WDW Daily News

The arrival of fall marks one of the best times of the year to indulge in sips, savors, songs and scares across the Walt Disney World Resort. Special events and seasonal celebrations all add up to create the “WonderFALL” world of Disney.

Here’s some of what’s in store this fall:

Epcot
The most delicious time of year is underway at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Running now until November 14, the 21^st epicurean adventure features five new marketplaces, and for the first time in the Festival’s history, an expansion into the Disney resorts. At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa there’s a fabulous “brunch with a twist” prepared by top chefs from across Walt Disney World Resort. Guests can also get a behind-the-scenes look at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney Polynesian Village Resort. Interactivity is also a star of the Festival this year, providing guests the chance to prepare food and drinks along-side Disney and celebrity chefs and mixologists.

Eight new acts join the Eat to the Beat concert series, including Plain White T’s, Soul Asylum and Jeffrey Osborne. For those who want a music-and-meal combination, dining packages guarantee seats to popular restaurants including Le Cellier, Les Chefs de France and Spice Road Table and to that evening’s concert. This year, premium events like the themed Party for the Senses and Rockin’ Burger Block Party include different live entertainment each night.

While guests explore the 30 marketplaces around World Showcase, they can stop by the Norway Pavilion to visit the kingdom of Arendelle in the new Frozen Ever After attraction. Beloved characters, songs from the hit movie “Frozen” and an icy-blast await. Princesses Elsa and Anna are also in residence at their nearby Royal Sommerhus vacation cabin where guests can meet them in person.

After tasting their way around the globe, guests can fly around it: Soarin’ Around the World is a multisensory, hang-gliding-like adventure over the most popular landmarks and stunning sights across six continents.

Magic Kingdom
Happy haunts come out to socialize when Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes place at Magic Kingdom Park on 29 select nights now through October 31. Favorite Disney Characters join the fun, decked in costumes and ready for trick-or-treating. In between the treat trails and attractions, live entertainment stirs up mischief: the Sanderson Sisters return to the Cinderella Castle stage for the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. Partygoers can also catch the eerie and whimsical procession of “Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade” before the “HalloWishes” fireworks spectacular lights up the sky.

For guests who prefer their treats during daylight hours, the Magic Kingdom is all decked out with festive fall decor. New park entertainment includes the new Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire that brings together Mickey Mouse and his pals for a musical celebration on the castle stage. The daily show features Disney’s contemporary characters and classic songs.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios
A bewitching dance party awaits at Club Villain at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Every Friday and Saturday night in October (and of course on Halloween, Oct. 31), Dr. Facilier hosts a lineup of dastardly dancing divas – Maleficent, the Queen of Hearts, Cruella De Vil and the Evil Queen – Potion Bar beverages and New Orleans-inspired cuisine. For tickets, guests can call 407-WDW-DINE/407-939-3463.

An out-of-this-world fireworks and projection show fueled by The Force paints the sky over Disney’s Hollywood Studios nightly in Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. Set to the stirring and unforgettable music from the saga, this visual journey takes guests scavenging with Rey on Jakku, navigating through an asteroid field, soaring down the trench of the Death Star and delivering the final blow to destroy Starkiller Base, transporting guests to a galaxy far, far away.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Mystery and majesty come alive as night “falls” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The theme park’s iconic Tree of Life undergoes extraordinary “awakenings” throughout the evening as animal spirits are brought to life by magical fireflies that reveal colorful stories of wonder and enchantment. Animal encounters shift at twilight, too, as darkness camouflages the boundaries between wildlife and guests on sunset excursions with Kilimanjaro Safaris.  Guest can also dance alongside African performers in Harambe and indulge in the new signature restaurant, Tiffins.

Disney Springs
The four neighborhoods of Disney Springs are now open, bringing guests 150 new establishments for world-class shopping, unique dining, and high-quality entertainment. Wrapped in Florida-inspired, made-for-strolling promenades, arcing footbridges, flowing streams and small-town charm, the waterfront district is a collection of unique and high-end brand names, James Beard award-winning chefs, and even amphibious cars.

Florida’s ideal fall weather means it’s the perfect time to sip a cocktail or indulge in a meal created by a celebrity chef at one of the many new waterfront restaurants.

To learn more about all that’s happening around the WonderFALL world of Disney, guests may visit Disneyworld.com or call (407) 939-5277.

Beginning Sept. 22, 2016, for a limited time, Guests who book a Walt Disney Travel Company package at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort, Disney Springs™ Resort Area Hotels or a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor® Hotel with a minimum 3-day ticket, can enjoy the convenience of prepaid dining at Quick-Service Restaurant locations at Walt Disney World Resort. Booking dates for this additional package option are Sept. 22, 2016-April 1, 2017 and travel dates are Sept. 26, 2016-April 4, 2017.

For each day of theme park admission, adults in the party will receive $40 and children will receive $15 on their Quick-Service Dine Gift Cards. However, Guests will only be charged $35 per adult/per day and $12.50 per child/per day. For example, a Guest with a 3-day ticket included in their package would receive a $120 Disney Quick-Service Dine Gift Card for only $105. A child with the same ticket would receive a $45 dine gift card for only $37.50. The Quick-Service Dine Gift Cards may be redeemed at select Quick-Service Dining locations, or food carts, in Walt Disney World Theme Parks, Water Parks, Disney Springs™ and Disney Resort hotels.

You can upgrade their Disney Quick-Service Dine Gift Card (up to a maximum value of $400 USD for adults and $150 USD for children) as long as they include a 3-day Theme Park admission ticket. And, just as with our other dining plans, every Guest on the package must purchase a Walt Disney World Quick-Service Dine Gift Card with the same equivalent value.

Please note the Disney Quick-Service Dine Card package add-on will follow the standard Walt Disney Travel Companybooking, modification and cancellation policies.

You will receive their Disney Quick-Service Dine Gift Cards along with their Theme Park tickets upon check-in at their hotel. At that time, the Quick-Service Dine Gift Card will then follow these standard gift card policies:

• Cannot be redeemed for cash
• Will not be replaced if lost or stolen
• Unused Dining Gift Card balances are not eligible for a refund
• Cannot be used for merchandise
• Only eligible at Disney Quick-Service Restaurant locations
• Remaining balances will be printed on receipts
• Disney Quick-Service Dine Gift Cards do not expire

With some 20.5 million visitors strolling through its gates each year, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World has the highest attendance of any theme park in the world. The three other gates at the Florida megaparkalopolis, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, each rank among the world’s top ten most visited parks and collectively bring in another 33.5 million guests.

Full Story

he 34th Night of Joy at Walt Disney World Resort just wrapped up and this year’s event brought the best names in Contemporary Christian music to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for the first time.

The Complex came alive with music and festivities for this year’s event – with Champion Stadium, the HP Fieldhouse, Jostens Center and The ESPN Grill filled to the brim with music, games, food and fun. Having three venues right near each other, Guests could move between concerts with ease, which made the main Hub of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex a beehive of activity. Giant TV screens broadcast concerts and event outtakes to guests taking advantage of the Complex food trucks and other dining options.

And – if that weren’t enough – we even got to announce the dates for next year’s event – Sept. 8 and 9, 2017 – back again at The Complex. Check out this video for a taste of what you can catch next year – including a little “shout out” from Night of Joy All Stars MercyMe – who will be back again in 2017.