LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (October 28, 2018) – This Wednesday night, as the last Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party of 2018 comes to a close at midnight, crews will get busy orchestrating an overnight transformation of the Magic Kingdom.

It’s amazing to see. There are several good videos of the process, but we think this is one of the best.

It’s 2 minutes of watching Magic happen. https://youtu.be/QWqFMn-dLlc

Remember, when planning for your next Disney Vacation, Griswold’s Magical Memoriesoffers the lowest prices available on rental of Deluxe Disney Vacation Club Villas at savings that are often more than 50% less than booking directly through Disney Central Reservations. Take a look at examples of actual savings our Vacationers have enjoyed, and then submit your Free, No Obligation Reservation Request Formtoday!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (October 25, 2018, 2018) – A new nature-inspired, mixed-use Disney resort will welcome families in 2022 along the picturesque shoreline of Bay Lake. Located between Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, this resort project joins three others underway at Walt Disney World Resort, bringing a total of more than 1,700 new hotel rooms and proposed Disney Vacation Club villas online over the next four years.

The deluxe resort, which will be themed to complement its natural surroundings, will include more than 900 hotel rooms and proposed Disney Vacation Club villas spread across a variety of unique accommodation types.

“Walt Disney World is in the midst of our most significant expansion in the last two decades and the combined 1,700 new hotel rooms and proposed Disney Vacation Club villas we are building at four different resorts will create thousands of new construction and permanent jobs and will drive economic opportunity and incremental revenue for Central Florida,” said George A. Kalogridis, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “We continue to add new attractions, new lands — and these beautiful accommodations will be right in the heart of all that magic.”

The soon-to-be named resort is slated to be Disney’s 16th Disney Vacation Club property and it will continue to build on the value and flexibility of a Disney Vacation Club membership.

“This resort experience will be a celebration of Walt Disney’s lifelong love and respect for nature, with some fun and even surprising accommodation types that families will find irresistible,” said Terri Schultz, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Vacation Club. “It will give our members and guests yet another opportunity to stay in close proximity to all the newest attractions and experiences in our theme parks, and with the flexibility, value and world-class service families expect from Disney.”

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort will debut completely reimagined in 2019, featuring a new 15-story tower overlooking Lago Dorado, the resort’s centerpiece lake. Offering an additional 545 new guest rooms and suites, the tower also includes a two-level entrance lobby, concierge lounge, new meeting spaces and more. Guests will also be able to enjoy rooftop dining at a specialty table-service restaurant with panoramic views. The existing 1,800 guest rooms have all been fully updated with new fixtures, furnishings and a color palette that ties the entire resort together.

Also currently under construction near Epcot and anticipated to open in 2019 is Disney’s Riviera Resort, the 15th Disney Vacation Club property. With plans for approximately 300 units across a variety of accommodation types, this much-anticipated property will connect to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the International Gateway at Epcot via the Disney Skyliner. This new resort will be the first all-Disney Vacation Club property at Walt Disney World since Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa opened in 2004.

Seamlessly connected to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, an immersive Star Wars-inspired destination will also be built at Walt Disney World Resort. This first-of-its-kind resort will be a completely immersive experience into an authentic Star Warsstory as guests depart together for a multiday adventure aboard their starship. Guests will interact with characters as they become active citizens of the galaxy, dressed in proper attire as stories unfold all around them.

These resort projects join a flurry of expansion at Walt Disney World Resort, including the highly successful Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the recent debut of Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In early 2019, Walt Disney World will unveil a collection of shows, parties, Disney character interactions and more that will allow guests to cherish time with family and friends. And later in the year, guests will be able to travel to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where they can live out their own adventures in a galaxy far, far away. Guests will realize now more than ever is the perfect time to experience all of the fun and magic of a Walt Disney World vacation.

Remember, when planning for your next Disney Vacation, Griswold’s Magical Memoriesoffers the lowest prices available on rental of Deluxe Disney Vacation Club Villas at savings that are often more than 50% less than booking directly through Disney Central Reservations. Take a look at examples of actual savings our Vacationers have enjoyed, and then submit your Free, No Obligation Reservation Request Formtoday!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (September 19, 2018) – While summer is just barely in the rear-view mirror, many of our Vacationers are gearing up with great anticipation for their Thanksgiving and Christmas / New Years trips to the Happiest Place on Earth.

We are asked often about crowd levels. Not that long ago, we could consistently point them to historically slow periods like the weeks after labor day, right after New Years until mid-February, and so forth. That’s just not the case any ore. Disney has done a masterful job filling their parks (and resort hotels and villas) with all manner of special events from the fall Epcot Food & Wine Festival, Marathon Weekends in January, and so on.

At minimum, as you plan for crowds, it can be helpful to know how Disney itself classifies capacity levels at their theme parks. This is especially true if you plan to attend at times we all know will be busy, like Christmas and New Years (See the Photo for a shot of the Magic Kingdom crowd on a recent Christmas Week evening.)

On days like that, the parks actually do reach capacity, and visitors can find themselves turned away. To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, be aware of the Disney’s four phases Disney invokes if they actually are nearing full capacity.

Here are their phases for the Magic Kingdom:

Phase 1 Park Closure

The following will be turned away at the parking lot booth:

• Holders a “Magic Your Way” ticket
• Holders of Non-Magic Kingdom one-day ticket
• Holders of Cast Member passes
• Vacationers who have not yet purchased any ticket

The attendants will have these guest turn-around and head the other way. You are able to drive to another Disney theme park to see if they will let you in, because those parks may not have hit capacity, yet.

Phase 2 Park Closure:

In addition to Phase 1, everyone is stopped from entering except the people in the list below. If the parking lots are full for anyone on the list below, that merely stops their car from entering and parking during this phase. Those people could park in another theme park lot and take transportation to the desired theme park during this phase as long as you fall under one of the following:

• Disney Resort guests
• Swan and Dolphin resort guests
• Annual Passholders
• Guests with Park Hopper tickets coming from another park
• Guests who are re-entering the park
• Guests who have dining reservations inside a park
• Guests who have reservations at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique/Pirates League
• Guests who pre-purchased one-day Magic Kingdom tickets
• Guests who have used Walt Disney World Transportation from their resort and guests riding on a bus from Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels by Disney Springs

Phase 3 Park Closure:

At this point, only the following are allowed in the park.

• Disney resort guests
• Annual Passholders
• Guests with dining reservations (proof of reservation required to enter)
• Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique/Pirates League

Phase 4 Park Closure:

The Park is now closed to all guests until a significant number of people leave the Park.

But remember, just because a park is closed, does not mean the other three parks are closed. It’s important to be flexible during the busy times knowing you could be turned away.

The Magic Kingdom tends to fill up first. If you can’t get into the Magic Kingdom first thing in the morning, plan on going to one of the other parks.

Christmas Week through New Year’s Day and periods around Easter tend to be the days with the highest probability of hitting capacity. On New Year’s Eve in 2014, for instance, the Magic Kingdom was in Phase 2 by 9:40 am. Shortly after 11 am, the Magic Kingdom was in Phase 3. It wasn’t long before they were in Phase 4 for several hours.

It is clear that your best bet if you are visiting during a peak period is to take advantage of the benefits of staying at a Disney Resort hotel or Disney Vacation Club Villa. This make it especially important to remember, when planning for your next Disney Vacation, Griswold’s Magical Memoriesoffers the lowest prices available on rental of Deluxe Disney Vacation Club Villas at savings that are often more than 50% less than booking directly through Disney Central Reservations. Take a look at examples of actual savings our Vacationers have enjoyed, and then submit your Free, No Obligation Reservation Request Form today!

 

 

 

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (September, 2018) – We had a chance to make our first rapid-fire pass through this year’s edition of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and while doing so had the thought that nothing beats getting to see the actually menu placard set-up at all the food kiosks. The online menus and such are great, but seeing the actual signs really does make a difference.

So, we thought for those who feel the same way, we’d spend most of our first pass around World Showcase this year snapping photos of the menus, and here they are:

Remember, when planning for your next Disney Vacation, Griswold’s Magical Memoriesoffers the lowest prices available on rental of Deluxe Disney Vacation Club Villas at savings that are often more than 50% less than booking directly through Disney Central Reservations. Take a look at examples of actual savings our Vacationers have enjoyed, and then submit your Free, No Obligation Reservation Request Formtoday!

 

 

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Aug 27, 2018) – The 2018 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival kicks off Thursday (August 30), and Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will receive a little something extra. This year, APs will be able to pick up two special gifts just for attending anytime from Aug. 30 – Nov. 12, 2018, and it isn’t just a magnet this time around.

 

Now, the awesome Chef Mickey cutting board you see above can be yours, but not on your first visit. The first time you visit the Epcot Food & Wine Festival as an Annual Passholder, you will be able to pick up your Chef Mickey magnet.

 

This is an awesome magnet (below) to add to the collection of AP magnets which started coming out back in December.

 

On your fourth visit to Epcot during the F&W Festival, APs will be able to pick up their incredibly awesome Chef Mickey cutting board.

 

To redeem this offer and pick up your complimentary gifts, please visit the theatre across from The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar, hosted by Ghirardelli® Chocolate Company—located in the Festival Center.

 

Remember, when planning for your next Disney Vacation, Griswold’s Magical Memoriesoffers the lowest prices available on rental of Deluxe Disney Vacation Club Villas at savings that are often more than 50% less than booking directly through Disney Central Reservations. Take a look at examples of actual savings our Vacationers have enjoyed, and then submit your Free, No Obligation Reservation Request Formtoday!

 

 

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Aug 24, 2018) – Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) has become one of the most anticipated annual events of the year at Walt Disney World. And there are a lot of good reasons. From special parades, shows and fireworks, to some of the most enticing special treats for foodies, and yes, trick-or-treating around the Magic Kingdom.

For some, though, it’s all about the characters. Disney brings several characters to MNSSHP that are seldom (if ever) seen around the parks. For fans who fancy the rare and cherished sitings, photo ops, and autographs, it is the most magical part of MNSSHP.

To help you find that special character (or those special characters) here’s Griswold’s Magical Memories list of the locations to find each character during MNSSHP:

Liberty Square

• Jack Skellington and Sally – Gazebo
• The Gravediggers – Near Liberty Square Riverboat

Frontierland

• Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox – Wandering around
• Brer Bear – Also wandering around, but only saw him one time the entire night

Adventureland

• Moana – Queue for Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
• Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, Abu – Switch out (usually two at a time) in Agrabah
• Jafar – Not far away from the rest of the Aladdincharacters in Agrabah
• Captain Jack Sparrow – Across from Pirates of the Caribbean on Pirate tutorial stage
• Tarzan, Jane, Terk – Next to Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, across from Skipper Canteen

Tomorrowland

• Elvis Stitch – Inside of Stitch’s Great Escape
• Lotso – Outside of the exit of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Sully, George, Mike, Boo – They will be in the Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball at the Tomorrowland Stage: This is not a meet-and-greet, but a dance party

Storybook Circus

• Princess Daisy and Pumpkin Donald –  Casey Jr. Splash ‘n Soak Station
• Goofy – Barnstormer
• Witch Minnie Mouse – Casey Jr. Splash ‘n Soak Station
• Seven Dwarfs – Inside of the big tent of Pete’s Silly Side Show
• Timon, Doc McStuffins – They will be in the Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam in the tent near Pete’s: This is not a meet-and-greet, but a dance party

Main Street U.S.A.

• Mickey Mouse – Town Square Theater

Fantasyland

• Cinderella, Princess Elana, Princess Tiana, Rapunzel – Princess Fairytale Hall
• Anastasia and Drizella – Wandering around near the mid-castle walls
• Cruella DeVil – Wandering around near Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Belle and Gaston – Between Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts
• Alice and Mad Hatter – Next to Mad Tea Party
• Queen of Hearts, Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum – Next to Mad Tea Party
• Ariel and Prince Eric – Across from Ariel’s Grotto, next to Prince Eric’s Market
• Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger – A Place For Friends To Meet next to Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh,

Remember, when planning for your next Disney Vacation, Griswold’s Magical Memoriesoffers the lowest prices available on rental of Deluxe Disney Vacation Club Villas at savings that are often more than 50% less than booking directly through Disney Central Reservations. Take a look at examples of actual savings our Vacationers have enjoyed, and then submit your Free, No Obligation Reservation Request Formtoday!

 

 

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Aug 19, 2018) – At this time of year, when it comes for the best “eats” at Walt Disney World, it is oh so easy from us Disney fans to focus on the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival that kicks off August 30 for t’s 23^rdannual run.

There’s more to finding great food and drink at WDW in the fall than just the marquee Epcot event. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP), another big fan favorite that is growing in popularity each year also offers a bountiful and themed menu for the senses.

As the folks over at the Disney Parks Blog put it, “There’s some SPOOKY treats appearing at Magic Kingdom Park for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year, and ALL of the ghouls and ghosts are raving about them. What’s even more exciting is that the party starts TOMORROW! So what are you waiting for? Here’s your list of all the treats you can find at this year’s Halloween celebration.”

 

Here are some of the highlights MNSSHP-goers can expect. Note that some are available all day, everyday through Halloween on October 31. Others will be available on on the specific nights of MNSSHPs.

 

• No-So-Poison Apple Cupcake – Main Street Bakery(Pictured here and available daily through October 31)Magic mirror on the wall…show me the tastiest cupcake of them all! Snow White would definitely love to eat this spiced “apple” cupcake with pecan crunch and buttercream.
• Halloween Cinnamon Roll – Main Street Bakery(available daily through October 31)This deliciously spooky Mickey-shaped cinnamon roll is topped with icing and a chocolate spider web.
• Pumpkin Cheesecake – Main Street Bakery(available on party nights only)
  Topped with a chocolate Mickey Pumpkin, the gluten-friendly Pumpkin Cheesecake is sure to be a ghoulish delight with gluten-friendly vanilla pecan cake and caramel glaze.
• Minnie Witch Brownie – Casey’s Corner(available daily through October 31)
  This decadent brownie just flew in to Casey’s Corner and is topped with a white chocolate piece featuring the one and only FABULOUS Minnie Mouse, dressed in her Halloween best!
• Hades Nachos – Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café(available on party nights only)
  Turn up the heat with the Hades Nachos. These black bean nacho chips are topped with fiery buffalo chicken and your choice of toppings from the topping bar!
• Worms & Dirt – Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café(available on party nights only; available daily starting October 1)
  These gummy worms have been laid to rest. No mourning, please, at their request. The Worms & Dirt chocolate pudding comes topped with gluten-friendly cake crumbs, gummy worms, and a chocolate grave stone.
• Treats at the Cider House(available on party nights only)Nearby at the Cider House (Golden Oak Outpost), you’ll find some refreshing Apple Cider. Pair it with a Warm Caramel-Stuffed Pretzel or a few Cinnamon Donuts and you’ve got yourself a frighteningly sweet snack!
• Zero Waffle Sundae – Sleepy Hollow(available on party nights only; available daily starting October 1)Everyone’s favorite ghostly good boy, Zero, has some special pumpkin waffles for you here at Sleepy Hollow. This sundae comes topped vanilla ice cream, sprinkles, and a caramel drizzle.
• Jack Skellington Cake Push Pop – Sleepy Hollow(available on party nights only)
  If there is an empty place inside those bones, then you should fill it with the Jack Skellington Cake Push Pop. It comes layered with chocolate cake, vanilla buttercream, white chocolate and dark chocolate crispy pearls, dark chocolate curls, and a white chocolate Jack Skellington piece.
• Madame Leota Dessert – Liberty Square Market(available on party nights only)Dear, sweet Leota, beloved by all. In regions beyond now, but having a ball-shaped dessert. You don’t need a fortune teller to see this sweet treat in your future! The Madame Leota Dessert has a vanilla tart shell filled with toasted marshmallow pastry crème and topped with crispy pearls, chocolate, and a hard candy garnish.
• Hitchhiking Ghost Dessert – Aloha Isle(available on party nights only)These hungry ghosts have hitchhiked all the way to Adventureland – and they’ve brought this Doom Buggy-inspired Cream Puff with them! It’s filled with cookies and cream mousse and topped with a chocolate piece featuring the Hitchhiking Ghosts.
• Oogie Boogie Meringue – Gaston’s Tavern(available on party nights only)
  You’re joking! You’re JOKING! This thing is gluten-friendly? That’s right – this pomegranate-cherry gelée with gummy worms is topped with glow-in-the-dark meringue AND it’s gluten-friendly. How cool is that?
• Maleficent Dessert – Storybook Treats(available daily through October 31)
  LISTEN WELL – ALL OF YOU! The Maleficent Dessert has arrived at Storybook Treats! It comes with lime soft-serve in a black waffle cone and topped with purple sugar and chocolate horns.
• Candy Corn Ice Cream – Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies(available daily through October 31)Satisfy that candy corn sweet tooth with this yummy soft-serve ice cream. Get it in a cone or in a sundae!
• Candy Corn Milkshake – Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies(available daily through October 31)We didn’t just stop at candy corn ice cream. This year we’ve created the Candy Corn Milkshake! The perfect Halloween treat – it’s topped with cotton candy and a Mickey-shaped marshmallow.
• Muenster Smash Burger – Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café(available on party nights only)Feed that monstrous appetite with the Muenster Smash Burger served on a black bun with Muenster cheese, tots, and Sriracha aïoli.

 

Tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party can be purchased online at the Walt Disney World Resort Website.

Remember, when planning for your next Disney Vacation, Griswold’s Magical Memoriesoffers the lowest prices available on rental of Deluxe Disney Vacation Club Villas at savings that are often more than 50% less than booking directly through Disney Central Reservations. Take a look at examples of actual savings our Vacationers have enjoyed, and then submit your Free, No Obligation Reservation Request Formtoday!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Aug 13, 2018) – For some folks, the annual Epcot International Food & Wine Fest has less to do with food and drinks, and more to do with the music.

The “Eat to the Beat” Concert Series staged at Epcot during each fall’s Food & Wine Fest is known for attracting top-flight musical acts that provide free performances in the intimate American Garden Theatre stage at the Theme Parks (you guessed it) American Pavillion.

This year, nine new acts join hit makers of all genres appearing Aug. 30 – Nov. 12. In all Thirty-two musical acts will perform during the 23^rd Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Aug. 30-Nov. 12, 2018. These performers represent a diverse collection of hit-makers from pop to country to R&B and more.

The concert series packs a powerful lineup ready to rock the America Gardens Theatre stage at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. daily. Eat to the Beat welcomes nine new-to-the-festival bands including Mercy Me, Sheila E and Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts, who join 23 returning acts.

The lineup (included in Epcot admission and subject to change) includes the following artists, best known for these popular songs:

Aug. 30-31                Blue October – “Into the Ocean”

Sept. 1-3                   Tiffany – “I Think We’re Alone Now”

Sept. 4-5                   NEW! Mercy Me – “I Can Only Imagine”

Sept. 6-7                   NEW! Glass Tiger – “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)”

Sept. 8-9                   NEW! Tauren Wells – “Hills and Valleys”

Sept. 10-11               Postmodern Jukebox – Vintage-style covers of modern hits

Sept. 12-13               NEW! Vertical Horizon – “Everything You Want”

Sept. 14-16               Baha Men – “Who Let the Dogs Out”

Sept. 17-19                Plain White T’s – “Hey There Delilah”

Sept. 20-21                Living Colour – “Cult of Personality”

Sept. 22-23                NEW! Sheila E – “The Glamorous Life”

Sept. 24-26               Sugar Ray – “Every Morning”

Sept. 27-28                David Cook – “Light On”

Sept. 29-30               Jeffrey Osborne – “On the Wings of Love”

Oct. 1-2                     NEW! Jim Belushi & the Sacred Hearts – Soulful R&B covers

Oct. 3-4                     Everclear – “Santa Monica”

Oct. 5-7                     Mark Wills – “19 Something”

Oct. 8-10                   Air Supply – “All Out of Love”

Oct. 11-12                 NEW! Anderson East  – “All on My Mind”

Oct. 13-14                 Smash Mouth – “All Star”

Oct. 15-16                 NEW! 98 Degrees  – “Give Me Just One Night”

Oct. 17-18                 38 Special – “Hold On Loosely”

Oct. 19-21                 The Devon Allman Project – “Ragged and Dirty”

Oct. 22-23                 Kenny G – “Songbird”

Oct. 24-25                 Billy Ocean – “Get Outta My Dreams”

Oct. 26-28                 Starship featuring Mickey Thomas – “We Built this City”

Oct. 29-31                 Hanson – “MMMBop”

Nov. 1-2                   NEW! High Valley – “She’s with Me.”

Nov. 3-4                   Taylor Dayne – “Prove Your Love”

Nov. 5-7                   Boyz II Men – “End of the Road”

Nov. 8-9                   The Hooters – “And We Danced”

Nov. 10-12                Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – “Go Daddy-O”

Also note, that Festival-goers still have time book “Eat to the Beat” Dining Packages at 15 popular Epcot restaurants, guaranteeing a breakfast, lunch or dinner reservation and confirmed seating at a same-day Eat to the Beat concert. Reservations can be booked at (407) WDW-FEST or (407) 939-3378. Visit TasteEpcot.com for details.

Remember, when planning for your next Disney Vacation, Griswold’s Magical Memoriesoffers the lowest prices available on rental of Deluxe Disney Vacation Club Villas at savings that are often more than 50% less than booking directly through Disney Central Reservations. Take a look at examples of actual savings our Vacationers have enjoyed, and then submit your Free, No Obligation Reservation Request Formtoday!

 

 

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Aug 7, 2018) – We say it all the time: We love what we do. We are passionate, committed (or should be) Disney World Fanatics, who spend our days helping folks enjoy their own special Disney Magic with a memorable vacation at the “Happiest Place on Earth” at sometime ridiculous discounts.

You can always see some of our “Examples of Savings” on our website, but a recent example from last week is so astounding, we wanted to call it out in a special blog post. We saved a family of 4 over $1725 on a 1-week stay at Animal Kingdom Villas next March.

Click here to fill out a FREE, no-obligation Reservation Request formand find out how you can enjoy the same savings as hundreds of extremely satisfied Griswold Vacationers!

Remember, when planning for your next Disney Vacation, Griswold’s Magical Memoriesoffers the lowest prices available on rental of Deluxe Disney Vacation Club Villas at savings that are often more than 50% less than booking directly through Disney Central Reservations. Take a look at examples of actual savings our Vacationers have enjoyed, and then submit your Free, No Obligation Reservation Request Form today!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Aug 6, 2018) – The aromas and flavors of more than 30 global food and beverage marketplaces, plus a full menu of new offerings such as “Sunday Brunch with the Chef” series, will welcome guests to Epcot during the 23^rd Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Aug. 30-Nov. 12, 2018.

Throughout the celebrated 75-day event, guests will have a chance to meet their favorite celebrity chefs, try a new Food & Beverage Pairing in the Festival Center each Friday through Sunday, and get their gourmet groove on at nightly Eat to the Beat Concert Series shows. The first of five popular Party for the Senses events will kick off Sept. 22 in the park’s World ShowPlace Events pavilion.

One of America’s top food festivals since 1996, the Epcot dine-around extravaganza will surprise guests with new and inspiring sips and bites throughout the park’s World Showcase and on into several Future World venues.

Here’s the latest festival buzz:

• The NEW Taste Track global marketplace featuring specialty croissant doughnuts (add gelato for an extra-sweet treat) joins dozens of popular returning marketplaces. For a fourth year, global marketplaces will extend into Future World to offer brand-new taste sensations. Disney chefs are in the kitchen whipping up delicious new bites like Butternut Squash Ravioli with brown butter vinaigrette, Parmesan cheese and pumpkin seeds at The Wine & Dine Studio; Charred Chimichurri Skirt Steak with smoked corn cake, pickled vegetable slaw and cilantro aïoli at Flavors from Fire; and New Brunswick Slider, slow-braised beef brisket “pot roast-style” on a potato roll with horseradish cream, crispy fried onions and pickled vegetables on the side at the Hops & Barley
• The NEW “Sunday Brunch with the Chef” series in World ShowPlace will kick off Sept. 2 with Top Chef All-Star Richard Blais and continue on select Sundays through Nov. 11 with a lineup that includes Jamie Deen, Tiffani Thiessen, Masaharu Morimoto, Buddy Valastro, Art Smith, Geoffrey Zakarian, Carla Hall and Alex Guarnaschelli.
• Eat to the Beat concerts – 225 shows in all – will rev up the America Gardens Theatre stage three times each night with new musical acts including Vertical Horizon, Sheila E, 98 Degrees, MercyMe and Glass Tiger, along with returning festival favorites spanning a broad range of eras and genres from rock and pop to rhythm and blues.
• The grandest of the festival’s don’t-miss tasting events, Party for the Senses at World ShowPlace, will welcome acclaimed chefs and vintners Sept. 22, Oct. 6, 13, 20 and Nov. 10 to showcase creative bites and palate-pleasing sips with sensational live entertainment.
• “Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” hands-on workshops Wednesdays and Thursdays will offer new opportunities for guests to interact with visiting chefs, bakers, mixologists and other pros. Event hosts and topics will be announced this summer.
• Popular TV chefs and other culinary icons will entertain guests and inspire their palates at festival seminars and other events. Just a few of the big names on tap are Robert Irvine, Maneet Chauhan, Jet Tila, Shaun O’Neale, Keegan Gerhard, Dan Pashman and Rock Harper.

Throughout the festival, park guests can pair wines, beers and cocktails with savory and sweet dishes as they stroll the park and let their complimentary festival passports be their guide. As guests explore, they’ll find something for everyone in the family:

• A “Ratatouille”-inspired adventure is back as Chef Remy encourages families to play together during Remy’s Ratatouille Hide ‘n’ Squeak scavenger hunt. This year Remy is hiding in all new locations!

Other returning favorites include:

• The complimentary Back to Basics weekend series offered in the Festival Center will share epicurean tips and tricks from the pros. Book and bottle signings by some of the world’s top vintners will be available, and The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar, hosted by Ghirardelli, will offer guest samples.
• Culinary Demonstrations and Beverage Seminars will offer daily learning and tasting sessions at the Festival Center. On select Saturdays, Cheese Seminars will be a fromage fan’s delight.
• Eat to the Beat Dining Packages and other Specialty Dining and Pairing events will be on tap at a number of Epcot participating restaurants. Bookings for special programming and premium festival events is open now.

Included with Epcot Admission

Back to Basics series, book signings, Eat to the Beat concerts, Festival Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.

Special Programming by Reservation

Party for the Senses grand tasting events, signature dinners and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. Guests can call (407) WDW-FEST (939-3378) to make reservations and find more details at TasteEpcot.com.

Remember, when planning for your next Disney Vacation, Griswold’s Magical Memoriesoffers the lowest prices available on rental of Deluxe Disney Vacation Club Villas at savings that are often more than 50% less than booking directly through Disney Central Reservations. Take a look at examples of actual savings our Vacationers have enjoyed, and then submit your Free, No Obligation Reservation Request Form today!