New Festival at EPCOT, With Food?

January 13 through February 30, 2017 brings a new festival to EPCOT that is sure to bring fun, frolic, and yes FOOD for guests to enjoy!

epcot-fest-of-arts

At the EPCOT International Festival Of The Arts, you will find Fun in the form of the artists, or their works that are scheduled to attend. From the works of Mary Blair and Herb Ryman to current Disney artists.  You can just have a look around or watch some creative juices flow live during the Festival!

Frolic might be had by attending concerts from some of Disney’s best Broadway stars from Aladdin, The Lion King, and Newsies(my personal favorite). These concerts will be presented on the weekends of the festival and will take place on the America Gardens Theater stage.  Show times are 5:30pm, 6:45pm, and 8:00pm.

2017 Appearance Schedule

  • January 13-16 and 20-23
    Ashley Brown & Josh Strickland perform songs from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Mary Poppins, Tarzan and The Little Mermaid.
  • January 27-30 and February 3-6
    Kerry Butler & Kevin Massey perform songs from Disney’s Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Newsies and Tarzan.
  • February 10-13 and 17-20
    Kissy Simmons & Alton Fitzgerald White perform songs from Disney’s Aida, Aladdin, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid.

As for Food, there will be Food Studios place around the World Showcase Promenade where you can try a vast array of foods.  This is similar to, but completely different, compared to Food And Wine.  To learn more about the offerings go to The Disney Food Blog page for information!

This sounds like a lot of fun!!  Enjoy and remember…

Let’s Keep The Magic Alive!

Worth The Change At WDW!

Walt Disney World is testing a new dining option at Magic Kingdom Park®.  Beginning on January 12 and running through February 22, several of the Quick Service venues will begin participating in Disney Dine-on-the-Go!  The menu includes one Lunch Quick Service entree and one non-alcoholic beverage until 4pm and one Dinner Quick Service entree and non-alcoholic beverage good after 4pm.  Desserts will be an out-of-pocket expense, if you desire.

CHH

The participating Quick Service venues are:

  • Casey’s Corner
  • Colombia Harbour House
  • Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
  • Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
  • Pinocchio Village Haus

Valid Park Admission Required!

The cost is $29 for adults and $12 for kids 3 – 9 and can be purchased at Magic Kingdom Park Vacation Planning booth. Is it worth it?  You tell me!!

Let’s Keep The Magic Alive!

 

Subtle Changes at WDW

There have been a few little changes that may fly under the radar at Walt Disney World.  As a member of several, maybe TOO many, Disney fan Facebook groups, I try to glean things that could be missed that could also be important information to pass on!

Tony’s Town Square has made apparently made some small changes to it’s menu, probably to enhance the introduction of alcohol to the eatery.  For more information visit: WDWNT’s review of the new menu.  tonys-lt-fountain

Annual Passholder may need to be aware that many Cast Members are now asking for ID for ALL passholders with purchasing privileges.  So, if your kids have purchasing capabilities attached to their Annual Pass, you might want to grab their school ID on the way out the door, just in case!

I’ll keep an eye on little tidbits like this to pass along to you!

In the meantime, Let’s Keep The Magic Alive!

Drinking Around The Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World has announced that there will be four additional restaurants that will have beer and wine available inside The Magic Kingdom!  The restaurants adding the booze are: Tony’s Town Square, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Liberty Tree Tavern, and Skipper Canteen.

Carousel and Castle

I’m not sure how I feel about this!  But, I knew that once it was introduced at Be Our Guest, it was only a matter of time before the ability to consume alcohol came to other venues within Magic Kingdom Park!  And, while I am hoping that most will only consume a little to go with their meal, there is that possibility that a few may overindulge.

Personally, I am not a big drinker!  Maybe one or two a year.  So, at this point, I am taking a wait and see attitude about all of this.  I am sure it will generate a bit of revenue!  I am thinking it may bolster the guest experience at Tony’s Town Square.  And, I am sure that the prices will live up to WDW standards!

But, how popular will it really be?  Does the addition of alcohol at Magic Kingdom take something out of the feel of the park?  One can’t help but wonder!

Thank you for reading, my friends!

Let’s Keep The Magic Alive!!

Football At WDW, Sort Of

The NFL has partnered with Walt Disney World for this season’s pre-Pro Bowl Festivities taking place at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex.  And, some of the players have been announced!

There will be a total of 88 players in attendance  Some of the players scheduled to play are Aaron Rodgers (GB), Tom Brady (NE), Odell Beckham Jr.(NYG), and rookies Daks Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott (my favorite) from the Dallas Cowboys.

There will be a lot of special events taking place that will culminate in a parade on Main Street U.S.A. that will include the players, cheerleaders, and several community based groups.

The Pro Bowl game is scheduled for January 29 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando!  See Pro Bowl Ticket Information for more! For more on the activities at WDW visit The ESPN Wide World Of Sports Page.

Happy New Year from threestrandswdw.com! Where we are working to Keep The Magic Alive!

 

Coming To Walt Disney World 2017

In case you haven’t been paying attention, Walt Disney World announced that Pandora: The World Of Avatar will open sometime during the Summer 2017.  And, while that isn’t a specific date, it seems likely that they will try to open around Memorial Day.  That’s assuming that everything is working as it is supposed to work.

Watch The Pandora Behind The Scenes Video

It also appears that Rivers of Light may be ready to go by then.  There were a few cast member previews in early December and, while there were a few minor glitches, it seems to have gone well.  No date has been announced, at this time.

There is a change coming to the 2017 EPCOT International Food And Wine Festival. Beginning on August 31, 2017 and running through November 13, 2017.  This will be the longest this festival has ever run and should allow for more people to enjoy it and all that goes with it.  I am hoping to get there, myself, this year!

I will do my best to keep you all up to date on anything that is happening anywhere on the Walt Disney World Resort property!  It seems that WDW could be on the verge of a lot of changes very quickly!  Though, probably not quick enough for most of us who love the place!

Thanks for reading, my friends!

Let’s keep the Magic Alive!

WDW Fireworks New Year’s Eve

Wishes_Magic_Kingdom

Walt Disney World will be airing the “Fantasy In The Sky” fireworks show beginning at 11:45PM on December 31, 2016 (New Year’s Eve).  There will be a Blog Post from DisneyParksBlog.com when it is time to begin!  It may also show up on YouTube Live, but that’s not a certainty!

If you can’t be at The Magic Kingdom, this is a good way to feel like it!  I plan on watching, do you?

Happy New Year, my friends!

Keep the Magic Alive!

A “New” Welcome at WDW

Walt Disney World announced a new way to enter Magic Kingdom Park.  Beginning January 9, 2017, guests will be able to enter Main Street U.S.A. prior to actual opening.  Some shopping and food will be available as you wander into the park.

A new ‘welcome’ show will be presented on the Castle Forecourt Stage to begin you ‘magic’!  There is no word on whether the current Welcome Show at the entrance of the park will continue, but I would guess No!

Keep the magic alive, my friends!!

Mickey Has A Birthday!

mickey

Our favorite Mouse is having a birthday!  Mickey Mouse will be celebrating his birthday at Disney Parks around the world, this Friday!  He will be 88 years old!

The Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! parade in The Magic Kingdom, at WDW, will have a special tribute to Walt Disney’s beloved creation and everyone is invited to attend.

So, let’s all wish a very Happy Birthday to the Mouse that started it all!!

Happy Birthday, Mickey!

Four Parks, One Ticket

Welcome to Walt Disney World

In case you haven’t seen the new commercials, or posts online, Walt Disney World has begun a new promotion based on the Endless Magic theme.  As a part of this theme, there is a new ticket offering for those traveling between November 15, 2016 and May 26, 2017.  What is it, you ask?  Introducing the 4 Park Magic Ticket!  

This ticket can be used for a total of four days at the Walt Disney World theme parks. The cost is $70 per day.  There are, big surprise, some restrictions to the use of this ticket.  Those restrictions are:

  • One Day admissions each to Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom on four separate days.  You can’t enter the same Park more than once!
  • Tickets must be used within 14 days of first use, or by May 26, 2017.
  • Black-out days apply for 12/17/2016 – 1/2/2017 and 4/10 – 4/21/2017.

Hotel packages are available, even at some off-property resorts.  So, contact your favorite Disney Travel Specialist to book these packages!

Thanks for reading, and have a Blessed and Magical day, my friends!