WDW Daily News

Foodies and festival fans can fire up their phones at 7 a.m. on July 31, 2014, to begin booking premium events slated for the 19th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 19-Nov. 10. During this year’s 53-day food, wine, beer and cocktail extravaganza – Epcot’s longest food and wine festival ever — guests can choose from a variety of special culinary and beverage programs like the popular Party for the Senses grand tasting experience and the new “Boot Camp Series” epicurean adventure. These special events have proven to be extremely popular and availability is limited. Guests can book:

• NEW! Dining Through the Decades, A Tribute to Walt Disney (Oct. 24) $99 pp or $119 pp

• NEW! Experience Puerto Rico – The All Star Island (Sept. 20) $99 pp

• NEW! Epcot International Food & Wine Festival — Boot Camp Series interactive epicurean adventure (Sept. 21, Oct. 5, 12, 19, Nov. 2) $119 pp

• NEW! Food for Thought (Fridays, plus Saturday Oct. 11) $169 pp

• NEW! Mediterranean Food & Wine Pairing (Wednesdays) $55 pp

• NEW! Italian White Truffle & Wine Pairing Dinner (Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30) $295 pp

• Parisian Breakfast (Saturdays) $39 pp

• “3D” Disney’s Dessert Discovery (Oct. 3, 10 and 17) $59 or $99 pp

• Culinary Adventures in Signature Dining
(more than 20 dinners throughout the festival; prices vary)

• Shake and Indulge Like the French Featuring Grand Marnier (Saturdays beginning Sept. 27) $55 pp

• Cheese Seminars (Saturdays) $79 pp

• Party for the Senses (Oct. 4, 11, 18 and Nov. 1) $149, $189 or $299 pp

• Party for the Senses Featuring Disney Chefs from Around the World (Oct. 25) $149, $189 or $299 pp

• Food & Wine Pairings (Tuesdays and Thursdays) $55 pp

• Sunday Mornings With . . . (Sundays) $99 pp

Additional special events slated will include Italian and French pairings and lunches, a Japan “Hibachi Experience” and a Mexican tequila lunch. Guests also can book special festival experiences including daily Culinary Demonstrations ($15), Mixology Seminars ($15) and Wine Seminars ($15). To make reservations, call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378). Inside-the-park festival dining experiences as well as culinary and beverage programs require park admission fees. Premium event programming and details will be posted July 24 at epcotfoodfestival.com.

Guests can book seminars and demos, Party for the Senses and Disney’s 3-D Dessert Discovery at epcotfoodfestival.com.

Take a listen to the Fife and Drum Corps performing on July 4, 2014.

Five new Eat to the Beat musical acts join 17 fan-favorite bands to complete a genre-spanning lineup of pop hit greats during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 19-Nov. 10 at Walt Disney World Resort.

New-to-the-festival bands Jo Dee Messina, Fuel, Jim Brickman, Los Lonely Boys and David Cook — and 17 returning acts including Sister Hazel, Hanson and Boyz II Men — will rock the America Gardens Theatre stage during concerts at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. daily. The lineup (subject to change and included in Epcot admission) includes:

Sept. 19-21 – Jo Dee Messina NEW! ”Lesson in Leavin’”
Sept. 22-23 — The Pointer Sisters “I’m So Excited”
Sept. 24-25 — Rick Springfield “Jessie’s Girl”
Sept. 26-27 — Christopher Cross “Sailing
Sept. 28-29 — Hanson “I Will Come to You”
Sept. 30-Oct. 2 — Air Supply “All Out of Love”
Oct. 3-5 — STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas “We Built This City”
Oct. 6-8 — Sugar Ray “Fly”
Oct. 9-10 – Fuel NEW! ”Shimmer”
Oct. 11-12 — Sister Hazel “All For You”
Oct. 13-14 — Richard Marx “Hold On to the Night”
Oct. 15-16 — Billy Ocean “Caribbean Queen”
Oct. 17-19 — Night Ranger “Sister Christian”
Oct. 20-22 — Smash Mouth “Walkin’ On the Sun”
Oct. 23-24 – Jim Brickman NEW! “Valentine”
Oct. 25-26 – Los Lonely Boys NEW! “Heaven”
Oct. 27-28 — Wilson Phillips “Hold On”
Oct. 29-31 — Dennis DeYoung, original member of the group STYX “Come Sail Away”
Nov. 1-2 — 38 Special “Caught Up in You”
Nov. 3-5 — Boyz II Men “End of the Road”
Nov. 6-7 – David Cook NEW! “The Time of My Life”
Nov. 8-10 — Big Bad Voodoo Daddy “Go Daddy-O”
(Songs listed are for artist recognition only and may not be included in the concert play list)

Guests also can sip and nosh their way around the World Showcase and watch performers from many countries weave music, dance, acrobatics, comedy and other acts into the festivities. A sampling of World Showcase entertainment includes:

High-energy Celtic music of Off Kilter (Canada)
The Arabic rhythms of Mo’Rockin (Morocco)
Perfect harmony of Voices of Liberty (American Adventure rotunda)
Infectious beat of internationally acclaimed Mariachi Cobre (Mexico)
Retro British hits by British Revolution (United Kingdom)
Jaw-dropping stunts by The Jeweled Dragon Acrobats (China)
Hilarious antics of World Showcase Players (United Kingdom)

“IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” lights up the World Showcase with lasers, music and fireworks to provide a “wow” ending to each festival evening. Visit EpcotFoodfestival.com and watch for festival updates.
– See more at: http://wdwnews.com/releases/2014/07/08/eat-to-the-beat-concerts-are-all-for-you-throughout-19th-epcot-international-food-wine-festival/#sthash.MqsCVzGy.dpuf

Take a look at The Jammitors performing at Epcot on the Fourth of July 2014.

Take a look at The Jammitors performing at Epcot on the Fourth of July 2014.

Take a look at Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck in their Independence Day outfits at Epcot on the Fourth of July 2014.

Check out the Jammitors performing on the Fourth of July at Epcot.

For those who follow the World Cup a vacation to Walt Disney World doesn’t mean you can only watch the game on your phone.  Epcot’s Odyssey Restaurant has been turned into World Cup Central.

Click on the photos for larger view:

Take a look at some photos from the 4th of July Voices of Liberty Performance at Epcot.  Plus Mickey, Donald, and Pluto in their Patriotic Attire.

The Odyssey Restaurant in Epcot will re-open and show FIFA World Cup 2014 games from June 12 to July 13.  Inside the Odyssey restaurant there will be multiple televisions broadcasting the games live, along with food, beverages, and merchandise that can be purchased.

Do you like the idea of live sporting events being broadcast inside the Disney theme parks?  Let us know your thoughts on twitter.