They say if you do what you love, then you’ll never have to work a day in your life. For one Disney employee, that saying rings true. Even though 81-year-old Floyd Norman was fired from his job at the “happiest place on Earth,” he hasn’t stopped working at Disney studios in California.
DON’T FORGET! ENJOY NEW ACTS AT LA NOUBA BY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL WITH HALF-PRICED TICKETS FOR KIDS
For a limited time, you can enjoy half-price savings off a child’s ticket for La Nouba™ by Cirque du Soleil® at Disney Springs™ when you purchase an adult ticket for shows through Dec. 16, 2016. Child-priced tickets start as low as $24 for Category 4 seats.
Whether you have seen La Nouba before or are first-timers, this is a great opportunity to escape to the wondrous world of make-believe. And, it’s a great time for you to experience the newest La Nouba acts – daring aerial bamboo artists and high-energy break dancers.
CHECK OUT WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU AT DISNEY SPRINGS
As we’ve shared over the last several months, Disney Springs has doubled in size, growing from about 75 locations to over 150. There are now five James Beard-Award Wining Chefs represented on property (Chefs Art Smith, Rick Bayless, Masaharu Morimoto, Wolfgang Puck and Tony Mantuano) making Disney Springs an unparalleled destination for dining. And, the addition of over 50 total retailers has made the area a shopper’s delight. The waterfront property is a vibrant mix of stores, restaurants and entertainment spread through four distinct neighborhoods. Check out this quick look at what’s in store for you:
Town Center – The newest addition to Disney Springs is a shopping mecca that has recently welcomed over 30 new brands, including anchor stores UNIQLO, Anthropologie, UNDER ARMOUR BRAND HOUSE and ZARA. Pepper in new eateries like Sprinkles Cupcakes, Blaze Pizza, Amorette’s Patisserie and Frontera Cocina and you could easily spend a few hours in this neighborhood alone.
The Landing – Here you will find a diverse array of restaurants including Paradiso 37, The BOATHOUSE, Raglan Road, Morimoto Asia, STK Orlando and Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming, along with niche retailers such as The Art of Shaving, Havaianas and Chapel Hats, to name just a few.
Marketplace – This family-friendly spot for Disney lovers is home to World of Disney, the world’s largest Disney Merchandise store, plus other familiar favorites like The LEGO Store, Rainforest Café and Disney’s Days of Christmas. It’s a must-see destination for Clients visiting with little ones, thanks to the Marketplace Carousel and Train and the new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
West Side – This lively entertainment hub has something for everyone. Options range from bowling at Splitsville Luxury Lanes to movies at AMC Dine-In Theatres, from “La Nouba” by Cirque du Soleil to five floors of gaming awesomeness at DisneyQuest. That’s in addition to some of the staples you’ll continue to find here: Fit2Run, Curl by Sammy Duvall, House of Blues, Wolfgang Puck and Bongos Cuban Café, for example.
And, whether you have a set itinerary for your visit or prefer to meander along and discover its charms as you stroll, Disney Springs is not-to-be-missed!
Remember, transportation is available from all Disney Resort hotels, and self-parking is complimentary on the surface lots and both parking garages, making the arrival experience easier and more convenient than ever.
Can Walt Disney World really make a Guardians of the Galaxy theme park ride?
Is a Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster about to replace Ellen’s Energy Adventure at Walt Disney World’s Epcot?
Planet Hollywood Joins Forces With Celebrity Chef, Guy Fieri at Disney Springs
Planet Hollywood, America’s preeminent restaurant destination dedicated to celebrating the entertainment industry, announced today that dynamic chef, restaurateur and television personality Guy Fieriwill introduce a flavor-packed burger and sandwich menu as part of their larger menu offerings for the transformed Orlandoflagship location, set to reopen this fall as the Planet Hollywood Observatory at Disney Springs. Repeatedly at the forefront of industry trends, Robert Earl, the entrepreneur, restaurateur and star of the Cooking Channel’s “Robert Earl’s Be My Guest®,” reached out to Fieri because of their shared passion for food. In addition to the section designed by Fieri, the Planet Hollywood Observatory will soon reveal the entire new menu featuring a wide variety of offerings and bold flavors.
“Guy Fieri has created an impressive culinary empire and has built an incredible TV following with several food-themed shows, so it was a no-brainer to invite him to create a special menu for Planet Hollywood Observatory. This partnership only furthers our commitment to refresh our guest experience while continuing to offer freshly-prepared, pleasing dishes,” said Planet Hollywood International Founder and Chairman Robert Earl.
Fieri, a chef, entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author, has brought his signature blend of authentic-meets-surprising flavors to new dishes such as the Prime Time American Kobe-Inspired Burger and the Turkey Pic-a-nic Sandwich, a perfect accompaniment to Planet Hollywood’s creamy hand-dipped milkshakes. The menu will also feature new over-the-top creations that will have guests craving more after the first bite.
“It’s awesome to be working with Robert Earl and the Planet Hollywood Team,” states Fieri. “For the Planet Hollywood Observatory, I’m bringing a big time burger and sandwich menu with real deal flavors for everyone.”
Opening this fall, the Planet Hollywood Observatory is centrally located and will overlook the heart of Disney Springs with a newly expanded outdoor terrace and bar. Within the sophisticated entertainment emporium, patrons of all ages will be invited to “Dine Amongst the Stars” through distinctive indoor and outdoor bar and lounge options, an imaginative new merchandise line, and a host of all-star celebrity collaborations.
New dining options will highlight Planet Hollywood’s timeless classics and introduce Fieri’s updated creations. A curated beverage program will feature a variety of milkshakes, smoothies, wines, bottled and draft beers, as well as cocktails served in specialty glassware to cater to the needs of all guests, from groups with small children to young adults and seniors. Spacious dining rooms ensure comfort for family meals while various bar spaces set the mood for a perfect date.
The exterior will be reminiscent of a turn-of-the-century observatory with a modern design aesthetic, while the interior’s refurbished upholstery, spherical planet-shaped lighting fixtures and stylish finishing will create a welcoming atmosphere for fans to celebrate a new generation of superstar entertainers.
Countdown to 2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: New Dining, Tasting and Chef Experiences Add Culinary Cachet
Top celebrity chefs, brand new Disney resort cooking and dining experiences and irresistible Eat to the Beat dining packages will add fresh twists to the 21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival presented by Chase at Walt Disney World Resort.
The annual Disney celebration of global flavors, running 62 days from Sept. 14-Nov. 14, has become one of America’s top food festivals and features inspired sips and bites at more than 30 marketplaces. And for the second consecutive year, ABC’s Emmy Award-winning lifestyle series, “The Chew,” will produce a full week of programs from the festival. “Chew” hosts Mario Batali, Carla Hall, Michael Symon, Clinton Kelly and Daphne Oz will share their Disney culinary adventures and tasty recipes before Epcot audiences Oct. 5-7 in shows scheduled to air Oct. 10-14.
More news fresh from festival planners:
- Iron Chefs Geoffrey Zakarian and Masaharu Morimoto, “Chopped” judge Maneet Chauhan and other celebrated chefs including Elliott Farmer and Graham Elliot will fire up the burners to host their very first festival special events. Other chef icons like Robert Irvine, Cat Cora, Norman Van Aken, Elizabeth Falkner, Buddy Valastro and Jamie Deen will return to entertain guests and inspire their palates at premium events that include Party for the Senses grand tastings featuring new entertainment.
- Nearly 50 percent of the global marketplace food items are new or reimagined dishes. Just some of the new flavors include: hard soda floats at Desserts & Champagne, savory vegan “nachos” at the Greece marketplace, sweet quesitos with guava sauce at the new Islands of the Caribbean kiosk and peanut butter and white chocolate mousse at The Chew Collective. Festival guests can pair food with wines, beers, cocktails and ciders as they stroll the promenade guided by a complimentary festival passport.
- First-time festival resort experiences include Brunch with a Twist at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa; Culinary Adventures with a Master Chef for a hands-on chef’s table experience in a professional working kitchen; The Secret of Flavor three-course lunch that gives guests a “sensory-food connection” at Yachtsman Steakhouse; and a tropical “Zombie” encounter during Behind the Scenes at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
- New “Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” hands-on workshops at the Festival Center will offer guests a chance to learn a variety of culinary skills from chefs, bakers, mixologists and other pros.
- For a second year, global marketplaces will extend into Future World to offer a wider range of taste sensations. New this year in Future World are: The Chew Collective, the Wine & Dine Studio, Chocolate Studio and Greenhouse Guru; plus Islands of the Caribbean marketplace debuts in World Showcase.
- Eat to the Beat Dining Packages give music fans a chance to guarantee seats at an Eat to the Beat concert and enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner at one of many popular Epcot restaurants, including Chefs de France, Le Cellier and Spice Road Table.
- Speaking of Eat to the Beat, multiple new Eat to the Beat concert acts debut; fan favorites return to play 186 festival concerts in all –Wang Chung (Everybody Have Fun Tonight!) will open the Eat to the Beat concert series Sept. 14-15. Eight new acts in the concert series lineup — including Wang Chung, Plain White T’s, Delta Rae and Toad The Wet Sprocket – will rock their chart-topping tunes. Other popular acts, including Wilson Phillips, Boyz II Men and Jeffrey Osbourne, will return to the America Gardens Theatre stage this fall.
- Celebrity chefs, wine experts and mixologists join the fun – Celebrities ranging from Rock Harper to master sommelier Andrea Robinson will share their food and beverage know-how during culinary demos, beverage seminars and a variety of other events spanning the festival’s 62 days.
- The popular Festival Private Label California Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are back and available by the bottle or by the glass.
- Ratatouille returns — Chef Remy of “Ratatouille” returns with his fun-for-the-family culinary scavenger hunt that features six brand-new collectible pins this year.
- Festival Center buzzes with activity–Festival Center highlights will include new festival merchandise, the complimentary Back to Basics weekend series featuring epicurean tips and tricks from the pros, book and bottle signings and The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar, hosted by Ghirardelli and offering guest samples.
- Premium events like Rockin’ Burger Block Party and Party for the Senses grand tastings will showcase creative bites and palate-pleasing sips from eminent chefs and beverage experts plus new live entertainment.
- Intimate dining and tasting events to book will include the “Umami” Tokyo Pairing and other Epcot restaurant experiences as well as multi-course lunches and dinners at Disney Springs and resort restaurants.
- Members can rest and recharge at the Chase Lounge – Chase debit and credit card members –including Disney Visa card members — will find complimentary non-alcoholic refreshments, a charging station and comfortable seating for a relaxing break at the Chase Lounge at The American Adventure pavilion.
Included with Epcot Admission:
Back to Basics series, special book signings, Eat to the Beat concerts, cultural adventures, Festival Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.
Special Programming by Reservation:
The Party for the Senses and Rockin’ Burger Block Party grand tasting events, signature dinners and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) for reservations and get details at epcotfoodfestival.com.
5 Lessons I Learned From Working At Walt Disney World
When I learned I would be interning at Disney World for the summer two years ago I became ecstatic. It was easily the best day of my life up until that moment because I knew how prestigious the Disney College Program was to get into.
Guy Fieri taking signature dishes to Disney Springs’ Planet Hollywood
Is Florida ready for Flavortown?
Guy Fieri is teaming up with Planet Hollywood to revamp its menu at Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs—formerly Downtown Disney– location. According a press release, the spiky-haired star, and Carnival Cruise Line restaurateur, will “introduce a flavor-packed burger and sandwich menu as part of their larger menu offerings for the transformed Orlando flagship location.”
Launch date announced for Ethan Allen’s Disney collection
Ethan Allen, the Danbury-based furniture maker, announced that its Disney-inspired furniture and home décor collection will launch on the company’s website and in select Ethan Allen Design Centers on Nov. 18.
3 Magical Reasons ‘Moana’ Is Already Destined To Become A Disney Classic
When you hear the phrase “Disney Classic,” what movies come to mind?The Lion King? The Little Mermaid? Beauty and The Beast? Mulan?Cinderella? For most, the films included in the “Disney Renaissance” (roughly the ’90s) are those we consider classics.
