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Disney Special Events

VIDEO: Villains After Hours Event Breakdown

7 June 2019 by Christian Ryan Leave a Comment

There is a brand new night-time party going on at Magic Kingdom – Villains After Hours! Join us as we check out everything the event has to offer. Thank you to Disney for inviting us out to this party!

For more information and to get your own tickets to this event, visit: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/eve…

And check out our footage of the ‘Villains Unite’ show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrtOx…

This video was filmed on June 7th, 2019, at Magic Kingdom, for the Villains After Hours event. Check it out below!

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Filed Under: Disney Special Events, Videos, Walt Disney World

VIDEO: ‘Villains Unite’ Full Show!

7 June 2019 by Christian Ryan Leave a Comment

In 2019 Magic Kingdom has introduced a brand new After Hours event, Villains After Hours. This is the main-stage castle show of the event. Join Hades and all of your favorite villains as they try to take over the universe!

This full-show video was filmed on June 7th, 2019 at the Magic Kingdom, for the Villians After Hours event. Check it out below!

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Filed Under: Disney Special Events, Videos, Walt Disney World

Disney’s Hollywood Studios 30th Anniversary

30 April 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

DHS 30th wallpaper
Love this DHS 30th wallpaper that the Disney Parks Blog shared!

Tomorrow is the 30th Anniversary of the park formerly known as (and still referred to by many die-hard fans) the Disney-MGM Studios. This fading gem of a little park holds a dear place in my heart as well as many others, and has certainly been through quite a few changes in an attempt to grow with the times. Will these changes conclude with a name change for the park? Will the quaint “Old Hollywood” feel be no more? Only time can tell.

Starting today and concluding tomorrow, we’ll be at a media event being held at the Studios. Who knows what news or updates will come from this event, but I figured it would be good to have one landing point to keep track of them all. Keep checking back at this link throughout the day today and tomorrow for any breaking news items from Disney Parks, and of course, follow along on social media with me on instagram, twitter, and facebook.


Here is our first set of updates from today’s event, if you haven’t already seen them on my Instagram story:

We learned about Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, including the Mickey short the ride will be based on – Perfect Picnic. We will be riding with Conductor Goofy on the Run Amok Railroad, traveling to Amok Park. Then, as the names imply, surprises ensue and things don’t go as planned.

Special care is being taken to ensure there are no shiny surfaces on the ride, in keeping with the 2-D animation style of the shorts. We saw a model of the train, then the hand-painted version, as well as being shown what it looks like in white light and black light.

We were also shown the attraction marquee, which will be animated neon in style. We’re really excited to see the finished version of this attraction. We’ll update again if we can get any further info or questions answered on the ride.

Attraction marquee
Train in white light
The train in black light

You can see more about the music in my instagram story!


You can also read my past posts on Disney’s Hollywood Studios, to pass the time until the updates:

https://zannaland.com/why-i-fell-in-love-with-the-disney-studios-interaction/
https://zannaland.com/you-can-leave-your-hat-off/
https://zannaland.com/the-hollywood-that-never-was-and-never-will-be/
https://zannaland.com/diana-princess-of-wales-a-real-princess-in-a-magic-kingdom/
https://zannaland.com/remember-the-magic/
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Filed Under: Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Disney Past, Disney Special Events, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: #NowMoreThanEver, Disney Hollywood Studios, Disney-MGM Studios

Disney After Hours: Worth It?

7 December 2018 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

Disney After Hours

You may have noticed that Walt Disney World has been experimenting over the past few years with various “add-on” events. Whether it’s a dessert party that comes with fireworks viewing, or a dinner package for a nighttime event, or realizing that they can close down a park early and re-open it for a separate ticket and people will love it, Disney has been pretty successful with this. But are these extra additions, like Disney After Hours, worth the price? We’ll discuss that below and let you decide. But first, a little backstory…

It’s no secret that Walt Disney World Resort is more crowded than ever and it’s not slowing down any time soon. It wasn’t too long ago that there were blissful “slow times” at WDW. Those were the times that locals waited for, and during which smart planners booked their vacations. Times when the lines were down, the weather was better, and it made all the difference. Disney noticed these times too, and thought “Hey, we should make a reason for people to come down and visit when our numbers are down….maybe a….festival or something? And the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival was born.

Way back in 1994, Epcot would create fun springtime topiaries, and thought turning it into a festival was a natural answer to the slower time between Mother’s Day and the start of summer. The next year, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival began, during the usually slow time in the early Fall when school was back up but before the holidays started.

Over many successful years, these festivals filled in the gap of less crowds, leaving only one major time when the park had noticeably less guests. A new experiment, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts filled in that gap. This festival was born of the former “Festival of the Masters” that took place at Downtown Disney, before it was rejuvenated as Disney Springs. Now, I cannot even fathom having a festival at Disney Springs on a weekend, the crowds would make it impossible to even move. The festival takes place in the weeks between January and February before February vacation and then Spring Break begin. It is the favorite time for many a local. The weather is usually cold, or at least cooler and not humid (though nothing is a guarantee in central Florida), and because of the time period, less families are taking off and going on vacation. It is glorious. Or it was. 

Nowadays, there aren’t many times when you can find a Disney park or Disney Springs “less crowded.” There are events, either festivals or races or seasonal parties filling in pretty much every day of the year. Sure, going during the week, when school is in session will be slightly more manageable, but long gone are the days when you didn’t have to plan ahead and could just roll up, expect to walk on a ride or walk in to a table service restaurant and expect to be seated. It is a different time, one of FastPasses, ADR’s (neither of which guarantee a quick wait) and constant crowds. But I’m not here to comment on the changing times and yell at you kids to get off my lawn. I’m just giving some background as to how these events have been creeping up over time. What once was a display of flowers and topiaries has turned into a mini food and wine festival itself. What was once a festival to try some new international dishes, sample some wines and beers and see demonstrations from chefs around the world, has turned into Drinking Around the World with t-shirts to match (that’s another post on its own from me :P) And the latest addition to these free (minus attendance and cost of food/drinks of course) events, has been dessert parties and the like. 

Don’t want to worry about where to stand for the perfect fireworks or parade view? There’s an add-on package for you. Getting “free” candy or cookies and treats during the already separate ticketed event of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party not enough? There’s a dessert party add-on for you too! But the truth is, in the last few years, the hard-ticketed parties are more crowded than they’ve ever been, and while yes, wait times are reduced compared to a typical day, there are still a LOT of guests there, especially during the fireworks and parade times. So what’s the answer for those that want to enjoy a bit of the old reduced-crowd Disney parks experience? The answer is – Disney After Hours. 

Yes, this event is very limited to specific dates over the course of the year, and yes, it is $129 per person – adult or child. BUT – it IS worth it – in most cases. Let’s figure out why. 

First, I understand that many people reading this may not be locals or passholders, but guests who plan for years and need accommodations and park hopper passes and a host of other items locals don’t normally have to worry about. So while it may seem flippant for me to say “it’s worth the extra $130!” I promise, I am taking vacationers into account. 

What I am suggesting is that, if you are able to work an After Hours event into your existing vacation dates, that you could perhaps do it on a day where you visited a water park or Disney Springs during the day, enjoy a dinner there, at a resort, or even off-property, saving a day of your Park Hoppers. Then return to the After Hours park and enjoy multiple (and I do mean multiple) rides on the available attractions of your choice, which are traditionally either impossible to get FastPasses for or easily have over 100 minute waits daily, no matter the time of year. In addition, you get unlimited ice cream novelties and select bottled beverages during the event! Other locations are open during the event to purchase food and drink items (and merchandise) too. It would also make planning the rest of your days easier. If you know you’ll be able to ride your favorites After Hours, you could take the time to enjoy attractions or places that you put off seeing during a normal visit when everything is action-packed and scheduled to the minute. 

I have now experienced two parks at After Hours events, the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom and I was truly worried I would not think it was worth it. But the lack of stress while in a Disney park; no worrying about waiting in line, having time to see it all, making sure everyone gets to ride their favorites, is quite simply, heavenly. It reminded me of a time gone by, when you could stroll the parks and drink in all the details and still enjoy attractions as well. The fact that it’s at night and everything looks extra magical and lit up is just a bonus in my opinion. 

EDIT: I have now experienced all 3 parks Disney After Hours events (I don’t think Epcot could ever offer this because it’s just SO big, maybe if they did Future World only, but then there would only be 2 real attraction draws, although the same could be said for Animal Kingdom I suppose?). I worried at first that Disney’s Hollywood Studios would be more crowded because there are quite a few attractions that have a huge wait or are difficult to get FastPasses for. However, I was surprised to see that because the popular areas of the park are spread out, it wasn’t really an issue. We went to Slinky Dog Dash first, and the wait time was 10 minutes, and it truly was 10 minutes. But as the night went on, it was down even lower to the usual 5. And that’s for the newest attraction in any park. Rock ‘n Roller Coaster was a walk-on, as was Tower of Terror and every other open attraction.

I think Hollywood Studios was my favorite for this event, because it’s always been one of my favorite parks to just stroll and enjoy the details, but add Christmas decorations which DHS has really bumped up in the last 2 years, and the fact that the projections on Tower of Terror, now with snow and lasers were going on all night, and it was truly a magical experience. 

So is it worth it for everyone? Does the cost make sense for the value (amount of hours, attractions you can ride in those hours, free snacks)? Well, the answer may be different for every guest, depending on your vacation style or if you’re vacationing at all. I think for the price and experience, if you are a single or couple visitor, the benefits are a no-brainer. If you have many little kids that may not take advantage of the attractions available, it might be a great time to try out the on-site kids clubs. 😉 I think it was a great time and love the atmosphere and feeling like you truly have the parks to yourselves.  Click photos below to scroll through the gallery: 

  • Free snacks at Magic Kingdom!
  • Disney After Hours
    Almost empty walkways in Magic Kingdom
  • Disney After Hours
    Info for Magic Kingdom After Hours
  • Disney After Hours
    An almost-empty Magic Kingdom
  • Disney After Hours
    No one in the queue – the longest wait was just walking through it!
  • Disney After Hours
    Flight of Passage 5 minute wait time!
  • Disney After Hours
    Expedition Everest 5 minute wait time
  • Disney After Hours
    There was a special area set up for the walkway to Pandora for all the free snacks at Animal Kingdom
  • Disney After Hours
    Free ice cream (and non-ice cream) bars at Animal Kingdom
  • Disney After Hours
    Free popcorn at Animal Kingdom
  • Disney After Hours
    They originally gave out lanyards, which are super cute, but now they do wristbands
  • Disney After Hours
    Toy Story Mania with 5 min waits!
  • Disney After Hours
    No one around to Walk This Way…;)
  • Disney After Hours
    Free Snacks!
  • Disney After Hours
    10 minutes for Slinky Dog
  • Disney After Hours
    Woody’s Lunch Box was still open to purchase treats
  • Disney After Hours
    Such fun to see!

Here are the Disney After Hours Facts: 

Admission to Disney After Hours can be purchased in advance for $125 per adult or child, plus tax—or purchased on the day of the event for $129 per adult or child, plus tax. Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can take advantage of specially priced tickets for just $95 per adult or child, plus tax. – So very similar to passholder rates for the seasonal parties. 

Magic Kingdom dates and info:

Guests with Disney After Hours tickets can enter the park at 7:00 PM every event night.

The event takes place from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM:

  • Monday, November 26, 2018
  • Monday, December 3, 2018
  • Monday, December 10, 2018
  • Thursday, March 21, 2019
  • Thursday, March 28, 2019
  • Thursday, April 4, 2019
  • Thursday, April 11, 2019

And 9:00 PM to midnight:

  • Thursday, February 14, 2019
  • Thursday, February 21, 2019
  • Thursday, March 7, 2019

And 8:00 PM to 11:00PM:

  • Monday, January 7, 2019
  • Thursday, January 17, 2019
  • Thursday, January 24, 2019
  • Monday, January 28, 2019
  • Thursday, February 7, 2019
  • Thursday, February 28, 2019

Magic Kingdom Attractions: 

  • Astro Orbiter
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Disney Princess Greetings at Princess Fairytale Hall
  • Haunted Mansion
  • “it’s a small world”
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Mickey’s PhilharMagic
  • Peter Pan’s Flight*
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • Space Mountain
  • Splash Mountain
  • And much, much more!

  • *Please be aware that Peter Pan’s Flight will be closed on January 7, January 17 and January 24 in 2019.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios dates and info: 

The event takes place from 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM:

  • Saturday, December 8, 2018
  • Saturday, December 15, 2018
  • Saturday, December 22, 2018
  • Saturday, January 5, 2019
  • Saturday, January 12, 2019
  • Saturday, January 19, 2019
  • Saturday, February 2, 2019
  • Saturday, February 9, 2019
  • Saturday, February 16, 2019
  • Saturday, March 2, 2019
  • Saturday, March 9, 2019

And 9:00 PM to midnight:

  • Saturday, March 16, 2019
  • Saturday, March 23, 2019
  • Saturday, March 30, 2019
  • Saturday, April 6, 2019
  • Saturday, April 13, 2019

Studios Attractions:

  • Slinky Dog Dash
  • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Toy Story Mania!
  • Twilight Zone Tower of TerrorTM
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
  • Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
  • Star Wars Launch Bay
  • Character Greetings with Toy Story Land Pals, Mickey, Minnie and Olaf

*All attractions and entertainment are subject to change without notice.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Dates and Info: 

The event takes place from 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM:

  • Tuesday, December 4, 2018
  • Wednesday, December 12, 2018
  • Tuesday, December 18, 2018
  • Tuesday, January 8, 2019
  • Wednesday, January 16, 2019
  • Tuesday, January 22, 2019
  • Thursday, January 31, 2019
  • Tuesday, February 5, 2019
  • Wednesday, February 6, 2019
  • Tuesday, February 12, 2019
  • Wednesday, February 13, 2019
  • Tuesday, February 19, 2019
  • Tuesday, February 26, 2019
  • Tuesday, March 5, 2019
  • Wednesday, March 20, 2019
  • Wednesday, March 27, 2019
  • Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Animal Kingdom Attractions:

  • Avatar Flight of Passage
  • Na’vi River Journey
  • Pandora Drummers – Swotu Wayä
  • Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
  • DINOSAUR
  • Rivers of Light
  • Tree of Life Awakenings
  • It’s Tough to be a Bug!
  • TriceraTop Spin
  • And more!

Disclaimer: I was invited by Disney to experience Disney After Hours as a hosted guest. My opinions and thoughts are, as always, my own. 

I will be experiencing Disney After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios tomorrow (12/8) and will add to this post any further notes. Be sure to follow along on my instagram story throughout the night to see what it’s like!

Are you planning to experience Disney After Hours? I’d love to know your thoughts below! 

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Filed Under: Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Disney Planning, Disney Special Events, Top Stories, Travel, Theme Parks, and Resorts, Walt Disney World Tagged With: #DisneyAfterHours, Disney with no lines, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World

EPCOT International Festival of the Arts – A Must Visit!

15 February 2017 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Epcot Festival of the ArtsI love a good festival. Art, Food, Renaissance, Fools, I’m always up for a festival. I’ve written many times before about the various established Epcot festivals. Originally begun to bolster lower attendance weeks at Walt Disney World, the first modern, well-promoted festival at Epcot was the International Flower and Garden Festival, which began in 1993. I missed the first couple of years, but when I moved down in 1995 and began working for Walt Disney World, it became a tradition to attend. The Flower and Garden Festival always revolved around Mother’s Day and back then, Disney provided a free photo op (much like they also used to at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party). It became a Mother’s Day tradition to attend with my mom, enjoy all the fun topiaries and floral displays, dine in France, and get our photo taken together. Also in 1995, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival began. I remember how exciting those first years were; being able to stroll around World Showcase and sample smaller bites from countries that may not have a full pavilion, but have some great flavors to offer. It was a fun time.

Now, there are very few “low attendance times” at Walt Disney World. People now plan their visits around the festivals, in order to try the food items, or take part in the many seminars and sessions offered. Another addition over the years was runDisney appearing on the scene, with some races around the festivals, making it even more well-attended. And, of course, Epcot drinking teams also became a thing, giving Food & Wine bit of a reputation for drunken hordes roaming the World Showcase Promenade. That is not to say these festivals are not still enjoyable, just that they have considerably changed over the years, and become an entity unto themselves. As a local, it’s still fun to go on a weeknight and try the foods, or perhaps splurge on a dining event offered. My husband and I did the Parisian Afternoon last year and had a lovely time. There is always something new to see or experience, so you really can get out of the festivals what you want.

Figment TopiaryEnter #ArtfulEpcot. Quietly sauntering into the festival scene in the middle of January this year, the Epcot International Art Festival became an INSTANT hit. And I do mean instant. There was very little info provided about this festival far ahead of time. We saw a few photos of “artsy food” which, yes, looked amazing, but I don’t think I was alone when I thought, “oh, it’ll be Food & Wine in February…” and also wondered how they would pull off these artistic food creations under the usually extreme conditions of festival food booths. Then, I walked into Epcot the first Friday it opened, saw a perfectly crafted Figment topiary, complete with two tiny wings, eyes big and yellow, horns of a steer…he really was a lovable fellow. Sorry, it’s impossible for me not to break into song when discussing Figment. Anyway, I sort of fell in love, again, with Epcot.

Of course it was more than just a Figment topiary to make me appreciate this new festival. I attended an event which highlighted the various food creations, merchandise, and entertainment offerings within the festival. Every cast member on hand who spoke about their area of expertise was so passionate and excited. That excitement was contagious, and I soon realized this was something very different from just another festival. As we strolled around Epcot, I saw more and more reasons why this was going to be a big hit.

There are many different types of Disney fan out there. I’ve spoken about what kind I am before, and though there are most certainly no wrong or right type of fan, there are many others like me, who love the history of the Walt Disney Company, the pioneering advances and different thinking that made it succeed, even while it was doomed to fail. We Disney history nerds love the original concept, hopes, and ideals that EPCOT Center stood for both in Walt’s initial idea, and the 1982-1994 incarnation of the theme park once known as EPCOT Center. I have professed my love for this park endless times. That park doesn’t really exist today, but you can see glimpses and sparks of it if you know where to look. As an EPCOT Center fan, it’s completely normal and acceptable behavior to stare at wall carpet, marvel at the ride system within Universe of Energy (Ellen’s Energy Adventure), or watch Impressions de France on repeat, while the rest of the park may be lining up for characters or Frozen or Test Track. That is not to say we can’t also enjoy some of the park’s current lineup. It is to say, we miss original EPCOT and all that it represented to us.

Epcot Festival of the ArtsWhat the Epcot Festival of the Arts has done is found the perfect mix, to entertain the masses, and delight those who dearly miss what EPCOT once was. How? Well, for starters, the entire design of the festival speaks to EPCOT in a modern way. Muted, watercolor style images of park icons, including the original EPCOT Center logo, make my 1980’s heart sing. Figment is the “mascot” of the festival, but not in an annoying, or out of place way. He represents the very spirit of art, appearing in each World Showcase country, in a work of art hailing from the country you are in, only Figment-ized. A perfect way to get kids (and adults) interested in art and seek out more knowledge about the pieces featured, the countries, and art in general. This “scavenger hunt” featuring Figment is actually available as a paid activity. You purchase a Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt map for $6.99 from several possible locations, and then match the Figment artwork to the artwork featured in the World Showcase pavilions. Turn in your map when you’re done, and you’ll get a prize. It’s fun either way!

Figment Scavenger Hunt
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts

Speaking of art, there are not one but two mini-galleries of original and concept art at the festival. Artists, Imagineers and Disney Legends Herb Ryman and Mary Blair have their artwork displayed within (another EPCOT Center holdout) the Odyssey restaurant. There we can see huge versions of Ryman’s original concept art for EPCOT and its Future World pavilions, as well as a selection of  Mary Blair’s South American-inspired art pieces. Also within the Odyssey are free – yes FREE – informational sessions from topics like the animation ink and paint process, to different types of tea. There are also paid sessions on specific art topics which include take-home items from the lesson too. As you stroll around World Showcase, there are also classes like origami making or anime drawing in Japan, various chalk displays around the world, and fun photo ops where you become part of a famous work of art. Animation Academy, once held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, also makes a reappearance in Innoventions during the festival.

Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts

The hit of the festival since it opened has been the Paint By Numbers Mural found between Future World and World Showcase. You are given – again, completely free – a tiny cup of paint and a paint brush and told to paint anywhere from 3-5 (depending on how busy it is) squares matching your color to your number. For the first few weekends, it was a Future World image, the full size version of what is available at character meets as the backdrop in the front of Epcot. Last weekend, the mural design was changed to a World Showcase image, which was also a big hit. When the murals are completed, they are changed out for blank canvases and guests can start all over again. It is sponsored by Glidden’s line of Disney-inspired paint names, so that adds for a fun connection.

Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Epcot Festival of the Arts

The seven “Food Studios” (see full list of menu items at that link)as they call the food booths at this event, may be small in number, but the varied items almost all take a unique spin on a classic food item, or highlight favorites with an artistic twist. My favorites were the Classic Reuben, which looks anything but classic with it’s futuristic “rye curl” in place of traditional bread, and the Scallop with Chorizo found in America at The Artist’s Table. Oh, and don’t forget the jaw-dropping Piet Mondrian-inspired cake at Pop Eats! as well as adorable “chocolate easels” which are an edible work of art in the form of Figment, Mickey and Pluto, or Mary Blair designs. (Click to read full captions below)

Epcot Festival of the Arts
Classic Reuben with Shredded Corned Beef, Thousand Island Dressing, Pickled Red Cabbage and a Rye Curl
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Pan-Seared Scallop with Chorizo, Roasted Red Pepper Coulis and a Parmesan Crisp (GF)
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Wild Mushroom Risotto, Aged Parmesan, Truffle Shavings and Zinfandel Reduction (V)
Epcot Festival of the Arts Deconstructed Sweet Potato Pie
Deconstructed Purple Sweet Potato Pie, Salted Caramel, Bourbon-soaked Cake and Marshmallow Whipped Cream
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Trio of Savory Croissant Doughnuts: Whipped Herb Cream Cheese with Sea Salt (V) Chicken Mousse with Fresh Herbs & Everything Bagel Seasoning Spicy Tuna with Sriracha Mayonnaise and Sesame Seeds
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Sous Vide Venison with Butternut Squash Purée, Pomegranate Reduction, Pickled Turnip and Juniper Berry Powder (GF)
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Callebaut Belgian Sipping Chocolate Flight: White, Milk, Dark (non-alcoholic)
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Deconstructed Breakfast: Twinings® Spiced Apple Chai Tea Shake with Maple Bourbon Cream, a Waffle Crisp and Candied Bacon (also available in non-alcoholic)
Epcot Festival of the Arts
Almond Frangipane Cake layered with Raspberry Jam and Chocolate (photo by Disney)
Figment Chocolate Easel
Chocolate Figment Easel

Bridging the gap from classic art to modern, there are also many booths around World Showcase, featuring Disney artists and local artisans alike. Many of the artists are on hand to sign their work. It’s a great way to build your art collection with some originals or prints and meet your favorite artists at the same time.

Epcot Festival of the Arts
Artist Joey Chou signs his work

To top off all that this festival has to offer, at the end of the day, Disney on Broadway Concert Series stars appear at the American Gardens Theatre three times a night, perfoming hit songs from the ever-growing catalog of the Disney Broadway productions. As a huge Broadway musical fan, these shows were the perfect fit. I’ve seen two sets of performers and every show was incredible. Such amazing talent. The shows always seem to have a full house too, so I think this series has been very well received.

Epcot Festival of the Arts Broadway
Epcot Festival of the Arts

Word has spread fast online about this incredible festival, which has quickly become my favorite of the Epcot festival lineup. Every aspect of Artful Epcot fills me with joy, and I hope it returns for years to come, running all week long instead of just long weekends. My only fear is that this charming, quaint, interactive festival that offers so much for so many, will lose that charm if it expands too much. However, I’ll put my confidence in the designers behind the scenes to ensure that doesn’t happen. Part of what made the Festival of the Arts such a success is the way it mixed history with present day, classic with modern, and just enough included opportunities that you don’t feel like you have to shell out premium prices (other than a ticket to the park), to experience all this festival has to offer.

Herb Ryman Epcot Concept Art

There is just one weekend left to the Epcot Festival of the Arts, so I urge you to get down there, get some paint on your hands and chocolate on your face and ENJOY! If you’ve been, I’d love to hear what your favorite part of the festival was or what you hope is added next time around.

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Filed Under: Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Disney Planning, Disney Special Events, Family Travel, Top Stories, Travel Tagged With: Artful Epcot, ArtfulEpcot, Disney art, Disney Dining, Disney festivals, Epcot, Epcot Art Festival, EPCOT Center, Epcot Festival of the Arts, Figment, World Showcase

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival 2016 Sneak Peek

1 March 2016 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Ranger Mickey at the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016

As much as I enjoy the unique foods offered at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival each year, it’s no secret that I actually prefer the Flower & Garden Festival by leaves and mounds (see what I did there? horticultural puns!). In all seriousness, it really is my favorite Festival, especially with the addition of the outdoor kitchens. Seeing new topiary creations each year, in addition to the old favorites always makes for great visits to Epcot, and fun photo ops, ensuring you explore and visit even some forgotten areas. Additionally, with the spring season at hand, the food options at the outdoor kitchens (now in their 4th year at the Festival), are lighter, more focused on vegetables and organic and locally sourced ingredients. The menus are fresh (there’s a reason they use #FreshEpcot as the hashtag for the Festival) and not too heavy, just perfect for strolling the park in the springtime.

This year, the Flower & Garden Festival runs from March 2 – May 30, expanding from 75 days last year, to a full 90 this year. Festival Horticultural Manager Eric Darden explained that they are prepared and excited for the challenge of a 90-day festival. With the previous length, they had 2 separate plantings to keep the gardens looking bright and full. This year, they may have to do 3 sets of plantings for some of the displays, ensuring no matter when you visit, the flowers will look as wonderful as day 1. Also new this year, is a new topiary character, Ranger Mickey, who, along with Chip n’ Dale, help celebrate the National Park Service’s 100th Anniversary. I loved these new topiaries and of course, awareness of our amazing National Parks is always a good thing.

We were treated to a preview of some of the menu options as well as some of the areas which were still under construction. Set to open tomorrow, March 2nd, everything will be revealed and ready to go at park opening. Until then, enjoy some photos and further information on 23rd annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival!

(Hover over photos to read captions)

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Beef Teriyaki Udon tossed on the grill with Soy and Ginger
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Shrimp and Stone-ground Grits and Andouille Sausage, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, and Cilantro
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Seared Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom Ragout, Spring Vegetables, and Marbled Potatoes
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Charles de Ferre and Monin Prosecco
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Watermelon and Feta Salad
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Land-harvested Field Greens with Apples, Dried Blueberries, Stilton Cheese, and Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Burnt Ends Beef Brisket Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Burnt Ends Beef Brisket Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Cremoso al Pistachio – Pistachio Cream, Strawberries and Mascarpone Cream
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Mezze Lune Primavera! Egg Pasta is stuffed with Ricotta and Spinach and served in a Creamy Sauce with Spring Vegetables and Pecorino Cheese
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Watermelon Cucumber Slush with Hendrick’s Gin
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Currywurst getting sprinkled with curry spices
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
House-made Potato and Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
McKenzie’s Black Cherry Hard Cider and Sonoma “The Pitchfork” Organic Pear Hard Cider
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Currywurst with Paprika Chips
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
French Macaron with Chocolate Fudge and Raspberry Jam
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Chocolate art from France
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Orlando-made Ricotta Cheese, Cahaba Farms Micro Onions, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic, along with Country Pate and House-made Pickles
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Orlando-made Ricotta Cheese, Cahaba Farms Micro Onions, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic, along with Country Pate and House-made Pickles
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Honey Baklava from Morocco
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Jerk-spice Chicken with Mango Salsa, Chayote, and Green Papaya Slaw with Lime-Cilantro Vinaigrette
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Key Lime Wine, Tropical Sangria, and Pineapple Wine from Florida Orange Groves Winery
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016

 

Of the samples we tried, I was most in love with the Shrimp and Grits and the Burnt Ends – so, so good and the flavors are ridiculous. I also really liked the Currywurst, which I guess used to be at Sommerfest, but I never tried it there. The Jerk Chicken was also a winner. I thought I had tried gin in my past and not been a fan, but mixed with the Cucumber Watermelon Slush, I really loved it. I would totally get this when I go back to the Festival. Of course the Festival Passport is back, and you can get stamps at every kiosk around the World Showcase. You can view all the menus, topiary checklist, Garden Rocks performers, and all the Festival info online before you go.

Here are some of the topiary and garden photos from our sneak peek. We’ll have more throughout the run of the Festival on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and in future posts here.

2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Sunburst garden behind Spaceship Earth
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Floating flowers and flower quilt
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
I just love Chip ‘n’ Dale with their sandwich
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Ranger Mickey
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Minnie and Pluto topiary
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Bambi, Thumper, and Flower
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Baby pineapples by the Pineapple Promenade
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Eeyore’s tail is the cutest
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
T-I-double G-ER
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Rabbit
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
New this year: the interactive Harmony Gardens musical playground, which features the Fab Five topiaries on a smaller scale.
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Kids will be able to play with drums, xylophones, chimes, and jungle gyms
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
We saw it under construction but it will be open 3/2
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
We were able to pot a plant, similar to the gardening seminars held in the Festival Center during the Flower & Garden Festival
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Some previews of the Festival merchandise
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Festival tumbler
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
How cute is this Donald figurine with Chip n’ Dale?

 

Will you be visiting during the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival? What are you most looking forward to seeing and trying? We can’t wait to get back for more!

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Filed Under: Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Disney Special Events, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Epcot, Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, Epcot flower quilt, Epcot merchandise, Epcot Outdoor Kitchens, Epcot topiaries, Flower & Garden Festival 2016, FreshEpcot, Ranger Mickey

Hocus Pocus Show Puts a Spell on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

21 September 2015 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Finale of the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
Finale of the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular

While Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is an annual tradition for my family, I will admit, I was never really one for the shows that would play each year in front of Cinderella Castle. I know that may be blasphemy for some Disney fans, but I just always wanted to spend our time during the party collecting candy, enjoying the decorations and other unique offerings, and riding attractions with limited waits.

However this year, Disney has changed the way I do MNSSHP! I was able to see the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular at the first party, after being chosen to attend the Disney Parks Blog meet-up. During that event, we were given VIP viewing for the show and the Boo-to-You parade, and as we waited for the brand new show to begin, the anticipation and excitement were palpable. We were surrounded by cast members who were involved in the show’s creation, from costumes to scripts to dancing and music, so it was extra special to see their proud reactions of the amazing show. And amazing is exactly what the show was.

From the opening song, “The Season of the Witch” the mood was set for a very different, very visual and audible treat. The projections and lighting on the castle were fantastic, the costumes and dancers even better. Soon the Sanderson Sisters took the stage, and the crowd erupted in applause. From that point on, the show was a mix of lines and actions straight from the movie, to more subtler nods that hardcore fans would recognize. The first two villains who came out to sing just happen to be two of my favorites, Dr. Facilier from Princess and the Frog, and the elusive Oogie Boogie from Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas. Maleficent rounds out the trio of Disney villains, but also leads an entourage of additional Disney baddies onto the stage. The show culminates with the show-stopping “I Put a Spell on You,” originally sung by Bette Midler in the film version of Hocus Pocus, and the crowd once again went wild, singing along and enjoying every moment. I was left in awe of the level of performance, costumes, music and effects in the show. I immediately wanted to see it again, and again, and again.

I put together a few highlights from the show to give you a feel of what to expect:

 

 

Of course, the rest of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party gave us plenty to do, from the much beloved Mickey’s Boo to You parade, to HalloWishes with its eye (and ear)-popping 360-degree perimeter fireworks – themed to Halloween and villains music, to the candy stops and special snacks and merchandise. One disappointment for me this year was on the snack front. Gone is the pumpkin waffle sundae from Sleepy Hollow, which was my favorite thing to ever eat in Magic Kingdom, as well as a few of the other specialty drinks and snacks. What was left was the candy corn soft serve at Storybook Treats, and a few themed cupcakes. I know cupcakes are easy to make and everyone loves them, and perhaps the pumpkin waffles were not an efficient item for the party, but I still missed them nonetheless. Aside from that, if you are able to get to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this year, I don’t think it will disappoint. I’ll be back soon with another post about the party, but until then, it’s time to run amok, amok, amok, amok!

 

Trick-or-Treat!
Pumpkin photo opp on Main Street, U.S.A.
The castle lighting is always eerily spooky on party nights
The Sanderson Sisters in the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
Mickey’s Boo to You Parade
Chernabog in Mickey’s Boo to You Parade
Monster’s Inc lighting for the party
Pumpkin photo opp at night

 

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Filed Under: Disney Holidays, Disney News, Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Disney Special Events, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Disney Halloween, Disney Hocus Pocus Show, Disney's Halloween party, Dr. Facilier, Hocus Pocus, I Put A Spell on You, Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Halloween Party, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, MNSSHP, Not So Scary Halloween Party, Oogie Boogie, Spelltacular, The Sanderson Sisters

D23…and Me (and You)

12 August 2015 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

D23 ExpoLike many other posts which I begin here lately, this one has been brewing a while, probably since the EPCOT 30 celebration put on by D23 back in *gulp* 2012…wow, has it really been that long? Well anyway, I wanted to say a lot about D23 back then, and since that time, my sentiments have only grown. I feel that I should preface this by saying that, yes, I am a charter D23 member. Growing up in the 1980’s and falling in love with the Walt Disney World of that time, and then EPCOT Center, I was lucky enough to have parents who were equally as interested and full of love for the parks. As a result, we subscribed to Disney News in our small town of Sharon, Massachusetts, and even joined the Magic Kingdom Club when it was available as a non-corporate membership. I still have that vinyl tote bag and gold membership card that came with the yearly fee to join. So joining D23 seemed like a natural thing to do, to get more knowledge and information about something you love. You got a slick magazine full of interesting articles on current and historical Disney, and the ability to attend special events. More importantly, I felt like I was supporting an arm of the company which held the same values and love for Disney past that I did. So I gladly joined and am a gold member to this day.

There has been some sharp criticism of D23 itself by hardcore fans, noting the cross-promotion or really over-synergisation (if that’s not a word. it is now) of whatever current flavor-of-the-month Disney Channel, Disney Jr., or Disney Consumer Products was strutting out on display. I do agree that most of those who joined D23 did so for the historical aspect; the archives, the trivia, the peek or entrance into otherwise unseen experiences. However, much as we like to think we are Disney’s most important fans (those with a devout love of the company’s storied past achievements and promise for the future), who will put our wallets where our mouths are when presented with the right choices, there simply aren’t enough of us to warrant a separate, exclusive club, without dipping into the overflowing pond that is families, kids, and more kids. After all, who would buy all of the things without the constant suggestion from kids about how they HAVE to have the newest whatever from the newest show on Disney Jr.? I’m oversimplifying of course, but obviously the mass-market is where the money and the success is. Bottom line, for now, you have to endure the latest Disney pop sensation to justify an archives exhibit, presentations by Tony Baxter, and other things that make a Disney nerd’s heart go a-flutter. In a perfect world, that wouldn’t be the case, but there you go.

Now where the concept of D23 just explodes (which is also what happens to the brains of most attendees), is at the special multi-day events, where the best and the brightest come together to bring you, well, the best and the brightest insights into Disney’s past, present, and future, through concept art, Imagineering processes, music, construction, and more. Many times, these stories are told straight from the horse’s mouth, when present or retired Disney cast members, Imagineers, Legends, and archivists share the information.

The first of these events was the D23 Expo in 2009. At that time, I was personally just starting down my blogging and “public” (for lack of a better term regarding my forays into the social media channels of the Disney community) path of Disney love. The concept of me leaving my three children (the youngest not even one at the time) and flying off to the far-off country of California to experience this “Expo” chock-full of Disney history and more, was beyond foreign to me. I’ve mentioned before that before my first visit to California (which I’ll expand on in a moment), the idea of flying to California just seemed an unreachable, unattainable, unthinkable option. What can I say, I was (not-so-)young and uninformed. Before my stint on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (now Disney Parks Moms Panel) and the training weekend involved, I had *never* left my children for more than a few hours or a sleepover at Grammie’s house. Meeting friends in the local Disney community along with being on the panel led to the desire to simply do more; learn more, experience more and, as silly as it sounds, live more. Without straying off-topic too much, let’s just say I was a very sheltered person in many ways for many years. Painfully shy in person (ok this is still pretty true today), I had zero self-confidence and pretty much lived my life the way I always had, because it’s all I knew. Again, I don’t want to stray too much because that’s really another whole blog post for perhaps a different site altogether, but I must note that I by no means didn’t enjoy or appreciate my role as a mother to my children. But what followed in the months after I began blogging and doing more was that the whole world (though I still stuck to the Disney areas for the most part) opened up to me. So, while I missed out on the first D23 Expo, and followed along on live streams and tweets and instagrams of friends there, I decided that I could and would attend the first Destination D here in Walt Disney World. Again, as corny as this must sound, that event really changed my life.

D23Expo2015The Destination D events are held on the even years in between the Expos (except for the first WDW one which was in 2011), and are smaller, more concentrated, less stressful events focusing solely on a particular aspect or two of Disney history. The first one was held in Disneyland and focused on just that: Disneyland. I missed that one too, because of that whole California-being-a-far-off land-that-I-still-couldn’t-possibly-get-to thing. The next one, in Walt Disney World, focused on vintage WDW to celebrate the resort’s 40th birthday (and also combined a very hot, very arduous scavenger/trivia hunt which has not been duplicated since).

To say I fell in love, would be a very severe understatement. The things we got to see were like viewing my childhood on a highlights reel, with bonus features of the stuff I missed before I was born. We heard from some of the original folks involved in the creation of Walt Disney World, from its inception to land purchases to infrastructure to making it all a reality. As a fan like most all of us in the room were, hearing these amazing tales and insights was such an honor. The real hit of the event were the three Imagineers, Jason Surrell (now with Universal but whose spirit still very much haunts the Disney community), Jason Grandt, and Alex Wright. These three had been making their presence and personalities known for months on twitter, and seeing them interact in person was a treat. Like a set of brothers giving each other an increasingly harder time each time they spoke, it was great fun, along with the fact that they shared wonderful information about their projects and the company. Oh, and to top all of that off, Richard Sherman appeared to play and sing our favorites, along with the surprise arrival of the original Dreamfinder, Ron Schneider, in full costume, with Figment. Yes, 8 year-old me was in heaven. In addition, I had the joy of meeting people I had only ever interacted with on twitter, and realizing this was actually real life. So I decided then and there, that I would make every effort to attend every future D23 event like this that I could.

Despite this new-found enthusiasm for Disney history, the Disney community, and D23 events, California and the 2011 D23 Expo still seemed sooo out of reach. When a couple of friends showed me how it could actually be affordable (ahh, I miss airfares to CA for under $300…) and I was able to work it out with my family at home, I finally took that giant leap and got myself to Disneyland. And THERE, my life truly changed. As I’ve written before, I fell head-over-heels in gushy, messy, ridiculously over-the-top in L-O-V-E with Disneyland. Everything people had warned me I wouldn’t like about Disneyland (it’s so small! it’s old! there’s so much more at WDW!) were the exact reasons I fell in love. It was perfection to me, wrapped up in a tiny little jewel-box of a park, drenched in history and dripping in emotions. Emotions I didn’t really know what to do with. I had never been a Disneyland local. I hadn’t grown up with that park, or during the time of Walt’s direct impact on it, so why was this place affecting me so? Maybe I had just been a WDW local for too long, and experiencing something new yet still familiar was just the right answer to an equation I didn’t know I’d tried to solve. Maybe it was the people I was with, sharing stories of their childhood memories there as well as park history and lore. Whatever it was, I drank it all in, and didn’t want to leave. As a result, I spend most of my time in Orlando trying to figure out how I can get back to Disneyland. And now I seem to have gone off on a tangent.

Well, really, it’s not too much of a tangent, since D23 is what brought me into the world of Disneyland, making it attainable and within reach, and worth getting to (not that Disneyland isn’t worth getting to on its own, but as an east coast girl who’d only ever been as far west as Chicago one time, having that much more reason to fly all the way to California was just what I needed). Since then, I went back to Disneyland for the Destination D in 2012, attended the amazing EPCOT 30 event, back to Disneyland for the 2013 Expo, the second Destination D in WDW, and now, the 2015 Expo will begin in just a few days and I’ll be there.

You can find hundreds of accounts of the events and happenings within these D23 events, from live blogging to play-by-plays to full video of presentations. But what those can’t convey are the the feelings that come with seeing these sometimes once-in-a-lifetime events in person. Beyond the big Hollywood stars that appear during the Studios presentations, or even the oft-anticipated news from Parks & Resorts on the Next Big Thing, it is the less-publicized little gems where you hear those first-hand stories, or see those never-before-seen photos or film footage of extinct attractions or concept art that really draw me to D23 and its productions. Sure, there are countless hours spent waiting in line to secure a seat at the bigger showcases, but they are for the most part worth it. And those gems will show themselves, and you’ll find yourself having another eye-opening epiphany of, “wow, this is why I became a Disney fan.”

D23 AppAnd to think, I initially intended this post to be a sort of planning guide or tips for getting the most out of the D23 Expo…well, in a way, perhaps it is. Because getting the most out of any event, is remembering and realizing why you wanted to take part in it to begin with, right? You could focus on the lines, the fact that some will get shut out of seeing presentations they want to see, some merchandise you really want may be sold out, and the parks will be extra crowded. But, you are enveloped in history and surrounded by love for a company and a place and people who share that love. And you get to do it all right across the street from Disneyland. What could be better? So if you haven’t ever been to a D23 event or an Expo, think about why you want to go and focus on those things as you look at the schedule or plan your attack on the day. You won’t see everything. You will be tired. You will probably even get cranky. But that’s okay. When it’s all over, you may find you even miss those lines, and what you got to experience at the end of them.

So, a heartfelt thank you to D23 for making me sit up and take notice of my passions and things I could do to further develop them and even grow a bit as a person because of it. Now I’m flying to Disneyland for the 8th time in 4 years like it’s nothing. And I couldn’t be happier with where I’m heading.


 

To follow along with my D23 Expo 2015 adventures, add me on twitter: @zannaland, instagram: @zannaland, facebook.com/zannaland, or even snapchat as zannadeux. I may blog during the Expo, but most likely my updates will be on the above channels, as I tend to spend all my possible hours not at the Expo in Disneyland.

I’m excited to share my experiences with you and hope you enjoy following along. And if you were on the fence about joining D23, maybe I’ve convinced you a little bit to jump over to this side. If you’re already convinced and attending the Expo, I hope to see you there! I do have that shy/awkward thing going on, but I still love meeting new people at these events!

For all of the official scoop on the D23 Expo 2015 presentations and events, follow @DisneyD23 on twitter, facebook and instagram too. You can see a schedule of all the events too and more in-depth descriptions of the major stage presentations.

By way of disclaimer, I was provided with a single media pass for the D23 2015 Expo. That has not swayed my opinions in any way, all of the above is really me and views, like ’em or not. 

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Filed Under: Commentary Land, D23 Expo, Disney Special Events, Disneyland Resort, Top Stories Tagged With: D23, D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015, Destination D, Disney archives, Disney D23, Disney history, disney imagineers, Disneyland60, DL60, Epcot 30, EPCOT30, vintage disney, WDW40

What Would You Do with 24 Hours in the Magic Kingdom?

25 May 2015 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

In the past, I’ve attended the first three 24-hour days at the Magic Kingdom and they were always fun, and crazy, and by the end, I was delirious. This time around, I couldn’t make it, so friend and blogger Kira from Second Blog to the Right jumped in and covered the Coolest Summer Ever festivities:

How do you know summer has arrived?!?!

By the #CoolestSummer Ever kickoff party at the Magic Kingdom!

Oh and did I mention, the party lasted for 24 hours?!?!?!?!

Magic Kingdom Station CoolestSummerEver

The Magic Kingdom was open from 6 am to 6 am with lots of festivities for all.

Everyone’s favorite snowman, Olaf, hosted the party and he brought his friends, Anna, Elsa, & Kristoff along as well.

Anna and Elsa CoolestSummerEver

In year’s past, I have only done the nighttime happenings, so this year I got to experience the morning.

The highlight of my morning was meeting Snapchatters, @shonduras & @emgarber. They took over the @waltdisneyworld Snapchat account for the whole weekend. If you followed along, you got to see all the fun they had. They are some of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet; so go give them a follow on Snapchat or Instagram!

Shonduras Emgarber CoolestSummerEver Shonduras Emgarber CoolestSummerEver

I also got to experience a rarity in the Magic Kingdom thanks to being in the park prior to sunrise, the flag raising ceremony! I absolutely adore the tradition of the flag retreat at the Magic Kingdom and try to catch it whenever I can, but the flag raising happens at sunrise, which is usually before the park opens.

Flag Raising Magic Kingdom CoolestSummerEver

Some highlights of the 24 hour bash:

  • #INCREDIBLESSuperDanceParty at Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland.
  • Disney Channel and Disney XD stars appear as honorary Grand Marshals at the 3 p.m. “Festival of Fantasy” parade.
  • Main Street Electrical Parade featuring a Frozen Fantasy pre-parade celebration.
  • Previews of upcoming Disney Channel films and music videos, plus a DJ spinning tunes as Disney Channel hosted the new “Club Chill” party zone in
  • Tomorrowland with some of guests’ favorite Disney Channel and Disney XD stars.
  • “Frozen” movie screening at Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland.
  • Specialty cupcakes and other food items

Even if you missed the kickoff party, you still have plenty of time to experience #CoolestSummer Ever at Walt Disney World Resort.

…

Thanks, Kira! What would you do with 24 Hours at Magic Kingdom? (I know for me it involved a LOT of Peoplemover rides!) It’s always fun to experience some views you don’t normally get to see in the parks, like sunrises over Cinderella Castle and many other unique photo ops! 

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Filed Under: Disney Special Events, Guest Authors, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: #CoolestSummer, 24 Hour Disney Day, 24 Hours Magic Kingdom, Coolest Summer Ever, Disney 24 hour party, Disney Parks 24 Hours, Disney Snapchat, Emgarber, Guest Authors, Magic Kingdom Coolest Summer Ever, Second Blog to the Right, Shonduras, Snapchat

New Tomorrowland Movie Posters and Trailer – Review of the Epcot Sneak Peek

20 April 2015 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Over the weekend, an extended preview began on both coasts to showcase Tomorrowland’s May 22nd release. In Epcot, the preview took the place of the much beloved (or much despised from some fans who don’t “get it”) Captain EO starring Michael Jackson. I am firmly in the LOVE category with Captain EO, but I feel like us getting a second chance to enjoy the rag tag band of space misfits led by the infamous Captain EO, and the film itself getting a second life among a new generation was a great gift from Disney to us. I would love if ALL of Epcot could return to its 1980’s glory, but I hold out no hope for that happening any time soon. So if we must say goodbye again to our Captain and his friends, what better to replace them than a film which espouses the EPCOT and futurist philosophy so many of us hold so dear.

The Imagineers have given the Magic Eye Theatre a nice little overlay of Tomorrowland concept art, paired with a fun pre-show featuring interviews with Damon Lindeloff and Brad Bird, relating the movie back to Walt Disney and his vision of the future. The preview itself is a wonderful, long look at the film. I was expecting a 5-10 minute extended trailer, but this was much more. I loved it and it made me even more excited to see the film when it opens. Having taken part in some of The Optimist game last summer at the D23 Expo and seeing part of the filming process at D23’s Destination D last November, I’m pretty invested in this movie and hopeful for its success.

The extended preview is at Epcot as mentioned, and also in Tomorrowland in Disneyland until the movie opens. After that, who knows what the future holds…

Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview
Tomorrowland extended preview

Here are the newest Tomorrowland movie posters plus the new IMAX poster just released. If you want to learn more about a few of these characters, check out the preview in the parks!

 

Tomorrowland Casey
Tomorrowland Frank
Tomorrowland Athena
Tomorrowland Young Frank
Tomorrowland IMAX poster

 

The latest Tomorrowland trailer just arrived in my inbox – this is a completely different look at the film! I’m not sure how much of the movie will be this action-packed, but this will certainly interest a whole different set of movie-goers from just the history buffs obsessed with the 1964  World’s Fair…what do you think? This may be one of very few films I actually think would be worth viewing in IMAX!

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Filed Under: D23 Expo, Disney Special Events, Disneyland Resort, Movies & Books, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Brad Bird, Captain EO, D23 Destination D, D23 Expo, Damon Lindelof, Destination D, Disneyland, Epcot, Tomorrowland, Tomorrowland IMAX poster, Tomorrowland movie, Tomorrowland movie posters, Tomorrowland sneak peek, Tomorrowland trailer

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  • Sneak Peeks: The World’s Most Magical Celebration – Walt Disney World’s 50th
  • The History of Celebration Florida – Up the Waterfall Episode 45
  • What’s Included: D23 Gold Membership Duo Plan Announced
  • Closest Hotel to Disney Springs – We Explore the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
  • Disneyland’s Tomorrowland ’67 – Up the Waterfall Episode 44
  • Wishes Come True Blue ShopDisney Collection
  • Ranking Extinct Disney Attractions – Up the Waterfall Episode 44
  • Hilton Bonnet Creek & Waldorf Astoria Food & Wine Weekends Return

Zannaland Archives

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