I Actually Want To See This "GOTG Awesome Mix Live" Show Now

When I first heard about this concert at Epcot, I'll admit, I really wasn't that excited. I absolutely love the Guardians of the Galaxy,  & probably even more so the soundtracks. Those soundtracks have basically fueled the years in which they were released for me. I just didn't really think this show was going to come off as anything but a cheesefest. Seeing this little preview video though, has made me realize this isn't a cheesefest, it's an amazingly awesome cheesefest. It does seem corny, but the actors look great, & it looks like it's a lot of fun. I've gotta check this out now. Funny what looks like a throwaway experience at Disney can always fool you. My past couple of visits I've been trying things I never had before, & I've found some real diamonds in the rough. This looks like it could be one of them. You really can't judge a book by its cover, & that especially rings true at Disney Parks. What do y'all think though? Would y'all attend the Awesome Mix Live? Put it in the comments, like, & share.

Check Out The Size Of The Upcoming "Guardians Of The Galaxy" Epcot Attraction

Not much to see, but a while lot of work has already been done on the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy attraction coming soon to Epcot in Walt Disney World. Disney Parks Blog has put up this first look at where there at so far. The 3 Olympic size swimming pools worth of foundation have been layed. This really is going to be one heck of a long indoor coaster. I think they're shooting for Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary, so even though it'll feel like it, we don't have too long to wait. I'm very curious for this one. I'm one of the few people who dug The Energy Ride, so for me this has big shoes to fill. 

All The Disney Park Announcements From D23 Expo Japan

While definitely not as big as last year's D23 Expo, this year in Japan we got some more on last year's developments, as well as some pretty significant new developments. Of course there's also plenty of concept art to go with. First of all, we now have a date for the opening of Pixar Pier. June 23, 2018 is the official date to visit the four new neighborhoods representing Pixar stories with newly themed attractions, food, merchandise, & the rebranding of the Incredicoaster. I wish I could make it over there for this. It sounds pretty amazing.

Speaking of Pixar Pier, there was also this awesome concept art for the new float to be joining the Paint the Night parade. It will feature characters from The Incredibles, showcasing their powers with high-tech, pop-art effects. I'm not one to get excited for a float but this one looks, well, incredible.

After that attention switched over to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. They revisited the Star Wars themed hotel that will join the land. Now we learned the hotel will be a luxury hotel that will not only feature a fully immersive adventure, but it will be seamlessly connected to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge letting the full immersion continue into the park. Speaking if the park they released some things to expect. The lands will feature a life size Millennium Falcon, as well as a full size fleet of X-Wings. Them there's the two attractions to be featured mentioned again. With the chance to fly the Falcon, & the ability to stand on a Star Destroyer in the middle of a First Order/Resistance battle.

After Star Wars, the attention was shifted to Marvel where we found out the new Guardians of the Galaxy  themed  coaster coming to Epcot will be one of the longest enclosed roller coasters in the world. Following that awesome revelation, Disneyland Paris was informed their Rock n Roller Coaster, a personal favorite of mine, will be getting a total reimagining where you'll now team up with Iron-Man & The Avengers. This is really cool, but if they follow suit in Hollywood Studios, I'll really miss the music of Aerosmith throughout the coaster.

Hong Kong will get in on the Marvel action as well. They already have the Iron-Man Experience, & now you will be able to team up with Ant-Man & The Wasp to fight Arnim Zola & a army of Hydra Swarm bots. That's all the details but this attraction got most of the cool concept art.

Last but definitely not least we get some concept art for one I'm really looking forward to.  The first ever Mickey Mouse themed ride through attraction, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway. Opening in Hollywood Studios in 2019 this will take place of one of my all-time favorites, The Great Movie Ride. This ride will zap us right in the middle of an original story, Mickey Mouse cartoon short.

Like I said, all in all not as amazing as last year's big reveals, but some awesome follow ups & concept art though. What do y'all think of these developments? Looks like 2019 is going to be a huge year. Put it in the comments, like, & share.

Disney Skyliner Transportation System Sounds Like It May Wind Up The Most Beautiful Ride In The Park

The first awesome detail about these gondolas is select cabins will have characters included in the exterior to give the appearance Disney characters are riding along, & that's just the icing on the cake. I'm putting these concept photos in order so you can get a sense of the ride this upcoming transportation system has in store. There's a station at the International Gateway of EPCOT inspired by the nearby European Pavilions where guests traveling in will get an overhead view of the World Showcase. Then there's the Caribbean Beach Resort station, designed after open air marketplaces of the Caribbean. This is the hub of the Disney Skyliner, where guests can change routes. Going from there to the Hollywood Studios hub will give you an amazing aerial view of Hollywood Studios attractions. This hub will match the façade of Hollywood Studio's main entrance. Hubs also included, but with no concept art are Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort, & a slow down at a turn-station along Buena Vista Drive where you can see the components that make up the Disney Skyliner. Through those stops they do mention you will get a beautiful view of not only those two resorts, but right over Hourglass Lake as well. This sounds so friggin amazing! I can't wait for these to be up. I'm probably going to make a trip just to ride these all the way through when they are first put up.

Extensive New Details For Epcot's Coming "Guardians Of The Galaxy" Attraction

One of the major losses to the Disney Parks this year was that of Ellen's Energy Adventure, formally located in EPCOT. However, at the 2017 D23 Expo it was told that it would be replaced with a Guardians of the Galaxy themed roller coaster. Not much has been said since then, until now. WDW News Today has basically gave a whole rundown of the mechanics of this upcoming attraction. The entrance will be in the same spot, but the doorway will now take you into the Welcome Gallery. The building appears to be many levels, where you climb a series of ramps to get to the elevated load platform. There's a second room, the Xandar Gallery, is probably filled with Xandarian relics. This room will lead to the first pre-show, labeled in their documents as "singularity". "Singularity", by the way, is the only clue we get to the actual story of what will be going on. So feel free to speculate. A second pre-show will take place in the next room, the transformation room. Where some kind of guest transformation takes place, involving a giant red cannon looking thing, Rocket Raccoon, & Groot. They will appear with a ship as projection, as it looks like there's no animatronics. Afterwards, you head upstairs to the load area. Two trains will load & unload at a time, featuring five cars that hold guests in four, two by two. Loaded up, they will then head into the launch tunnel, where they get shot into the added building behind the old attraction. Standing 12.2 stories in height at 133 feet tall, the building houses a coaster with no inversions. Making it seem to be a lot like Space Mountain with added projection effects. Many twists, turns, & straightaways follow in what they say seems to look like a pretty long coaster ride. They say it doesn't look like there's any show elements throughout the ride, which is a little disheartening. It looks instead like it's just lighting, but it also sounds like some pretty early on stuff too. Either way this ride sounds awesome. I hope the story they've been developing is really cool too. When first announced they really keyed in on that point, & that it shares an actual place in EPCOT for a reason. I can't wait to hear more about this. Mainly because I'm really curious if they are going to add some more to this or not. I  personally would love for some story elements throughout this ride. What do y'all think of this run-through though? Put it in the comments, like, & share.

New Disney Attractions Win Thea Awards!!

I didn't even know this was a thing until today, but apparently it is. There's not only a Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), they also give out awards. Awards for, go figure, themed entertainment. And obviously if I just heard of them, that must mean Disney has won some of said awards. Orlando Sentinel reports that Disney has picked a handful of TEA Thea Awards. First, Frozen Ever After, in EPCOT won for outstanding achievement in "attraction reimagining". Originally this was my favorite ride in EPCOT, the Maelstrom, a journey through Norway, populated by trolls. I wish I could say that this ride wasn't half the ride Maelstrom was, but I can't. This reimagining is truly amazing. The animatronics are the best I've ever seen, & the story is told flawlessly throughout the ride. Next, they picked up a couple for Pandora - World of Avatar, in which we detailed our own opening day experience here. Not only was the new addition to Animal Kingdom recognized for outstanding achievement in "theme-park area development", Flight of Passage was also recognized for it's achievement, going on to say it was "flawlessly executed". We've made it back to Pandora since opening day, & I must say, I was just as blown away the second time around. As for Flight of Passage? "Flawlessly executed", as great as that sounds, is still an understatement. That might be one of the most thrilling experiences I've ever had. Truly out of this world. Disneyland got a little love too. With Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: Breakout, the remixed Tower of Terror in Disney's California Adventure was also recognized in the "attraction reimagining" category. Even though I'm not a fan of being dropped, much less repeatedly, I always do something once. I really do want to check this out, I love me some Guardians of the Galaxy. It'll be awhile before I make it out there though. Anyway, congrats to Disney for winning these well deserved awards. The achievements recently made by these parks, is the main thing that keeps me excited to see what could possibly be coming next. With Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge & Toy Story Land right around the corner, I can't wait. What do y'all think of these awards though? Any thoughts on any of these attractions? Put it in the comments, like, & share.

"Magic Of The Holidays" Video Shows Festivities Throughou The Disney Parks

Disney put out this Magic of the Holidays video to show all the different ways Disneyworld & Disneyland will be celebrating the holidays this year. There's some amazing stuff in here. Sad I can't attend any of the Disneyland offerings, as my daughters would probably sell me to check out that restyling of the Haunted Mansion for the holidays. My thing is the Hollywood Studios set-up though. After Happily Ever After, I'm all into this projection thing. It's probably one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. I'm still trying to find some time to sneak away from my other life to see this before the holidays end. Currently it is an uphill battle. I've seen the Magic Kingdom for the Holidays, even going as far as attending Mickey's Christmas Party. Which was awesome by the way, all-you-can cocoa & cookies has to be the greatest add-on ever! I've saved my personal favorite for last though. Every year I try to find some time to go to EPCOT to check out Christmas as it was thought up & celebrated around the world. The stories are amazing, & help paint a picture of the real meaning to all of this Holiday stuff, celebrating family, celebrating life, & celebrating love. I hope I can steal a couple days away from the man & see my favorite places in the world as they celebrate the holidays. What did y'all think of this video though? Will anyone be trying to sneak away for any of this as well? Put it in the comments, like, & share.

SpectacuLAB Is Coming To EPCOT

I love me some Innoventions. I've spent hours playing with music playing robots, & all kind of other advancements in science. Now according to WDW News Today a new show is coming, set to debut November 11th. Guests will be invited to join a group of scientists for a series of experiments putting principles such as ultrasonic pressure, barometric pressure, acceleration & force to the test. Groups of all ages will be able to participate in the also humorous demonstrations. Disney will work with sponsor Murata & Science from Scientists to make this happen, & I hope to see more of this type of thing in the future. This actually relaxes me about the changes coming to EPCOT as it lets me know the purpose o the park is not being abandoned. Science, discovery, & learning for a better future is what EPCOT is all about, & I'm glad to see someone still sees it that way. I'm pumped, what do y'all think of this though? Put it in the comments, like, & share.

We Just Got Back From The Epcot Food & Wine Festival

Disney just released this must-try list from this year's Food & Wine Festival, just in time for us returning from the exact same mentioned festival. This will be my second year in a row attending, & while I didn't get to try as much as last time, I did my fair share of eating. I even tried octopus, chewy, really fishy. Not for me. I love EPCOT, it's probably my favorite of the parks for now. This festival is EPCOT in top form. I must agree with a couple of the selections in this video. Farm Fresh's fried chicken, cornbread, & gravy was probably the most amazing thing I ate while there. That was the best cornbread I'd ever had. Chocolate Studio's liquid nitrogen chocolate almond truffle with whiskey caramel sauce was once again the best sweet thing there. The big thing this year however, was the Light Lab. It was cool, & I wish I could say I was impressed , but I was just so underwhelmed. The Glonut special was really good. It was just a glowing donut though. The actual things on the menu were just a little off. I was looking forward to the cotton candy, tonic water drink which was really cool watch be made, but tasted horrible. The drink featured in the video, bleu spectrum, was also pretty underwhelming as well. Not horrible, just not great either. I have to throw out some special mentions. The mojo pork form Islands of the Caribbean was once again to die for, but if you're going for "countries" Belgium is still where it's at. The Belgium waffles with chocolate sauce & beer-braised beef with smoked gouda mashed potatoes make up a dish I could eat for the rest of my life. Anyway, has anyone else out there had the pleasure of attending this year's fest? What were your thoughts, & faves? Put it in the comments, like, & share.

Disney Files Patent For New "Swinging" Ride System

"One goal in designing the ride system was to deliver an experience similar to what it would feel like to be with Tarzan or a similar character swinging between trees of a jungle on a vine or with Spider-Man or a similar character swinging on webs between buildings as you move down streets of a city. [The ride is] intended to have swinging sensation provided while also having forward travel along a ride path in a direction of travel and for the swinging sensation to feel thrilling and fun." That's the description that came with these pictures according to the Orlando Business Journal. Now the real questions are what is this going to be, & where is it going to go? The easy pick would be a Spider-Man ride. To me that just sounds a little iffy with the studio team-up situation Disney has with Sony when it comes to Spider-Man. I could be wrong, but I'm not sure Disney would want to go with an attraction for a property they only have a half interest in. If I had to go with my gut, I'm thinking this is something for either the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster, or the Millenium Falcon attraction planned for Galaxy's Edge. The patent also mentionsthe movement of the swings could be controlled where the arm could be slower at the top of a roll to simulate a pause before swinging downward quickly, speeding up as it reaches the bottom-most part of the swing to simulate natural movements. That also gives me that idea as opposed to it actually being a Spider-Man ride. It's all speculation right now though until we hear more. What do y'all think though? Put it in the comments, like, & share.

"Guardians Of The Galaxy" Ride Coming To EPCOT To Be A Roller Coaster

According to WDW News Today the Vice President of EPCOT, Melissa Valiquette confirmed that the Guardians of the Galaxy ride coming to EPCOT will be yet another roller coaster at the EPCOT 35 celebration. Y'all know how I feel with Disney & coasters, but this is a little different of a scenario. This will be the first coaster added to Epcot since it's inception. I just hope they find a way to keep this attraction on theme to Future World. WDWNT sources claim the coaster will load in the former Universe of Energy attraction, then it will launch guests through a tunnel into a 10-story tall show building. The ride system is reported to be the first of it's kind, but know details as to how it will differ from traditional coasters. I can't wait to hear a little more on this. Like I said I hope they keep theme, but besides that my actual excitement level will depend on just how unique this attraction winds up being. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this one. What do y'all think? Put it in the comments, like, & share.

HAPPY 35th ANNIVERSARY EPCOT!!

I've been waiting to share this gloriously 80s video from Disney Parks to celebrate EPCOT's 35 Anniversary today. EPCOT means a lot to me. From what I hear from most EPCOT means a lot more to me than a lot of people. I got to go to this park when I was a kid, within the first 6 years of the parks life. Later in life I found that this EPCOT greatly differed from Walt's original name for it. This video however, perfectly showcases the EPCOT I fell in love with as a child. Even that young, I remember being amazed by the amazing inventions in Innovations. I was enthralled with the story of life told by Spaceship: Earth. This place holds almost all my earliest memories of life. Figment was all the sudden one of my favorite characters. The dinosaurs from the Energy Ride etched themselves into my brain forever, even if I didn't remember anything else about the ride. Even my parents, & now my wife & kids, are confused by just how much I love Living with the Land. I mean, it's a friggin' boat ride about growing plants, & I'm not the biggest fruit & veggie consumer. It would be a sin not to mention the World Showcase as well. Not only was I blown away at the fact, I could "visit" other countries, developed through amazing feats of engineering in my own, but the rides became instant classics. I can't even put into words how much I miss the original boat ride through Mexico. Even more so the Maelstrom. As much as I love the Frozen ride, the Maelstrom might just be my all time favorite ride. So, that is all the reasons EPCOT means so much to me. To me it's a reminder of the positive, amazing future we should all be striving to achieve for the whole human race. I'm scared that may be beginning to change for my favorite theme park, but only time will tell. Hopefully, as this park goes into it's next chapter throughout the next few years it keeps it's integrity as a vision of humanity's steps into a always better future. Anyway, I went on for long enough, what makes EPCOT special to you? Put it in the comments, like, & share.

Gary Sinise Will No Longer Be Preparing You To Blast Off To "Mission: SPACE!" At EPCOT

I've already mentioned the new missions that will be added to Mission: SPACE! in EPCOT. It seems as if those won't be the only changes to the attraction when it reopens August 13th. According to Chip & Co. the "pre-launch" segment of the ride where they prep you for your trip out of the atmosphere will be changed. No longer will Gary Sinise prepare you to launch. In his place will be Gina Torres who's resume includes Westworld, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, & Xena: Warrior Princess. I know her best from the show/movie I learned about from watching backwards, Serenity & Firefly. If those are new names to you, you're welcome. Honestly though? I think it's really cool to have these rides introduced by celebrities, but in the long run I almost forget who introduces the rides shortly after leaving the park. What does everyone else think though? Is the pre-show to the attraction your thing? Do you cherish who in those videos as much as the attraction itself? Or is this no big deal? Put it in the comments, like, & share.

Disney Is Releasing Some Awesome Retro Gear For Epcot's 35th Anniversary!

October 1st what better way to celebrate Epcot's 35 Anniversary at Walt Disney World Resort than to take it back with some retro-themed merchandise. This stuff is so cool I'm having trouble narrowing down what I actually want to get. I do know at least some of that Figment & Spaceship Earth stuff will be going home with me on my fall visit to the parks though. This really captures the spirit of the original Epcot Center vibe. The nostalgia of the whole thing really gets me, as I'm one of those people who think Epcot is on it's way to, while still being a fun place, abandoning it's original mission to take us into a prosperous future. As a child that theme really stuck with me, & it's a shame we tend to not have a futurist point of view as whole in American society now. It's been replaced with an almost cynical approach to an inevitable post-apocalyptic future or Idiocracy (Great movie, check it out!), whichever comes first. So this is positively a great line of merch in my eyes as it inspires back to a time that actually in itself was inspirational. Can't wait to pick some of this up. Am I alone? Let me know in the comments, like, & share.

Analyzing The New Future World In Epcot Along With Annoucements By Disney Parks & Resort At D23 Expo 2017

Disney Parks put up this video of all the announcements from last weekends D23 Expo. We talked about most all of these here, but Chip & Co. along with Inside the Magic really went in on this "Blue Sky" concept photo of EPCOT's Future World & broke it down. We know EPCOT is going to go through some major changes. The ball that is Spaceship Earth is going nowhere, but the Innoventions &  Character Meet & Greet buildings are gone. This is no big surprise if you've seen the current state of the formally amazing Innovention buildings. Once a showcase for the future, I remember watching them empty out little by little over the years. It looks like EPCOT will be getting much greener with those buildings being replaced by vegetation. If you look in the corner over the announcers heads, there looks to be a hedge maze. Those are always fun, I'm sure Disney has a way to set theirs apart from your average hedge maze. Club Cool & Mouse Gear look like they're getting heavily updated or removed. Speculation points to a new shop & dining area, but we'll have to see. The biggest change is the extra paths to the World Showcase & a giant new water feature. Now even they go on from this point to mention how careful Disney was. With this being an initial vision & anything can happen between this & the final product. It looks a lot more alive than it did, I'll definitely give it that. I think it's funny, no one seems to be mentioning what looks like a small monorail track going around the whole thing though. That's got me a little more than curious. I hope they keep the futuristic theming & tone of the place. In this picture, I will say, it looks like they are. That's always been the intrigue of EPCOT for me though. It seems like one of the last places that paints out a positive future we're heading towards. We like to focus on the "doom & gloom" future now, & I like to have a little more hope than that. All in all, it pains me to see classics leaving. At the same time though, this is Future World. It has to change, if it is to live up to it's name. So, while I welcome the changes only time will tell what my thoughts will be when this is all said & done. Any thoughts on the changes? Anything you see that was missed? Let us know in the comments, like , & share.

EPCOT's Food & Wine Festival Has It's 2017 Menu

I attended the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival last year, & it totally blew away my expectations. The food was amazing, not too horribly priced, & for that matter, you get a little more than just a taste. Honestly, amazing is an understatement when it comes to the food. These various tastes from around the world even made me purchase a cookbook, containing everything we'd tried. Something I'm sure I will repeat this year when we return yet again. Our next visit will be in October. Which just so happens to fall in between August 31st & November 13th, the official dates for the fest this year. Chip & Co. put out the official menu for this year today, & it's definitely got me hungry. A lot of this menu is the same from last year, but the changes that are there look phenomenal. So without further ado, we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair, as the dining room proudly presents your dinner.

Active Eats (NEW!)

Food:

• Loaded Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Nueske’s® Pepper Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Peppers and Green Onions
• Roasted Verlasso Salmon with Quinoa Salad and Arugula Chimichurri (GF)
• Sweet Avocado Crema with Strawberries, Yellow Cake and Tortilla Streusel

Beverages:

• M.I.A. Beer Company HRD WTR Cucumber & Lemon Lime Hard Sparkling Water, Doral, FL
• Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Riesling, Washington
• Evolution by Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley

Africa

Food:

• Berbere-style Beef Tenderloin Tips with Onions, Jalapeños, Tomato and Pap (GF)
• Spicy Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew with Vegan Yogurt and Quinoa
• Spinach and Paneer Cheese Pocket with Mint Raita

Beverages:

• Ernie Els “Big Easy” Chenin Blanc, Western Cape
• Simonsig Pinotage, Stellenbosch
• Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz, Western Cape

The Almond Orchard Hosted by Blue Diamond Almond Breeze (NEW!)

Food:

• Banana Almond Sundae layered with Fresh Berries and topped with Dark Chocolate and Blueberry Almonds

Beverages:

• Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin “Yellow Label” Brut
• Dom Pérignon Brut
• Moët & Chandon Brut Rosé Imperial
• Cold Brew Coffee with Almond Milk Foam

Australia

Food:

Grilled Sweet and Spicy Bush Berry Shrimp with Pineapple, Pepper, Onion and Snap Peas (GF)
Grilled Lamb T-Bone with Mint Pesto and Potato Crunchies (GF)
Lamington: Yellow Cake Dipped in Chocolate and Shredded Coconut

Beverages:

Coopers Brewery Original Pale Ale
Robert Oatley McLaren Vale Shiraz
Hope Estate “Wollombi Brook” Semillon, Hunter Valley

Belgium

Food:

Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream
Beer-braised Beef served with Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes
Belgian Waffle with Warm Chocolate Ganache and Whipped Cream
Beverages:

Hoegaarden Witbier
Leffe Blonde Belgian Pale Ale
Stella Artois Hard Cidre
Chilled Coffee featuring Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

Brazil –

Food:

• Escondidinho de Carne – “Little Hidden One”: Layered Meat Pie with Mashed Yucca (GF)
• Crispy Pork Belly with Black Beans, Tomato and Onions (GF)
• Pão de Queijo: Brazilian Cheese Bread (GF)

Beverages:

• M.I.A. Beer Company Barbosa Black Beer, Doral, FL
• Lidio Carraro Chardonnay
• Frozen Caipirinha featuring LeBlon Cachaça

Brewer’s Collection 

Food:

• Lebkuchenherz: Decorated Gingerbread Heart

Beverages:

• Radeberger Zwickel Pilsner (Unfiltered)
• Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse Naturtrüb
• Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen Pomegranate Beer

Canada

Food:

• Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup served with a Pretzel Roll
• “Le Cellier” Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle-Butter Sauce (GF)

Beverages:

• Moosehead Radler: Lager infused with Grapefruit, Grape and Lemon Juices
• Neige Premiere “Apple Ice Wine”, Québec
• Fielding Estate Red Conception, Niagara Peninsula

The Cheese Studio, Hosted by Boursin® Cheese (NEW)

Food:

• Braised Beef “Stroganoff” with Tiny Egg Noodles, Wild Mushroom, and Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Sauce
• Savory Caramelized Onion Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Tart with Cold Arugula Salad and Aged Balsamic
• Cheese Trio: Profiterole topped with Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese and Orange Apricot Jam, Smoked Salmon Pinwheel with Boursin Shallot and Chive Cheese and Everything Seasoning and Strawberry Macaroon with Boursin Pepper Cheese

Beverages:

• Leth Steinagrund Gruner Veltliner, Austria
• Liberated Pinot Noir, California

China 

Food:

• Beijing Roasted Duck Bao Bun with Hoisin Sauce
• Spicy Chicken Bao Bun
• Black Pepper Shrimp with Garlic Noodles
• Chicken Potstickers

Beverages:

• Tsingtao Lager
• Ritzy Lychee with Courvoisier Cognac VS and Smirnoff Vodka
• Happy Peach with DeKuyper Peach Liqueur and Myers’s Dark Rum
• BaiJoe Punch with Chinese Bai Jui Spirit, Lychee, Coconut and Pineapple Juice
• Mango Bubble Tea with Assam Black Tea and Milk (Non-Alcoholic)

The Chocolate Studio

Food:

• Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey-Caramel (GF)
• Sweet Dark Chocolate Raspberry Torte with Whipped Cream and Raspberry Dust

Beverages:

• Justin Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
• Banfi Rosa Regale, Piedmont
• Lenotti Recioto della Valpolicella, Italy
• RL Buller Fine Muscat

Coastal Eats (NEW!) 

Food:

• Lump Crab Cake with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Avocado Lemongrass Cream
• Baked Shrimp Scampi Dip with Sourdough Baguette
• Seared Scallops with Roasted Corn and Butterbean Succotash and Chili-Chipotle Butter Sauce

Beverages:

• Erath Pinot Gris, Oregon
• Soter Planet Oregon Pinot Noir

Craft Beers 

Food:

• Chilled Scotch Egg wrapped in Sausage with Mustard Sauce
• Zesty Cheeseburger and Cheddar Cheese Macaroni Handwich
• L’Orange Cotton Candy: A mixture of Lime and Orange Cotton Candy

Beverages:

• M.I.A Beer Company 305 Golden Ale, Doral, FL
• JDub’s Passion Wheat, Sarasota, FL
• Central 28 Trekkerbier Farmhouse Ale, DeBary, FL
• Playalinda Brewing Company Blonde Ale, Titusville, FL
• Florida Beer Company Passport 35 Triple Chocolate Milk Stout, Cape Canaveral, FL
• Cigar City Guayabera Citra Pale Ale, Tampa, FL
• Bright Horizons: Sprite® with Multi-flavored Boba Pearls (Non-Alcoholic)

Earth Eats, Inspired by The Chew

Food:

• Ricotta and Zucchini Ravioli with Rustic Tomato Sauce
• Grilled Beef Skewer with Romaine, Apricots, and Feta Cheese
• Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Mousse with a Caramel Drizzle

Beverages:

• Kurt Russell’s Gogi Wines Chardonnay Gogi “Goldie”, California
• Kurt Russell’s Gogi Wines Pinot Noir, California
• Redstone Meadery Black Raspberry Mead

Farm Fresh 

Food:

• Crispy Chicken with Griddled Cornbread and Red Eye Gravy
• Roasted Beet Salad with Green Beans, Feta Cheese, Minus 8 Vinaigrette and Toasted Walnuts (GF)

Beverages:

• Gumption Citrus Freak Hard Cider, Middlebury, VT
• Woodchuck Raspberry Hard Cider, Middlebury, VT
• Two Henrys Elderberry Cream Hard Cider, Plant City, FL
• Florida Orange Groves Mango Mama Wine

Flavors from Fire (NEW!) 

Food:

• Piggy Wings: Roasted Pork Wings with Korean BBQ Sauce and Sesame Seeds
• Smoked Corned Beef with Warm Crispy Potatoes, Pickled Onions and Blonde Ale Beer Fondue featuring BelGioioso Romano and America Grana Cheeses
• Sweet Pancake with Spicy Chipotle Chicken Sausage, Onion Jam and Maple Butter Syrup
• Chocolate Picante: Dark Chocolate Mousse with Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder and Raspberry Dust

Beverages:

• Orlando Brewery Smokin’ Blackwater Porter
• Ravenswood Zinfandel, Napa Valley
• Swine Brine featuring Evan Williams Bourbon

France 

Food:

• Moelleux au Fromage de Chèvre et Épinards: Warm Goat Cheese Pudding with Spinach (GF)
• Croissant aux Escargots: Escargot Croissant with Garlic and Parsley
• Boeuf Bourguignon, Purée de Pommes de Terre: Cabernet Sauvignon Braised Beef with Mashed Potatoes
• Crème Brûlée à la Confiture de Framboises: Crème Brûlée with Housemade Rasberry Jam (GF)

Beverages:

• La Passion Martini Slush: Vodka, Grey Goose Le Citron, Cranberry and Passion Fruit Juice
• Chardonnay, Bouchard Ainé & Fils
• Château les Graves de Barrau: Merlot and Cabernet Blend, Bordeaux
• St-Germain Sparkling Kir: Sparkling Wine and St-Germain Elderflower liqueur
• Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 Pale Lager

Germany 

Food:

• Schinkennudeln: Pasta Gratin with Ham and Cheese
• Roast Bratwurst in a Pretzel Roll
• Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce
• Lebkuchenherz: Decorated Gingerbread Heart

Beverages:

• Radeberger Zwickel Pilsner (Unfiltered)
• Selbach Bernkasteler Kurfürstlay Riesling Kabinett, Mosel
• Dr. Heyden Oppenheimer Sacträger Riesling Spätlese, Rheinhessen
• Selbach Riesling Classic Dry, Mosel

Greece 

Food:

• Loaded Greek “Nachos”: Pita Chips, Meatless Sausage Crumbles, and Vegan Tzatziki
• Taste of Greece: Stuffed Grape Leaves with Lemon Dill Sauce, Grilled Octopus and Feta Cheese Dip with Warm Pita
• Spanakopita
• Bougatsa: Warm Phyllo Dough Strudel with Sweet Vanilla Custard, Lemon Honey Syrup and Cinnamon

Beverages:

• Domaine Skouras Moscofilero, Peloponnese
• Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko, Santorini
• Argyros Atlantis Red Blend, Santorini

Hawaii

Food:

• Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet and Sour DOLE® Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise
• Grilled Tuna Tataki with Seaweed Salad and Pickled Cucumbers and Wasabi Cream
• Teriyaki-glazed SPAM® Hash with Potatoes, Peppers and Onions and Spicy Mayonnaise
• Passion Fruit Cheesecake with Toasted Macadamia Nuts

Beverages:

• Maui Brewing Company Bikini Blonde Lager
• Florida Orange Groves Sparkling Pineapple Wine
• Mai Tai featuring Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum

Hops & Barley

Food:

• New England Lobster Roll
• Smoked Beef Brisket and Pimento Cheese served on Griddled Garlic Toast
• Freshly Baked Carrot Cake and Cream Cheese Icing

Beverages:

• New Belgium Brewing Fat Tire White Ale, Fort Collins, CO
• Anchor Brewing Liberty Ale, San Francisco, CA
• Orange Blossom Brewing Foxtail Cold Brew Coffee Pilsner, Orlando, FL
• Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands
• Atalon Pauline’s Cuvée Red Blend, Napa Valley

India 

Food:

• Warm Indian Bread with Pickled Garlic, Mango Salsa and Coriander Pesto Dips
• Madras Red Curry with Roasted Cauliflower, Baby Carrots, Chickpeas and Basmati Rice (GF)
• Korma Chicken with Cucumber Tomato Salad, Almonds, Cashews and Warm Naan Bread
• Pistachio Cardamom Bundt Cake with Chocolate Coconut Mousse

Beverages:

• Sula Chenin Blanc, Nashik
• Sula Shiraz, Nashik
• Kingfisher Lager
• Mango Lassi (Non-Alcoholic)

Ireland 

Food:

• Roasted Irish Sausage with Colcannon Potatoes and Onion Gravy
• Warm Irish Cheddar Cheese and Stout Dip with Irish Brown Bread
• Warm Chocolate Pudding with Irish Cream Liqueur Custard

Beverages:

• Bunratty Meade Honey Wine
• Guinness Blonde American Lager
• Twinings® Pumpkin Chai Tea Frozen Cocktail with Caramel Vodka
• Twinings Pumpkin Chai Tea and Caramel Shake (Non-Alcoholic)

Islands of the Caribbean 

Food:

• Jamaican Beef Patty with Mango Salsa
• Mojo Pork with Black Beans, Cilantro Rice, and Pickled Red Onions (GF)
• Quesito: Puff Pastry with Sweetened Cream Cheese and Guava Sauce

Beverages:

• Carib Lager
• Caribbean White Sangria
• Frozen Mojito

Italy 

Food:

• Crispy Calamari with Spicy Pomodoro Sauce
• Costoletta di Agnello alla Marchigiana: Braised T-Bone Lamp Chops and Potatoes with Vidalia Onions, Thyme, Bay Leaf and Lamb Jus
• Absolut Penne: Vodka Sauce with Shrimp
• Cannoli al Cioccolato: Chocolate-covered Cannoli filled with Sweet Ricotta, Chocolate and Candied Fruit

Beverages:

• Pinot Grigio
• Chianti
• Prosecco
• Corbinello
• Moscato
• Frozen Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila
• Moretti Lager Beer
• Moretti La Rossa Double Malt Beer

Japan

Food:

• Wasabi Shumai Steamed Pork Dumplings
• Salmon BLT Sushi Roll
• Teriyaki Ginger Pork

Beverages:

• Pom Pineapple Sake Cocktail
• Kara Tamba Tarekuchi Dry Sake
• Yukikage “Snow Shadow” Junmai Sake
• Sapporo Lager

Light Lab (NEW!) 

Beverages:

• T=CC2: Vanilla Tonic Water and Cotton Candy (Non-Alcoholic)
• RGB: Citrus Apple Freeze (Non-Alcoholic)
• Bleu Spectrum: Blanc de Bleu Cuvée Mousseux with Boba Pearls
• Founders Brewing Company Green Zebra Watermelon Gose Ale, Grand Rapids, MI
• Elysian Brewing Space Dust IPA, Seattle, WA
• Blue Point Brewing Company Hoptical Illusion IPA, Patchogue, NY
• Sixpoint Brewery Mad Scientist Radian Flux, Brooklyn, NY
• Playalinda Brewing Company Robonaut Red Ale, Titusville, FL
• Left Hand Brewing Company Polestar Pilsner, Longmont, Colorado

Mexico

Food:

• Rib Eye Taco: Marinated Rib Eye, Roasted Chipotle Sauce and Grilled Scallions on a Corn Tortilla
• Tequila Chipotle Shrimp: Served on a Black Bean Huarache garnished with Red and Green Cabbage, Queso Fresco and Crema Mexicana
• Cajeta Mousse served with Cajeta Sauce and White Chocolate Flakes

Beverages:

• Prickly Pear Margarita
• Classic Pomegranate Margarita
• Mexican-style Sangria
• Pacifico Lager with Floater

Morocco

Food:

• Kefta Pocket: Seasoned Ground Beef in a Pita Pocket
• Spicy Hummus Fries with Cucumber, Tomato, Onions and Tzatziki Sauce
• Chocolate Baklava: Rolled Phyllo Dough with Toasted Almonds and Dark Chocolate Sauce

Beverages:

• Moroccan Sangria
• Casa Pale Lager
• Les Trois Domaines Guerrouane White Wine, Meknes
• Mimosa Royale: Sparkling Wine and Orange Juice topped with Orange Liqueur

New Zealand

Food:

• Lamb Meatball with Spicy Tomato Chutney
• Steamed Green Lip Mussels with Garlic Butter and Toasted Breadcrumbs*
• Seared Venison Loin with Wild Mushroom Marsala Sauce and Kumara Purée

*Mussels provided by Mark Foods

Beverages:

• Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough
• Nobilo Icon Pinot Noir, Marlborough
• Frozen Wine Cocktail featuring Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc

Patagonia 

Food:

• Beef Empanada
• Grilled Beef Skewer with Chimichurri Sauce and Boniato Purée (GF)

Beverages:

• Verum Pinot Noir, Rio Negro
• Bodega Noemía de Patagonia “A Lisa” Malbec, Rio Negro

Scotland  

Food:

• Traditional Scottish Lamb Stew with Neeps and Tatties
• Fresh Potato Pancake with Scottish Smoked Salmon and Herbed Sour Cream
• The Tipsy Laird: Whiskey-soaked Cake with Lemon Cream and Toasted Oats

Beverages:

• Citrus Thistle featuring Hendrick’s Gin
• Belhaven Brewery Scottish Ale

Spain 

Food:

• Charcuterie in a Cone with a selection of imported Spanish Meats, Cheeses, Olives and an Herb Vinaigrette
• Traditional Spanish Paella with Shrimp, Mussels, Chicken and Crispy Chorizo (GF)
• Seafood Salad with Shrimp, Bay Scallops and Mussels, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, White Balsamic Vinegar and Smoked Paprika (GF)
• Sweet Olive Oil Cake with Powdered Sugar and Lemon Curd

Beverages:

• Rafael Palacios Bolo Godello, Valdeorras
• Bodegas y Viñedos Artazu Garnacha Rosado, Navarra
• Casa Castillo Monastrell, Jumilla

Thailand 

Food:

• Marinated Chicken with Peanut Sauce and Stir-fried Vegetables
• Seared Shrimp and Scallop Cake with Cold Noodle Salad
• Red Hot Spicy Thai Curry Beef with Steamed Rice

Beverages:

• Helfrich Gewürztraminer, Alsace
• Singha Lager

The Wine & Dine Studio 

Food:

• Pulled Duck Confit with Cannellini Bean Ragoût and Zinfandel Reduction
• Seared Scallops, Truffled Celery Root Purée, Brussel Sprouts and Wild Mushrooms featuring Melissa’s Produce
• Trio of Artisan Cheese
  • Fromager Affirois de Excellence served with toasted Baguette
  • Point Reyes Original Blue served with Apricot Jam
  • Point Reyes Toma served with Honey
• Artist Palette of Cheese and Wine
  • Trio of Artisan Cheese paired with Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc, St. Francis Chardonnay and Recuerdo Malbec

Beverages:

• Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford
• St. Francis Chardonnay, Sonoma County
• Recuerdo Malbec, Argentina
• Eden Canyon “Jolie” Red Blend, California
• Meiomi Rosé, California

Block & Hans 

Beverages:

• Mmmhops Pale Ale, Tulsa, OK
• Frozen Spiked Tea with Orlando Orange Vodka
• McKenzie’s Seasonal Reserve Hard Cider, West Seneca, NY
• Honor Warrior IPA, Chantilly, VA
• JDub’s Bell Cow Porter, Sarasota, FL
• Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, Lexington, KY
• Victory Golden Monkey, Downingtown, PA
• Killer Whale Cream Ale, Jacksonville, FL

Fife & Drum

Beverages:

• Hanson Brother’s Festive Ale Saison, Tulsa, OK

Intermissions Café  

Food:

• Asian Chicken Salad with Noodles
• Southwest Chicken Wrap
• Tuna Salad with a Croissant
• Vegetable Wrap
• Hummus with Carrots and Celery
• Fruit and Cheese Plate
• Grapes
• Assorted Blue Diamond Almond Packs
• Duda Farms Celery Snackers
• Key Lime Pie
• Brownie

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company  

Beverages:

• The American Adventure: Frozen Strawberry-Lemon Sunset – Layered frozen Strawberry and Lemon topped with Grey Goose Vodka
• Canada: Kahlúa-tini Iced Coffee – Our famous roasted coffee, chilled then topped with Kahlúa, Grey Goose Vodka and rich, creamy Half & Half
• Disney Traders: Passion-rita – Frozen Passion Fruit thrills with juicy sweet flavors, a hint of tartness, blended with 1800 Tequila
• Future World East: Spiked Chai Latte – Iced, Frozen or Hot Chai Tea Latte with Chai Spices, creamy Vanilla and blended with Baileys Irish Cream

Refreshment Cool Post

Food:

• Spicy Hot Dog with Kimchi and Mustard Sauce

Beverages:

• Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky & Frozen Coke

Refreshment Port 

Food:

• Croissant Doughnut with Cinnamon and Sugar
• Fried Chicken Breast Nuggets with DOLE Pineapple Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Pineapple Dole Whip Soft-Serve Ice Cream

Beverages:

• Pineapple DOLE Whip Soft-Serve Ice Cream with Bacardi Coconut Rum
• Dragon Berry Refresher featuring Bacardi Dragon Berry Rum

The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar
Hosted by Ghirardelli Chocolate Company  

Beverages:

• Banfi Rosa Regale, Piedmont
• Ghirardelli Drinking Chocolate
• Lasseter Chemin de Fer

Siemens Is Pulling Out Of Illuminations & Spaceship Earth Of Epcot

It a big dose of "say it ain't so", Chip & Co. reports Siemens Corporation will not be renewing their contract with Disney. Leaving Illuminations &, more important to myself, Spaceship Earth, residing in EPCOT's giant ball, without a corporate sponsor. This would be the first time in in it's existence Spaceship Earth will be without sponsor. This really worries me. The trip through the ages of time is hands down my favorite ride in EPCOT. It's not only a classic, it's educational value is what EPCOT was originally about after the original plans were changed into a theme park. I hit this ride twice every time I attend Epcot, & would be really sad to see it go. What about y'all? Who's experienced this classic, & doesn't want to see it go? For that matter who thinks should be replaced, I would love to know why? Let us know in the comments, like, & share.

Let's Talk About Rumored Changes Coming To EPCOT

With multiple outlets talking about the many permits recently filed, freeing up space for expansion of EPCOT in Disneyworld. Rumors are abound as to what they may mean. We were told last November that EPCOT would be going through some "major transformation" in the years to come, & these are likely the first signs. Take into mind besides the permits everything you're about to read is only rumor at this time. The biggest rumor that seems pretty spot on is making room for a new Ratatouille ride ( Ratatouille: The Adventure, Disneyland Paris ) in the France pavilion of the World Showcase. Like I said this one seems pretty on point, & I've always felt like the World Showcase need another ride or two to help even it out. Two never felt like enough. Plus, they're so close to each other. On top of that there's some extra room being made, as well as freeing up more space behind Ellen's Energy Adventure ride, causing some to think it will be replaced with something else. This really hurts me. I love that ride. It's had a place in my heart since I was a kid, & the dinosaurs, much like the Carousel of Progress, make me think of Walt. There's very little of that magic left. Rumored things to be added include a new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction, a Big Hero 6 devoted attraction, or a version of the amazing TRON Lightcycle Power Run from Disneyland Shanghai. As much as it hurts to lose a ride I love, at least if any of these three rumors are right, they include two if my favorite movies & the ability to ride a TRON cycle. Wanted to do that for a long time. So that's all the rumors I've heard so far, let me know down below what you think of these developments, or if you've heard anything else. If I here any further developments I'll make sure to let ya know. Don't forget to like & share.

"Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival" Have Announced It's New Shorts

After it's refurbishment on June 19th EPCOT's Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival will be reopening with some changes. Originally playing with Get A Horse, La Luna & For the Birds will be replaced. All of Pixar's shorts are always instant classics, so I'm guessing this was a hard pick. According to Chip & Co. that pick has been made though. They will be replaced with Feast & Piper, two very good picks. I love both of these, even ifI personally feel like this Film Festival is a waste of EPCOT's theater. Once known for the 3D Captain EO starring the late Michael Jackson & the 4D Honey We Shrunk the Audience this was one my most cherished spots in EPCOT. I luckily got to see one of the last of the special presentations of Captain EO during it's run last year. Here's a look at the replacement shorts below. Let us know what you think of the switch down below, as well as what you think of this versus it's old attractions as I'm very curious to see what others think of this.