The International Festival of the Arts is now in full swing at Epcot. There are several events & exhibits that returned from 2019 and there are also many new things to look forward to!
New this year are Life-sizes frames of VanGogh’s Café Terrace at Night and Sunflowers paintings that you can step right into for an amazing photo opportunity.
There are 12 Food Studios that present artful bites & sips that may be too beautiful to consume. Some favorites that are set to return include The Artist’s Table Studio for the Sipping Chocolate Flight of white, milk and dark chocolate as well as the BLT from The Deconstructed Dish Studio. There are lots of new items that have been added to these menu’s this year so stay tuned for some favorites!
If music is one of your favorite forms of art, definitely check out the amazing talent nightly at the American Gardens Theater. The Disney on Broadway concert series is comprised of wonderful arts that have been featured in Disney films:
Jan. 17, 20, 21 and 24 – Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White (“The Lion King”)
Jan. 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Heidi Blickenstaff (“The Little Mermaid”) and Gavin Lee (“Mary Poppins”)
Jan. 25 – Special performance featuring Simmons, White, Blickenstaff and Lee
Jan. 26, 28, 29; Feb. 1, 2, 5 and 6 – Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) and Kevin Massey (“Tarzan”)
Jan. 27, 30, 31, Feb. 3, 4, 7 and 8 – Liana Hunt (“Newsies”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
Feb. 9 – Special performance featuring Lindsay, Massey, Hunt and Jacobs
Feb. 10, 12, 13, 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
Feb. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21 – Syndee Winters (“The Lion King”) and Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
Feb. 24 – Special performance featuring Brown, Strickland, Winters and Scott
To secure seats to these performances in advance, you can reserve a Disney on Broadway Dining Package. This will guarantee you a seat on the day you dine in one of several Epcot restaurants and there is no additional cost for it.
Guests that are visiting the festival with little artists will want to check out the Green Landing Family Play Zone. This is a great area for littles to expend some energy while you sit back and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Festival.
Another neat artistic addition to World Showcase for the Festival that the whole family can enjoy are images of Disney Characters that are hidden throughout the countries. Can you find Remy & Emile in France? What about Mushu in China? What other favorite Characters can you spot?
I will be visiting this festival in early February and cannot wait to come back with my experiences and photos. If you have any questions or would like to visit the International Festival of the Arts, contact me today! My planning services are free for my guests and it will save you time, stress, and possibly even money. See ya Real Soon!
A whole new food and beverage experience is coming to Disney Springs. Now that Summer is here, we are celebrating with wonderful fresh flavors of fruits and citrus. Come experience some of these delicious bites and sips! This special event is going on all summer through September 2nd. Stop at any of the participating locations or the Disney Springs Welcome Center for a guide.
Personal Experiences:
This is a fantastic #Adulting Opportunity. Yes, many of these things you can grab on the go if you have littles in tow but it is far more immersive if you can do it without them. This is a great event for locals who can head over for the evening, guests traveling for a girlfriends weekend, bachelor/bachelorette parties, Disneymoons and all the other wonderful reasons adults travel to Disney. Bonus: If you are staying on Disney Property, you don’t have to worry about how you are getting back to your room after a few of these tasty beverages!
I have personally been to several of these locations and the experience is just as amazing as the food and beverages. Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar is one of my favorites in Disney Springs and we hit it each time we are there. The food and drinks are so different from normal fare. The building itself is so creatively built and decorated – I mean, where else can you sit in a dry-docked boat and drink out of a Monkey’s Head?? This is also a cool spot because you can watch the Amphicars launch next door.
Wine Bar George is a really neat wine bar. The food is outrageous and they help you pair anything you would like with a beverage. If you are a Dole Whip fan like myself, you will have to stop here. They have a Frozcato which is basically a alcoholic frozen Dole Whip. It is a delight!
Here is the menu, direct from Disney:
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar
Fountain of Youth Chicken Wings – Chicken wings served with St Augustine Datil Pepper Sauce
Florida Rain – Orange vodka, gin, coconut rum, blue curaçao, and sour mix
Key Lime Pie – Key lime pie with graham cracker crust and toasted coconut
Sandbar Sunday Islamorada Beer Company American Pale Wheat Ale
Splitsville
Tuna Poke Tower – Seared ahi tuna, spicy crab mix, diced Florida avocado, and Asian slaw stacked and served with crispy wonton chips
Strawberry Sake Spritzer – Local strawberries, lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, and rosé-infused sake garnished with a whole strawberry and mint
YeSake
Fresh Tuna Tekka Don – Fresh, customizable poke
bowl featuring sushi-grade tuna on a bed steamed rice topped with
avocado, cucumber, seaweed salad, tempura crunch, and a zesty house-made
yuzu aïoli
Violet Sake Slushie – Japanese sake, prickly pear, and lime topped with konpeito candy
Frozen Beer Shandy – Kirin draft beer with fresh-squeezed orange juice topped with frozen Kirin foam
T-REX
Boom Boom Alligator Tacos – Flour tortillas, fried alligator, and tropical fruit slaw topped with micro cilantro and spicy garlic sauce
Sailfish Brewing Co. Tag & Release Amber
The Ice Age – Rum, blue curaçao, piña colada purée, and orange juice
Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’
Key West Shrimp Cocktail – Seasoned shrimp hand tossed with avocado, mango, cucumber, and house-made cocktail sauce and served with buttermilk crackers
Blood Orange Madras – Blood orange moonshine, freshly muddled strawberries, pineapple purée, and cranberry juice
Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill
Local Buratta – Buratta made in Pompeo Beach, Florida served with prosciutto, arugula, fresh peaches, and basil pesto
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA
Paddlefish
Crab Ceviche – Blue crab, avocado, bell pepper, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime served with tortilla chips
Key Lime Wheat Ale
The BOATHOUSE
Steamed Peel and Eat Florida Shrimp – Florida shrimp dusted with Boathouse seasoning and served with drawn butter
Conch Republic Key Lime Wheat Ale
Pizza Ponte
A Zesty Slice of Florida – Pizza bianca with Florida lemon, ricotta cheese, arugula, and black pepper
Guyebera Citra Pale Ale
STK Orlando
Market or Fresh Catch Ceviche – Ceviche with passion fruit, lime, and chilis
La Playita Lager
Paradiso 37, Taste of The Americas
Florida Scorpion Shrimp Paella – Colossal gulf
shrimp, mussels, pancetta, peas, crushed red pepper, tomatoes, and
savory Key lime butter tossed with Calasparra rice and broiled to
perfection
Sunset Margarita – Tequila, cointreau, and fresh-squeezed Florida orange juice
Planet Hollywood
Citrus Kale Salad – Superfood blend of kale,
julienned broccoli, slivered Brussels sprouts and cabbage, feta, fresh
grapefruit and oranges, cranberries, sunflower seeds, and agave dressing
Key Lime Martini – Vodka, ice cream, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup with a graham cracker crumbs rim
Orange Gator & Waffle Cone – Tempura alligator wok-tossed with a sweet Florida orange sauce and served in a house-made waffle cone
Pulp Friction Grapefruit IPA
Wanting to plan a last minute trip? There are still rooms available for the Summer. Disney just released a Summer Ticket Promotion and there are still room & dining promotions available. Contact me today and we can get you a no-obligation quote! My services are always free of charge and you get all my knowledge and planning tips too, not to mention stress-free planning! Plus qualifying trips receive our Minnie Box! Our special gift to your travel party tailored to your trip. Talk to you Soon!
A new celebration fit for all Princes & Princesses! Now available at Cinderella’s Royal, a delicious meal will be paired with a Royal Experience. Guests who choose the celebration package will receive the tasty 3 course meal as well as meet with several Disney Princesses. In addition, guests will receive the following:
A personal welcome from Cinderella & her Prince where they will welcome you into the castle
Complimentary glass of sparkling wine or specialty beverage
A box of Cinderella-inspired treats as a keepsake gift
Reserved seating for “Happily Ever After” Fireworks
After-Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace where treats are also Cinderella-Inspired
This Signature Celebration is only offered during one seating each evening so reservations are very limited. I highly recommend making this the first reservation you make when you book your dining 180 days out. For assistance with this and all of your other planning, please contact me for a no-obligation quote and let’s start planning your dreams! My services are free of charge and all qualifying reservations will receive our Minnie Box Gift.
A new Rootin’ Tootin’ Table Service Restaurant is coming to Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World – Roundup Rodeo BBQ!
Guests will enter the restaurant and will suddenly realize they are now the size of a toy. Surrounded by other toys & game pieces inside Andy’s new home-made Rodeo arena, you will find the ultimate setting for a western BBQ.
In keeping with the Toy Story theme, guests will recognize many toys that they know and love along with several “Easter Eggs” hidden throughout the restaurant. Of course, images of your favorite Toy Story Characters will be scattered throughout the Rodeo Arena.
This is going to be a fun and fantastic family-friendly restaurant that is geared for kids and grownups alike! Check back for updates on when this restaurant will open and more details!
Disney is offering 3 last minute offers for travel this summer. If you were waiting for “tax return” time or hoping for a last minute deal, they have arrived!
Summer Room Offer
Guests who stay between 5/28 & 8/28 can receive up to %25 off their hotel stay. This is a great savings! In addition, guests checking in 5/28-6/30 will also receive a gift card during the stay. The amount you receive depends on how many nights of stay and what category room you are in.
Summer Meal Offer
Guests who arrive from 5/28-8/21 and are staying in a Value or Moderate resort category can get one free quick service meal per person, per day! That amounts to a great savings for your family and some very yummy options!
FREE DINING!
Yes, it is here but it does have limitations – this is only available if you are a Disney Visa Cardholder. Arrive August 1- August 21. Guests staying at the Value or Moderate categories will receive Quick-Service dining. Deluxe and Deluxe Villa stays will receive the Dining Plan.
As always, there are limitations to each of these. If you are excited to book a trip this summer and would like to save some $$$ let me know and we can price out some options for you! All qualifying reservations receive our Minnie Box as well!!
Now open at the Grand Californian at Disneyland, Disney Princess are meeting with guests during a Breakfast Adventure. Napa Rose restaurant will host Princesses Belle, Tiana, Ariel, Jasmine and others. They will visit during your meal to meet with you and make lasting memories.
This will be a 3 course brunch that will start with a tiered selection of appetizers (pictured above). Then, enjoy several offerings at the buffet. Finally, a beautiful display of desserts is offered family style.
Once dining is complete, the Disney Princesses will invite you out on the patio for some fun interactions. You might find Belle reading one of her favorite stories, Rapunzel retelling one of her great adventures, or Mulan teaching the group how to be a warrior.
Guest will leave this adventure with more than just wonderful memories. A premium keepsake will be sent home with boys and girls.
Contact me to add this to your vacation package. If you do not have a package yet, let’s get one together so we can pair it with this wonderful dining event. Don’t forget to ask me about the Minnie Box!