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Around the Mouse: Walt Disney World News, July 18, 2016
What’s New This Week?
Walt Disney World Theme Parks
Magic Kingdom Park
New! Early Morning Magic Extended: Earlier this year, Disney Early Morning Magic launched at Magic Kingdom Park to give eager guests the opportunity to be among the first to experience theme park attractions and breakfast inside the park. Early Morning Magic is a special ticketed event that allows guests access to select attractions and a breakfast inside the park all before park opening time. Disney Early Morning Magic been extended through September 30, 2016 for Magic Kingdom Park.
Epcot
New! Eat to the Beat Lineup Announced for 21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: Eight new acts join the Eat to the Beat concert series this fall. Festival newbie Wang Chung kicks off the first two nights. The other festival first-timers include BoDeans, Plain White T’s, Jeffrey Osborne, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Living Colour, Soul Asylum and Delta Rae.
Here’s a look at the full lineup:
- Sept. 14-15 – Wang Chung NEW! “Everybody Have Fun Tonight”
- Sept. 16-18 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas “We Built This City”
- Sept. 19-20 – Air Supply “All Out of Love”
- Sept. 21-23 – BoDeans NEW! “Closer to Free”
- Sept. 24-25 – Fuel “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)”
- Sept. 26-28 – Sugar Ray “Fly”
- Sept. 29-30 – Los Lobos “La Bamba”
- Oct. 1-2 – David Cook “Light On”
- Oct. 3-4 – Wilson Phillips “Hold On”
- Oct. 5-6 – Blues Traveler “Run-Around”
- Oct. 7-9 – Plain White T’s NEW! “Hey There Delilah”
- Oct. 10-11 – 38 Special “Hold On Loosely”
- Oct. 12-13 – Jeffrey Osborne NEW! “On the Wings of Love”
- Oct. 14-16 – Tiffany “I Think We’re Alone Now”
- Oct. 17-19 – Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx “Lady”
- Oct. 20-21 – Christopher Cross “Sailing”
- Oct. 22-23 – Toad The Wet Sprocket NEW! “Walk on the Ocean”
- Oct. 24-25 – Chaka Khan “I Feel for You”
- Oct. 26-27 – Billy Ocean “Caribbean Queen”
- Oct. 28-29 – Living Colour NEW! “Cult of Personality”
- Oct. 30-Nov. 1 – Hanson “Get the Girl Back”
- Nov. 2-3 – Soul Asylum NEW! “Runaway Train”
- Nov. 4-6 – Delta Rae NEW! “Bottom of the River”
- Nov. 7-9 – Boyz II Men “Motownphilly”
- Nov. 10-11 – Sister Hazel “All For You”
- Nov. 12-14 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy “Go Daddy-O”
Performances are 5:30, 6:45 and 8:00 p.m. daily, and included in Epcot admission. (Lineup is subject to change; songs listed are for artist recognition only and may not be included in the concert play list.)
New! Musique Aramenco Now Performing in Morocco: Musique Aramenco is the newest group to perform on the Morocco stage. The show incorporates the darbuka drum — the heart of folkloric and modern music — violins, and a belly dancer to create a pleasing fusion of traditional and popular dance music and melodies one might hear in countries along the Southern Mediterranean and Northern Africa.
Reminder! Sounds Like Summer Concert Series Started June 5: Enjoy another rocking rendezvous—the fun takes place at America Gardens Theatre with the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series. Featuring renditions of songs from Boston and the Eagles to covers of classics by Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen and the Bee Gees, Sounds Like Summer is a cover-band blast from the past that’s fun for the whole family. The summer concerts for the upcoming week include:
- July 17-23: DSB – A Tribute to Journey
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
New! Disney Early Morning Magic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Start August 1: Disney’s Hollywood Studios will soon offer Disney Early Morning Magic! Beginning August 1, a select number of guests can experience Disney Early Morning Magic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Beginning at 7:45 a.m., guests can enter the park and experience Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, Toy Story Mania!, Pixar Place character greetings (with Woody and Buzz), and Mickey and Minnie on Commissary Lane and Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight. Guests can also partake in an all-you-care-to-enjoy breakfast at ABC Commissary from 8-10 a.m. Separate Disney’s Hollywood Studios admission is required. The price is $69 per adult and $59 per child (ages 3 through 9) plus tax.
New! Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party: At the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests can experience out-of-this-world desserts and drinks inside Star Wars Launch Bay. Become immersed in the Star Wars universe with photo opportunities, exciting exhibits and thrilling character encounters. After enjoying an assortment of sweets — including themed cupcakes, cookies and brownies and a selection of savory snacks including cheese and flatbread and dip (as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages) — you will be escorted to a VIP viewing area for the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. Cost is $69 for adults, $39 for children age 3-9. Admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is required to attend, and is not included in the price of Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party. Reservations can be made by visiting DisneyWorld.com/dine or by calling 407-WDW-DINE.
The new nightly Star Wars fireworks show, “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular,” combines fireworks, pyrotechnics, special effects and video projections that turn the nearby Chinese Theater and other buildings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios into the twin suns of Tatooine, a field of battle droids, the trench of the Death Star, Starkiller Base and other Star Wars destinations. The show also features a tower of fire and spotlight beams, creating massive lightsabers in the sky. (David Roark, photographer)
New! Summer Strawberry Specialty Cupcakes Now Available: Take a bite out of summer with the new summer strawberry specialty cupcake now at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This cupcake will be available at the following locations: Catalina Eddie’s, Fairfax Fare, Rosie’s All-American Café, Starring Rolls Café, Trolley Car Café. This cupcake is included in the Disney Dining Plan and will be available through Aug 31.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Reminder! Tiffins Offering a Small Plate Lunch Menu: A new lunch menu featuring a smaller portions of Tiffins’ most popular dishes debuted at the restaurant on Sunday, July 3. From 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. each day, Guests will have the option of pairing two options from the menu along with a Jade rice blend for just $28 per person, plus tax and gratuity. The Taste of Tiffins lunch menu, the options allow Guests to select from the following ten dishes: flash-fried blue mussels, black-eyed pea fritters, crispy Yellowtail Snapper, sustainable fish crudo, 72-hour beef short rib, salad of roasted baby beets, market vegetable curry, marinated grilled octopus, Chermoula-rubbed chicken, or the masa and pulled pork tamale. Guests are also able to order from the existing all-day menu.
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
New! Celebrate Africa on July 20th at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: Guests of all ages to join our Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to celebrate African culture on Wednesday, July 20, 10-11 a.m. in the Jambo House lobby. This celebration will feature music, dancing and plenty of inspiration as our cultural representatives proudly represent their home countries. Guests may have their faces painted and will have the opportunity to learn about the many activities that make African culture so unique.
Walt Disney World Resort – General
New! Chef Art’s Homecoming Opens at Disney Springs: Chef Art Smith, a native of Jasper, Fla., (and former cast member in the Disney College Program), gives guests a taste of classic Florida fare. Featuring classic Southern fare in a casual, family-friendly setting, Homecoming overlooks The Spring and offers menu items including Art’s Fabulous Fried Chicken, Shrimp & Grits, Fried Catfish, Momma’s Mac and Cheese and Shine Cake. The table service restaurant also serves grab-and-go items including Fried Chicken and Chopped Pork sandwiches. Homecoming is open Sunday through Thursday until midnight and Friday and Saturday until 1 a.m.
Chef Art Smith who will be opening his new restaurant Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine at Disney Springs in 2016. Photo by Tom Burton
New! Attend a Dooney & Bourke Release Party on July 23 in Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs: On Saturday, July 23 at Cherry Tree Lane inside the Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs, Dooney & Bourke will hold a Release Party for the new Dooney & Bourke Disney items coming out this summer. At this event, we are releasing two new collections including handbags inspired by the classic Disney Parks attraction, “it’s a small world.” The four silhouettes in this collection will include a Shopper Tote, a Pouchette, a Wallet and a Wristlet.
The second collection, called “Lovebirds,” will include a Shopper Tote and a Letter Carrier.
For the first time, we will introduce four limited edition retail MagicBands containing Dooney & Bourke-inspired designs. Each MagicBand will have an edition size of 1,500, and each MagicBand will contain a specially designed slider with the Dooney & Bourke logo. The MagicBands will be packaged in decorative boxes.
Finally, guests attending this release party will have an opportunity to meet Ian Ray, Creative Director for Dooney & Bourke. He will be appearing at Cherry Tree Lane from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. that day.
Merchandise Events
Disney Springs
July 20 – 24: Artist Greg McCullough returns to Art of Disney in Disney Springs Marketplace with special appearances and signings from 1 – 8 p.m., each day.
Epcot
July 21 – 24: Meet renowned international artist Larry Dotson from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. at Art of Disney.
Closures and Refurbishments
Click here to view the latest renovations and closures at Walt Disney World Resort.
Siera is a travel agent with Destinations in Florida, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. She would love to help you plan your next vacation at no cost to you. Call her at 734-771-1290 or email her at siera@destinationsinflorida.com for your free, no obligation quote.
