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Around the Mouse: Walt Disney World News, August 8, 2016
What’s New This Week?
Walt Disney World Theme Parks
Magic Kingdom Park
New! Watch Princess Elena of Avalor’s Royal Welcome Live Stream: Princess Elena of Avalor is ready to make her debut at Walt Disney World Resort. The Disney Parks Blog has announced that they will be there to live stream the first performance of the limited time show “The Royal Welcome of Princess Elena of Avalor.” On August 11th, Magic Kingdom Park will welcome Elena, crown princess of Avalor, in a special ceremony taking place on the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage. Beginning August 12, the royal welcome for Elena of Avalor will be presented several times daily at the park.
Epcot
New! Margret Almer & The Bavarian Band Now Appearing In Germany: World famous yodeler Margret Almer & The Bavarian Band now bring spirited and authentic music to the German gazebo. The group will perform on the stage adjacent to the Germany pavilion five days a week.
New! 2016 Epcot Cookbook Celebrates Best of Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival: The newest Epcot cookbook shares the best-of-the-best recipes, but also includes favorites from the 2016 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, which started adding its Outdoor Kitchens in 2013, now an integral part of the spring fest. The cookbook will be for sale at Mouse Gear, Gateway Gifts and other Epcot shops during and after the festival.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Reminder! New Menu Items Coming to Sunset Boulevard: Beginning August 2, some delicious new menu items will be added to the Sunset Ranch Market area. Inspired by the fresh selections traditionally found at a farmer’s market, a selection of baked potatoes will now be available at Fairfax Fare, including the Fairfax One Pound Baked Potato with tri-tip beef, brown gravy and white cheddar, and the Loaded Fairfax Potato with sour cream, cheddar and bacon. Toluca Legs Turkey Co. will become Sunshine Day Café which will offer an all-new menu inspired by a day at the market. Turkey legs will no longer be sold at this location.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
New! DJ Dino-Mite to perform in Afternoons: DJ Dino-Mite, DJ in DinoLand U.S.A., will perform an afternoon show from 12-3 p.m now through Aug. 27. This performance will be in addition to his regular 7-10 p.m. performance.
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
New! Flying Fish Reopened at Disney’s BoardWalk: The time has come for the much-anticipated opening of Flying Fish on Disney’s BoardWalk, with an all-new menu and expanded wine list – and a beautiful new interior and next-door cocktail lounge, AbracadaBAR. With hues that conjure up the deep blue sea and a clear-glass school of artful fish and bubbles suspended from the stretched-fabric ceiling, the new Flying Fish features a sophisticated interior that pays homage to the golden era of seaside boardwalk dining. The popular “Chef’s Counter” is redesigned, now with seating for 12 at three separate tables directly in front of the open kitchen, where a six-course dinner with its own menu is offered.
Along with sustainable fish, entrées include planch-seared Hokkaido scallops; Wagyu filet mignon; Maine lobster Nero Pasta with golden tomato sauce, young artichokes and micro-lemongrass; Wild Alaskan King salmon; bison striploin, and Wood-Fired Cobia and Carabinero Prawn with rosemary-laced arroz bomba, Peruvian sweet pepper and andouille. And popular wine flights are back, as well as an all-new cocktail menu.
Walt Disney World Resort – General
New! Art in August at Disney Springs: “Art in August” kicked off Thursday, August 4, 2016, at Disney Springs Marketplace. With tents set up throughout the promenade, guests can expect to find Disney artists like Don “Ducky” Williams, handmade treasures including jewelry from Jortra and stationary from Boiled Books, and unique keepsakes such as the latest Precious Moments Dolls from doll designer Linda Rick.
Every weekend (Thursday through Sunday) in August, new artisans will be featured. Painters like Greg MCCullough, Darren Wilson, William Silvers, Joe Kaminski and Jasmine Becket-Griffith will sit alongside niche craftsman who sell items that include giftable plants (Petal Pushers), Handmade Soaps and Beauty Products (Rinse) and decorative house and garden flags (Swaying in the Breeze). Guests can expect to find jewelry made from recycled beads at Magic Ink and decorative Italian masks from Annalisa Masks. Pop Gallery, the eclectic art haven on the West Side, will have a booth featuring unique pieces, as will Name Works. And on select dates, these diverse artists will be joined by photographer Carlos Cuba, Precious Moments figurine sculptor Hiko Maeda, and game designer Quynh Kimball. Whether you prefer your art “fine” or simply “fun,” there’s something for everyone!
New! New ‘Miss Fortune Falls’ Attraction Coming to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Spring 2017: A brand new attraction called Miss Fortune Falls is coming to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon in spring of 2017! Miss Fortune Falls will be a family-style raft attraction that takes guests on a splashing journey through the fabled Captain Mary Oceaneer’s past. Legend has it that Captain Oceanear, a treasure-hunting heroine, traveled across the sea collecting unique artifacts before she became stranded at Typhoon Lagoon many years ago by a rogue storm. Aboard treasure rafts, guests will ascend to the top of the attraction before plunging into a white-water adventure where they will be able to spot some of the treasures Captain Oceanear gathered from around the world. With a ride time of two minutes, Miss Fortune Falls will be among the lengthiest attractions at both Disney Water Parks.
Merchandise Events
New! Three Dooney & Bourke Collections to Premiere on Shop Disney Parks App in August 2016: In August 2016, we will premiere three new Dooney & Bourke collections on the Shop Disney Parks mobile app. This free app offers access to thousands of products found at Disney Parks which you can have shipped directly to your home. The highly anticipated Disney’s “Beauty & the Beast” collection will be released via the app on August 15. Three handbags inspired by Walt Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland” will be released on August 22 via the app. This year, Walt Disney’s “Dumbo” celebrates its 75th anniversary. To celebrate this milestone anniversary, Disney is releasing three handbags on August 29 via the app.
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.
