It’s time again for me to help you navigate your adventure to a few new experiences coming up at Disney resorts.
As always, we are going to dive right into everybody’s favorite subject. Food and Wine! The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, presented by CORKCICLE. From July 27-November 18,2023 guests of Epcot will be invited to dine and drink and enjoy several unique adventures throughout the park.
Step 1 is to grab your free passport when you enter Epcot. Not only is this going to help you hit all the great parts of the festival, it also makes a great free souvenir for scrapbooks and shadowboxes if you are a crafty person. There is also a digital guidebook in your My Disney Experience app.
Beyond the food they will also being having some great concerts through the Eat to the Beat Concert series. Featuring bands like 98* and Joey Fatone and friends, this concert line up will be a great experience. Best part? It’s included in admission to Epcot. Waiting for Ticketmaster to work for Taylor Swift or a concert with great food, and Disney magic? There is a clear winner here in my mind! If you are a country fan, you can look forward to Mark Willis. If rock is more your speed, check out some of the great cover bands! Something for everyone.
If you are a fan of Ratatouille and Remy, there is a family friendly scavenger hunt. You will be looking for our little friend Remy all over the park. When you have found all of them, you can pick which prized cup you would like to bring home. This is a great way to keep kids engaged and focused in the parks. Or adults. In the fall we will be getting a similar activity this time featuring Mickey’s best friend Pluto who is looking everywhere for his pumpkins- he will need your help!
Let’s navigate ourselves right back to food and first up is going to be one of my favorite foods. Cheese! Emile’s fromage montage is what I am most excited about. You pick 5 menu items from Fromage Montage, grab your stickers, and win a unique prize. You can try things like griddled cheese from Greece, crispy paneer from India, warm raclette Swiss cheese from the alps and passion fruit cheesecake from Hawaii. In the past, the prize has been another special treat in a souvenir cup. So, you get tons of cheesy options, and a souvenir to remind you of your adventure.
Other fun highlights include our favorite character in their best chef outfits, merchandise tailored to the festival and the Germany pavilion will have a tiny surprise in store. If you know, you know. If you don’t know, you should probably book a trip to Epcot with your travel advisor right away so you can know what we know.
While you can’t hit up the cheese festival over here in California, Disneyland is hosting some special after-hours events.
May the 4th be with you! Disneyland will be celebrating the force by bringing back Hyperspace Mountain, available to all park goers starting May 1,2023.
For the Star Wars nights, Disney will still be announcing a few more special things that will be happening. This special event still has news to be announced, but based on past years we can expect some special eats, a themed dance party and special photo spots and characters. You are also encouraged to show off your best galactic costumes for the event. This will be an adventure not to be missed!
The other special after dark party is going to be the first ever Pride Nites. You can eat things like spiced beef potato bite, loaded up with all the fixings. Go line dancing at the Golden Horseshoe, enjoy a special cavalcade and see Stich rocking the party as the DJ at Tomorrowland Terrace.
One of the best parts of both events, and all the other after dark parties, are the limited amount of people means rides that usually have super long wait times become nearly walk on. So not only do you get to celebrate at a special event, but you also get to ride and walk around with ease! This is something your travel advisor can help you with as well.
As in years past, we are awaiting news from Disney if there will be any special Halloween after hours events, though typically there is Ooogie Boogie Bash in Disneyland and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in Disneyworld. If these sound spooktacular to you, make sure to reach out so your travel advisor can let you know as soon as we hear the magic words! This is part of the fun of working with a travel advisor- all the latest news, straight to you. No research required. And its all complimentary!
Our last foodie chat for this blog entry will be some of the special halfway to Halloween items on both coasts. We are already halfway to Halloween-I feel like it was just Christmas! In Disneyland you can find a Jack Skellington cake pop, a Minnie Witch Apple and more. These are for a very short time only! Disneyworld is having a Madame Leota chocolate cake, and a Whoopie Monster pie.
On the topic of Halloween, now is a great time to book your next Disney trip. Disneyland and Disneyworld can both be booked with a $200.00 deposit so you can make magical payments, Aulani is having a fantastic fall special and there are still staterooms on several Halloween on the high seas cruises with Disney Cruise Line. If you are looking for some international Disney magic, check out Adventures by Disney. No matter the trip you are looking to take this year, one of our travel advisors will be delighted to help!