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Archive for the ‘Disney Epcot’ Category

It’s easy to work up an appetite while working your way around one of the expansive theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort. But Epcot® makes it just as easy to fill up with its International Food & Wine Festival!

The annual Epcot event runs from Sept. 30 to Nov. 13, 2011, and offers guests a very special passport to a world of taste tempting morsels. 

Enjoy delicious tapas and refreshing beverages. Catch a special celebrity chef demonstration. Sit back and experience a live rock concert. And don’t forget to enjoy all the regular Epcot rides and attractions as your work your way through the theme park.

It all begins at Epcot’s Festival Welcome Center where you can pick up a Marketplace Discovery Passport that highlights the day’s activities and country themed menus. Then start off on your own culinary tour of the world. You can dine on specialty items from around the globe, attend a cooking demonstration, taste extraordinary wines or enjoy an outdoor concert featuring a popular musical artist.

Special culinary events at the Festival include Party of the Senses, 3D Disney’s Dessert Discovery, Culinary demonstrations, Mixology seminars and wine & beverage seminars.

The International Food & Wine Festival is included with regular Epcot theme park admission; however, some events require additional fees. Food, wine and merchandise can be purchased quickly and easily with the use of a special mini Disney Gift Card.

For additional information and discount theme park tickets as well as details on discount Orlando resort accommodations, visit www.westgatereservations.com.

Orlando remains one of the world’s most popular destinations thanks in large part to the ongoing popularity of the area’s major theme parks and attractions. Based on this year’s recently announced Theme Park Insider Awards, Orlando should remain a tourism hotspot for years to come. 

Orlando area theme parks captured the top spot in three of the four categories in the Theme Park Insider Awards competition. The awards are based on average reader ratings at the website www.themeparkinsider.com over the past 12 months.

Registered users of the theme park insider site are offered an opportunity to rate attractions, restaurants and hotels on a scale from 0 to 10 and may vote once on each location. ThemeParkInsider.com combines those user ratings and computes averages for each location to determine the winners.

2011 Theme Park Insider Awards

Best Theme Park: Universal’s Islands of Adventure - home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Islands of Adventure won the award for the second consecutive year. One of the runners-up was Busch Gardens in nearby Tampa, Fla.

Best New Attraction: Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (and Disneyland) - one of the runners-up was Cheetah Hunt at nearby Busch Gardens Tampa.

Best Theme Park Restaurant: Epcot’s Bistro de Paris - the popular Bistro won the award for a second consecutive year. Runners-up include Mythos at Islands of Adventure and Via Napoli at Epcot.

Best On-Site Theme Park Hotel: Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim, Calif. - runners-up included Universal’s Portofino Bay and Disney World’s Beach Club Resort.

For information on Orlando’s theme parks and discount Orlando theme park vacation packages, visit www.westgatereservations.com.

Orlando’s theme parks are full of fun and live concerts this weekend. 

At SeaWorld Orlando, Saturday kicks off the start of “Summer Nights at SeaWorld.” Events include the return of the popular killer whale show, Shamu Rocks as well as Reflections, a nightly grand finale fireworks and water fountain show. A new adventure for summer at SeaWorld is a family friendly party zone - Summer Nights Central - that stretches along the path to Bayside Stadium. The area will also feature live music on weekends from now thru August 14.

SeaWorld Orlando also offers extended hours for the summer with the park open until 10 pm.

At Universal Studios, the weekend means another round of the park’s Summer Concert Series. This week’s special musical guest, Nelly, hits the Universal stage at 9 pm on Saturday.

Keeping in step with the other parks, Disney World Resort offers up the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series featuring tribute bands at Epcot. This weekend’s shows on Friday and Saturday feature Hotel California - A Tribute to the Eagles. Beginning Sunday, June 19 and lasting all week, musical performances will feature Stayin’ Alive - A Tribute to the Bee Gees.

Epcot’s Sounds Like Summer concerts are held at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m.

Concerts at all three theme parks are included with regular admission.

For those who did not get invited to the Royal Wedding, there are plenty of fun opportunities for fun in Orlando this weekend, including taking your own picture in front of Cinderella’s Castle at Disney’s Magic Kingdom!

You’ll also find lots of music around Orlando’s theme parks throughout the weekend. At Universal Orlando’s Hard Rock Hotel, you can catch The Smithereens performing as part of the monthly Velvet Sessions concert series. The concert in the hotel’s lobby area also features free food and drink prior to the band taking the stage at 8:30 pm. For more information, visit www.velvetsessions.com.

At Epcot, you can continue to enjoy the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Musical guest Paul Revere and the Raiders will perform three shows per day throughout the weekend at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The concerts are part of your regular Epcot theme park admission.

Although he won’t be singing, famed animal expert Jack Hanna will be hosting live shows at SeaWorld Orlando on Friday, Saturday and Sunday inside the Nautilus Theater at 1:15 and 3:15 p.m.

Meanwhile, on another musical note, tickets go on sale this Sunday for Disney’s popular Christian music gathering, Night of Joy. The two-night extravaganza at Magic Kingdom will be held Sept. 9-10, 2011.

Featured performers scheduled for Night of Joy include Group 1 Crew, Francesca Battistelli, Sidewalk Prophets, Jeremy Camp, Skillet, Matthew West, Disciple and Newsboys on Sept. 9.

The Sept. 10 event will include musical guests TobyMac, Jars of Clay, MercyMe, Marvin Sapp, VaShawn Mitchell, Sanctus Real, Chris August and Kutless. For details, go to www.nightofjoy.com.

Christmas is just around the corner. If you are visiting Disney and looking to find a place to visit Santa, there’s still time to find the jolly one. Santa is extra busy this time of year but he’s finding time to make the rounds at Walt Disney World Resort.

For starters, you can find Santa at Downtown Disney Marketplace from noon to 9:30 p.m. daily now through Dec. 24 at Santa’s Chalet in front of World of Disney. Santa Goofy will also be on hand there from Dec. 25 through Jan. 3 - from 3-9:30 p.m.

At Epcot, each country in the World Showcase celebrates Christmas with storytellers describing local holiday traditions. Many of the countries feature a representation of Santa, for example, Pere Noel in France and Father Christmas in England. Santa himself can be found at the American Adventure from 1:30-9 p.m. through Dec. 24.

 At Magic Kingdom, Santa makes an appearance in Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Remaining dates include Dec. 12, 14, 16, 17 and 19.

Fall has arrived in Orlando. And while the central Florida summer heat is gone, things are definitely heating up at Epcot where the 15^th Annual International Food & Wine Festival is officially underway at Walt Disney World Resort!

This special event runs now through Nov. 14, 2010 as the festival turns Epcot theme park into a food and wine lover’s paradise. You’ll find a wealth of specialty food items, unique culinary events, sophisticated parties and live music.

Enjoy delicious regional foods or sample wines and beers from around the world. Get tips from renowned chefs and winemakers at special programs and demonstrations. There is plenty to do at Epcot in addition to the usual array of rides and attractions!

The Eat to the Beat Concert Series also offers up plenty of great music. Check the dates below for a varied lineup of musical entertainers. It’s all waiting for you at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

For more information on Epcot or any of the other Disney World theme parks and attractions, visit www.Orlandothemeparkvacations.com or go to www.WestgateReservations.com.

Eat to the Beat Concert Series:

Concerts are included with regular Epcot admission and will be held at the American Gardens Theater stage nightly at 5:15 pm, 6:30 pm and 7:45 pm.

10/4-10/5 - Kool & The Gang

10/6-10/8 - Sugar Ray

10/9-10/10 - Taylor Hicks

10/11-10/12 - Air Supply

10/13-10/15 - Sister Hazel

10/16-10/17 - Howard Jones

10/18-10/19 - Exposé

10/20-10/21 - 38 Special

10/22-10/24 - Night Ranger

10/25-10/27 - Billy Ocean

10/28-10/31 - Starship starring Mickey Thomas

11/1 - 11/3 - Boyz II Men

11/4-11/5 - Roger Hodgson (formerly of Supertramp)

11/6-11/7 - Jon Secada

11/8-11/9 - Hanson

11/10-11/11 - Rick Springfield

11/12-11/14 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Epcot’s delicious annual Food & Wine Festival is just around the corner and from Oct. 1 through Nov. 14, festival goers can choose from an exciting schedule of seminars and demonstrations as well as great food and wine.

The 2010 festival offers up a magnificent spread of fresh ingredients, helpful tips and even some secret techniques of culinary masters. There will also be plenty to great food, tasty drinks and a whole lot of fun. It’s all part of the excitement at Epcot where all the regular rides and attractions will also be open for your enjoyment.

You’ll find everything from wine tasting to demonstrations packed with cooking tips, plus opportunities to sample regional beers and cheeses. It’s all part of a yummy journey around Epcot.

The “Authentic Taste Seminar” is a unique 30-minute opportunity to celebrate the origins, properties and history of some of the world’s favorite ingredients. This lively and intriguing presentation by subject authorities is included with regular Epcot admission.

“Authors without Borders” features a series of renowned authors from the food and wine industries who will speak on popular food topics. These enlightening 30-minutes conversations are included with Epcot admission.

The movie, “Seasons of the Vine” is a seven-minute journey offering a “behind-the-scenes introduction” to wine growing. The short film runs continuously throughout the day. Other no cost events include a variety of daily 45-minute culinary demonstrations with a featured chef and wine presenter who provide cooking tips as you taste the demonstrated dish.

“Wine and Beverage” seminars are also featured for a small additional cost.  These 45-minute sessions allow you to meet the featured winery representative, learn some wine tips and sample specially selected vintages or beverages.

For additional information on Epcot and other Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in Orlando, FL, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com or www.WestgateReservations.com.

Get ready for another blast from the past at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL.

On July 2, Disney will bring back the 3-D sci-fi movie, “Captain EO,” starring the late Michael Jackson.

The film which originally ran at Epcot from 1986 to 1994, will take over the Imagination Pavilion’s 570-seat theatre that had housed, “Honey I Shrunk the Audience.”

The 17-minute, 3-D movie was one of the first films ever to incorporate 4-D, in-theatre effects like wind, water and lighting. The movie will have only minor tweaks from its original version. Even the show’s original marquee sign is back. Captain EO is also playing at Disney parks in California, Tokyo and Paris.

Epcot will open its gates early at 8:30 am on July 2 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony prior to the re-opening of the show.

The movie, which co-stars Anjelica Huston, features two Jackson songs and lots of dancing. For more information on Epcot and Disney World Resort or Disney tickets, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

Last chance. This weekend marks the end of the 2010 version of Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL.

It’s your last opportunity to see the dramatic topiaries such as the American Gothic Mickey and Minnie near the entrance to World Showcase. It’s your last chance to see the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden and Butterfly House with Tinker Bell and her fairy friends. And it’s your final chance to see the green wall, a large wall featuring a fountain and a variety of greenery.

The weekend festivities also conclude this year’s Flower Power Concert Series. The final musical guest artist is Chubby Checker who performs Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 pm in the American Gardens outdoor theatre.

For more highlights of Epcot and Walt Disney World Resort, please visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com. Or go to www.WestgateReservations.com for details on discount Orlando vacation packages and resort lodging at Westgate Lakes Resort and Spa.

There are always plenty of monkeys to be seen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but one former Monkee will be on hand at Disney’s Epcot this weekend.

Davy Jones, former teen heartthrob and lead singer of the Monkees, is this weekend’s musical guest for the Flower Power concert series at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Show times are 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 pm.

The concert is just part of the fun at the Flower & Garden Festival which also features a colorful array of flowers, gardens, topiaries and educational events.

Enjoy millions of blooming flowers and a vibrant collection of Disney-themed topiaries, and get up close with hundreds of colorful butterflies inside Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden.

During the weekends throughout the festival, guests can also meet with top horticulturists, learn helpful gardening tips and attend public demonstrations of advanced gardening techniques from around the world.

Davy Jones will perform each evening this weekend at the America Gardens Theatre next to the American Adventure Pavilion. The concert and festival is included with regular Epcot admission.