Egg-stravaganza Hunt Returns Plus New Scavenger Hunt Coming; Some Applications for Club 33 at Walt Disney World Sent Out

Egg-stravaganza Hunt Returns Plus New Scavenger Hunt Coming for Flower & Garden:

Beginning March 16 through April 1, the Egg-stravaganza scavenger hunt will return to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Guests can hunt high and low in World Showcase for 'eggs' that portray their favorite Disney characters. 

As you find the hidden Disney Character-themed “eggs” in the park, you record your discoveries by placing a corresponding sticker on a specially themed Egg-stravaganza map. Maps and stickers can be purchased for $5.99, plus tax at the following parks and locations Disney Trader, Pin Central, and World Traveler. When guests find all of the “eggs” and complete their scavenger hunt map, they can then return it to Disney Traders for a sp-egg-tacular surprise.

That's not all as a new scavenger hunt will be hitting this year's Flower & Garden Festival called Spike's Pollen Nation Exploration. During this hunt, guests will follow along with Disney's favorite honey bee, Spike, who has been pollinating around the festival, giving gardeners of any age the chance to follow his pollination trail around World Showcase. 

Just pick up a garden map and stickers at Port of Entry. Then, it’s time to look for Spike!

As guests explore the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, be on the lookout for Spike as he pollinates Epcot’s gardens. In each garden, they'll have to search for the plant Spike has pollinated, identifiable by Spike himself and a Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration plant stake. Once they find him, add the corresponding sticker to your map.

After they find everything they can return their completed map for a springtime surprise. Maps and stickers for Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration can be purchased for $5.99, plus tax at Port of Entry. This year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival runs February 28 through May 28, 2018. 

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Some Applications for Club 33 at Walt Disney World Sent Out:

It appears some applications for Walt Disney World's Club 33 have been sent out to select individuals at Golden Oak, the upscale community near the theme park. Registration costs and annual dues have also been released which are $25,000 for registration and annual dues will be in the neighborhood of $15,000 per year. 

Although not officially announced, Walt Disney World's Club 33 will have an exclusive club in each of the four parks. Construction has already begun for location like Magic Kingdom's Club 33 in the Adventureland Veranda. There have been no official locations announced however or any opening dates. 

Source: WDW Info

Garden Rocks Acts Announced for Flower & Garden, American Adventure to Close for One Month

Garden Rocks Acts Announced for Epcot's International Flower & Garden Festival:

Yesterday, the acts for the Garden Rocks Concert series for the 2018 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival were announced. For the 25th year, the Garden Rocks series will feature music from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s with hit-makers in a variety of genres including rock, pop, country, R&B and dance.

New acts this year include Lonestar, British rock legends Foghat, Survivor, Smash Mouth, and more including returning acts such as Simple Plan, the Village People, and so much more. Here is the full calendar of acts throughout the festival:

March 2-5: Night Ranger “Sister Christian”
March 9-12: STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas “We Built This City”
March 16-19: Simple Plan “Welcome to My Life”
March 23-26: Little River Band “Reminiscing”
March 30-April 2: The Orchestra starring former members of ELO “Evil Woman”
April 6-7: Foghat (NEW!) “Slow Ride”
April 8-9: Survivor (NEW!) “Eye of the Tiger”
April 13-14: Smash Mouth (NEW!) “All Star”
April 15-16: Rick Springfield (NEW!) “Jessie’s Girl”
April 20-21: Jo Dee Messina (NEW!) “Stand by Me”
April 22-23: Lonestar (NEW!) “Amazed”
April 27-30: Blood, Sweat and Tears featuring Bo Bice “Spinning Wheel”
May 4-7: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone “I’m Henry VIII I Am”
May 11-12: Village People “Y.M.C.A.”
May 13-14: Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles (NEW!) “Hotel California”
May 18-21: The Guess Who “American Woman”
May 25-28: The Spinners “Working My Way Back to You”

Garden Rocks performances are at America Gardens Theatre at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival and are included with Epcot admission.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

American Adventure to Close for Month Long Refurbishment:

The American Adventure at Epcot's America Pavilion will close for a month long in early 2018. The show will close from January 5 through February 5, 2018. No word on what will happen during the month long refurbishment but guests visiting Epcot during that time sure will miss the classic show.

Source: WDW News Today

Jessie & Rex Installed at Toy Story Land; Dates Announced for Flower & Garden Festival

Jessie & Rex Installed at Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios:

Jessie & Rex are now the first figures that have been installed inside Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Check out the video of the characters being installed earlier this week:

According to their storyline, Rex and Jessie have decided to help Andy build a rollercoaster using his Mega Coaster Play Kit in his backyard by stringing up the lights on towers of blocks. Rex, of course, has got tangled up in the lights, but Jessie is nearby to help.

Toy Story Land inside Disney's Hollywood Studios is set to open up in Summer 2018.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Dates & Details Announced for Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival:

Believe it or not we are just a few months away from the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. The 2018 and 25th Anniversary of the festival will run for 90 days running from February 28 through May 28, 2018. Here are some of the highlights for the upcoming festival:

• Disney Character Topiaries
• 15 Outdoor Kitchens serving creative, flavor-rich cuisine that highlights spring garden offerings
• Garden Rocks music series – with its classic rock ‘n’ roll stars from the ‘60s, ‘70s ‘80s and ‘90s. Garden Rocks Dining packages will be available for certain Epcot restaurants – pairing a fabulous meal with reserved seating for your favorite concert
• Garden Tours – Including Gardens of the World Tour (spring edition); the English Tea Garden Tour; and Royal Tea Garden Tour (extra fee required)
• New interactive kids play areas
• And – of course – the millions of extra plants, trees, shrubs, flowers and themed gardens that decorate Epcot in spring. 
• Also returning will be our Egg-Stravaganza scavenger hunt and hand-crafted and Festival merchandise to extend an already-packed day of adventure at Epcot.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks and months for even more details on the 25th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Recipe of the Week: Piggylicious Bacon Cupcakes from Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

This week saw the return of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, one of the most beautiful times of the year to visit Walt Disney World. A few years ago Disney debuted food booths at the festival and one of the many foods they served was a Piggylicious Bacon Cupcake. I love bacon and cupcakes so this is a win for me. I recently found a recipe for the cupcakes so I thought I'd share with you all in this week's Recipe of the Week:

Piggylicious Bacon Cupcakes:

Ingrediants: 

Cupcakes-

One box yellow cake mix

Enough bacon fat to replace the canola oil (as called for on the box recipe)

Water (as called for on the box recipe)

Eggs (as called for on the box recipe)

6 oz. cooked crispy bacon

Maple Cream Cheese Icing-

8 oz. cream cheese

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 tsp. maple flavoring

16 oz. (about 4 cups) powdered sugar

1 small bag of pretzel twists

Instructions:
Cupcakes-
Put cake mix in a bowl.
Add bacon fat, water, and eggs.
Beat ingredients with a hand mixer according to the package directions.
Fold in the cooked bacon.
Add mixture to cupcake pan and bake according to package directions.

Maple Cream Cheese Icing-
In a mixing bowl with a paddle attachment, cream together the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, about 8 minutes.
Add maple flavor until combined.
Add powdered sugar until well mixed.

Frost each cupcake with the frosting, and garnish with crushed pretzel twists.

Source: Magical Recipes

Full Outdoor Kitchen Menus for 2017 Flower & Garden Festival

The full menus for the outdoor kitchens at this year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival have now been announced. This year there will be two new outdoor kitchens in Northern Bloom and The Berry Basket plus 13 returning kitchens from from last year's festival. Check out the menu's below:

Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market:

Venture to Germany for Bavarian bites sure to sate foodies of all ages—every dish is köstlich!

Food:

Potato Pancakes with House-made Apple Sauce (V)

Potato Pancake with Caramelized Ham, Onions and Herb Sour Cream

Roasted Bratwurst with Curry Ketchup and Paprika-spiced Chips (GF)

Warm Cheese Strudel with Mixed Berries

Beverages:

Hugo-Charles De Fere “Organic” Brut with Elderflower and Mint

Paulaner Original Munich Lager

Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen

Köstritzer Schwarzbier Black Lager

Beer Flight

Cider House:
Behold buzz-worthy ciders and artisanal provisions perfect for a farm-fresh picnic near the United Kingdom Pavilion!

Food:
Pear Cider-brined Shredded Corned Beef with Braised Cabbage and Branston Dressing with Pears
House-made Potato and Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare
Freshly Baked Lemon Scone with Crème Fraîche and Mixed Berries (V) (GF)

Beverages:
McKenzie’s Black Cherry Hard Cider, West Seneca, NY
Caribe Blood Orange Tropical Hard Cider, Florida Beer Company, Cape Canaveral, FL
Ciderboys Strawberry Magic Hard Strawberry Cider, Wisconsin
Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider, California (Non-alcoholic)

Fleur de Lys:
Indulge in haute cuisine and boissons that’ll make you fall in ooo-la-la-love with this palate-pleasing Parisian pop-up!

Food:
Tarte à l’Onion Alsacienne: Alsatian Onion Tart with Sautéed Onions, Fresh Thyme and Rosemary on a Flaky Puff Pastry Crust (V)
Poulet aux Écrevisses, Riz Pilaf: Baked Chicken with Crawfish served with Rice Pilaf
Macaron Chocolat Framboise: Large Raspberry Macaron with Chocolate Fudge and Raspberry Jam (GF)

Beverages:
La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush: Grey Goose Vodka Orange, St. Germain Liquor, White and Red Cranberry Juice
Kir Pomegranate, Sparkling Wine, Pama Pomegranate Liquor
Brut de Pêche, Natural Peach Sparkling Wine
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blend, C’est La Vie
Kronenbourg Blanc 1664: Fruity White Beer with Citrus Notes

Florida Fresh:
Enjoy sweet ‘n’ tangy treats from our own Sunshine State-station, nestled between the France and Morocco Pavilions.

Food:
Carne Asada with Black Bean Cake and Cilantro Lime Sour Cream
Shrimp and Stone-ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, Sweet Corn , Tomatoes and Cilantro (GF)
Florida Larder Board: Orlando-made Ricotta Cheese, Cahaba Farms Micro Onions, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic, Country Pâté and House-made Pickles
Key Lime Tart with Toasted Meringue

Beverages:
Key Lime Sparkling Wine, Florida Orange Groves Winery, St Petersburg, FL
Quat Seasonal Fruit Ale, Tampa Bay Brewing Company, Tampa, FL
Mirth and Merriment Golden Ale, Barley Mow Brewing Company, Largo FL
Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale, Florida Beer Company, Cape Canaveral, FL
Beer Flight
Watermelon Cucumber Slush with Tamiami Florida Gin
Watermelon Cucumber Slush (Non-alcoholic)
Fresh-Squeezed Watermelon Juice (Non-alcoholic)

Hanami:
Journey to Japan for innovative plates crafted with culinary Zen—each delish dish is a Festival favorite!

Food:
Frushi: Fresh Pineapple, Strawberry and Melon rolled with Raspberry Coconut Rice, sprinkled with Toasted Coconut and Whipped Cream on the side (V)
Ahi Tuna Poke Sesame Ginger
Beef Teriyaki Udon: Thin-sliced Beef, Onions and Noodles tossed on the grill with Soy and Ginger

Beverages:
Sapporo Draft Beer
Kirin Draft Beer
Matcha (Green Tea) Sake Cocktail
Amabuki Kurenai Junmai Sake
Ozeki Shin Junmai Sake
Dasani Water

Jardin de Fiestas:

Take a food-tastic tour of the Mexico Pavilion… these tantalizing tastes will add some spice to your day!

Food:

Chile Relleno de Picadillo: Battered Poblano Pepper filled with Ground Beef covered with Tomato Sauce and Garnished with Queso Fresco and Toasted Almonds

Brocheta de Pollo con Salsa Morita: Grilled Chicken with Red and Green Bell Pepper served with Salsa Chile Morita and Garnished with Micro-Cilantro and Edible Flowers

Tres Leches: Vanilla Sponge Cake, Cajeta, Condensed Milk and Evaporated Milk and Garnished with Orange Zest

Beverages:

Hibiscus Margarita

Elderflower Pineapple Margarita

Watermelon White Sangria

Pacifico Draft Beer with Kahlua Floater

Dasani Water

La Isla Fresca:

Nibble on Caribbean-seasoned dishes that’ll send appetites swaying to the island beat!

Food:

Jamaican-braised Beef with Pigeon Pea Rice and Micro Cilantro

Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer with Steamed Rice and Coconut Lime Sauce

Caribbean Conch Salad with Avocado, Mango and Onions

FlanCocho: Vanilla Caramel Custard with Chocolate Coffee Cake (V)

 

Beverages:

Red Stripe Jamaican Style Lager

Frozen Simply Tropical™ Juice Drink with Cruzan Mango Rum

Frozen Simply Tropical Juice Drink (Non-alcoholic)

Lotus House:

Sink your teeth into authentic Chinese eats filled with morsels of good fortune!

Food:

Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wrap

Beijing-Style Candied Strawberries (V)

Vegetable Spring Rolls (V)

 

Beverages:

Oolong Peach Bubble Tea

Kung Fu Punch: Vodka, Triple Sec, Mango and Orange Juice

Dragon Pearl: Beer, Honey, Cream and Tapioca Pearls

M.S.G: A cooler of Mango Wine, Strawberry and Ginger Ale

Plum Wine Cooler

Tsingtao Beer

Dasani Bottled Water

Northern Bloom – NEW!

Please discriminating palates with fantastic fare from our Great White North neighbor… O Canada!

Food:

Seared Scallops with French Green Beans, Butter Potatoes, Brown Butter Vinaigrette and Apple wood Smoked Bacon (GF)

Beef Tenderloin Tips, Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce, Whipped Potatoes with Garden Vegetables

Naomi Bar Trifle

 

Beverages:

Maple Shake (Non-alcoholic)

Maple Shake with Crown Royal

Unibroue Maudite

Unibroue a Tout Le Monde

Unibroue Ephermere

Pineapple Promenade:

Get your tropical fruit fix from tart ‘n’ tangy to the sweetest frozen treats!

Food:

Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Plantain Chips

Pineapple Soft-Serve (V)

Beverages:

Sparkling Pineapple Wine, Florida Orange Groves Winery, St. Petersburg, FL

Pineapple Mana, Maui Brewing Company, Hawaii

Pineapple Soft-Serve with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum

Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (Non-alcoholic)

Primavera Kitchen:

Mangiare hearty helpings of Old-Country dishes served with a glass of vino… now that’s amore!

Food:

Antipasto Misto: Cerignola Olives, Sweet Soppressata and Salami, Ovolini, Mozzarella, Sweet Roasted Peppers and Ciabatta Bread

Meatball Parmigiana: Hand-made Beef and Veal Meatballs, Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Parmigiana and Fresh Basil

Strawberry Tiramisu: Ladyfingers, Mascarpone Cream and Marinated Strawberries topped with Strawberry Sauce (DDP)

Beverages:

Pinot Grigio

Chianti

Prosecco

Corbinello

Moscato

Bellini Sparkling Wine and Peach purée

Rossini Sparkling Wine and Marinated strawberries

Frozen Italian Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila

Moretti Lager

Moretti La Rossa

Dasani Water

Taste of Marrakesh:

Intoxicate taste buds with the exotic flavors of this North African mecca—mysterious Morocco!

Food:

Merguez “Hot Dog” Sausage: Spicy Beef and Lamb with Satueed Onions and Green Peppers

Home-Made Falafel with Pickled Beet and Turnip, Tomato Salad and Tahini Sauce

Baklava (V)

 

Beverages:

Desert Rose: Sparkling Wine topped with Pomegranate Liqueur

White Sangria

Guerrouane Red Wine

Casa Beer

Dasani Water

The Berry Basket – NEW!

Sweeten your feast with an assortment of berry-licious dishes sure to hit the spot!

Food:

Lamb chop with Quinoa Salad and Blackberry Gastrique

Field Greens with fresh Strawberries, Blue Cheese, Strawberry Vinaigrette and Spice Pecans (V)

Warm Wild Berry Buckle with Pepperberry Sorbet/Ice Cream (V)

 

Beverage:

Founders Raubeaus Pure Raspberry Ale

Island Grove Blueberry Moscato

Twinings Berry Cocktail

THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews:

Saddle up for slow-cooked specialties and a mighty fine selection of craft brews—at the American Adventure Pavilion!

Food:

Pulled Pig Slider with Coleslaw and Crispy Onions

Smoked Pork Ribs with Black Bean and Corn Salad (GF)

Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños

Warm Chocolate Cake with Bourbon-Salted Caramel Sauce and Spiced Pecans (V)

 

Beverage:

Zen of Zin Old Vine, California

Orange Blossom Pilsner, Orlando, FL

3 Daughters Phantasmas IPA, St. Petersburg, FL

Shipyard Maple Bacon Stout, Clearwater, FL

Beer Flight

Frozen Lemonade with Firefly Blackberry Moonshine

Frozen Lemonade (Non-alcoholic)

Urban Farm Eats:

Quell cravings with an incredible menu of all-natural food and drink—plus tips to grow your own groceries!

Food:

Watermelon Salad with Pickled Onions, B&W Gourmet Farms Baby Arugula, Feta and Balsamic Reduction (GF) (V)

Seared Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom Ragoût, Spring Vegetables and Fingerling Potatoes

Crabless Cake with Crispy Vegetable Slaw, Lemon Vinaigrette and Old Bay Remoulade (V)

Beverages:

Avivé Natural Peach Sparkling Wine, France

King Estate Acrobat Pinot Noir, Oregon

Wildflower Pale Ale, Forbidden Root Brewery, Chicago, IL

Urban Mary

This year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is just one month away beginning March 1 and running through May 29, 2017.

'Garden Rocks' Lineup Announce, Pixar's New Short "Lou", and More

'Garden Rocks' Lineup Announced for Flower & Garden Festival:

Today, the Disney Parks Blog announced the lineup of musical guests for the 'Garden Rocks' concert series during this year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. This year's concert series will feature 2 new acts along with many returning acts. This year's acts for the first time ever will perform not only on Friday through Sunday but Monday's as well. Let's check out the lineup:

March 3-4 – Jon Secada – “Just Another Day”

March 5-6 – Dennis DeYoung – The Music of STYX – “Grand Illusion”

March 10-13 – Pointer Sisters – “I’m So Excited”

March 17-18 – Simple Plan – “Welcome to My Life” – NEW

March 19-20 – Plain White T’s – “Hey There Delilah”

March 24-27 – Night Ranger – “Sister Christian“

March 31-April 3 – Little River Band – “Reminiscing”

April 7-10 – Blood, Sweat & Tears featuring Bo Bice – “Spinning Wheel”

April 14-17 – Gin Blossoms – “Hey Jealousy”

April 21-24 – The Orchestra starring former members of ELO – “Evil Woman”

April 28-29 – Exposé – “Point of No Return” – NEW

April 30-May 1 – Berlin featuring Terri Nunn – “Take My Breath Away” – NEW

May 5-8 – STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas – “We Built This City”

May 12-15 – The Guess Who – “American Woman”

May 19-22 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone – “I’m Henry VIII, I Am”

May 26-29 – The Spinners – “Working My Way Back To You”

The 'Garden Rocks' concerts will happen at the American Gardens Theatre happening Friday-Monday at 5:30 pm, 6:45 pm., and 8 pm each night. Concerts are included with regular park admission. This year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival runs March 1 through May 29, 2017. 

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Introducing Pixar's New Short "Lou":

Pixar's new short "Lou" will debut in front of "Cars 3" when it hits theaters June 16. The plot of the short is:

When a toy-stealing bully ruins recess for a playground full of kids, only one thing stands in his way: the lost-and-found” box (aka ‘Lou’).With baseballs for eyes and cloaked in a red hoodie, the title monster keeps a watchful eye on the kids on the playground in secret from his box. A boy named J.J. is a real terror, snatching a video game from his classmate and kicking a girl’s stuffed animal into a basketball hoop, and Lou decides it’s time for a high-jinks-filled comeuppance.

The short director is Dave Mullins, who has worked on the Cars movies as well as Finding Nemo and Up. He told USA Today that,  "The short takes place on a typical school playground where it’s all too common for kids to either feel invisible because [they] don’t know the other kids or [are] embarrassed and want to be invisible. I thought it’d be really cool to have a character who could hide in plain sight." 

Mullins added, "They're usually just acting out because they're awkward or young and don't have their moral compass set. In a weird way, sometimes the bullies feel invisible too. If you can find what their motivations are, maybe you can solve some things." 

He ended with why he likes "Lou" which is dedicated to his dad, who died while they were developing "Lou's" story. "True happiness comes from giving. He gets J.J. to understand and through that, what J.J. wants really is to be accepted by the other kids," said Mullins.

New Couples Character Breakfast Coming to Trattoria al Forno:

A new character breakfast for power couples of Disney films is coming to Trattoria al Forno at Disney's Boardwalk in late Spring 2017. The new character breakfast will feature our favorite Disney couples from our favorite films such as "Tangled" and "The Little Mermaid." 

More details on the new character breakfast will be shared in the very near future so stay tuned.

Flower & Garden Getting New Topiaries & Outdoor Kitchens; Expanded Bus Service Coming to Port Orleans Resorts

Flower & Garden Getting New Topiaries & Outdoor Kitchens for 2017:

The 2017 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will feature new outdoor kitchens and brand new topiaries.  The festival which begins March 1, 2017 will feature a 6-foot tall Figment topiary where he is balancing on a floral ball. This year's festival will delight you for 90 days. 

The Disney Parks Blog announced other new topiaries that will be featured at the festival include:

"Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daisy and Pluto will greet Epcot guests at the Epcot front entrance in a new topiary garden inspired by a vintage Walt Disney short film. Belle from the Oscar-winning Disney film “Beauty and the Beast” is getting a major topiary makeover, joining Snow White, Elsa and Anna as the next-generation “princess” topiary. In the “Cars”-themed interactive play garden: a new character topiary from the upcoming June 2017 release of “Cars 3” will join the gang."

The Festival Center this year will have expanded hours during the opening week of the festival from March 1 through March 5. For the remaining weeks, the center will be open Friday through Sunday. Two new Outdoor Kitchens will also be added to this year's festival. Guests will also be able grab a seat at the American Gardens Theatre for four days a week during the Festival. The Gardens Rock will have three concerts. 

The 2017 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will begin March 1 and run through May 29, 2017. 

Expanded Bus Service Coming to Disney's Port Orleans Resorts:

WDW News Today is reporting that an expanded bus service is coming to Disney's Port Orleans Resorts. An internal bus service is now available to guests daily beginning at 6:30 a.m. The internal bus will travel around all resort bus stops which includes French Quarter, Riverside North, South, East, and West. It will operate until 12:30 am Sunday-Thursday's and until 1:30 am on Friday's and Saturday's. 

Also to reduce wait times for resort guests at the Riverside South stop and allow guests from the North, East, and West stops to go directly to the park without having any additional stops by sending two Magic Kingdom busses to pick up Riverside guests. This is during the peak period from 8-11 am where one bus will pick up guests from the North, East, and West stops while the other bus will pick up guests at Riverside South. 

Disney Files Plans for Expansion & New Ride at Typhoon Lagoon, "Moana" Teaser Poster, and More

Disney Files Plans for ExpNew Ride at Typhoon Lagoon:

Yesterday, Disney filed plans for a new hotel in Disneyland. Today, they moved over to the east coast as they filed plans for a brand new family raft ride and an expansion of Typhoon Lagoon. The ride and the expansion would expand the water park another 2 plus acres.

The expansion would include new guest areas plus the new water ride that will be to the west of the Crush N' Gusher ride in the water park. Sidewalks and landscapes will be provided for guest access to the area according to state records found by the Orlando Business Journal. More details on the new family raft ride is that it will include an elevated flume/track and will be supported by columns. 

Crush N' Gusher was the last ride added to Disney's Water Parks when it was completed in 2005. Construction lasted less than a year on Crush N' Gusher. While no completion date could be found in the plans, it can be assumed if construction starts within the next few months, the ride could be completed by sometime in 2017. Most likely after the parks' closure during the winter month's.

"Moana" Teaser Poster Revealed: 

Today, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson revealed the first poster for "Moana" which hits theaters November 23, 2016. He also revealed that we will get our very first look at the film this Sunday when the first teaser trailer is released on his Twitter. Check out the tweet below:

#MOANA EXCLUSIVE: This SUN I'm excited to share the spectacular visuals behind this movie w/ the 1st teaser trailer. pic.twitter.com/ouEnFvRqbv

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) June 8, 2016

2017 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Dates Announced:

The 2016 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival just ended last week. Today, it was revealed that the 2017 festival will take place from March 1 through May 29, 2017. What can guests enjoy possibly at next year's festival:

• Outdoor kitchens offering delectable bites and libations
• Dozens of world-renowned, Disney-themed topiaries
• Breathtaking garden spaces and wildlife habitats
• Inspirational exhibits, seminars and how-to demonstrations
• An outdoor concert series featuring fan-favorite bands
• And much, much more

It is one of the best and most beautiful times of the year to visit Epcot and I can't wait to see what's offered at next year's festival. 

2016 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Outdoor Kitchen Menus; Toy Story Mania to Close for One Day

2016 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Outdoor Kitchen Menus:

Are you visiting Epcot during this year's International Flower & Garden Festival? For the second straight year, the outdoor kitchens will be returning with two new kiosks in La Isla Fresca and the Cider House. This seemed to be popular when I posted the menus for the marketplaces for last fall's Food & Wine Festival. Today, I bring you the menus for all 13 Outdoor Kitchens. The small dishes from the kitchens will allow you taste flavors fresh from the garden.

La Isla Fresca

• Jerk-spice Grouper or Chicken with Mango Salsa, Chayote and Green Papaya Slaw with Lime-Cilantro Vinaigrette(GF)
• Jamaican-braised Beef with Pigeon Pea Rice and Micro Cilantro
• Tres Leches with Guava Purée
• Red Stripe Jamaican Style Lager
• Frozen Simply Tropical Juice Drink with Cruzan Mango Rum
• Frozen Simply Tropical Juice Drink (Non-Alcoholic)

Cider House

• Land-harvested Field Greens with Apples, Dried Blueberries, Stilton Cheese and Apple Cider Vinaigrette (GF)
• Pear Cider-brined Shredded Corned Beef with Braised Cabbage and Pears and Branston Dressing
• House-made Potato and Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare
• Freshly Baked Lemon Scone with Crème Fraîche and Mixed Berries (GF)
• Sonoma “The Pitchfork” Organic Pear Hard Cider, Healdsburg, CA
• McKenzie’s Black Cherry Hard Cider, West Seneca, NY
• Keel & Curley Mad Man Blueberry Hard Cider, Plant City, FL
• Cigar City Brewing Tampa-style Lager, Tampa, FL
• Snakebite: Cigar City Tampa-style Lager mixed with McKenzie’s Black Cherry Hard Cider
• Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider
• California (Non-Alcoholic)
• Beer & Cider Flight

Urban Farm Eats

• Watermelon Salad with Pickled Onions, B&W Gourmet Farms Baby Arugula, Feta and Balsamic Reduction
• Vegetable and White Bean “Naanwich” with Arugula Pesto and Oven-dried Tomatoes featuring Seeds of Change® Quinoa, Brown & Red Rice
• Seared Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom Ragoût, Spring Vegetables and Marble Potatoes
• Avivé Natural Peach Sparkling Wine, France
• King Estate Acrobat Pinot Noir, Oregon
• Sierra Nevada Otra Vez, Chico, CA
• Urban Mary

Pineapple Promenade

• Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Taro Chips
• Pineapple Soft-serve
• Sparkling Pineapple Wine, Florida Orange Groves Winery, St. Petersburg, FL
• Ocean Tropical Pineapple Hard Cider, Florida Beer Company
• Pineapple Soft-serve with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum
• Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (Non-Alcoholic)

Jardin de Fiestas

• Tacos de Camarón: Tempura Shrimp served with Hibiscus Flower, Caramelized Onions and Habanero Sauce
• Corn Tortilla Quesadilla served with Roasted Mushrooms and Zucchini Blossom topped with Green Tomatillo Sauce
• Flan de Rosas served with Hibiscus Reduction
• Tecate Light Beer
• Rose Margarita
• Elderflower Watermelon Sangria

Lotus House

• Gaoli Beef Bun
• Beijing-style Candied Strawberries
• Vegetable Spring Roll with Orange Sauce
• Oolong Peach Bubble Tea
• Kung Fu Punch: Vodka, Triple Sec, Mango and Orange Juice
• Plum Wine
• Honey Mango Wine Cooler
• Dragon Pearl: Beer, Honey, Cream and Tapioca Pearls
• Tsingtao Beer

Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market

• Chicken Fricassee with Green Asparagus and Peas served with Uncle Ben’s® Rice Pilaf
• Currywurst with Paprika Chips: Roasted Bratwurst with Curry Ketchup and Paprika-spiced Chips (GF)
• “Armer Ritter” Egg Battered Toast with Cherry Compote and Powdered Sugar
• Hugo-Charles de Fere “Organic” Brut with Elderflower and Mint
• Paulaner Original Munich Lager
• Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen
• Warsteiner Dunkel
• Köstritzer Schwarzbier Black Lager
• Beer Flight

Primavera Kitchen

• Pollo alla Parmigiana: Breaded Breast of Chicken, Tomato, Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese
• Mezze Lune Primavera: Egg Pasta stuffed with Ricotta and Spinach in a Creamy Sauce with Spring Vegetables and Pecorino Cheese
• Cremoso al Pistacchio: Pistacchio Cream, Strawberries and Mascarpone Cream (GF)
• Pinot Grigio
• Chianti
• Prosecco
• Corbinello
• Moscato
• Bellini: Sparkling wine and Peach purée
• Rossini: Sparkling wine and marinated Strawberries
• Frozen Italian Primavera: Assorted fruit slushy, Limoncello and Vodka
• Moretti Lager
• Moretti La Rossa
• Italian Seasonal Selection
• Beer Flight

The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews

• Pulled Pig Slider with Crispy Onions and Coleslaw
• Smoked Pork Ribs with Roasted Corn Salad (GF)
• Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños
• Warm Chocolate Cake with Bourbon-Salted Caramel Sauce and Spiced Pecans
• The Great American Wine Company Red Blend, Sonoma, CA
• Funky Buddha Floridian Hefeweizen, Oakland Park, FL
• Orlando Brewing Company Uncle Matt’s Organic Grapefruit Pale Ale, Orlando, FL
• 3 Daughters Rod Bender Red Ale, St. Petersburg, FL
• Shipyard Maple Bacon Stout, Clearwater, FL
• Frozen Lemonade with Firefly Blackberry Moonshine
• Frozen Lemonade (Non-Alcoholic)
• Sweet Tea (Non-Alcoholic)
• Beer Flight

Hanami

• Frushi: Fresh Pineapple, Strawberry and Melon Rolled with Raspberry Coconut Rice, sprinkled with Toasted Coconut and Whipped Cream on the side
• Chicken Edamame Bun: Steamed Bun filled with Chicken and Edamame and topped with Curry Sauce
• Beef Teriyaki Udon: Thin-sliced Beef, Onions and Noodles tossed on the grill with Soy and Ginger
• Sapporo Draft Beer
• Yuzu Plum Wine Slushy: Sweet refreshing taste infused with the tangy flavor of Citrus
• Suigei Sake: Bold flavor with a crisp, clean finish

Taste of Marrakesh

• Harissa Chicken Kebab with Sweet Couscous Salad
• Falafel Pocket with Cucumber-Tomato Salad and Tahini Sauce
• Baklava
• Desert Rose: Sparkling Wine topped with Pomegranate Liqueur
• White Sangria
• Guerrouane Red Wine
• Casa Beer

Florida Fresh

• Kale Salad with Dried Cherries, Almonds, Goat Cheese and White Balsamic Vinaigrette (GF)
• Shrimp and Stone-ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes and Cilantro (GF)
• Florida Larder Board: Orlando-made Ricotta Cheese, Cahaba Farms Micro Onions, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic, Country Pâté and House-made Pickles
• Key Lime Sparkling Wine, Florida Orange Groves Winery, St. Petersburg, FL
• Sea Dog Acai Berry Hefeweizen, Clearwater, FL
• Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale, Florida Beer Company, Cape Canaveral, FL
• Watermelon Cucumber Slush with Hendrick’s Gin
• Watermelon Cucumber Slush (Non-Alcoholic)
• Fresh-squeezed Watermelon Juice (Non-Alcoholic)

Fleur de Lys

• Tarte à l’Onion Alsacienne: Alsatian Onion Tart with Sautéed Onions, Fresh Thyme and Rosemary on a Flaky Puff Pastry Crust
• Cassoulet au Confit de Canard: Pulled Duck Confit with Braised Flageolet Beans
• Macaron Chocolat Framboise: Large Raspberry Macaron with Chocolate Fudge and Raspberry Jam
• Ice Pop Grand Marnier Peach Cocktail: Grand Marnier Peach Raspberry, Vodka, Iced Tea
• La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush: Grey Goose Vodka Orange, St. Germain Liquor, White and Red Cranberry Juice
• Merlot Bordeaux, Château La Gravière, 2013
• Kir Imperial: Sparkling Wine with Chambord Black Raspberry Liquor
• Kronenbourg Blanc 1664: Fruity White Beer with Citrus Notes

The dishes should cost around $3-$8, much like a the Food & Wine Festival. This year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will run March 2 through May 30, 2016. 

Toy Story Mania to Close for One Day Next Month for Work Related to Third Track:

Yesterday, news broke that Toy Story Midway Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios will close for one day on March 15. The reason for the closure is for work related to the third track that is being built for the attraction. Disney also confirmed that the third track will open this Summer. 

Note: Don't forget tonight's special on ABC in "The Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60" at 8 p.m. EST. The two-hour special will feature new details on Star Wars Land. Stay tuned later tonight for the new details on the blog. 

Preview of Flower & Garden Merchandise Gets Unboxed; Have You Seen Dory? New "Finding Dory" Posters Revealed

Preview of Epcot's International Flower & Garden Merchandise Gets Unboxed:

With the background of Epcot's France pavilion, Disney Parks Blog Merchandise Expert and Steven Miller revealed a preview of the upcoming Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. The preview was apart of their "Unboxed" series. 

The 23rd International Flower & Garden Festival will begin March 2 and run through May 30 for the longest festival ever, 90 days. The previewed merchandise along with much more, which will be released in the coming weeks, will be available in the Festival Center located this year between Mission: SPACE and the Universe of Energy pavilions. The festival center will be open on weekends during the festival on Friday through Sunday throughout the event. 

Here is the preview of Disney Parks Blog Unboxed: 2016 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Merchandise edition:

Have You Seen Dory? New "Finding Dory" Posters Revealed:

Have you seen Dory? That's the question on all four new posters that were revealed by Ellen DeGeneres (Dory) and the three major movie theater companies. Disney/Pixar's "Finding Dory" will be released nationwide on June 17, 2016. Here are the four new posters:

Poster Released By Ellen

Regal Theaters Poster

AMC Theaters Poster

Cinemark Theater Poster

Garden Rocks Concert Slate Announced for Flower & Garden; Shanghai Disneyland Announces Pricing Structure

Garden Rocks Concert Slate Announced for Flower & Garden:

This year's concert series for Epcot's International Flower & Garden Festival will be called, Garden Rocks. This year's concert slate features thirteen pop bands including four new acts and two additional weekends (with the festival being 90 days). The concerts will take the stage each weekend during the festival at the America Gardens Theatre from March 2- May 30. New acts include Blood, Sweat, & Tears featuring Bo Bice, Brian Howe (former lead singer of Bad Company), Georgia Satellites, and Darlene Love will make their debut.

Here is the remaining slate of bands to hit the festival this year:

• March 4-6 – The Orchestra starring former members of ELO “Evil Woman”
• March 11-13 – Starship starring Mickey Thomas “We Built This City”
• March 18-20 – Little River Band “Reminiscing”
• March 25-27 – Village People “Y.M.C.A.”
• April 1-3 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone “I’m Henry the VIII, I Am”
• April 8-10 – The Guess Who “American Woman”
• April 15-17 – NEW! Blood, Sweat & Tears featuring Bo Bice “Spinning Wheel”
• April 22-24 – NEW! BRIAN HOWE, former lead singer of Bad Company “Can’t Get Enough”
• April 29-May 1 – NEW! Georgia Satellites “Keep Your Hands to Yourself”
• May 6-8 – Gin Blossoms “Hey Jealousy”
• May 13-15 – NEW! Darlene Love “Wait ‘Til My Bobby Gets Home”
• May 20-22 – Night Ranger “Sister Christian”
• May 27-30 (Monday) – The Spinners “Working My Way Back to You”

Concerts at the America Gardens Theatre will occur at 5:30, 6:45, and 8 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Shanghai Disneyland Announces Pricing Structure; Tickets on Sale Beginning March 28:

This morning we got a surprise in seeing the first pricing structure released for Shanghai Disneyland that is opening on June 16. Tickets for the theme park will officially go on sale on March 28. With the release of the pricing structure, you'll notice for the first time ever a Disney park will have demand pricing or dynamic pricing as it is also known. 

For the first two weeks of the park being opened the cost will be 499 RMB or $75 from June 16-30. During regular season tickets will cost 370 RMB or $56. Children, Seniors, and guests with disabilities will be eligible for a 25% discount and a two-day pass will include a 5% discount. Infants will be able to enter the park for free. Here is the remaining look of the pricing structure:

To purchase tickets, guests are encouraged to visit the website, www.shanghaidisneyresort.com or by calling 400-180-0000 or 86-21-31580000.

2016 23rd Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Details; 'Beauty & the Beast' Returning to The Royal Theatre

2016 23rd Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Details:

This year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is returning for its 23rd year and will go on for a record 90 days. It will begin March 2 and will run through May 30, 2016. It will include two new Spring-inspired Outdoor Kitchens, three mischievous Disney topiary characters, and a new innovative musical play garden will debut. Here is the press release from Disney:

23rd Spring Festival Will Run March 2-May 30, 2016

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Two new spring-inspired Outdoor Kitchens, three mischievous Disney topiary characters and an innovative musical play garden will debut during the 23rd Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 2-May 30, 2016. The popular spring festival at Walt Disney World Resort, known for its tasty edibles, sweeping floral displays and dazzling topiary creations, expands from 75 days to 90 days in 2016.

The new La Isla Fresca and Cider House Outdoor Kitchens will introduce fresh variety and flavor to the culinary offerings at a record 13 festival kiosks surrounding the World Showcase Promenade. Donald Duck’s mischievous nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie, make their topiary debut with Donald and Daisy in the park’s signature front-entrance garden. Xylophones, drums and chimes will take child’s play to tuneful levels at the new Harmony Gardens play area featuring “leader-of-the-band” Mickey Mouse topiary.

Live Garden Rocks concerts will set the beat with familiar pop tunes each festival weekend. And special “Fun Fresh Weekends” add new adventures to the seasonal event.

Guests of the 2016 festival can celebrate spring with gardens-full of Epcot options:

• New culinary creations at the festival’s Outdoor Kitchens will take guests on a Caribbean tour at La Isla Fresca with flavors like Jamaican Braised Beef with Pigeon-Pea Rice and Jerk-Spiced Grouper or Chicken with Mango Salsa. At the new Cider House, a Field Greens salad with greens harvested from The Land pavilion, heirloom apples, Stilton cheese and dried blueberries will pair well with a blueberry hard cider from Plant City, Fla. Dozens of new food and beverage flavors will debut, as well, at the festival’s 11 other Outdoor Kitchens: Urban Farm Eats, Pineapple Promenade, Fleur de Lys, Florida Fresh, Taste of Marrakesh, Hanami, THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews, Primavera Kitchen, Lotus House, Bauernmarkt and Jardin de Fiestas.

• The first-ever Huey, Dewey and Louie topiaries will feature floral interpretations of Donald’s nephews inspired by a 1943 Donald Duck comic book called “The Victory Garden” at the Epcot front-entrance garden display with Donald and Daisy.

• A new hands-on Harmony Gardens musical playground will debut featuring Disney’s Fab Five topiaries of “band leader” Mickey Mouse plus Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck topiaries. With the playground’s interactive drums, chimes and xylophones, children can create their own musical sounds when they’re not scampering across innovative outdoor climbing systems with safe, but challenging, net-based structures. Watch for music-themed plants that add harmony to this inspired play area. The popular Cactus Road Rally play garden returns with Disney-Pixar topiary pals Mater and Lightning McQueen from the hit film, “Cars.”

• Fun Fresh Weekends add novel dimension to daily festival fun: April 1-3 — Art in the Garden Weekend spotlights nature through the works of plein air artists; April 8-10 – The new Family Fun Weekend presents outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy and a Festival Center focus on bugs with Disney’s Animal Kingdom specialists; April 22-24 – Earth Day Weekend celebrates our planet with special appearances and activities; and April 29-May 1—Florida Fresh Weekend features the state’s edible bounty from Apalachicola to Zellwood.

• On the south side of Spaceship Earth, Disney gardeners will paint the landscape with a Floral Sun garden and yellow “sunbursts” will sprout in a new Future World topiary garden featuring Minnie Mouse and Pluto.

• The Ranger Mickey topiary garden in Future World will offer a guest selfie and family photo opportunity featuring a Spaceship Earth backdrop to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Parks Service launched in 1916 to conserve the country’s natural scenic treasures.

• Anna and Elsa topiaries will travel to the Norway pavilion festival landscape following their 2015 debut along World Showcase Plaza in a scene from the blockbuster Oscar-winning animated film, “Frozen.” Nearly 100 topiary characters, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Lady and the Tramp, Simba and Peter Pan, will animate the Epcot landscape surrounded by themed gardens featuring herbs, peppers, orchids and more.

• By night, twinkling lights will shine across festival gardens and topiaries.

• The Garden Rocks concert series will present pop bands with music spanning four decades. This year’s lineup kicks off March 4-6 with The Orchestra starring former members of ELO and will also include new-to-the-festival acts like Bad Company.

• A new edible flower garden by The Land pavilion will showcase petals with flavor.

• The Butterflies on the Go garden will return with the story of the Monarch’s epic journey across the continent and featuring butterflies emerging from their chrysalises.

• Each weekend at the Festival Center, guests can dig in for a complimentary hands-on Gardening Seminar experience and create a take-home souvenir or grab a seat to hear tips from experts on a broad range of topics. The center also offers signature festival merchandise, food and beverages.

Forty 8-to-9-foot-tall Disney-crafted “flower towers” and sweeping beds of multi-colored blooms will add to the floral splendor of the park’s landscape.  At least 70,000 bedding plants will surround the Future World east and west lakes alone; on the water, more than 200 mini-gardens will be set afloat.

For more information about the 23rd Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, call 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639). Watch for details at EpcotInSpring.com as they become available. The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

"Beauty and the Beast" Returning to The Royal Theatre at Disneyland:

Today it was announced on the Disney Parks Blog that "Beauty and the Beast" will be returning to The Royal Theatre at Disneyland this spring with 'Tangled.' No exact date has been announced for the return. It will replace "Frozen" that is moving over to the Hyperion Theatre. 

Guests are invited as Messieurs Smythe and Jones take you on an adventure in the great wide somewhere for a whimsical retelling of how Belle and Beast met and fell in love - all with a happily ever after at the end. 

Who's excited for the return of Bell and Beast at The Royal Theatre?