NEW Character Dining Option at Walt Disney World during Star Wars Weekends!

by Katie Miller

Do you have Jedis in-training who would love to dine with the Star Wars characters?  Well, now you can!  During Star Wars Weekends, being held May 16 - June 15th, 2014 at the Walt Disney World Resort, you and the Star Wars fans in your life can enjoy two brand-new dining options featuring some of your favorite Star Wars characters.

©Disney

Star Wars dining is available for dates May 4-June 15.  The Star Wars Galactic Dine-In Breakfast will be available at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, and will feature Stormtroopers, Boba Fett, Jawa, Darth Vader, and Greedo.  The movie screen at Sci-Fi will also be playing Star Wars movie clips, trailers and music!  Reservations will be available from 8AM - Noon and is $47.99 for adults, and $29.99 for children.  Also included in your meal is a digital photo of your family on a commemorative Photopass card.

The dinner option, Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars Dine at Hollywood and Vine, will feature some of your favorite Disney characters as their Star Wars counterparts!  You’ll be able to meet Ewok Chip & Dale, Jedi Mickey, Leia Minnie, Darth Goofy and Stormtrooper Donald Duck. There is a Fantasmic dinner package available with this option; a commemorative family photo with Chip & Dale, via digital download, is also included.  Seating for dinner is available from 4:15 - 9:30PM and will correspond with park hours.  The Fantasmic dinner package is $59.99 for adults, and $36.99 for children.  To enjoy just the character dinner is $55.99 for adults, and $33.99 for children.

These Star Wars character meals are also available as part of the Disney Dining Plan, and can be redeemed for 2 Table Service Credits per person.

To learn more, and to book your family’s out-of-this-world vacation to Walt Disney World, contact your Mouse World Travel agent! 

Epcot Food & Wine Festival Special Events

Phone lines will open at 7 a.m. Eastern on August. 13 to book reservations for premium events for the 18th annual Epcot®International Food & Wine Festival, Sept. 27-Nov. 11, at the Walt Disney World® Resort!

©Disney

From the over-the-top Party for the Senses grand tasting experience on select Saturday nights to a new taste of Scottish cuisine, there are lots of opportunities. Price per ticket:

• New Scotland, Land of Food And Drink (Sept. 28), $95 or $115
• New Spirits Confidential (Nov. 1), $80 or $95
• New Parisian Breakfast (Saturdays), $37
• New Hibachi Experience (Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov. 5), $120
• “3D” Disney’s Dessert Discovery (Oct. 4, 11 and 25), $55 or $90
• Epcot Wine Schools (Sept. 29, Oct. 27, Nov. 3), $135 per person
• Culinary Adventures in Signature Dining (more than 25 dinners throughout the festival; prices vary)
• Mixology Series: Taste, Shake and Indulge Like the French (Saturdays), $65
• Kitchen Memories (Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov. 1, 8), from $110-$170
• Cheese Seminars (Sept. 28, Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov. 2, 9), $80
• Party for the Senses (Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 and Nov. 2), $145, $180 or $285
• Food & Wine Pairings (Tuesdays, Thursdays), $55
• Sweet Sundays (Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10), $99
• The Discovery of Chocolate (Oct. 13 and 27), $75

Additional events include Italian and French pairings and lunches, and a Mexican tequila lunch. You can book special festival experiences including daily Culinary Demonstrations ($14), Mixology Seminars ($15) and Wine, Beer or Spirit Seminars ($14). Inside-the-park festival dining experiences, as well as culinary and beverage programs, require Park admission.

Contact Mouse World Travel today for more information if you are interested in booking any of these wonderful events!

2013 Epcot Food & Wine Festival Details

Disney has started to release some details on the ever-popular Epcot Food & Wine Festival including a few of the food booths to expect and the line-up for the Eat to the Beat Concert series.

This year the festival will take place from September 27-November 11, 2013.

Food
New this year is a Scotland booth! Enjoy classic Scottish dishes and the "Rusty Nail", a popular Scottish whiskey martini that is simply Scotch and Drambuie.

Also back this year are the Brazil and Hawaii (with the mouth-watering pork slider) booths, the Terra booth with vegan bites, and the Florida booth featuring the Sunshine State's wonderful produce.

And while it's not a booth - it is food!  The Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog will be back!

Music - Eat to the Beat

While food and drink are the highlight of the festival, the music helps set the atmosphere!  Three times each night, at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 PM, the American Garden Theater in Epcot features live music.  The concerts are free with park admission.  Here is the line-up for 2013 (subject to change):

September 27-29: Starship featuring Mickey Thomas

September 30-October 1: Go-Go's -- new this year!

October 2-4: Air Supply

October 5-6: Sister Hazel

October 7-9: Sugar Ray

October 10-11: Edwin McCain -- new this year!

October 12-13: The Manhattan Transfer -- new this year!

October 14-15: Wilson Phillips

October 16-17: Pointer Sisters

October 18-20: Night Ranger

October 21-23: Boyz II Men

October 24-25: Survivor

October 26-27: 38 Special

October 28-30: Smash Mouth

October 31-November 1: Spin Doctors -- new this year!

November 2-3: Christopher Cross -- new this year!

November 4-5: Hanson

November 6-8: Dennis DeYoung

November 9-11: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Celebrity Chefs

In addition to the food and music, some of your favorite chefs are doing demonstrations and sharing their favorite tips.  Some of the chefs you'll be able to see this year are: Warren Brown, Paula DaSilva, Gale Gand, Jamie Deen, Robert Irvine, Dean Max, Rock Harper, Jeff Anderson, Art Smith, Buddy Valastro, Allen Susser, "Cake Boy" Eric Lanlard, Duskie Estes and John Stewart, Donald Link, Bryan Voltaggio and Emily Ellyn.

Special Events

There are are a variety of special events happening throughout the festival.  The Party for the Senses returns this year and are currently scheduled for October 5, 12, 19, 26 and November 2.  The 3D Disney's Dessert Discovery will be happening on select Fridays, Cheese Seminars on Saturdays and Sweet Sundays on Sundays.  These events do require park admission and carry an additional charge, booking for these events will open in August.

Tickets for Night of Joy, Halloween Party and Christmas Party Now on Sale!

Today tickets for Night of Joy (contemporary Christian music festival), Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party go on sale.  Your Mouse World Travel Agent can assist you with purchasing these tickets!

Night of Joy

Held on September 6 and 7 from 7:30 PM to 1 AM.  Prices are $55 for one night, $99 for two nights in advance.  $65 each night if purchased the day of the event.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Held from 7 PM - 12 AM on the following dates:

September 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, and 29
October 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, and 31
November 1

Tickets vary in price, starting at $59/adult (ages 10+) and $54 child (ages 3-9) for advance purchase.  Active and retired members of the military, Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can receive a discount on select nights.  Including themselves, Military members can purchase up to 6 tickets, Annual Passholders up to 4 tickets, Disney Vacation Club Members up to 6 tickets.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Held from 7 PM - 12 AM on the following dates:

November 8, 11, 14, 15, 17, 21, and 22
December 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 20

Tickets vary in price, starting at $62/adult (ages 10+), $57/child (ages 3-9).  Active and retired members of the military, Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can receive a discount on select nights.  Including themselves, Military members can purchase up to 6 tickets, Annual Passholders up to 4 tickets, Disney Vacation Club Members up to 6 tickets.

Contact us today to purchase the tickets or plan your trip around these seasonal events!

Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival 2013

It's almost that time of year again! March 6 - May 19, 2013 brings us the 20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV at Walt Disney World Resort!

In all, more than 100 topiaries, 240 floating mini-gardens, dozens of flower towers and sweeping beds of multi-colored blooms will add floral splendor to the park landscape.

New this year:

• Garden Marketplace culinary creations ranging from smokehouse barbecue and shrimp with grits and Zellwood corn to sweet “frushi” made with fresh fruits and coconut rice. Chefs are perfecting menus for marketplaces that will include Florida Fresh at World Showcase Promenade, Smokehouse Barbecue and Brew at American Adventure courtyard, Primavera Kitchen at Italy showcase, Hanami at Japan showcase and eight others. Around the World Showcase promenade
• Garden Marketplace refreshing libations with a kick like Hot Sun Tomato Wine from Florida Orange Groves Winery and Dole Whip with Spiced Rum, as well as non-alcoholic drinks like Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade and Wild Berry Slush. Beverage specialists will feature brews and beverages at food marketplaces and at Fruits by the Glass and Pineapple Promenade. Around the World Showcase promenade
• A new, circus-like “Land of Oz” play area based on the Disney fantastical film adventure “Oz: The Great and Powerful” to be released March 8, 2013. The interactive children’s play zone will feature play systems adorned with giant flowers and designed to stretch kids’ imaginations and muscles. Midway-style games, red-and-white circus-themed tents and the “Oz Movie Garden” of intriguing plants will capture the spirit of the upcoming film. Also on tap: photo opportunities and the “great and powerful Oz’s” crashed hot-air balloon. Imagination Walkway
• Larger-than-life Fab Five Disney character topiary. Floral versions of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck (with Daisy Duck in a cameo) star in a celebratory cookout scene in living topiary color. The 14-foot-tall Goofy topiary will bobble an anniversary cake while Donald and Daisy play badminton, Mickey fires up the grill, Pluto swipes a link of hot dogs and Minnie chills out on a colorful blanket of blossoms. Epcot Front Entrance
• Illuminated Gardens in the park’s Future World and World Showcase will twinkle and glow over the festival’s world-famous Disney gardens and topiaries each festival evening. Epcot Future World and World Showcase

More festival highlights include:

• “Monsters University” topiary: Floral representations of Mike and Sully from the hit Disney-Pixar film “Monsters, Inc.” and stars of Disney-Pixar’s June 2013 release, “Monsters University,” will join the festivities as new topiary family members. On the Future World Walkway
• Phineas and Ferb topiary: The popular Disney Channel animated celebs limit their shenanigans to go green for a family photo-op. Behind Spaceship Earth
• “Radiator Springs” interactive play zone: Race car Lightning McQueen and tow truck “Mater” of the Disney-Pixar film “Cars 2″ will be the well-maintained topiary stars of this play area. On the Test Track Walkway
• Flower Power Firsts: 1970s top disco band The Village People (April 19-21) and 1960s singer-songwriter Tommy Roe (May 3-5) bring on the Flower Power beat when they take the concert stage. At America Gardens Theatre
• Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House: Eight fanciful fairy topiaries of Pixie Hollow, including Tinker Bell, Fawn, Vidia and Terrence, take over the Butterfly House this year where hundreds of colorful winged beauties flit to life. On the Imagination Walkway

Every Friday through Sunday, HGTV design celebrities will host Festival Center seminars.

March 8-10: Chris Lambton, Going Yard 

March 15-17: Chris Grundy, DIY Network’s Cool Tools
March 22-24: Egypt Sherrod, host of Property Virgins 

March 29-31: Brandon Johnson, My Yard Goes Disney
April 5-7: Meg Caswell, Meg’s Great Rooms
April 12-14: Jason Cameron, DIY Network’s Desperate Landscapes and Man Caves
April 19-21: Sara Peterson, Editor-in-Chief, HGTV Magazine
April 26-28: Carter Oosterhouse, Million Dollar Rooms
May 3-5: Casey Noble, Design on a Dime
May 10-12: Dan Faires, HGTV.com, DanMade
May 17-19: David Bromstad, HGTV Design Star, ColorSplash, Design Star All-Stars

In addition to the HGTV design celebrities, the Flower Power concert series will also be happened every weekend

March 8-10: Micky Dolenz
March 15-17: Chubby Checker & The Wildcats
March 22-24: The Guess Who
March 29-31: Nelson
April 5-7: The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie
April 12-14: Paul Revere & the Raiders
April 19-21: The Village People (new!)
April 26-28: The Orchestra, Featuring Former Members of ELO and ELO II
May 3-5: Tommy Roe (new!)
May 10-12: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
May 17-19: Starship starring Mickey Thomas

The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

Right now there is a fantastic discount for most dates right over the festival!  You can save up to 30% on your Walt Disney World Resort hotel room, plus when you had at least 4-day Magic Your Way tickets, you'll receive a ticket discount as well!  Contact us today for a no-obligation quote

Epcot's International Flower & Garden Festival

Disney has recently released some information regarding this Spring's Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot.  This yearly event completely transforms Epcot into with more than 100 topiaries, 240 floating mini-gardens, dozens of flower towers and sweeping beds of blooms!  All exhibits and many of the seminars are included with your normal Epcot admission.

The festival will be held from March 6-May 19, 2013.

New this year:

• Illuminated gardens - When the sun goes down, many of the topiaries and gardens will be lit!
• Epcot chefs will have special cooking stations with bites of food and drink throughout the World Showcase.  The menus will include a backyard barbecue and a variety of garden-inspired and global tastes.
• A circus-like "Land of Oz Play Area" (based on the Disney film, "OZ: The Great and Powerful to be released in March 2013) will be interactive and adorned with giant flowers.  Located on the Imagination Walkway.
• The topiaries at Epcot's entrance will be Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy having a cookout.  Goofy will have an anniversary cake celebrating the Festival's 20th year
• "Monsters University" topiary based on the upcoming, June 2013 film, will feature your favorite monsters Mike and Sully.  Located on the Future World Walkway.
• The ever-popular Phineas and Ferb will be featured this year in floral form.  Located behind Spaceship Earth.
• On the Test Track Walkway you'll find a Radiator Springs interactive play zone
• Topiaries of Tinker Bell and some of her fairy friends will be located in the Butterfly House this year on the Imagination Walkway.

In addition to the wonderful sights, there will be daily hands-on gardening seminars, innovative ideas and design tips at the Festival Center, HGTV celebrity designers, and the Flower Power concert series being held at the America Gardens Theater!

Flower Power Concert Series Line-Up:

March 6-10: Micky Doenz ("I'm a Believer")

March 15-17: Chubby Checker & The Wildcats

March 22-24: The Guess Who
March 29-31: Nelson
April 5-7: The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie
April 12-14: Paul Revere & the Raiders
April 19-21: The Village People (new!)
April 26-28: The Orchestra, Featuring Former Members of ELO and ELO II
May 3-5: Tommy Roe (new!)
May 10-12: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
May 17-19: Starship starring Mickey Thomas

There are currently package and room only discounts out through March 7!  Contact us today for a quote, or more information!!

Preview & Grand Opening Dates Set for the New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park

Late afternoon some very exciting news broke - a date that you will want to add to your calendar!

As we have reported here, Fantasyland at the Walt Disney World is nearly doubling in size with several new attractions. The date everyone has been looking for was announced yesterday...the Grand Opening will be December 6, 2012 with previews beginning November 19.

Attractions slated to make their debuts:

• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, a major attraction where guests will travel with Ariel and her friends through their exciting adventures above and below the waves – all against a musical backdrop of songs from the film. The new attraction combines the enduring appeal of a classic Disney “dark ride” with wonderful technological innovations to offer guests a personal journey into the scenes of the film. Adventurers will feel as if they are descending below the ocean’s surface. Once “under the sea,” guests will find themselves immersed in the story of “The Little Mermaid,” sharing Ariel’s adventure through a magical cast of characters and a captivating musical score that will entice everyone to sing along. The fun continues at “Ariel’s Grotto,” a meet-and-greet with the mermaid heroine herself.
• The castle of the Beast stands majestically upon a hill across an old stone bridge from Ariel’s new home. The Be Our Guest Restaurant will feature a lavish dining experience in the elegant ballroom, gallery, and mysterious “West Wing” of the castle. With seating for 550, this magnificent facility will offer “great food fast” service by day and full table service dining in the evening. Nearby in Belle’s Village, guests will find the rousing Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts.
• Just outside the village is Belle’s cottage and Enchanted Tales with Belle. The adventure begins in Maurice’s workshop, where a magical mirror is the doorway to a captivating new kind of storytelling experience: guests will be transported to the Beast’s library to meet Belle and Lumiere, and share in a lively, interactive re-telling of the “tale as old as time.”

Beyond 2012, there’s more in store for Fantasyland guests:

• Located in the Castle Courtyard in the center of Fantasyland, Princess Fairytale Hall will be the new home for visiting royalty in the Magic Kingdom. The castle-like entrance will feature walls of stone and stained glass windows, opening up into a large gallery – an airy space with a high ceiling, where portraits of the Disney princesses adorn the walls. When it’s time for their audience with a princess, guests will proceed to elegantly finished rooms to meet Aurora, Cinderella and other Disney princesses, such as Tiana and Rapunzel (2013).
• The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will take guests on a rollicking, musical ride into the mine “where a million diamonds shine.” The coaster will feature a first-of-its-kind ride system with a train of vehicles that swing back and forth, responding to every twist and turn of the track. The journey will be accompanied by music from the classic Disney film and animated figures of Snow White and the Dwarfs (2014).

If you'd like to visit Walt Disney World for this exciting occasion, be sure to contact us today! There is a Free Dining discount out near these dates that just might make your trip even more sweet!

Disney's Hollywood Studios - Star Wars Weekends

Star Wars Weekends are held at Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios each Spring. This year the weekends are May 18-20, May 25-27, June 1-3, and June 8-10.

During this special event there is a dance contest, the "Hyperspace Hoopla", between the Star Wars characters that is incredibly entertaining (YouTube it...it's a total riot!), a Star Wars parade, special merchandise is for sale, there are unique meet & greets with the Star Wars characters, and more!  One of the most popular events are the stars from the various movies and Star Wars cartoons appear to sign autographs. The celebrity appearances were just finalized and here is the line up:

Weekend I (May 18 – 20) 

• Ray Park – (Darth Maul – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace) 
• Jerome Blake (Rune Haako/Mas Amedda – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace) 
• Dee Bradley Baker (voice of Clone Captain Rex and Clone Commander Cody – Star Wars: The Clone Wars) 

Weekend II (May 25- 27)

• Andy Secombe (Watto – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace) 
• Ray Park (Darth Maul – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace) 
• Tom Kane (voice of Yoda – Star Wars: The Clone Wars) 

Weekend III (June 1 -3)

• Jake Lloyd (Anakin Skywalker – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace) 
• Silas Carson (Nute Gunray/Ki-Adi-Mundi – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace) 
• Catherine Taber (Star Wars: The Clone Wars voice talent)

Weekend IV (June 8- 10)

• Michonne Bourriague (Aurra Sing – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace) 
• Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett – Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi) 
• Daniel Logan (Boba Fett – Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones) 
• Nika Futterman (voice of Asajj Ventress – Star Wars: The Clone Wars) 

Standard park admission is required, there is no extra charge for the events.

Are you a die-hard Star Wars fan?  Then you don't want to miss this spectacular event!  Contact us today and we can assist you in your travel plans!