Posts Tagged ‘EPCOT’

Guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort can take advantage of an early holiday gift this year in the form of special dining discounts at selected locations during specified hours.

Coupons are valid before noon or between 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.   Click on these links to print your coupon for Walt Disney World or Disneyland, or look for them in the Times Guide at Walt Disney World, the Holiday Entertainment Guide at Disneyland, and at the bottom of selected receipts at both locations.

At Walt Disney World, enjoy a 30% discount at these favorite Quick-Service spots from December 19, 2010 to January 1, 2011:

Magic Kingdom Park

• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
• Columbia Harbour House
• Pinocchio Village Haus
• Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant

Epcot

• Electric Umbrella
• Liberty Inn
• Sunshine Seasons

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Backlot Express
• ABC Commissary
• Studio Catering Company

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

• Flame Tree Barbecue
• Pizzafari
• Restaurantosaurus
• Tamu Tamu Refreshments

If you’re planning a visit to Disneyland between December 19, 2010 and January 3, 2011, take advantage of the same savings at these popular venues:

Disneyland Park

• French Market Restaurant
• Hungry Bear Restaurant
• Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante
• Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port
• Tomorrowland Terrace

Disney California Adventure Park

• Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill
• Lucky Fortune Cookery
• Pacific Wharf Cafe
• Taste Pilots’ Grill
• Award Wieners

Guests looking for perfect Florida weather should consider a visit in October, when the humidity begins to drop, particularly toward the middle of the month, and is replaced with warm, breezy days, and cooler nights.

Over the years, October has become a time of great activity at Walt Disney World with the advent of the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, and an increasing presence of Halloween decorations and festivities.  Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party runs throughout the month, and there are many special activities at the resorts and Downtown Disney on Halloween night.

The Food and Wine Festival is a big draw with many visitors planning their annual vacations around this wonderful event.  Plan on the World Showcase being particularly crowded on weekends when many local residents turn out to enjoy the Festival.

Fast Facts

Special Events: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival are in full swing all month.

Attendance levels: In general, crowds are moderate, particularly during the first week. Exceptions are EPCOT, which will be a busier park due to EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, and the Columbus Day weekend when all parks will experience a surge in attendance.  Visitors should plan for the Magic Kingdom to be closed to the general public on a number of nights for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Weather: While great weather is never a guarantee in central Florida, the odds favor October!  Each passing day seems to bring increasingly more beautiful mornings.  Average precipitation levels are half of September’s and the humidity begins to drop to comfortable levels.

Packing: Summer wear with light cover-ups for cooler nights should cover the possibilities during October.  Although it can certainly remain hot and humid during the day, there’s also an excellent chance of cooler, drier weather with lower temperatures at night.

This is a question asked frequently by our clients and showing up often in searches.  As with so many choices, this one is not completely straightforward, but dependent upon several factors. There are three performances of the Candlelight Processional each evening:  5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m.  For guests who are NOT reserving the Candlelight Processional Dining Package, the first performance of the evening is nearly always the least-crowded, offering the best chance of a seat.  You must still be prepared to get in line at least an hour before showtime; much earlier if it’s a weekend or during the peak Thanksgiving and Christmas periods.  We suggest checking the length of the standby queue a couple of hours before your chosen performance.  Cast members are keeping track of the number of guests already waiting and you can ask about your chances of a seat if the line looks daunting.

The downside of the first performance is that it isn’t truly dark yet; so much of the impact of the candle-lit processing is lost.  On the other hand, you won’t be standing in line listening to the same show that you’ll be watching later that evening!

If you ARE reserving the Candlelight Processional Dining Package, then your dining reservation time will determine which performance you will attend.  Those paying out-of-pocket rather than using credits from the Disney Dining Plan may wish to maximize their dollar and book lunch (and the 5:00 p.m. performance) at the Tier 1 Biergarten (the Garden Grill is not open for lunch). For guests using two of their Table Service credits for the package, it makes more sense to choose the Tier 3 restaurants and enjoy the more-expensive dinner.

Since the Dining Package also includes access to a reserved viewing area for Illuminations:  Reflections of Earth, some might opt for the second performance at 6:45 p.m. which will give them plenty of time to make their way to the front of the World Showcase and claim a good spot.

Even with the Dining Package, you should be in line at least 30 minutes before the show.  The number of guests already lined up will seem enormous, but once allowed entrance, the crowds move quickly into the theatre.  Fifteen minutes before the performance begins, guests in the standby line are permitted to enter and fill the remaining seats.

Don’t forget that the music is audible even if you’re not sitting in the America Gardens Theatre.  If you’re too late to get a seat, or don’t have the patience for a long wait in line, grab a drink and a chair in the outdoor dining area of Liberty Inn, located right across from the theatre.

Photo by Vanessa Guzan

Grab a seat for some of the most interesting quick-service fare to be found in EPCOT’s World Showcase.  Offering a more authentic “taste” of the country than many of the other pavilions, Morocco’s Tangierine Café serves up some traditional dishes at reasonable prices.

Couscous, lentil salad, falafel, hummus, and tabouleh are all found on the menu, along with various meats, wraps, and, of course, bahklava.

There is limited seating indoor seating as well as some lovely covered tables outside, where diners can sit and enjoy their shawarma with a side of atmosphere!

A creative take on the reflective possibilities of the Universe of Energy Pavilion.

It’s wiring made wonderful!  Make it your mission to track down this special Mickey, hidden in Future World at EPCOT.

Mission: SPACE, one of the most highly-anticipated attractions to open at Walt Disney World, represents the culmination of 40 years of actual man-hours, as well as technologies specifically invented for this ride.  Designed to allow passengers to experience space flight in a realistic way, Mission: SPACE was built in cooperation with former astronauts and NASA personnel.

The “back story” is very much front and center as guests, or “trainees” at the International Space Training Center, are assigned a role and join a crew of four to complete a training mission that will help prepare them for the first manned flight to Mars.

The stunning Planetary Plaza at the entrance includes some of the most imaginative and beautiful detail to be found in any park.  The glowing replica of Mars with its dramatic red color stands close to the enormous 16-foot-diameter sphere of Jupiter.  Earth is encircled by a ship in flight and the model of our moon features plaques on its surface that commemorate each lunar mission.

The queue area is dominated by an enormous gravity wheel, and showcases fascinating displays and a review of the “history” of space flight.  The gravity wheel sports one of three tributes to Horizons, the attraction that formerly occupied the site.

After an informational video, astronauts-in-training board the flight simulators for a spectacular journey that includes lift-off, a slingshot maneuver around the moon, hypersleep, and Mars landing, along with some special challenges to test the crew.

There are two different ride experiences to choose from:  the original, very intense “orange” version which simulates weightlessness and g-forces by means of a centrifuge; and the alternate “green” version which retains the motion simulation but forgoes the physically-challenging centrifuge effects.  There are multiple alerts and warnings throughout the attraction which detail the health conditions that may be adversely affected by the ride.

The post-show area is not to be missed, with interactive games and activities, a themed play area for kids, and an opportunity to send a “Postcard from Space.”

Employees of Hewlett-Packard, the current sponsor, have access to the Red Planet Room where they can relax and enjoy complimentary beverages, play games, watch television, and use an internet-connected shared laptop.

Mission: SPACE

EPCOT, Future World

Approximately 6 minutes

Guests must transfer from ECV to wheelchair and then to ride vehicle

FastPass available

Video captioning and translation devices available

Park admission required

One of Walt Disney World’s most exquisite gardens is but a short walk to your right as you enter the World Showcase at EPCOT from Future World.  Inspired by the famous Butchart Gardens in British Columbia, the Victoria Gardens at the Canada Pavilion offer a serene and beautiful landscape enhanced by towering rocks, splashing waterfalls, and peaceful ponds.

The gardens are just one of the treasures to be discovered In “Canada” where a rich cultural heritage and the glories of the great outdoors are celebrated.

Home to the CircleVision 360° movie, O Canada, which offers visitors a spectacular look at the diversity of Canadian terrain, wildlife, city and country, peoples and pastimes, it is also the location of one of the most popular restaurants in EPCOT, Le Cellier.  Observant guests will discover numerous details that reflect the many faces of our neighbor to the north.

The architecture is decidedly French; the “Hotel du Canada” based upon Ottawa’s turreted Chateau du Laurier.

Massive totem poles and artifacts represent the quiet yet powerful presence of dozens of Native tribes who have lived across the breadth of this country, from the Northwest Territories to Newfoundland.

And of course, the wonderful Off-Kilter reminds us of the deep Scottish roots of the Maritimes.

When you’re ready to shop, Northwest Mercantile really pulls out all the Canadian stops with lots of maple syrup and maple leaves, plaid, hockey, moccasins, and soapstone carvings!

Across from the China pavilion in EPCOT’s World Showcase sits a small and charming building.  Its curvy tiled roof, brilliant red color, and fan-shaped sign reflect the traditions of the country, and it offers some unique beverage and snack options.

Few Americans realize that, next to water, tea is the world’s most popular drink, and China produces some exceptional teas.  Joy of Tea includes oolong, green, and jasmine, a floral-scented green tea, amongst its offerings.

When it’s warm, customers will appreciate the icy tea slushes and flavored iced teas; all featuring refreshing fruit flavors of peach, plum, mango, or strawberry.

A variety of hot teas, wine, beer, soft drinks, and specialty alcoholic beverages are also available.  Ice cream and a small selection of Asian-inspired snacks round out the menu.