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EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival Starts Today

The 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival starts today, March 1,2023. This year’s festival will run through July 5, 2023. This year’s Festival features new topiaries, great music and tons of great food.

EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Three Caballeros Topiaries — Photo: Disney Parks

The 2023 International Flower & Garden Festival features more than 15 outdoor kitchens. There are returning popular favorites like the Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake from the Honey Bee-stro hosted by the National Honey Board and the Boneless IMPOSSIBLE Korean Short Rib at Trowel & Trellis hosted by IMPOSSIBLE.

There are nearly 50 brand new dishes blossoming for the first time at this year’s festival. Lots of great dishes that guests will be eager to try, like the Citrus Baked Brie from the Citrus Blossom and the Muffuletta Panini from Magnolia Terrace. For guests that are lucky enough to visit the Festival more than once during it’s 4 month run, be sure to check out the EPCOT Farmer’s Feast. The EPCOT Farmer’s Feast is featuring a seasonal menu that will change as the Festival progresses. How fun is that?

EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival — Springtime flowers and fairies at Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival

Extra Fun for Foodies

A fun activity for foodies attending the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is the Garden Graze. The Garden Graze is a kind of scavenger hunt based on food items at various outdoor kitchens around the Festival. There are 11 different tasty treats featured in the Garden Graze. After you purchase on of the treats, you’ll get a stamp in your Garden Graze passport. Once you’ve collected five stamps in your passport, you’ll receive an exclusive treat from the Pineapple Promenade. I love a scavenger hunt, and one based on food, likely with a food treat as a reward? Sign me up!

Foodie Guide for the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

EPCOT Farmers Feast

Food Items:

Early Bloom Menu (Available March 1 through April 8)

- - Chilled Potato and Leek Soup “Vichyssoise” with bacon lardons, potato croutons, chive oil, and crispy leeks (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)
  - Char-grilled Bison Ribeye with creamy leek fondue, red wine butter sauce, and whipped red wine goat cheese
  - Spice Cake with cream cheese icing and candied pecans and parsnip (New)
  - Hibiscus Lemonade Cocktail featuring Islamorada Brewery & Distillery Hibiscus Gin

Springtime Menu (Available April 9 through May 20)

- - Grilled Vegetable Bruschetta with marinated peppers, zucchini, squash, artichokes, goat cheese, and balsamic glaze on grilled ciabatta
  - Grilled Swordfish with crushed fingerling potatoes, pea and mint purée, grilled asparagus, and lemon beurre Blanc (New)
  - Strawberry Rhubarb Upside-down Cake with crème fraîche whipped cream

Summer Solstice Menu (Available May 20 through July 5)

- - Tomato and Red Onion Panzanella with avocado, burrata cheese, and fresh basil
  - Barbecued Seared Pork Tenderloin with summer succotash, herb butter, and grapefruit vinaigrette (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)
  - Sweet Corn Crème Brûlée with corn biscotti (New)

Beverages (Available throughout entire festival):

- - Collective Arts Brewing Blueberry & Elderberry Sparkling Hard Tea (New)
  - Ghost Mary: Translucent Bloody Mary with Boyd & Blair Cucumber Vodka, tomato water, horseradish, celery salt, and a hint of pepper (New)

BRUNCHCOT (Near Test Track presented by Chevrolet)

Food Items:

- - Avocado Toast with marinated toybox tomatoes on toasted ciabatta (Plant-based) (Garden Graze)
  - Shrimp and Grits: Blackened shrimp and cheddar cheese grits with brown gravy and sweet corn salsa
  - Lox Benedict on Everything Focaccia with everything-spiced cream cheese, shallots, crispy capers, and hollandaise (New)
  - Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites with cream cheese frosting and candied bacon

Beverages:

- - Froot Loops Shake (Non-alcoholic)
  - Peach Bellini (New)
  - Joffrey’s Coffee Cold Brew Cocktail with milk, Kahlúa Rum and Coffee Liqueur, and vanilla vodka

The Citrus Blossom (The Odyssey)

Food Items:

- - Orange Sesame Tempura Shrimp with orange chile sauce (New)
  - Citrus Baked Brie with preserved lemon marmalade, limoncello-macerated blueberries, and spiced marcona almonds (New)
  - Lemon Meringue Pie: Lemon curd, lemon mousse, and toasted meringue (New)

Beverages:

- - Orange-Lemon Smoothie in a Souvenir Orange Bird Sipper Cup (Non-alcoholic)
  - UFO Beer Co. Citrus Hazy Wheat Beer
  - 81Bay Brewing Co. Citrus Honey Cream Ale
  - Parish Brewing Co. Drive Thru: Orange Octane Imperial Sour
  - Bella Strada Spritz (New)
  - Orange Sunshine Wine Slushy
  - Beer Flight

Novelty:

- - Orange Bird Bundle featuring The Orange Bird Little Golden Book and souvenir Orange Bird Sipper Cup

Florida Fresh (Near Disney Traders)

Food Items:

- - Grilled Street Corn on the Cob with savory garlic spread and spicy corn chips (New) (Plant-based) (Garden Graze)
  - Grilled Street Corn on the Cob with savory garlic spread and plant-based cotija cheese (Plant-based) (Garden Graze)
  - Blackened Fish Slider with roasted tomatoes, watercress, and citrus remoulade on brioche (New)
  - Watermelon Salad with blueberries, pickled red onions, balsamic, and feta
  - Florida Strawberry Shortcake (New)

Beverages:

- - Cucumber Watermelon Slushy (Non-alcoholic)
  - Cucumber Watermelon Slushy with gin

Refreshment Outpost

Food Items:

- - Pineapple Skewer with Tajin seasoning (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) (Plant-based) (Garden Graze)
  - Tangerine Soft-serve
  - Ice Cream Float: Tangerine soft-serve and cream soda

Beverages:

- - Lavender Martini: Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka with Lavender and Lemon
  - Lexington Brewing Tangerine Cream Ale
  - Blake’s Hard Cider Co. Grand Cherry Hard Cider (New)
  - Southern Tier Brewing Co. Juice Jolt IPA (New)

BAUERNMARKT: FARMER’S MARKET (Germany)

Food Items:

- - Potato Pancakes with house-made apple sauce (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) (Plant-based) (Garden Graze)
  - Potato Pancake with caramelized ham, onions, and herb sour cream (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)
  - Toasted Pretzel Bread topped with black forest ham and melted gruyère cheese
  - Warm Cheese Strudel with mixed berries

Beverages:

- - Bitburger Premium Pils
  - Stiegl Brewery Radler Raspberry
  - Flensburger Dunkel
  - Apfelschaumwein: Sparkling wine and apple liqueur
  - Beer Flight

Flower & Garden Festival starts today — Photo: Disney Parks

Magnolia Terrace (The American Adventure)

Food Items:

- - Muffuletta Panini with ham, salami, mortadella, provolone, and Swiss with olive salad (New)
  - Spicy Chicken Gumbo with Andouille sausage and BEN’S ORIGINAL Long Grain & Wild Rice
  - Crawfish Pie (New)
  - Bananas Foster Bread Pudding (New)

Beverages:

- - Bayou Cocktail: Bayou Spiced Rum, coconut rum, fruit punch, and orange juice
  - Central 28 Beer Co. Pretty Things Ale (New)
  - Wicked Weed Brewing Day Light American Light Ale
  - Parish Brewing Co. Ghost in the Machine Double IPA
  - Beer Flight

Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina (Morocco)

Food Items:

- - Hummus Trio: Traditional hummus, red beet and black garlic hummus, and avocado-herb hummus with Moroccan bread and crispy papadam (New) (Plant-based) (Garden Graze)
  - Orange Blossom-Saffron Cake (New)

Beverages:

- - Pomegranate Mimosa
  - Keel Farms Strawberry Elderflower Hard Cider
  - Bold Rock Tangerine Hard Cider
  - 3 Daughters Brewing Pomegranate Hard Cider
  - Cider Flight

La Isla Fresca (Between Morocco and France)

Food Items:

- - Braised Oxtail with pigeon pea rice (New)
  - Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer with BEN’S ORIGINAL Long Grain White Rice, mango salsa, and coconut-lime sauce
  - Coconut Tres Leches: Vanilla cake soaked in oat milk, almond milk, and coconut milk with toasted coconut (Plant-based) (Garden Graze)

Beverages:

- - Tropical Breeze: Minute Maid Lemonade, grapefruit, and simple syrup (Non-alcoholic)
  - Islamorada Beer Company Coconut Key Lime Ale
  - Florida Orange Groves Winery Tropical Perception White Sangria
  - Tropical Breeze with Don Q Límon Rum

Northern Bloom (Canada)

Food Items:

- - Seared Scallops with French green beans, butter potatoes, brown butter vinaigrette, and Nueske’s Applewood-smoked Bacon (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)
  - Beef Tenderloin Tips, mushroom bordelaise sauce, and whipped potatoes with garden vegetables
  - Chocolate Maple Whisky Cake (New)

Beverages:

- - Maple Popcorn Shake (Non-alcoholic)
  - Collective Arts Brewing Honey Lager
  - Glutenberg Blonde Ale, Montreal
  - 81Bay Brewing Co. Apricot with Maple Syrup
  - Maple Popcorn Shake with Tap 357 Maple Rye Whisky
  - Beer Flight

Refreshment Port (Near Canada)

Food Items:

- - Shrimp Scampi Poutine with cheese curds, lemon-garlic cheese fondue, spinach, and artichokes (New)
  - Soft-serve Waffle Cone: Peanut butter, jelly, or swirl

Beverages:

- - Mighty Swell Purple Magic Spiked Seltzer (New)
  - Villa Maria Earth Garden Sauvignon Blanc (New)
  - Frozen Mojito with Boyd & Blair Rum (New)

Trowel & Trellis Hosted by IMPOSSIBLE (Near Port of Entry)

Food Items:

- - Boneless IMPOSSIBLE Korean Short Rib with cilantro-lime rice, Danmuji slaw, and kimchee mayonnaise (Plant-based) (Garden Graze)
  - IMPOSSIBLE Lumpia with Thai sweet chili sauce (New) (Plant-based) (Garden Graze)
  - Chocolate Cake with black currant ganache, mixed berry compote, and chocolate ice cream (New) (Plant-based) (Garden Graze)

Beverages:

- - Twinings Iced Green Tea with Cranberry and Lime (Non-alcoholic)
  - Parish Brewing Co. Bloom Hazy IPA
  - Lohr Wildflower Valdiguié
  - Twinings Iced Green Tea with cranberry and lime with Hangar 1 Makrut Vodka served in a mason jar

The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board (Near Port of Entry)

Food Items:

- - Chicken and Waffles: Crispy honey-brined chicken and honey sweet corn bread waffle with whipped honey butter and spicy honey (New)
  - Pollinator Flatbread with honey whipped mascarpone, honey caramelized onions, blueberry gastrique, prosciutto, honey whipped goat cheese, arugula, honey vinaigrette, and bee pollen (New)
  - Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake with honey whipped cream, whipped honey, crystalized honey, honeycomb, dehydrated honey, and fennel pollen meringue kisses

Beverages:

- - Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze with streusel (Non-alcoholic)
  - Nektar New Wave Lemonade Mead
  - Florida Orange Groves Winery Orange Blossom Honey Wine
  - Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze with blueberry vodka and streusel

Pineapple Promenade (Near Port of Entry)

Food Items:

- - Spicy Hot Dog with pineapple chutney and plantain chips
  - DOLE Whip (Plant-based)

Beverages:

- - Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (Non-alcoholic)
  - DOLE Whip with Fanta (Non-alcoholic)
  - 3 Daughters Brewing Tropical Hefe
  - BrewDog Hazy Jane IPA
  - Urban Artifact Teak Tropical American Fruit Tart
  - Playalinda Brewing Company Violet Lemonade Ale
  - Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Pineapple Wine
  - DOLE Whip topped with Sōmrus Mango Cream Liqueur
  - Pineapple Beer Flight

The Land Cart hosted by AdventHealth

Food Items:

- - Fruit and Cheese Plate: Grapes, strawberries, cheddar, and Mini Babybel Snack Cheese
  - Vegetable Plate: Broccoli, carrot sticks, and tomatoes with dip (Plant-based)
  - Pretzels with Hummus Dip (Plant-based)
  - Cookies ‘n “Cream” Chocolate Mousse Cup (Plant-based) (Garden Graze)

Sunshine Seasons

Beverage:

- - Strawberry-mango Slushy (Non-alcoholic)

Connections Café & Eatery

Food Item:

- - Orange Bird Liege Waffle (New)

Beverage:

- - Flower Drop Cocktail: St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Minute Maid Premium Lemonade (New)

Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico)

Food Items:

- - Quesadilla de Flor de Calabaza: House-made masa tortillas with squash blossoms, bacon, onion, zucchini, and cheese (New) (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)
  - Taco Vampiro: Barbacoa Beef in a Corn Tortilla with crispy grilled monterey jack cheese, salsa ranchera, and esquites (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)

Beverages:

- - Mala Hierba Margarita: Centinela Tequila Reposado, elderflower-chamomile tea, Abasolo Corn Whiskey, and UNA Flower-infused Vodka with a chile salt rim (New)
  - Cristal Margarita: 100% Agave Tequila Blanco, Ilegal Mezcal Joven, clarified lemon juice, and orange liqueur in a souvenir cup (New)
  - Craft Mexican Lager

Lotus House (China)

Food Items:

- - Spicy Mala Chicken Skewer with creamy peanut sauce
  - House-made Cheesy Crab Wontons
  - Pan-fried Vegetable Dumplings

Beverages:

- - Classic Bubble Milk Tea (Non-alcoholic)
  - Cherry Blossom Pilsner Draft Beer
  - Kung Fu Master: Tito’s Vodka, Triple Sec, mango, orange juice, and soda water
  - Tang Dynasty: Jose Cuervo Especial Tequila Gold, light rum, strawberry, piña colada mix, soda water, and white boba pearls
  - Tropical Moon: Smirnoff Vodka, Triple Sec, passion fruit, soda water and white boba pearls (New)

Primavera Kitchen (Italy)

Food Items:

- - Caesar con Gamberett: Baby gem lettuce, shrimp, Caesar dressing, and crispy bread crumble (New)
  - Tortelloni Primavera: Spinach tortelloni, sweet butter, pancetta, corn, peas, and fava beans (New)
  - Budino alle Nocciole: Chocolate-hazelnut pudding with cookie crumble (New)

Beverages:

- - Peroni Pilsner
  - Prosecco
  - Moscato
  - Italian Sangria red or white
  - Italian Margarita with limoncello and tequila

Hanami (Japan)

Food Items:

- - Frushi: Strawberry, pineapple, and lychee wrapped in sweet rice and pink soy wrap served with whipped cream, drizzled raspberry sauce, and toasted coconut
  - Hanami Sushi: Assorted Nigiri sushi with lemon-cured salmon, soy-marinated tuna, and cured mackerel (New)
  - Creamy Shrimp Udon: Udon soup with shrimp and spring vegetables (New)

Beverages:

- - Sakura Cherry Blossom Pilsner (New)
  - Hakushika Hana Kohaku Plum Sake: Junmai Ginjo blended with Japanese plum (New)
  - Nigori Dragon Fruit Sake Cocktail (New)

Fleur de Lys (France)

Food Items:

- - Croissant au Fromage de Chèvre, Herbes et Ail Rôtie: Croissant with goat cheese, herbs, and roasted garlic
  - Daube de Boeuf à la Provençal, Compote de Tomate au Romarin Gnocchi à la Niçoise: Provençal-style braised beef, rosemary tomato, and niçoise gnocchi (New)
  - Tarte Chocolat Mogador: Chocolate tart with Valrhona single origin chocolate brownie, walnuts, and raspberry coulis served warm (New)
  - Beignet Caramélisé, Fourré Crème Vanille, Glacé au Caramel Fleur de Sel: Caramelized beignet filled with vanilla cream and glazed with caramel fleur de sel

Beverages:

- - Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 Draft Beer
  - VeRy Raspberry: Rosé wine with natural raspberry flavor
  - Kir àla Poire: French sparkling wine with Monin desert pear (New)
  - La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush: Vodka, Grey Goose L’Orange Vodka, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, and white and red cranberry juices

Funnel Cake

- - Banana Split Funnel Cake: Funnel Cake topped with Banana-Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, Diced Strawberries, and a Maraschino Cherry drizzled with Chocolate Syrup (New)

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

World Discovery (Near Mission: SPACE) – Exotic Lemon Tea: A refreshing mix of Frozen Lemon and Iced Tea featuring Exotic Berry notes (Spirited option available featuring Grey Goose Vodka) (New)

Near Canada – Melonade: A tangy blend of Frozen Lemon with a burst of watermelon (Spirited option available featuring Grey Goose Vodka) (New)

World Showcase (Near Disney Traders) – Orange Cream Cold Brew: A smooth blend of French Roast Cold Brew with flavors of orange and vanilla topped with a splash of cream, whipped cream, and coconut shavings (Spirited option available featuring Kahlúa Rum and Coffee Liqueur) (New)

The American Adventure – Key Lime Cold Brew: A zesty blend of French Roast Cold Brew with flavors of Key lime and white chocolate topped with a splash of cream, whipped cream, and graham cracker crumbs (Spirited option available featuring Kahlúa Rum and Coffee Liqueur) (New)

(Note: All offerings are subject to change and availability.)

What Food Items Are You Looking Forward To?

I don’t know about you, but I’m very excited about some of these offerings. Mom and I always plan at least two EPCOT days during our annual Flower & Garden Festival trips. Some years we’ve even gone back a third time. We go for the Flowers, but the food is a becoming more and more of a draw every year.

EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Anna & Elsa Topiaries — Photo: Disney Parks

Is there anything you are really looking forward to trying?

It’s not too late to plan a trip for this year’s International Flower & Garden Festival. I’d love to help! Reach out now for a no obligation quote! Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com or call 630-538-1124.

If you’d like to check out our other posts on this year’s Festival, please click here or here.

Garden Rocks Concert Series Schedule

One of the highlights of the annual EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is the Garden Rocks Concert Series. Throughout the Festival, internationally recognized musical artists perform every weekend, Friday through Monday. During the week, Tuesdays through Thursdays, locally celebrated Orlando artists perform for EPCOT guests.

To learn more about the 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, please read here.

Garden Rocks Concert Series Schedule

Garden Rocks Concerts take place each evening at the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion. The Garden Rocks Concerts run three times each evening throughout the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival: 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Concerts begin March 1, 2023 and run through July 5, 2023.

This year’s Garden Rocks Concert Series is filled with familiar returning favorites like the Plain White T’s, Simple Plan, and Kool and the Gang. This year, there are new legends joining the lineup, like legacy guitarist AJ Croce, Grammy award winner Switchfoot and Blue Oyster Cult.

The Garden Rocks Concert Series offers diverse music styles throughout the festival. The current schedule is below:

- - March 3-4 – Journey former lead vocalist STEVE AUGERI
  - March 5-6 – Daughtry
  - March 10-11 – Tommy DeCarlo
  - March 12-13 – Smash Mouth
  - March 17-18 – Mike DelGuidice
  - March 19-20 – Blue Oyster Cult – NEW
  - March 24-25 – Berlin
  - March 26-27 – The Pointer Sisters
  - March 31 – Luis Figueroa – NEW
  - April 1-2 – Piso 21 – NEW
  - April 3 – TBD
  - April 7-8 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
  - April 9-10 – Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles
  - April 16-17 – Switchfoot – NEW
  - April 21-22 – A Flock of Seagulls
  - April 23-24 – Jo Dee Messina
  - April 28-29 – Ambrosia with Peter Beckett, The Voice Of Player
  - April 30, May 1 – Kool and the Gang
  - May 5-8 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
  - May 12-15 – The Orchestra starring former members of ELO
  - May 19-20 – A.J. Croce: Croce Plays Croce – NEW
  - May 21-22 – Casting Crowns – NEW
  - May 26-27 – Jason Scheff, longtime lead singer of Chicago – NEW
  - May 28-29 – Rick Springfield
  - June 2-5 – Plain White T’s
  - June 9-10 – The Spinners
  - June 11-12 – The Commodores
  - June 16-17 – Vertical Horizon
  - June 18-19 – Tony Orlando
  - June 23-26 – Simple Plan
  - June 30, July 1 – Living Colour
  - July 2-3 – Wang Chung

Garden Rocks Dining Packages

The America Gardens Theatre has open, bleacher style seating. The seating for each show is first come, first serve, unless you’ve purchased guaranteed seats via a Garden Rocks Dining Package. The America Gardens Theatre has a maximum capacity of 1800 seats.

For really popular acts, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, the line for seating for Garden Rocks shows can get fairly long. If you want to be sure of getting a seat for your preferred date, a Garden Rocks Dining Package is a good way to go.

When you book a Garden Rocks Dining Package, you pay a fixed price. The price depends on the restaurant you choose. Your fixed price includes an appetizer, an entrée, a dessert or one (1) full buffet or family-style meal (where applicable) and a non alcoholic beverage. Your fixed price also includes one (1) guaranteed seat per person to the Garden Rocks concert for that day.

If your chosen restaurant is Spice Road Table, the fixed price includes two small plates, a shared dessert platter and a nonalcoholic beverage. It also includes one (1) guaranteed seat per person to the Garden Rocks concert for that day.

Participating Restaurants

	Adult (ages 10 and up)	Child (ages 3 to 9)
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Norway Pavilion	$74.00	$48.00
Biergarten Restaurant Germany Pavilion	$60.00	$34.00
Coral Reef Restaurant The Living Seas	$69.00	$27.00
Garden Grill Restaurant The Land Pavilion	$66.00	$43.00
Le Cellier Steakhouse Canada Pavilion	$95.00	$36.00
Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue American Adventure Pavilion	$35.00	$20.00
Rose & Crown Dining Room United Kingdom Pavilion	$59.00	$25.00
Spice Road Table Morocco Pavilion	$47.00	$20.00

How Does the Garden Rocks Dining Package Work?

Advance reservations are highly recommended for the participating table service restaurants.

After you’ve dined at your restaurant, you’ll be given a Garden Rocks seating badge. The badge will specify the date and show time you’ve reserved.

For each show, there will be two queues. One for guests with the Garden Rocks Dining Package badges and one for guests without Garden Rocks Dining Package badges.

Guests with Garden Rocks Dining Package badges will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating is guaranteed.

Guests who have not reserved a Garden Rocks Dining Package will be seated at the Garden Rocks concert on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating is based on availability due to limited capacity.

Keep in mind that to attend the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival or the Garden Rocks Concert Series, both a theme park reservation and valid theme park admission are required. EPCOT admission is not included in the price of the dining package.

I’ve Seen Rick Springfield at Least 20 Times Over the Years….

But never at Disney. At least not yet. Yes, I went to high school in the 80’s.

This year’s Garden Rocks Concert Series has quite the lineup isn’t it? There’s quite a few acts I’d really like to see this year–not just Rick Springfield, I promise.

Herman’s Hermits are playing the weekend Mom and I will be there for our annual Mother/Daughter trip. They’ll be fun to watch for sure. I’m bummed we’ll be missing Rick Springfield and Plain White T’s. I’d love to see The Commodores, Daughtry, Jo Dee Messina, Berlin, or a Flock of Seagulls. Really, there are a LOT of great acts this year.

Who would you want to see?

There’s still time to make reservations for this year’s International Flower & Garden Festival. If you’d like a no obligation quote, please call 630-538-1124 or email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.

Brooke Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Ears — email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com today to start planning your next Disney adventure!

TRON Lightcycle/Run will use Virtual Queue

We are getting closer to the long awaited opening date for TRON Lightcycle/Run at the Magic Kingdom on April 4, 2023. The closer we get, the more information Disney makes available to us. In our last post about the new attraction (read here), I theorized that TRON Lightcycle/Run would open using a virtual queue. Disney has confirmed this theory. When it opens on April 4, TRON Lightcycle/Run will use a virtual queue. There will be NO standby lines for TRON Lightcycle/Run initially.

How Will the TRON Lightcycle/Run Virtual Queue Work?

Disney has been using the virtual queue for all new attractions for the last several years. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure both used virtual queues when they first opened. Both stopped using the virtual queue more than a year ago. Currently, EPCOT’s newest attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is using a virtual queue. That attraction will have been open for almost ten months by the time TRON Lightcycle/Run opens. Based on the pattern Disney has set with the previous attractions, I suspect Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will stop using the virtual queue sometime in March, if not sooner.

That way, when TRON Lightcycle/Run needs to start using the virtual queue, it will be the only attraction using it. I’m assuming Disney’s system COULD allow more than one attraction to use virtual queues at a time, especially if they are at different parks. But guests might find the booking experience confusing or frustrating. If an attraction doesn’t NEED the virtual queue, why not simplify things and eliminate it?

Why will TRON Lightcycle/Run use a Virtual Queue?

Disney uses a virtual queue when a new attraction opens primarily to maximize their ability to manage crowd flow through the attraction. The virtual queue system enables them to slow boarding groups arrival times if the attraction breaks down (common with new attractions) or if there are any quirks that arise with loading or unloading that they didn’t anticipate.

Using the virtual queue also adds a bit of mystery around a new attraction. There’s no way for the average guest to really know how many guests rode an attraction on a particular day.

A virtual queue also really helps Disney control the standby line flow, especially if the standby areas might get really tight if the lines get super long. For example, the area back by Ratatouille isn’t super big. If that line got too long, it could easily extend way out into the rest of France and cause a lot of congestion. By using a virtual queue, Disney was able to control the length of the length until the “newness” of that attraction wore off enough to keep that standby line down to a manageable length.

I haven’t seen the area for the TRON standby line inside the attraction, but there isn’t much space outside the attraction. The Speedway is RIGHTTHERE. I suspect that Disney will want to the line from extending out into this area if at all possible. Using the virtual queue will help Disney control this.

TRON Lightcycle/Run will be an Individual Lightning Lane Attraction

Guests with park tickets and park reservations for the Magic Kingdom will have the opportunity to purchase an individual Lightning Lane entry (a la carte) for TRON Lightcycle/Run, based on availability. Pricing and availability for the TRON Lightcycle/Run Lightning Lane entry will vary based on the season, demand, crowd levels and demand.

Locker System for TRON Lightcycle/Run

TRON Lightcycle/Run features a new double sided, digitized locker system inside the attraction queue. These lockers will be used to store guests’ bags and loose items while they ride the attraction. These complimentary lockers will pair with the guest’s Magic Band, Magic Band+, or ticket media so that the guest can either lock or reopen their locker easily with a quick tap. Guests without a Magic Band or ticket media (like a card) will be provided with a card to access a locker. All items must be placed either in a locker before guests board their Lightcycle or inside a small compartment located on the attraction vehicle. The small compartment can hold small items like a wallet, glasses or a cell phone.

TRON Lightcycle/Run will use a virtual queue. TRON Lockers. — Photo: Disney Parks

Disney PhotoPass and Videos

If you’ve been following for any time at all, you know that I am a BIG fan of PhotoPass. Photos are some of the best souvenirs from your vacations. Photos will outlast the TShirts, the sweatshirts and the snacks. As any new attraction should be, TRON Lightcycle/Run is equipped with some terrific on ride video and photo offerings. (Is anyone else still surprised that there ISN’T a PhotoPass photo on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance???)

If you are wearing a Magic Band or a Magic Band+, your attraction photo and video will automatically be linked to your My Disney Experience account.

TRON Lightcycle/Run will use a virtual queue TRON PhotoPass — Photo: Disney Parks

If you don’t have a Magic Band or a Magic Band+, you can still have access to your ride photo and video by using the My Disney Experience app. To use the My Disney Experience app to capture your ride photo and video, follow the steps below.

1. Enable Bluetooth® for the My Disney Experience app before riding.
2. Make sure to be logged into the My Disney Experience app sometime earlier that day.
3. Keep your device out of low power mode.
4. Make sure your mobile device boards the Lightcycle with you and is safely stored in the small Lightcycle compartment to use this method.

Will You Try the TRON Lightcycle/Run Virtual Queue?

Will you take your changes and try to get a boarding group for TRON Lightcycle/Run via the virtual queue? Or will you purchase an Individual Lightning Lane via Genie+ if it’s available? Individual Lightning Lane prices for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind peaked at $17-$18 last year during Thanksgiving week and again during Christmas week. How much would you be willing to pay to ride TRON Lightcycle/Run?

If you’d like to plan a trip to check TRON Lightcycle/Run out for yourself and you’d like a no obligation quote, email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com or call 630-538-1124 today!

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent — Ready to Plan Your Next Disney Vacation? I’m ready to help! Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Menu & Opening Date

We have more information about the new table service restaurant opening soon in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney has announced that Roundup Rodeo BBQ will open on March 23, 2023. Note: Even though we are within the sixty day window, you cannot yet make reservations for Roundup Rodeo BBQ. I’m sure Disney will make an announcement soon about when reservations will open up. I’ll keep you posted!

Even more exciting, Disney has shared details with us about the Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu! We’ve posted about Roundup Rodeo BBQ before, but we didn’t know anything about the menu at that time. All we knew is that the restaurant would be table service and western themed. We could be fairly certain there would be barbeque involved, given the “BBQ” in the restaurant name, but you never know! <wink>

Toy Story Land Table Service Restaurant Roundup Rodeo BBQ Photo: Disney Parks

Theming

Roundup Rodeo BBQ is a rodeo arena that Andy has created in the backyard for his toys. All honorary toys visiting Andy’s backyard are also invited (that’s us!). Andy has used a variety of his toys, games and playsets to create his Roundup Rodeo arena, and when we visit, we’ll all get to see the world through the eyes of Andy’s toys.

While we’re there, we’ll be offered house smoked meats, a roundup of sides, some sweet surprises and more in this western-themed family-style restaurant.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Menu

First up, we will start with the Prospector’s Homemade Cheddar Biscuits. These are served with sweet pepper jelly. They look awfully good, don’t they? Of course, I’m a sucker for biscuits of almost any kind….

Rodeo Roundup BBQ menu biscuits — Photo: Disney Parks

Salads

Next up, there are three delicious different salads for toys and honorary toys alike to enjoy.

- Tomato Salad: Tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickled red onions tossed in a white balsamic vinaigrette and garnished with fresh dill (plant-based)
- Rex’s Romaine and Kale Salad: Romaine and kale mixed with green apples, pumpkin seeds, and dried cranberries tossed with green goddess dressing
- Watermelon Salad: Cubed watermelon garnished with freshly torn mint leaves (plant-based)

Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu salads — Photo: Disney Parks

Smoked Meats

Now comes the good stuff! (if you like smoked meats, that is!)

Guests can enjoy a hearty serving of house-smoked meats, including:

- Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs: Fall-off-the-bone pork ribs, slow-cooked for hours in our onsite smokehouse
- Buttercup’s Beef Brisket: Hand-sliced beef brisket, smoked then slow-cooked to juicy perfection
- There’s a Sausage in My Boot: Spiced pork sausage fire-grilled over live oak to give it an added kick
- BBQ Chicken – with Style! Chicken brined for 48 hours, rubbed with our secret backyard BBQ spice and smoked to tender juiciness

Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu smoked meats — Photo: Disney Parks

Plant-Based Options

No worries. If you aren’t a meat-eater, there are savory plant-based offerings available upon request.

- Slow-smoked Cauliflower topped with sweet harissa drizzle and crunchy walnut gremolata
- Oven-roasted “Bratwurst” that is tender and juicy, sliced to perfection
- Impossible “Rib Chop” seasoned with spices, then roasted and glazed with sweet BBQ sauce and skewered on a sugar cane “bone”

All entreés served with an assortment of sweet, traditional, and spicy BBQ sauces.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu savory plant-based options — Photo: Disney Parks

Sides

Next up, there are a bunch of sides to choose from. Guests can choose four sides for the table from the list below.

- The Married Spuds: Loaded potato barrels drizzled with green goddess dressing, cheese sauce, and seasoned BBQ spices
- Force Field Fried Pickles: Jumbo pickle spears coated with a dill-flavored breading and fried to perfection
- Slinky Doooooooooog Mac & Cheese: Spiral pasta in a creamy house-made cheese sauce topped with crumbled cheddar crackers
- Buckin’ Baked Beans: A traditional BBQ picnic favorite (plant-based)
- Cowpoke Corn on the Cob: Grilled and seasoned with a chili-lime spice blend, cilantro, cotija cheese, and lime juice
- Mean Old Potato Salad: Homestyle with red-skinned potatoes
- Veggie Slaw: Crunchy shredded veggie slaw that is a summertime favorite! (plant-based)
- Campfire-roasted Vegetables: A variety of roasted seasonal vegetables (plant-based)

Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu sides — Photo: Disney Parks

Desserts

Now, we get to the sweet stuff: Desserts!! These perfectly portioned chuckwagon desserts offer a sweet take on the BBQ picnic classics. Guests can choose from a selection for the table.

- Cupcake à la Forky: Forky is up to something sweet! A classic chocolate cake with a gooey chocolate ganache center topped with velvety graham cracker buttercream and a sugar cookie
- Lemon and Blueberry Cheesecake: An iconic creamy dessert that balances the tanginess of the cheesecake with the natural sweetness of blueberries and lemon
- Billy’s Chocolate Silk Pie: Layers of graham cracker crust and silky chocolate mousse topped with chantilly cream
- Goat’s Apple Pie: A picnic classic! Tart apples and warm pie spices balance perfectly with the creamy sweet filling under a crumble crust
- Gruff’s Peach-Strawberry Pie: With its silky sweet peaches and tartness of strawberries, this dessert is a fruit-centric delight! (plant-based)

Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu desserts — Photo: Disney Parks

Beverages

The Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu would not be complete without some craft cocktails and nonalcoholic beverages on offer. Not to worry, guests feeling nostalgic for backyard picnics will find plenty here to enjoy.

Grown-up Craft Cocktails:

- Snake Eye Margarita: Inspired by a summertime BBQ featuring watermelon, smoke, and a bit of spice!
- Rum Punch: Rum punch with vibrant flavors of passion fruit and pineapple finished with a smoky spiced garnish
- Chocolate with a Grown-up Twist: A blend of chocolate rum, horchata liqueur, cocoa, and flavors of toasted marshmallow
- Frozen Peanut Butter & Jelly: A fun frozen twist on the classic peanut butter & jelly featuring peanut butter whiskey
- Whiskey Lemonade: A fresh take on a strawberry lemonade made with Tennessee whiskey and Italian bitter aperitif
- The Rodeo Mule: A classic “patio sipper,” this mule mixes vodka with fresh juices and ginger beer

A selection of beer, hard cider, and wines by the glass are available.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Menu cocktails — Photo: Disney Parks

Nonalcoholic offerings:

- Molly’s Frozen Iced Tea: A frosty concoction with iced tea and citrus flavors
- Frozen Cocoa: A frozen blend of cocoa and vanilla topped with miniature marshmallows
- Partysaurus Tex: Strawberry lemonade is even more fun when you garnish it with gummy worms!

Will YOU be Making Reservations?

So, now that you’ve seen the Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu, are you going to be making reservations for this table service restaurant for your next Disney vacation? Mom and I are going down for our annual mother daughter trip in May. I’m planning to try and get reservations for that visit so that we can report back to all of you. I also need to know if I want to recommend this restaurant to my clients in the future.

Toy Story Land table service Round Rodeo BBQ — Roundup Rodeo BBQ Concept Art

However, a new table service restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is very welcome! I think this one is in a good location, and will appeal to a lot of families. The Imagineers have done a great job so far in Toy Story Land; I love the details throughout Andy’s backyard. I am very hopeful that Roundup Rodeo BBQ will not disappoint. Time will tell.

If you’d like to visit Disney this year, I’d love to help! Please contact me for a no obligation quote. Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com or call 630-538-1124.

Happy dreaming!

Brooke

2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

It’s almost time! The 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival opens March 1, 2023 and will run through July 5, 2023. The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is my favorite EPCOT festival. Every spring, my mom and I plan our annual mother daughter Disney trip around the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival.

EPCOT is never more beautiful than during the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. Even during these painful “construction walls” years of growth, EPCOT still sparkles during Flower & Garden. The glorious flowers everywhere and the beautiful topiaries manage to make the construction walls recede somehow—or maybe just make them less noticeable? But EPCOT just looks a little prettier every where during this festival than it does during the rest of the year.

EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Three Amigos Topiaries — Three Cabelleros Topiaries Photo: Brooke Hudson

The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival features gorgeous themed gardens throughout all areas of EPCOT. There are special seating areas in some gardens where you can just sit and enjoy the beauty around you. Planters are every where, filled with flowers and greenery. There are even floating planters with flowers in them. Throughout EPCOT, you will find amazing topiaries themed to your favorite Disney and Pixar characters.

EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Gardens — Photo: Brooke Hudson

What’s new for this year’s EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival?

This year, there are a couple of NEW things to look forward to. Anything new, quite frankly, is a bit exciting. As much as I love this particular Festival, EPCOT hasn’t really done much in the way of “new” for the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival in a few years. So I am really excited that there IS some new stuff to look forward to this year.

New Topiaries

This year, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is going to be featuring several new topiaries. First, near the main entrance of the park, we will meet several characters from the beloved Disney movie Encanto. Mirabel, Isabela, Luisa, and Antonio are all making their debut as topiaries this year.

Also new this year: Princess Tiana from The Princess and The Frog will grace the American Adventure in World Showcase.

EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Figment — Figment Topiary Photo: Brooke Hudson

Of course all of our classic favorite topiaries will still be featured all over EPCOT. We will still be able to find Figment, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Anna and Elsa, Lady and the Tramp, and many, many more.

EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Snow White topiary — Snow White and Dopey Photo: Brooke Hudson

2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival Merchandise

One of the highlights for mom and I every year at the Festival is investigating all the new Festival merchandise. Every Festival has its own merchandise line. Mom almost always gets a coffee mug. We always get a pin from each year’s festival for our park backpacks. I almost always end up with a T-shirt or something.

EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival 2022 Mug Beets — EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Merchandise Mug 2022 Photo: Brooke Hudson

Epcot flower & garden festival 2022 mug — EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Merchandise Mug 2022. Photo: Brooke Hudson

In addition to Flower & Garden Festival Merchandise, the Festival also features Orange Bird 70’s retro themed merchandise. This line has everything from apparel and pins to housewares.

I haven’t seen anything yet for this year’s Festival merchandise. As soon as Disney releases images of this year’s Festival merchandise I will update this post.

Here’s some of the merchandise we found at last year’s Festival:

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Garden Rocks Concert Series

Throughout the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, various musical acts are featured at the America Gardens Theatre. Disney has not yet released the musical act lineup for 2023. I will update this post once Disney releases this year’s information.

Outdoor Kitchens

One thing we all know about Disney is that they are VERY good at making money. Disney learned very early on with the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival that there was LOTS of money to be made from Food Booths installed around World Showcase during the Festival. As a result, Disney started including smaller scale versions of the “Food” portion of the Festival at their other EPCOT Festivals.

For the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, these food booths are called Outdoor Kitchens. This year’s Festival will include more than 15 Outdoor Kitchens. Each Outdoor Kitchen will have a different theme and will feature 1-3 food items and 1-2 beverages according to the theme.

We don’t yet have much information about the 2023 Outdoor Kitchens. The only one we know so far is The Citrus Blossom, which will be located at The Odyssey.

Epcot flower & garden festival citrus blossom — The Citrus Blossom Outdoor Kitchen Photo: Disney Parks

As soon as more information is released, I will update this post.

Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration

Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration is a springtime Scavenger Hunt that adds a fun layer to the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. Mom & I did this last spring and really enjoyed it.

In 2022, the cost was $9.99. For $9.99, you got a Scavenger Hunt board and a sheet of stickers. As you worked your way around the Festival, you looked for Spike in various gardens located all over the Festival. When you found him, you placed the sticker for the flower he’s with on that Garden on your board. When your board was completely filled out, you turned it in at a Festival gift shop for a prize. It was educational, fun and encouraged us to pay more attention to the different gardens as we moved around the Festival.

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I highly recommend playing. We plan to play again this year!

Blossoms of Fragrance

On the bridge from the “Construction Zone” 🙂 to World Showcase, you will pass through the Blossoms of Fragrance Exhibit area.

This exhibit area offers some great photo opportunities. Blossoms of Fragrance is presented by Scentsy. Guests will be surrounded by butterfly topiaries. There are six different scent stations for guests to explore. Each aroma will inspire memories and enhance your experience.

Final Thoughts

I can’t say it enough. I love visiting EPCOT during the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival every year. EPCOT is so beautiful. It’s just an explosion of colors. There are flowers everywhere, and it’s just something that fills me with joy every time.

EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Topiaries — Flower & Garden Festival Mickey & Minnie Topiaries

This year, Mom and I are going from May 3 – May 10. Not quite in the middle of the Festival, but close. That is another thing to consider when planning a visit to the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival. The Festival itself changes throughout the growing season. The gardeners update plants and flowers as the season goes on. In a perfect world, I’d visit (at least) monthly throughout the Festival to see the evolution of the florals. But for now, we try to visit mid-Festival. It’s close to Mom’s birthday and Mother’s Day, and about a month before my birthday, so we use our trip as a celebration for all of that stuff.

Will you attend the 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival?

What do you think? Will this be the year you visit for the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival? If you’d like a no obligation quote, email now brooke@disneycastledreaming.com or call 630-538-1124.

Happy Dreaming,

Brooke

Free Parking Returns for Disney Resort Guests!

I have more good news to share today! Walt Disney World has announced that they are removing the nightly parking fees at Walt Disney World Resorts for overnight guests. This is the first bit of FINANCIAL good news I’ve been able to share for a while about our beloved Walt Disney World. Could this be an early result of Bob Iger’s return? I don’t know, but it definitely makes me happy!

Free Parking Returns for Disney Resort Guests Immediately!

If you don’t drive at Walt Disney World, you may not have felt this pain. Starting in 2018, Disney resort guests were charged between $15 and $25 per night per vehicle to park at their resort. Only Disney Vacation Club guests were exempt from these charges. As I’m sure you can imagine, these costs added up quickly for guests. If you drove to Walt Disney World or chose to rent a vehicle for your Florida vacation, you felt this pain.

These fees have been an enormous source of guest frustration over the last several years. Parking fees have also served as a STRONG example in media conversations about Disney “nickel and diming” guests on top of ever increasing park ticket prices.

Walt Disney World Resort guests already get free parking at the theme parks–this has not changed. However, making the decision whether to rent a car or whether to fly or drive is a little easier when you don’t have to add in the cost of parking at your resort every night!

Is this a PR Move?

So of course, a big question is WHY is free parking returning for Disney resort guests? Is it just a big public relations move? Absolutely!! It is for SURE an effort to improve the public perception of the Walt Disney Company. Disney’s reputation, especially with the fanbase has taken a lot of hits in the past couple of years. Free parking is a pretty minor move, but it will get some press. It will also make a lot of Disney fans and travelers happy. Or at least, happier.

Free parking returns for Disney resort guests — Photo: Brooke Hudson

What is giving this news more mileage for me personally is that Disney is sacrificing revenue. We haven’t seen Disney do this in a long time. For the last I don’t even KNOW how many years, we have seen a trend of Disney making an awful lot of decisions that are VERY bottom line focused. We have seen LOTS of decisions that seem to put guest experience and guest relations at a much lower premium than the company used to value.

The reality is, a Walt Disney World has always been expensive. But the value over the years has decreased. It is still VERY valuable, and hour for hour, you still get a TON of value from a Walt Disney World vacation. But for those of us that have been visiting Walt Disney World for many years, it’s challenging to see the guest experience degrade somewhat while the pricing of everything has increased so significantly.

Final Thoughts

I don’t know if free parking returning for resort guests is a sign of things to come or just a token PR gesture — but it IS meaningful. It HAS impact on Disney travelers, especially those that drive to Walt Disney World. And it will, very slightly, reduce how much money Disney will make from the resorts each day. Or maybe it won’t. Because if the guest doesn’t have to spend $25 to park his car, maybe he will spend it on a T-shirt instead.

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

Character Dining Returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table

I have some good news for you today! Walt Disney World has finally announced when character dining is returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table. Cinderella’s Royal Table was one of the most popular character dining experiences in Walt Disney World for many years. As you may recall, when the parks reopened after the pandemic closure, character greetings and character meals did NOT return. Cinderella’s Royal Table table service restaurant DID reopen for meal service, but without characters. The restaurant has been open again for more than a year, but until today, there has been no sign of the character dining element returning.

Character dining returning to Cinderella's Roya Table — Sleeping Beauties at Cinderella’s Royal Table Photo: Disney Parks

Today, Walt Disney World announced that character dining is returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table on February 28, 2023. The first advanced dining reservations for this character meal will open on December 28, 2022.

Disney Princesses Returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table

Many Walt Disney World visitors, adults and children alike, love to see Disney Princesses during their vacation. The easiest way (and most economical way) to catch a glimpse of your favorite Princess is to watch the afternoon parade at the Magic Kingdom. During this parade, you get to see many of the Princesses, along with their beaux.

Magic Kingdom Princess Cavalcade Photo: Brooke Hudson

You can also see Disney Princesses during the finale of Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios each night. Many of the Princesses are featured on water barges that pass in front of audiences near the end of the show.

Select Disney Princesses are also available for traditional Character Greetings. However, the popularity of the Princesses can often mean really long waits to see your Princess.

A Princess themed Character Meal is a great way to combine meal time with Character Greetings, giving your family the chance to take pictures with the characters and sign autographs. Character Dining has been GRADUALLY returning to Walt Disney World over the last few months, but the Princess dining options are few and far between and they’ve been among the last to return.

Storybook Dining with Princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at EPCOT

Character dining featuring Disney Princesses returned to EPCOT’s Norway Pavilion in early November 2022. Akershus Royal Banquet Hall features Storybook Dining with Disney Princesses, and is a very popular Character Dining experience for Disney Princess fans of all ages.

Storybook Princess dining returning to Akershus Royal Banquet — Dancing Princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Photo: Disney Parks

Current pricing for Storybook Dining with Princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is $63 plus tax and gratuity for adults, and $41 plus tax and gratuity for children. Coffee, tea and fountain beverages are included at this price. Specialty beverages including cocktails, beer, hard cider and a variety of wines are available at an additional cost.

Click here to view the current menu.

character dining returning to Akershus Royal Banquet Hall — Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Photo: Disney Parks

Character Dining Returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table

Finally, diners wanting to see their favorite Disney Princesses during a meal at Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom can do so! Beginning on February 28, 2022, the Disney Princesses will be back, visiting each table for pictures, interaction and photographs. You might even get a visit from your Fairy Godmother!

Disney Restaurants Reopening Cinderella's Royal Table — The Fairy Godmother at Cinderella’s Royal Table (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

There is something so wonderful and magical about Cinderella Castle. I’m willing to admit this is one of my absolute favorite Character Meals, and I’m so happy it’s returning. This is one of the pricier Character Meals, so it’s not something we try to do every trip, but it is a very special experience.

Prior to going upstairs to be seated for dining, guests do have a brief moment for photos with Cinderella in the downstairs area of the restaurant. Cinderella returned early this year, in a distanced capacity. Later, the rules relaxed slightly. Cinderella is NOT one of the Disney Princesses that visits your table during your meal, as she’s busy downstairs greeting her guests.

character dining returning to cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella — Cinderella at Cinderella’s Royal Table Photo: Brooke Hudson

Cinderella’s Royal Table is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Character Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table is NOT buffet style, like you will find at most Character Meals.

Character Dining returning to Cinderella's Royal Table — Cinderella’s Royal Table, 2013

Breakfast

Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table inside Cinderella Castle is a lovely way to start your day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. If you can get an early reservation, you can even get into the park before it officially opens! One of my absolute FAVORITE things to do in Walt Disney World is to get into one of the parks early, and see it without the massive crowds we’ve all gotten so used to.

Another benefit of choosing breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table is that pricing for breakfast is significantly lower than for lunch or dinner. You can have the Character Dining experience inside Cinderella Castle at the best possible price. Keep in mind–Character Meal pricing is generally much higher than you would pay for a regular non-character meal. You are paying “extra” for the atmosphere and for the entertainment of seeing the Characters.

Current pricing for breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table is $45 plus tax and gratuity for adults and $29 plus tax and gratuity for children. Coffee, tea, fountain drinks, hot cocoa, juice or milk is included with your meal. Specialty cocktails are available for an additional fee.

Click here to view the current breakfast menu.

Lunch and Dinner

At this time, the lunch and dinner menus and pricing are the same at Cinderella’s Royal Table. It’s a bit of a heavier meal, so if you are planning lunch here, I would suggest going very light on breakfast, and planning a lighter dinner as well. Especially during the warmer months, you may find this lunch best followed by a return to your resort for an afternoon nap or swim.

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Current pricing for lunch or dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table is $67 plus tax and gratuity for adults and $39 plus tax and gratuity for children. your meal includes coffee, tea, fountain beverages, hot cocoa, juice, lemonade or milk. Specialty cocktails are available for an additional fee.

Click here to see the current lunch/dinner menu.

Advance Reservations Required

Cinderella’s Royal Table is one of those table service restaurants that you will never get access to if you don’t have a reservation. You MUST make reservations in advance, and this is one of those reservations I would try to get the very minute your 60 day window opens up. This is a hard reservation to get under normal conditions. Now that Character Dining is returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table? I suspect it will be even more difficult than usual!

Disney World and Disneyland Closing due to coronavirus — Photo: Brooke Hudson

Remember: If you get the reservation, you are also required to have both a park ticket and a park reservation for Magic Kingdom for that day. Without those two things, you won’t be able to get into the park at all to use your reservation!

How to get that Reservation

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I am a big planner. I’d rather spend time before the trip, making our plans and strategizing, planning ahead than to stand in really long lines during our trip, or not know where we are going to eat and when. Your preferences may be different. BUT if you are someone who wants to checkout Character Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table, this is one reservation you absolutely MUST plan for.

Staying on Property

If you are staying on Disney property, your reservation window opens up 6o days before your first night in a Walt Disney World resort. On that day, you will have the ability to make dining reservations for THAT first day, 60 days out, plus the duration of your stay at that resort, up to ten days. Be ready to book online (or call, if you’d rather) at 7am Eastern time on that 6o days out morning. Work on your reservation for Cinderella’s Royal Table first if you really want to dine there. Be prepared to try alternate meal times, even alternate days. Trust me, it is actually easier to rearrange all your park reservations than it is to get this reservation!

Cinderella’s Royal Table Entrance Photo: Brooke Hudson

Staying off Property

Don’t worry if you aren’t staying on Disney property–you still can try making this hard-to-get reservation at 60 days out. The only difference is that you can only make reservations for that one day on the 60th day out. If you were staying on property, you could try for every day of your trip at 60 days. Staying off site, you are going to be trying one day at a time. You can still be successful though! Try breakfast, lunch and dinner for the day you are trying to reserve. If that day doesn’t work, try the next day, and so on. Hopefully you will get lucky!

What if it Works? What if it Doesn’t?

If you succeed, kudos! Feel like a champion, brag to all your Disney loving friends…and work on the rest of your desired reservations! If you aren’t successful, you can try checking every few days to see if anything has opened up. Good windows to try are 45 and 30 days out–if people are cancelling their whole trip, they are likely to do it no later than 30 days out. It never hurts to keep trying. Sometimes people will have booked “extra” reservations that they will later cancel, or sometimes a big party will become a smaller party. You never know what may happen.

If this is a reservation you really want, good luck! I hope you get it!

Note: another strategy to consider if you DON’T want to do all the planning and reservations yourself–work with an authorized Disney Vacation Planner like me. If you book your Disney Vacation through me, I will help with park and dining reservations for no additional costs to you. I also offer detailed itineraries and personalized trip plans for a nominal fee.

Are you Excited to see Character Dining Returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table?

I’m curious if any of you are happy to see Character Dining returning to CRT? Please comment below if this is something you’ve been looking forward to.

Mom and I had a wonderful dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table during our Mother/Daughter trip in May. We got to see Cinderella, but no other Disney Princesses at that time. I probably won’t pull out all the stops to get that reservation again this year, as it’s a little too soon for a return visit.

I might try to see if I can get breakfast–that would be a different menu and a different experience. But most likely, May will be too soon. I bet those reservations will be really tough for the first few months, at least. If not this year, there’s always next year.

What about you? Are you going to try and get that reservation?

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

Authorized Disney Vacation Planner — Ready to Plan Your Disney Vacation!

runDisney Races are BACK at WDW!

Great news today, everyone. runDisney races are back at Walt Disney World. Even more exciting? runDisney in-park races are starting THIS YEAR!

While many runDisney fans have been speculating that an announcement from runDisney would like come soon, most of us assumed that runDisney races would be back NEXT YEAR. Today’s announcement is exciting news for runDisney fans everywhere and indicates a more accelerated return to normalcy for runDisney races at Walt Disney World.

runDisney Races are back in 2021

A big surprise for many runDisney fans, the first race to return to Walt Disney World is the 2021 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend. The Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend is November 4 – 7, 2021.

This year’s theme is Wickedly Delicious, focusing on popular Disney villains. The weekend will feature a 5K, a 10K, and a half marathon. In addition, the weekend will also offer a Disney Two Course Challenge for those participants that want the challenge of completing both the 10K and the half marathon. I’m a big fan of the 10K/Half Marathon challenges, and am very excited to see this challenge as a part of the Wine & Dine weekend.

runDisney Wine and Dine — Photo: runDisney

The weekend will wrap up with a Post Race Party for participants and their families at EPCOT. The party will feature exclusive after hours access to the park and the International Food and Wine Festival.

If you’re interested in planning a trip to Disney for the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, I recommend taking action QUICKLY. Email me at brooke@disneycastledreaming.com and I’d be happy to put together a no obligation quote for you.

Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend

Registration opens for the general public on July 13, 2021 at 10 am EST.

Club runDisney Gold and Platinum registration opens July 6, 2021 at 10 am EST.

While we haven’t received confirmation yet, we expect that DVC members and Annual Passholders will also have access for early registration. We will update with a specific date and time as soon as we have it.

Pricing

5K $95

10K $135

Half Marathon $215

Two Course Challenge $360

Post Race Party $89

*Note: These are early registration prices. Prices will increase by $10 on August 10, 2021.

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Many runDisney fans had high hopes that in park races would be returning to Walt Disney World for January 2022’s Marathon Weekend. I’m so happy to report that Walt Disney World’s Marathon Weekend has been officially confirmed for January 5 – 9, 2022.

Fans can expect Marathon Weekend to focus on the 50th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort. I’m hopeful there will be lots of special entertainment and merchandise celebrating the big 50th!

Marathon Weekend will include a 5K, a 10K, a half marathon, and a full marathon. Also back is the Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, for those participants that want to do the half marathon AND the full marathon (and MUST be Goofy to do so!). And for the REALLY committed (or maybe they need to be committed? Just kidding!) the Dopey Challenge is back. The Dopey Challenge includes the 5K, the 10K, the half marathon AND the full marathon.

runDisney virtual races Goofy Challenge — runDisney Goofy Challenge

We are already seeing a TON of reservations for 2022–so many Disney fans have been eagerly awaiting Disney World’s return to normal. With runDisney races back, we expect Marathon Weekend reservations to pour in. If you’d like a no obligation quote for your runDisney Marathon Weekend, please reach out to brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.

Registration

Registration opens for the general public on July 27, 2021 at 10 am EST.

Club runDisney Gold and Platinum registration opens July 20, 2021 at 10 am EST.

Pricing

5K $95

10K $135

Half Marathon $195

Marathon $195

Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge $390

Dopey Challenge $600

Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend 2022

It’s no surprise that the race weekend built for Disney princesses from all over the world will return once again to Walt Disney World now that runDisney races are BACK live in the parks. A great entry point for beginner runDisney participants, Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend is scheduled for February 24 – 27, 2021.

New for 2022: the first morning will feature Disney Princess Sunrise Yoga in front of Cinderella Castle, before the theme park opens. How fun does THAT sound?

The theme for the 2022 Princess Half Marathon Weekend will be courage and kindness. Men are welcome to participate, but the Princess Half Marathon Weekend focuses more fully on women, girls and the female experience. The Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend will feature a 5k, a 10k, and a half marathon. The Weekend also features the Disney Fairy Tale Challenge (my favorite!) for those participants that want to do both the 10K and the half marathon.

runDisney Princess Half Finish Line — runDisney Princess Half Marathon Finish Line

It’s a great opportunity for a girls’ weekend, a sisters weekend, a mom/daughter weekend. If you’d like help planning your Disney Half Marathon weekend, please email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.

Registration

Registration opens for the general public on August 24, 2021 at 10 am EST.

Club runDisney Gold and Platinum registration opens August 17, 2021 at 10 am EST.

Pricing

Sunrise Yoga $95

5K $95

Enchanted 10K $135

Half Marathon $210

Disney Fairy Tale Challenge $355

Surprise! runDisney has a NEW Race in the Family

All the big runDisney announcements from this morning included a new race in the lineup. runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend is scheduled for March 31 – April 3, 2022. Disney has stated that each race season, the fourth weekend will be the Springtime Surprise Weekend. Each year, the race themes and distances will be different.

So essentially, this weekend is replacing the Star Wars race weekend? Perhaps they are planning to rotate several different themes through this particular race weekend, depending on what film or theme park properties they want to promote in a particular year? I guess we will find out.

They tell us that this weekend will be “as much about the smiles as it is about the miles” and beginner racers and veteran racers alike will be welcome.

We have no other information about this event at this time. Hmmm. Very mysterious. Registration will like open in the fall, but we have no dates, distances, prices or themes yet.

Health and Safety

With runDisney races back in our lives, an obvious first question for many is, “What will the health and safety protocols be?”

The answer to this question is evolving. Disney is saying that they will defer to the information they receive from scientists, vendors and sponsors, and will make decisions in the best interest of their guests, vendors, park guests, and cast members as each race weekend approaches.

It is possible that face coverings MAY be required or that other health and safety protocol measures may be in place at race time.

As more information becomes available for each race weekend, I will share it with you.

Virtual Races are Sticking Around

In the not-so-surprising news category, Disney has announced that Virtual Races are NOT going away. Racers from all over the world will still be able to participate in runDisney races from wherever they are, even if they can’t come to the parks to join in the fun.

The in-person runDisney races generate millions of dollars in revenue for Disney, and they have learned from the Covid runDisney experience that they can make even MORE money by opening the races up to a virtual audience. I fully expect Disney to continue offering the virtual races, and to perhaps even expand their virtual offerings as time goes on. They can operate the virtual races with much less overhead and get a lot of fan participation. Races like these build additional fan loyalty, and of course, can lead to additional in park race participation, which adds to to resort revenues overall, in addition to runDisney dollars.

I think the virtual races are brilliant, and since runDisney is not foolish and they want ALL my money, they will continue for every runDisney in park race for the forseeable future.

If you’d like to learn more about Virtual Races (and why I love them), please read runDisney Virtual Races.

Registration Dates for Virtual Races

Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend: July 16, 2021 at 10am EST

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: July 30, 2021 at 10 am EST

Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend: August 27, 2021 at 10am EST

It’s True. runDisney races are BACK at Walt Disney World.

I’m so excited I can’t hardly stand it. runDisney races are truly exceptional experiences for runners and walkers alike. The race course is filled with themed mile markers, race entertainment, characters and photo opps. Logistically, no one does it better. There are SO MANY portapotties! (Ok, I don’t love the portapotty experience, but when ya gotta go, you are so grateful they are there). I can’t even put into words racing through the theme parks themselves. It’s AMAZING. Fast runners will be in the parks at sunrise (or even before) and that’s a heart stopping, never forget it moment. Slower runners or walkers (like me!) will enter the parks much later and find their paths lined with park goers cheering them on (also a heart stopping never forget it moment.

The adrenaline rush that comes from lining up at the starting line with thousands of other races is amazing for any big race…but for a runDisney race, it’s magnified somehow. The energy just crackles through the air. There are fireworks and Mickey Mouse for goodness sakes! And whenever your energy is flagging, there will be something or someone on the course to boost your spirits and get you going again.

runDisney Marathon Weekend Bling — runDisney It’s All About the Bling photo: Vicki and David Arndt Photography

How about you? Are you excited that runDisney races are back in the Walt Disney World parks? What race or races are YOU registering for?

I may need to partner with a venture capitalist to support my runDisney addiction. {sigh}.

Hope to see you on the runDisney race course!

Happy Dreaming,

Brooke

Disney Parks News 10.28.20

In this week’s Disney Parks News, we have hundreds more cast members getting news of their layoffs. We have Disney’s first shot in the theme parks vs. the State of California battle. We have holiday festival news for EPCOT, including a new Olaf adventure for guests. For these stories and more, please watch this week’s YouTube video below.

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If you missed last week’s Disney Parks News, you can find it here.

For those of you that prefer reading your news to watching a video, please read on.

Disney Parks News

Entertainment Cast Layoffs

Our top Disney Parks News story this week is a sad one. We’ve learned that ALMOST ALL of Disney World “Entertainment” Cast Members around the theme parks have received their notice that they will not be returning to work. These layoffs are part of the 28,000 planned layoffs announced last month.

While most of the shows affected have remained dark since the parks reopened, these layoffs eliminate hopes of any of these shows returning to the parks ANY time in the near future. Our hearts go out to ALL the cast losing their jobs during this time. Many of the cast members have been with Disney for many, many years. This news has been devastating for them.

Disney Parks News Festival of the Lion King Cast and Crew Laid Off — Festival of the Lion King (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

I find these entertainment layoffs particularly heartbreaking because it is the talented performers in the shows and the street actors that really add so much magic to Walt Disney World.

Disney Parks News Citizens of Hollywood Laid Off — Citizens of Hollywood Entertaining the Crowd (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

Which Parks and Shows were Affected?

Here’s a quick list all the entertainment that was hit by this round of layoffs (so far):

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom lost the Citizens of Main Street and the entire cast and crew of Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios was the hardest hit, losing the Citizens of Hollywood, the entire cast and crew of Beauty and the Beast–live on stage, the entire cast and crew of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, the entire cast and crew of the Jedi Training Academy, the Green Army Men, and the entire cast and crew of the Voyage of the Little Mermaid.

Disney Parks News Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Cast and Crew Laid Off — Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

You guys, this makes me want to cry!

Animal Kingdom

Over at Animal Kingdom, we lose the entire casts and crews of two of the most amazing shows on Disney property: Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo the Musical.

Disney Parks News Finding Nemo the Musical Cast and Crew Laid Off — Finding Nemo – The Musical (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

The cast members that drive the Pandora utility suit were also laid off.

EPCOT

EPCOT had already quietly laid off MOST of the World Showcase entertainment in the spring (and this continues to be a troubling decision), however they added some members of Voices of Liberty to the casualty list in this round of layoffs.

Resorts

Finally, the entire cast and crew of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue over at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground has been laid off. You may also remember from previous news reports that the Grand Floridian Orchestra was also let go a few weeks ago.

Potential Impact of these Layoffs

Again, most of these cast members have been off since the parks closed in April. Nonetheless, I had high hopes that steps were being taken to bring at least some of this entertainment back on line in the coming weeks. These losses are heartbreaking.

Of course, this doesn’t have to mean that these layoffs will be permanent or that these shows will remain dark forever. Nonetheless, it certainly implies that these shows will remain dark for the foreseeable future. And these talented performers are likely to seek work elsewhere. The performers may not even be available when (if???) Disney decides to reintroduce entertainment.

Streetmosphere Actors in Permanent Danger?

I’m most worried about the Streetmosphere actors. The Green Army Men, the Citizens of Main Street and the Citizens of Hollywood. These actors add SO much to the guest experience. Unfortunately, I can envision Disney just never bringing them back at all. This would be a HUGE loss to all of us.

I really get the feeling that the current management structure of the Parks undervalues the Entertainment element of the Disney Parks experience. But really, it is the talent of the entertainers that elevates the Disney Parks above other theme parks.

Disney Parks News Streetmosphere Actors Laid Off — Citizens of Hollywood in Action (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

The Streetmosphere actors, interacting with guests in character; putting on quick little shows in the street; entertaining guests as they wait in line, or stand in the hot sun? These actors are an INTEGRAL part of the Disney magic.

The wonderful shows that offer guests not just high quality entertainment, but usually magical uplifting messaging as well? Again, part of what makes Disney theme parks stand out.

I understand that with COVID-19 restrictions, the stage shows and Streetmosphere interactions cannot happen right now. But I continue to hope that Disney will work vigorously to return these things to us when things begin to return to normalcy.

Disney Parks News Streetmosphere Actors layoffs — My Nephew Vinny and a Green Army Man (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

On our Disney trips, at the end of every day, we talk about the day and document the highlights. I cannot tell you how many times those highlight moments have been because of a Disney Streetmosphere player or scene.

What Message are Fans Sending Disney?

It is the entertainment that makes Disney tickets worth their price. I sincerely hope that Disney doesn’t get the wrong message from guests continuing to visit the parks right now, even though the offerings are a fraction of what they normally are. Fans are eager to return to Disney, yes. It’s been a really tough year for so many of us, and we are anxious to escape our current reality, and a trip to Disney fulfills that for many.

However, while we may be satisfied with Disney offering “partial” value right now, given the circumstances, I have a hard time believing that even Disney’s most die hard fan base (myself included) will continue to accept high ticket prices for a FRACTION of the experience. If entertainment does not return, I’m concerned that many guests will choose to visit their local Six Flags, rather than invest in a trip to Disney. I can’t believe I’m saying that, but what guests are willing to accept in the short term given this unique situation is unlikely to be acceptable for the long term. I’m really curious as to what you all think. Please let me know in the comments below.

Disney vs. California: Shot Fired?

Last week, we talked about California’s release of their guidelines for large theme parks to reopen in their state. We also discussed that these new guidelines will make it virtually impossible for Disneyland and California Adventure to reopen this year. In fact, it is likely to be next SUMMER before the strict guidelines can be met, and Disneyland and California Adventure could reopen.

We said at the time that we didn’t expect Disney to take this situation quietly, and already the first shot is fired!

Disney Parks News Downtown Disney Expansion — Elias & Co. on Buena Vista Street in Disney’s California Adventure (Photo: Disney Parks)

Disney has announced that Downtown Disney is expanding in November to include Buena Vista Street. For those of you not aware, Buena Vista Street is INSIDE Disney’s California Adventure theme park.

But…HOW??

Guests that haven’t visited the California theme parks may not understand how this will work. In Florida, Disney has TONS of land, and all the theme parks and Disney Springs are very spread out. In California, the Disneyland/California Adventure/Downtown Disney footprint is MUCH smaller, with everything really close together.

Downtown Disney is basically an area that is on one side of the two theme parks, filled with restaurants and shops, with access to the main pathway that leads to both theme parks. In the middle, there are entrances for each theme park on this path, across from each other, and totally accessible from Downtown Disney. This makes it really easy for guests to pop out of one theme park, have drinks or a meal in Downtown Disney, and then pop back into the OTHER theme park for evening entertainment, for example.

Disney Parks News Disneyland California Adventure Map — Map: disneyland.com

Downtown Disney has been open for a couple of months, enabling guests (primarily local guests) to shop and dine. In Disney’s first effort to combat the stringent guidelines established by the State of California, Disney is opening Buena Vista Street in California Adventure to Downtown Disney, and calling it an “expansion” of Downtown Disney.

All the shops and restaurants on Buena Vista Street will be open for Downtown Disney guests to visit and enjoy. No theme park ticket will be necessary as the theme park itself is not opening, just the shops and restaurants on Buena Vista Street. I think this is a clever way to get some of the theme park back up and running and some of those cast members back to work without actually opening the theme park.

Buena Vista Street: What is Opening?

The following shops and restaurants are reopening:

- - - - Elias and Co.
      - Julius Katz & Sons
      - Kingswell Camera Shop
      - Trolley Treats
      - Fiddle, Fifer & Practical Café
      - Carthay Circle Lounge
      - Smoke Jumpers Grill

Disney has not shared whether they are making any modifications to Buena Vista Street to accommodate its addition to Downtown Disney, or how the areas outside of Buena Vista Street inside California Adventure will be inaccessible by guests, but I’m confident they will get it all worked out by November 1.

I can’t wait to see what Disney does next!

Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

Disney Parks News Taste of EPCOT International Holiday Festival — EPCOT and the Holidays (Photo: Disney Parks)

The holiday season returns to EPCOT on November 27 this year with the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays (Presented by AdventHealth). This holiday “Taste of EPCOT” Festival will run through December 30. This festival will include global, seasonal cuisine at the Holiday Kitchens, located throughout World Showcase. In addition, there will be three Holiday Kitchens located inside the World ShowPlace Events Pavililon. Some of the seasonal selections you will find include slow roasted turkey from the American Holiday Table, pork schnitzel at the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen and Beef Bourguignon from the Yukon Holiday Kitchen.

Holiday Entertainment

During this EPCOT holiday festival, guests will also be treated to holiday character cavalcades traveling through World Showcase. Anna and Elsa are touring in the Frozen Holiday Promenade, while Mickey and friends are traveling in Mickey & Friends Holiday World Tour. Santa Claus will also be making his first appearance in an EPCOT character cavalcade this year—he’ll be taking a horse drawn tour around World Showcase, calling out holiday wishes to everyone.

Holiday Music

The holiday season will not be without musical celebrations. The America Gardens Theatre will feature holiday carols sung by the Voices of Liberty. In Mexico, the Mariachi Cobre will bring to life Las Posadas, a celebration of Mexican holiday customs through music and dance. In Canada, the JAMMitors will perform on the Mill Stage. (I don’t think the JAMMitors are Canadian, but I’m happy they will be so easy to find!)

Holiday Cookie Stroll

The Holiday Cookie Stroll returns to EPCOT again this year, with a complimentary cookie as a reward for completing the stroll. The options to Stroll include cookies from five different locations throughout the park. You can also pickup an adorable cookie jar to collect all your cookies, available at the Holiday Markets all throughout World Showcase, while Supplies last.

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition

EPCOT Frozen Ever After — Frozen Ever After (Photo: Disney Parks)

New this year is Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition”. This fun for the whole family adventure is a festive trek around World Showcase. Guests can purchase the expedition map at Mouse Gear, Disney Traders or World Traveler at International Gateway. Once you have the map, you’ll look for hidden Olafs all throughout the World Showcase Pavilions. After you’ve found them all, you’ll receive a “gift worth melting for” (while supplies last).

Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

Sticking with EPCOT news, EPCOT has certainly learned that FESTIVALS are the key to their success. EPCOT is now home to FOUR festivals, and each one’s “Season” is getting longer every year (it appears). In addition, EPCOT seems to have embraced the power (and perhaps profitability) of food and beverage in these festivals, as they all now seem to include the “Taste of” phrase in the festival name. And these Festival names were already fairly long to begin with. But that’s ok, we love them anyway, right?

Disney Parks News EPCOT International Festival of the Arts MURAL — Collaborative Paint by Numbers Mural (Photo: Disney Parks & Resorts)

EPCOT’s first festival after the holidays will be the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, beginning January 8, 2021. While I’m partial to the International Flower and Garden Festival, many fans claim the Festival of the Arts to be EPCOTS best Festival of the year. This year the Fesitval will run through February 22. We’ll enjoy:

- - - More than 15 Food “studios” serving “culinary art” around World Showcase.
    - A ton of diverse work of Disney and other artists on display in marketplaces all around World Showcase Lagoon.
    - Special Photo locations where guests can “step into the scene”.
    - A paint by number mural for EVERYONE to participate in that serves as a collaborative art project.
    - Watch as visiting artists create magic.
    - Favorite EPCOT musical artists Mariachi Cobre and the JAMMitors.
    - Artful scavenger hunt to search for FIGMENT around World Showcase.
    - Festival exclusive merchandise.

Disney Parks News International Festival of the Arts — Watch talented artists in action! (Photo: Disney Parks & Resorts)

I love that with each Festival, the pop up food stands and stores get different names, themed to the event. For the Holiday Festival, the food stations are “Holiday Kitchens” and for the Arts Festival, they are food “Studios”. So fun!

Walt Disney World Entrances Get a Makeover!

We’ve talked before about Disney’s efforts to “spruce” things up around Walt Disney World in time for their big 50^th Anniversary next October. There are lots of construction projects going on, designed to improve the guest experience. Over the spring and summer, Cinderella Castle got a makeover, and the castle is looking really spectacular these days.

Cinderella Castle is Getting a Makeover — Concept Art – Disney Parks

This week, Disney World started work on the entrances that greet guests as they arrive on Disney property. These signs are archways that go over the road, and feature Mickey and Minnie Mouse on either side.

WDW Entrance Sign — Windshield Photo of Walt Disney World Entrance (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

For most Disney fans, these signs are the true beginning of vacation. I have countless “through the windshield” or “out the window” pictures of these signs. These signs have started to fade over the last few years and look a little worn and tired.

At last, these wonderful signs are getting a makeover. This refresh shouldn’t take long, and guests visiting for the holiday season should see the Walt Disney World entrance signs in all their new glory. I’m hoping at least one will be finished or nearly so when we visit mid-November. If so, we’ll be sure to get pictures for you guys! To hold us all over until then, here’s a look at the concept art Disney released for the new look.

Disney Parks news WDW Entrances Get a Makeover — Here’s the AFTER (theoretically, at least!) Concept Art: Disney Parks and Resorts

As someone devoted to Cinderella Castle (some would say unhealthily so…for example, my husband😉) I am disappointed to lose the Castle from the entrance sign. However, I think the new look is really terrific and updated.

That’s it for this week’s Disney Parks News!

What are your thoughts on this week’s stories? Are you excited to see at least one street opening in Disney’s California Adventure theme park? What is YOUR favorite EPCOT Festival? Are you as worried as I am about the entertainment cast member layoffs? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

Happy dreaming!

Brooke

Disney Parks News Update 09.30.20

It’s time for another Disney Parks News Update. In this week’s report, we discuss Governor Ron DeSantis’ decision to move the State of Florida to Phase 3. This removes capacity restrictions on theme parks, restaurants and bars throughout Florida. We also discuss Disney’s announcement that they are laying off 28,000 employees from their theme parks division.

We also report on changes to entertainment at Walt Disney World in the coming weeks. In addition, there was fireworks testing going on after hours and the ongoing refurbishment at the Polynesian Villages Resort. Finally, we give you an update on runDisney’s virtual race registrations and report a parade sighting on this week’s Dancing With the Stars.

Please check out this weeks Disney Parks News Update below.

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For those of you that prefer reading, here’s the written version of this week’s Disney Parks News Update.

Disney Parks News Update

Florida moves to Phase 3

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis officially moved Florida to Phase 3, effectively lifting Covid-19 restrictions on theme parks, restaurants and bars. The state is no longer issuing fines for failure to comply with mask regulations, and is no longer restricting capacity.

Disney released a statement, essentially stating that they will continue to adhere to their reopening plans, and continue to exercise caution and above and beyond safety protocols. As we mentioned last week, Disney has been quietly increasing capacity in its theme parks; however I would not expect any drastic or sudden changes in response to the Governor’s actions.

Disney Lays Off 28,000 Employees

Yesterday, Disney announced upcoming layoffs of 28,000 employees from its theme parks division. While many Disney theme park employees were furloughed following the closure in April due to the Pandemic, this announcement is a major blow to theme park employees both hoping to be brought back to work soon, and those currently working in the parks.

Disney’s official statement cites California’s failure to allow Disneyland to reopen as a major factor; however, the travel industry as a whole has been VERY hard hit this year, and it may take years for it to fully recover. Sea World, Universal and other Florida theme parks have also been announcing layoffs, just not quite this large.

Our hearts go out to all the employees that will soon learn they are among the 28,000. This has been such a difficult year for so many, and this giant layoff by one of the worlds largest corporations is certainly an indicator that no one is immune from the pain, not even the happiest places on Earth.

Fireworks Testing

In the “good news” category, there was some after hours testing of Fireworks over at EPCOT a few nights ago. The testing went on for several hours. Most likely, this is Disney testing the new nighttime show for EPCOT, Harmonious. Harmonious was originally scheduled to be added to EPCOT this summer or fall; however, it is more likely that it will be added in the spring. This new show is supposed to be the biggest and most technical of any of the nighttime Epcot spectaculars, and it is likely that months of testing lie ahead before the show is released to guests.

Disney Epcot Updates Epcot 2020 Nighttime Show — Epcot Nighttime Show, Harmonious, Concept Art, Artist’s Rendering (Source: Disney Parks)

When fireworks DO return to Disney, I do think EPCOT is a great candidate for the first shows as it is more spread out and will allow for more disbursement of crowds and less congestion. However, fireworks shows like Disney does are very expensive and I highly doubt they will resume until the parks are returned to normal capacity and the hotels are all back open and full of guests.

Magic Kingdom Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom announced a couple attraction closures this week. The Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer island will be closed from October 5 through at least Jan 21 2021 for refurbishment. This may mean that the Rivers of America will be drained during that period, although that is not confirmed.

Magic Kingdom Liberty Square Riverboat — Liberty Square Riverboat (Photo: Disney Parks)

Polynesian Villages Resort Refurbishment

Last week we discussed that the Polynesian Villages Resort will be closed until next year as it is getting refurbishment. At that time Disney had not released any concept art.

Disney has now released this concept art for the new entrance and Port Cochere for the Polynesian Villages Resort. Further, Disney stated the resort will reopen in Summer 2021. The Polynesian’s 50^th anniversary is October 1 2021, and it seems the refurbishment is designed to coincide with that anniversary as well as with Walt Disney World’s 50^th Anniversary, also October 2021.

Polynesian Villages Resort Refurbishment — Concept Art: Polynesian Villages Resort (Concept Art: Disney Parks and Resorts)

The statement released by Disney with the new art stated that the new entrance will feature a bold new facade that will complement the longhouses throughout the resort. Disney also stated that the gardens and fountains are getting refurbished as well, with new dramatic lighting elements, and new chandeliers, inspired by glass floats, fishing nets and bamboo. The new outdoor chandeliers will match the existing chandelier in the resort lobby and bridge the two spaces.

Disney World guests can still access the Grand Ceremonial House and its operating retail and dining venues during the refurbishment project.

I think this is preliminary art is a good sign. The Polynesian’s ground entrance has always been a little underwhelming, and it looks like Disney is finally fixing that, and making it more worth of this beautiful resort.

The Grand Floridian Orchestra

After 32 years, Disney has ended the run of the Grand Floridian Orchestra. This six piece orchestra has entertained guests at the Grand Floridian from high above the lobby for years, and is beloved by many.

While the Grand Floridian remained closed to guests when the parks reopened, the Grand Floridian Orchestra was performing several times per day over at Hollywood Studios in the Beauty and the Beast theater as the Disney Society Orchestra.

The Grand Floridian Orchestra announced a few days ago that their final Walt Disney World performance will be at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Saturday October 3, 2020. Disney’s official statement was pretty brief and vague, but seemed to indicate that it was time for a change at the Grand Floridian.

More likely, the cut is budget related, and is a troubling indicator of things to come. In March, many of the entertainment acts featured throughout EPCOT World Showcase found their contracts canceled. I am very concerned that we are losing, perhaps permanently, that “extra” entertainment that is part of what makes Disney parks so very special.

Entertainment Coming to Hollywood Studios

However, there is some good news on the entertainment front. At Hollywood Studios, we have some entertainment coming back very soon. For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing A Long Celebration is returning to Hollywood Studios on October 5, 2020.

Frozen Sing a Long Celebration — For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-a-long Celebration (Photo: Disney Parks)

Disney has stated that there are no changes to the show, other than minor staging and audience seating to allow for social distancing.

Also coming soon to the animation courtyard is Disney Junior Play and Dance. These dance parties will feature a DJ playing songs and encouraging kids to dance. Disney Junior stars like Mickey Mouse and Vampirina will appear on stage during the dance party.

Pop Up Motorcades at Hollywood Studios

Pop up motorcades are coming to Hollywood Studios. These motorcades will allow guests to see their favorite characters safely, and provide photo opportunities. Much like the character cavalcades we’ve been seeing at Magic Kingdom, these themed motorcades will not appear on the daily schedule. This will discourage crowds from gathering to see a motorcade. These motorcades will pop up throughout the day.

Disney Parks News Updates Pop Up Motorcade Incredibles — Pixar Pals Character Motorcade (Photo: Disney Parks)

There are three different motorcades, all featuring custom colorful convertibles, powered by Chevrolet. Gotta love those sponsorships. The Mickey and Friends motorcade will feature Minnie, Mickey, Pluto and Chip and Dale. The Pixar Pals Motorcade will feature the Incredibles, Woody, Buzz lightyear and others. The Disney junior stars motorcade will feature Fancy Nancy, Doc McStuffins and Vampirina.

Disney Parks Updates Pop Up Motorcade Vampirina — Disney Junior Character Motorcade (Photo: Disney Parks)

runDisney Virtual Race Registration Update

Last week we shared runDisney’s announcement that the 2021 Marathon Weekend and 2021 Princess Half Marathon weekend were both transitioning to virtual races, and that registration for the races was opening up for those races for a limited time.

Registration is currently still open for all the virtual races for both weekends, if you are interested. I don’t know how long registration will remain open, so I wouldn’t wait too long.

If you’re not familiar with a “virtual” race, basically you will run the race on the scheduled date, but you will run it in a location of your choosing, not on Disney property and without the porta-potties and water stations we rely on for major races. For marathon weekend, prices range from $40-79 for the 5K, $49-$99 for the 10k, $59-$118 for the half, and $65-$120 for the full marathon. The lower price includes a digital bib, digital race tool kit including mile markers, digital goody bag, virtual playlist. The higher price adds an event tech shirt.

The challenges are also available: Goofy (the half and full completed on consecutive days) is $129 – $275, and Dopey (all four races completed on consecutive days) is $225 – $480.

Pricing for the Princess half marathon weekend is very similar. We are posting a more detailed post about the runDisney virtual races tomorrow. Please check back to visit that post.

Disney and Dancing with the Stars

Finally, loosely tied to Parks news, it was Disney week on Dancing with the Stars. Host Tyra Banks sported Minnie ears and a Minnie inspired dress throughout the show, and every dance featured Disney songs.

Disney Parks News Updates Dancing with the Stars Tyra Banks — Disney Week on Dancing with the Stars. Host Tyra Banks (Screenshot: Hulu)

The highlight for me was the inclusion of elements from the Main Street Electrical Parade during the beginning segment of the show. The “floats” were displayed and the little snail even drove around the dance floor.

Disney Parks News Updates Dancing with the Stars Main Street Electrical Parade — The Main Street Electrical Parade Visits Disney Week on Dancing with the Stars (Screenshot: Hulu)

I’ve always loved this little parade, and was happy to see the floats and elements still exist. Hopefully we will all get a chance to see this beloved nighttime parade at a Disney park sometime soon!

Tune in Next Week for More Disney Parks News Updates!

We hope you have enjoyed this week’s Disney Parks News Update. Please join us next Wednesday for next week’s news!

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

P.S. Looking for last week’s Disney Parks News Updates? Please visit our YouTube video here.

Extra Fun for Foodies

Foodie Guide for the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

What Food Items Are You Looking Forward To?

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Garden Rocks Concert Series Schedule

Garden Rocks Dining Packages

Participating Restaurants

How Does the Garden Rocks Dining Package Work?

I’ve Seen Rick Springfield at Least 20 Times Over the Years….

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How Will the TRON Lightcycle/Run Virtual Queue Work?

Why will TRON Lightcycle/Run use a Virtual Queue?

TRON Lightcycle/Run will be an Individual Lightning Lane Attraction

Locker System for TRON Lightcycle/Run

Disney PhotoPass and Videos

Will You Try the TRON Lightcycle/Run Virtual Queue?

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Theming

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Menu

Salads

Smoked Meats

Plant-Based Options

Sides

Desserts

Beverages

Will YOU be Making Reservations?

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What’s new for this year’s EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival?

New Topiaries

2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival Merchandise

Garden Rocks Concert Series

Outdoor Kitchens

Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration

Blossoms of Fragrance

Final Thoughts

Will you attend the 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival?

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Free Parking Returns for Disney Resort Guests Immediately!

Is this a PR Move?

Final Thoughts

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Disney Princesses Returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table

Storybook Dining with Princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at EPCOT

Character Dining Returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table

Breakfast

Lunch and Dinner

Advance Reservations Required

How to get that Reservation

Staying on Property

Staying off Property

What if it Works? What if it Doesn’t?

Are you Excited to see Character Dining Returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table?

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runDisney Races are back in 2021

Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend

Pricing

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Registration

Pricing

Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend 2022

Registration

Pricing

Surprise! runDisney has a NEW Race in the Family

Health and Safety

Virtual Races are Sticking Around

Registration Dates for Virtual Races

It’s True. runDisney races are BACK at Walt Disney World.

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Disney Parks News

Entertainment Cast Layoffs

Which Parks and Shows were Affected?

Magic Kingdom