 8-10:30 a.m., guests can enjoy favorites like biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, Mickey waffles and the restaurant’s signature item, Chip’s Sticky Bun Bake.

And at lunch, served from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., guests can feast on all-you-care-to-enjoy favorites from the dinner menu, including “Living with the Land” Harvest-inspired Farmer’s Salad, char-grilled sliced filet of beef, roasted all-natural sliced turkey breast with freshly-harvested vegetables and scrumptious side dishes.

Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Harvest Feast will continue to be available for dinner from 4-8 p.m. daily.

All meals require one table-service entitlement on the Disney Dining Plan.

Chase today announced that as part of its multi-year agreement with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, U.S. it continues as the presenting sponsor of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. The festival, running from September 25 through November 16, 2015, will welcome celebrity chefs, debut new marketplaces and tastes from around the world and celebrate Guests’ favorite dining traditions.

The sponsorship of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival extends Chase’s relationship with Disney as the issuer of the Disney Premier Visa Credit Card, Disney Rewards Visa Credit Card and Disney Visa Debit Card. Chase debit and credit cardmembers, including Disney Visa Cardmembers, again have exclusive access to complimentary, non-alcoholic refreshments, charging stations and interactive fun at the Chase Lounge.¹ The lounge, located on the third floor of the American Adventure Pavilion within the Epcot World Showcase, will be open daily during the Festival from 11 a.m. until Park close.

New this year are three special dining events² exclusively for Disney Visa Cardmembers during the festival:

• Brews, Breakfast and More, September 28, 2015. Over a three-course breakfast that uses beer as an ingredient and pairing, learn about innovative beer styles and brewing processes dating back to ancient Babylon and Egypt.
• The Making of the Party for the Senses, October 27, 2015. Discover how the culinary team makes this popular tasting event come alive. Over lunch in the Wine View Lounge, event creators offer a glimpse at the behind-the-scenes magic.
• The Creation of the Food & Wine Festival Marketplaces, November 9, 2015. Enjoy breakfast on the promenade before the Festival opens with a Walt Disney World Chef, Beverage Professional and Imagineer for a sneak peek at Marketplace creations and their menu delights.

Tickets for these dining events are subject to availability and are on sale for Disney Visa Cardmembers. Disney Visa Cardmembers also have an advanced booking opportunity on July 28 and July 29 for all special events offered at this year’s Festival before sales open to the general public on July 30. For more information visit DisneyRewards.com.

“We are thrilled to offer exclusive dining experiences to our Disney Visa Cardmembers to make their experience at the Festival even more memorable,” said B.J. Mahoney, general manager, Chase Card Services. “In addition, the Chase Lounge has become a welcome destination for all Chase cardmembers attending the Festival, which is why we have exciting activities for everyone to enjoy.”

Disney Visa Credit Cardmembers earn reward dollars on all card purchases.³ In addition, all Disney Visa Cardmembers have access to amazing perks 365 days-a-year, including a Character Meet ‘N’ Greet at a private Cardmember location at Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort and special savings at Disney’s domestic theme parks, Disney Store and DisneyStore.com.⁴ Cardmembers can also choose from various Disney card designs.⁵

1 Theme Park admission to Epcot is required.

2 Offers and offer elements including, but not limited to, participating locations, are subject to availability and additional restrictions, and may change or be canceled without notice. Use a valid Disney Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card for special offers.

3 Disney Dream Reward Dollars are subject to the terms and conditions of the Disney Rewards Program. See DisneyRewards.com for rewards details.

4 Use a valid Disney Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card for special offers. Must mention the offer to receive the merchandise discount. Merchandise discount may not be used for certain items and is not available at certain locations including Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort Operating Participant locations. For entry into the Character Meet ‘N’ Greet Photo Opportunity, must present your valid Disney Visa Card. Not valid in combination with other offers, discounts, promotions or with any previous purchase. Minimum purchase and/or separate admission may be required. Offers are for personal use only and may not be transferred or resold. Please visit DisneyVisaPerks.com for full terms and conditions. Chase is not responsible or liable for fulfillment of these Disney Theme Park perks. Theme Park admission to Epcot is required.

5 Card designs are subject to availability and may change without notice.

The GLIDDEN^® paint brand is rolling out a new colorful world in INNOVENTIONS at Epcot, part of the Walt Disney World Resort. The paint brand known for a rich tradition of innovation and color inspiration has collaborated with Walt Disney Imagineers to create a highly interactive color experience called “Colortopia”. Opening to park visitors in fall 2015, construction is currently underway to bring the Colortopia experience to life for children and adults of all ages.

“We’re excited to share the Colortopia experience with the park’s visitors from around the world.”

“Pairing the magic of the park experience with the magical role color plays in our lives is an exciting opportunity for the Glidden brand,” said Mark Lancia, senior brand manager – Glidden, a brand of PPG Architectural Coatings. “We’re excited to share the Colortopia experience with the park’s visitors from around the world.”

Guests to the Colortopia exhibit will encounter unique interactions through fun and surprising hands-on activities. Park visitors will be able to extend the Colortopia exhibit experience throughout Epcot and to their own homes with a mobile application and website set to launch later this year.

The Glidden brand is a line of PPG Architectural Coatings, a business of PPG Industries, the world’s leading coatings company.

To learn more about Glidden paint, visit glidden.com.

For the first time ever, the festival is stretching into the park’s Future World with four new food and beverage marketplaces.

Along the walkway toward Future World West, guests can enjoy the new Artistry of Wine & Cheese festival area, which will feature the Cheese Studio (offering a cheese sampler served on an artist’s palette to pair with wines) and the Wine Studio with premium wines on tap.

Near the Epcot Character Spot, guests can discover the new Next Eats area, featuring the Sustainable Chew and Chew Lab marketplaces inspired by ABC’s Emmy-Award® winning lifestyle series  “The Chew,” starring co-hosts Mario Batali, Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly and Daphne Oz. Sustainable Chew will offer three dishes, and Chew Lab will show off hot culinary tech trends like a Liquid Nitro Chocolate Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey Caramel.

While many festival events are included in regular theme park admission, including the new Back to Basics series, special book signings, Eat to the Beat concerts, cultural adventures, Marketplace Discover Passport, as well as attractions and park entertainment, your Clients can also look forward to over-the-top premium events, including:

• Rockin’ Burger Block Party – guests can get a glimpse of the cast of ABC TV’s “The Chew” at this new premium event on Oct. 8 in World ShowPlace. They’ll enjoy specialty burgers and sliders inspired by top names in the music industry such as Dave Matthews and his Dreaming Tree Wines and Carlos Santana’s Casa Noble Tequila. (Two additional Burger Block Parties are set for Sept. 25 and Nov. 6.) This event includes VIP seating with a specialty cocktail toast, premium bar and more.
• Yelloween Masquerade Party for the Senses – This first-time event on Oct. 31 will be one in a series of popular Party for the Senses premium events. Guests can experience an elegant, dance-the-night-away, gourmet tasting party with Champagne, wine, craft beers and specialty cocktails paired with food.
• Another Party for the Senses guests won’t want to miss takes place Oct. 24, and features Disney chefs from the United States, Europe and Asia cooking their favorite cuisine that represents their cultures as well as the Disney Parks and Resorts they call home.
• Additional Party for the Senses dates are Oct. 3, 10 and 17, and each evening starts with a reserved seat at the Eat to the Beat concert series at the America Gardens Theatre. Following the show, your Clients will head to World ShowPlace for a sensational evening with more than 50 tasting stations, and performances by Cirque du Soleil
• What’s Cookin’ With …guests can begin the morning with a delightful plated brunch and sparkling wine toast. Culinary celebs will demo a favorite dish and then sit down with the emcee to answer questions from the audience and share secrets of their successes. The brunch happens every Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. during the festival.

Guests include:

• Sept. 27: Andrew Zimmern
• Oct. 2: Amanda Freitag presented by Mylan
• Oct. 4: Bryan Voltaggio
• Oct.9: Jamie Deen
• Oct.11: Carla Hall
• Oct.16: Gale Gand
• Oct. 18: Cat Cora
• Oct.23: Allen Susser
• Oct. 25: John Ash presented by Verlasso
• Oct. 30: Robert Irvine
• Nov. 1: Erika Davis
• Nov. 6: Buddy Valastro
• Nov. 8: David Guas
• Nov. 13: Alex Guarnaschelli
• Nov. 15: Sarah Fioroni

Others premium events include the Mexican Tequila Lunch, Japanese Craft Beer Tasting and the new French Family Meal Traditions.