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John and Donna Gross "The Full Mickey - At a Discount!" The Wall Street Journal
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Walt Disney coined the word Epcot, which means Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. To us it means Every person comes out tired! Epcot has two parts: Future World, where exhibits present the latest developments in science and technology; and World Showcase, where pavilions represent 11 countries. Epcot is like a World's Fair, but much better!
Rebecca writes: "I signed up to receive The Disney News a few weeks ago, and I really enjoyed the newsletter. I then started visiting the attached links and found out how to become a member. My family used to go to Disney World multiple times a year for 15 years, but then my father lost his job and my mother developed M.S. so we could no longer afford to go every year. After 7 very long years of no Disney I managed to save up enough money to take my family on a trip last October. As soon as we were back on property the bug had bit again! We planned a new trip for this september (the weather is better for my mom's M.S. then, and my father fell in love with the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot). We still need to save as much as we can and your wonderful program makes it possible for people like us to continue to live out our dreams." Thank you, Rebecca, for your kind words. Be sure to see the latest version of our book, "Secrets To An Affordable Walt Disney World® Vacation," for hundreds of tips and insider secrets to make your Disney dream vacation fun and affordable!
Phone Lines Open July 20 For Epcot International Food Wine Festival Special Events
Via Napoli Opens Next Month at Epcot
Check it out: Two Jacksons -- sort of -- at Epcot
‘Captain EO’ 3-D Spectacular Returns to Epcot July 2 Just in time to add more joyous, uproarious fun to the Fourth of July weekend, "Captain EO" begins a reprise at Walt Disney World Resort July 2. The classic musical spectacular that thrilled Epcot guests from 1986-1994 will provide new Epcot audiences the opportunity to experience the original 3-D production for the very first time - and give longtime fans a nostalgic look back to see Michael Jackson in a rare performance created for the big screen. Twenty-four years ago, Jackson joined forces with Disney, producer George Lucas and director Francis Ford Coppola to create a groundbreaking 17-minute 3-D film experience starring Jackson as Captain EO performing two original songs, and featuring Academy Award®-winning actress Anjelica Huston, and a cast of merry, mythical space characters with dual personalities who undergo magical transformations to become Jackson's electronic band in conquering the forces of darkness. For all its technology, "Captain EO" is first and foremost a musical spectacular and a thrilling space-fantasy adventure. The realism of the 3-D process will once again make it seem that Jackson dances right out of the screen into the theater. While it’s not possible to replicate some of the special effects elements originally in the theater, it will boast a new 70mm print of the film and sound better than ever thanks to acoustical enhancements made to the theater since the film last played there. The total effect is one of motion, color and high energy filled with Jackson’s musical brilliance and various illusions to create an exciting and realistic journey in space for the audience. "Captain EO" will be presented multiple times daily at the Imagination pavilion at Epcot. It replaces "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience," which is planned to return at an undetermined date. Fans of Jackson family entertainment are in for a double treat heading into July 4 weekend. Not only will "Captain EO" be returning, but America Gardens Theatre will be alive with Karin Lawson - A Tribute to Janet Jackson, an act that celebrates the music of Michael Jackson’s sister Janet, June 27-July 3. Show times each day are 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. Performances are included with Epcot admission. (Source: Press Release, 06/17/10)
Beth, our travel agent, reviews Tokyo Dining at Epcot: "I wanted to take my daughter and boyfriend to Teppan Edo in Epcot’s Japan pavilion, but we couldn't get reservations so I booked us at Tokyo Dining next door instead, expecting similar food, but minus the at-the-table cooking. We skipped the elevator and trudged up the steep flight of stairs where we were greeted by a pretty girl in traditional Japanese attire. She asked that only one of us stand in line to check in while the others took a seat. The line moved very quickly, despite the fact that people for both restaurants were checking in at the same place. Seating in the waiting area was acceptable enough - but the noise was insane! We arrived about 30 minutes prior to our 6:45 reservation time, hoping to get in a little earlier. No such luck. In fact, it was about 6:55 before we were called, so we had about 40 not-so-glorious minutes of babies crying, children screaming, and adults talking way too loudly. To make it worse, Tokyo Dining’s eating area is completely open to the waiting area so you get the dining noise mixed in with the waiting noise. As loud as it was while waiting, it was ten times worse when we sat down to eat. We could hardly hear each other talk. Our server introduced herself (well, we think she did, but we're not really sure what she said) and took our drink order. Our iced tea came back with moist warm hand towels to clean up with, a nice touch. As usual, we were looking for vegetarian entrees and that proved too surprisingly tough here. (Usually not the case with oriental dining.) We don't care much for sushi - and there wasn't much veggie sushi anyway - so we all ended up with the veggie tempura which, while tasty and beautifully presented, was too much fried food. It was either that or steamed veggies, though, so we didn't see that we really had a choice. We also shared a side salad with a heavenly ginger dressing. I think we should have just all had salad and dessert and maybe shared one order of tempura. Oh, well. Three orders of veggie tempura at $14.95 each, the salad, two iced teas, tax and gratuity came to right about $70. We all left with headaches and not happy with our meals. We will NOT be dining here again. Instead, we'll pay a little more to dine next door as I'd originally hoped - and wait outside until our pager goes off to avoid the noise. If we can't get into Teppan Edo and feel Japanese cuisine is a must then we figure we're better off at Yakitori, the counter service location across the walk. At least it’s more quiet!"
World Showcase Presents Delicious Discoveries Oct. 1-Nov. 14 at 15th Annual
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Captain EO: Ewww, no -- or gotta go?
'Captain EO' Returns to Walt Disney World Resort
Fact-Checking 5 Epcot Rides That Predicted the Future
A unique experience awaits divers at Epcot
The inside dirt on the Epcot International Flower & Garden
Festival
Fun Facts Bloom Across 305 Acres of 17th Annual Epcot International Flower
& Garden Festival
Flower Power Concert Series Fills Weekends with Special Music during 2010
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
Table is Set for Exciting Dining Additions Coming to Epcot
IBM, Disney Open Data Center Demo at Epcot
Authentic Pizzeria to Open at Epcot's Italy Pavilion
Cantina expands at Epcot’s Mexico pavilion
Disney's Epcot offers a tradition framed by candlelight
Epcot Pulls Plug On Holiday Lights
17th Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Shifts Dates Earlier Than Ever
– March 3-May 16, 2010
Nova Era's back at Epcot November 7 for Party of the Senses!
Inaugural Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend Set to Satisfy
a Runner’s Palette in 2010
Epcot International Food & Wine festival brings a world of
flavor
Walt Disney World unveils new ride at Epcot
690,000 Tasty Festival Treats + 33,000 Bottles of Wine & Champagne
= 1 Fun-Fact-Filled Festival at Walt Disney World Resort
Epcot International Food & Wine festival brings a world of
flavor
Reservations open Aug. 11 for Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
events
Disney closes Epcot ride for upgrade
Just-released list of narrators for this year's Candlelight Processional
at Epcot
Sponsorship of Epcot's Test Track stuck in neutral
Dining at Epcot: An International Adventure
Pop Icons Rock the Stage for Music Lovers at Epcot International Food
& Wine Festival
Disney to build Burnham Institute display at Innoventions
Recession? Not at Epcot's Innoventions
World Showcase Packs Culinary Punch Sept. 25-Nov. 8 at 14th Annual Epcot
International Food & Wine Festival
Remy's making the rounds at mealtime
High-tech fun at Epcot - scroll down
Life-size Remy of 'Ratatouille' meets Chef Bocuse at Epcot Disney’s Smallest Audio-Animatronics Figure Brings ‘Chef Remy’ to Life at Les Chefs de France in Epcot From the Silver Screen to Haute Cuisine! LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The newest chef at Walt Disney World Resort may be small in stature, but he’s a big hit with guests enjoying haute cuisine at Les Chefs de France in Epcot. With his flair for French fare, diners of all ages are eating up his whimsical tableside visits. His name is Remy, and he’s the rat-turned-chef made famous in the Academy Award-winning Disney*Pixar film "Ratatouille." A new Audio-Animatronicscharacter created by Walt Disney Imagineering, Remy stars in a new guest experience at Les Chefs de France entitled "Bon Appétit from Chef Remy." Les Chefs de France is one of the restaurants featured at the France pavilion in Epcot. Six days a week, four times a day (subject to change), a Maître d’ greets diners with a rolling gourmet food cart. Dramatically lifting the lid from a silver-domed cheese platter, the Maître d’ reveals the guest of honor - a six-inch-tall rat with silky-soft fur, pink paws and traditional toque. Chef Remy then comes to life, entertaining diners with sprightly movements and lively banter. Winding their way through the restaurant, Remy and his Maître d’ pal make stops at each table. In addition to his hijinks, Chef Remy might even bust a move to the beat of different tunes, from the soft sway of a French love song to the hot sounds of hip-hop. The 40-minute experience provides guests an up-close encounter with the “Ratatouille” star as he laughs, sniffles and even flirts with his new friends. Remy is part of the Living Character initiative created for Disney Parks by Walt Disney Imagineering. "By combining technologies, our Living Character initiative creates new levels of guest interaction and brings characters to life like never before," said Holger Irmler, who worked on the Remy project for Walt Disney Imagineering. "Things we do are so complex, yet our goal is to make them seem so magical to our guests." Since its inception, the initiative has been providing guests with a dash of never-before-seen technology and a heaping helping of legendary Disney magic. The first Living Character debuted in 2004 in the form of a large and lovable dinosaur named Lucky. Not only is Remy one of the newest Audio-Animatronicscharacters created by Walt Disney Imagineering, he also holds the distinction of being the smallest one ever created. Having already wowed guests at Disneyland Resort Paris, Imagineers chose Epcot as the next park for Remy to visit – with Les Chefs de France serving as the perfect Parisian setting for his Walt Disney World debut. Guests dining at Les Chefs de France are encouraged to make advance reservations by calling 407/WDW-DINE (407/939-3463) up to 90 days prior to their visit. "Bon Appétit from Chef Remy" is scheduled to take place at Les Chefs de France Monday through Saturday until Sept. 5, 2009 (subject to change). (Source: Press Release, 04/06/09)
Build your own fairy house (with help from Disney)
Disney World’s knee high sites: Epcot Theme Park
T. Rowe partners with Disney for Epcot financial exhibit
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival: It's all about the princesses
GM's last lap on Epcot's Test Track?
Great American Gardeners Plant New Ideas for Guests At 16th Annual Epcot
International Flower & Garden Festival
Fun Facts Flourish across Landscape of 16th Annual Epcot International
Flower & Garden Festival
11 Hit Makers of 1960s and ’70s Bring Groovy Vibes to Epcot During
2009 Flower Power Concerts
Live the spy life with Kim Possible at Epcot
Epcot Adds Interactive 'Kim Possible' Attraction
16th Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
Nova Era (http://www.novaeramusic.com/), the classical Italian ensemble
that used to play at Epcot's Italian Pavilion, is playing at Downtown Disney
select dates November 21 - December 24, 2008! For their calendar, see: |
Resources
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Kids Explore Flower Festival Fun at Epcot Pirates, Pixies and Petals, Oh My! LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Imaginations will take flight and set sail as children explore new, vibrant gardens and adventurous activities at the 16thannual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, presented by Disneynature, March 18-May 31, 2009, at Walt Disney World Resort. The park’s bountiful garden of fun also will bloom with themed playgrounds, immersive scavenger hunts, a special Fairy & Princess Procession and floral vignettes budding with beloved Disney character topiaries. To welcome families into the festival, a royal topiary court invites guests to celebrate Cinderella’s coronation day as a special “Cinderellabration” at the Epcot entrance. The signature topiary display, showcasing Cinderella’s royal moment, is designed in honor of Disney Parks’ new “What Will You Celebrate?” vacation initiative. Throughout the rest of the theme park, families will enjoy the cascades of color at every turn, strolling through floral scenes made famous in Disney animated films, including “The Lion King” and the upcoming “Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure.” Little ones can get moving – literally – in a special garden-themed playground featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy. The Let’s Get Moving play area encourages kids to climb and explore. And there will be plenty of “pixie power” in a Pixie Hollow-themed play area, with everyone’s favorite fairy, Tinker Bell, featured in a playful garden. For the little pirates of the family, another themed adventure area will feature Peter Pan and Captain Hook. Aladdin and Lady and the Tramp will join other cherished characters making topiary appearances throughout Epcot, which is veiled with 30 million blooms of sweeping floral beds and exhibits. Other family-friendly exhibits include Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden – a distinctive garden filled with hundreds of free-flying butterflies. And guests can learn how to create their own environmentally safe garden, including information about low-water-use, native plants and recycling, while kids enjoy a playground at the Green Garden exhibit. Entertainment is available for the whole family throughout the festival. The Flower Power concert series, which stars pop hit-makers of the 1960s and '70s, will have guests be-bopping and grooving to classic tunes at the America Gardens Theatre every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Some of the other activities sure to keep the “little gardeners” entertained at the 16thannual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival include: * Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden (adjacent to Mouse Gear in Future World), with special hands-on activities for children, a play structure and colorful topiaries of Tinker Bell and her friends; daily Fairy & Princess Processional at 2 p.m. where kids can come dressed up and show off their costumes; they can also get their face painted with their favorite fairy, flower or insect; plus, meet the director and producer of the upcoming fall release "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure" March 21 at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. * Pirates Adventure Zone (adjacent to the Germany Pavilion in World Showcase), an interactive play space designed for exploration and adventure greeted by Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Croc topiaries. * Let’s Get Moving (adjacent to the Imagination! pavilion in Future World), a recreational garden where children can climb and explore, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy topiaries demonstrating their favorite outdoor activities. Here, kids can climb aboard EVOS and Weevos Playsystems. * Green Garden (adjacent to the Morocco pavilion in World Showcase), a unique garden, which includes a playground, where guests can learn how to create an environmentally friendly, low-input garden of their own. * Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden (adjacent to Mouse Gear in Future World), where hundreds of butterflies inhabit a screened-in gazebo lush with foliage and color. * Character Topiary Scavenger Hunt (behind Spaceship Earth in Future World), a family-oriented challenge to locate favorite Disney character topiaries throughout Epcot. * Earth Station (Test Track Walkway, adjacent to the butterfly garden), where kids can discover fun activities and how to positively impact Earth. Most festival activities are included in regular admission to Epcot. For more information and schedules, guests can call 407/W-DISNEY or visit www.disneyworld.com/flower. (Source: Press Release, 02/24/09)
"Just as Tropical Storm Fay gave Walt Disney World and the rest of Central
Florida a taste of severe weather last week, StormStruck, a new
mini-attraction based on hurricanes, blew into Epcot."
"Devoted theme-park goers visit attractions hundreds or thousands
of times." Imagine watching Beatlemania at Epcot 10,000 times!
"Opening weekend of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
will feature the U.S. competition for the prestigious Bocuse d'Or World Cuisine
Contest."
"Figment, that beloved purple dragon [at] Epcot... has been retired
from meeting and greeting kids (and the young at heart), according to several
cast members in the park."
"A series of Walt Disney World choral and orchestral concerts July
23-25 will raise money for United Arts of Central Florida." The show will
take place 8 PM nightly at Epcot's World Showplace. Tickets ($15; $10 in
advance) can be purchased at redchairproject.com. For more info, visit
encorecentral.org or call 407-628-0333, Ext. 28.
"The Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau board voted Wednesday
to spend up to $50,000 to participate in a Louisiana Office of Tourism promotion
at the 2008 Epcot International Wine and Food Festival at Walt Disney
World Resort in Orlando, Fla."
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: "Melbourne will be put
on show as one of the world's top food destinations if a bid to recreate
the city's laneways and markets at Disney World in Florida is successful."
"Lighting designer Joe Schweickert of Orlando, Florida’s JS Lighting
& Design, Inc. tapped Coemar Striplite LEDs for lighting effects for
the post show of the Figments Imagination Journey ride at the "Honey,
I Shrunk the Audience" attraction at Epcot Center in Orlando."
"The Biergarten restaurant at Germany is always a surefire hit with
guests. Not only is the variety of food good (it's a buffet), but the Octoberfest
Musikanten group that performs there is invariably entertaining."
"Scheduled to debut at Epcot's Innoventions pavilion in late August,
StormStruck: The Tale of Two Homes is designed to be fun -- yes, fun
-- and educational." The attraction focuses on how to make your home better
able to survive a hurricane. With the help of 3-D glasses, visitors can watch
how two homes experienced Hurricane Charley in 2004 - one survived, the other
was destroyed - and decide how to make a home safer before an approaching
hurricane blows it apart!
"Painter Rachel Tribble is the woman behind the brush for this year's poster
for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival." You can meet
her and get her autograph every weekend until the event ends June 1.
David writes:
Happy Anniversary! You received very poor treatment after having spent so much. If I were you, I'd contact Disney about this and see how they respond. Here's the form: http://disney.go.com/Mail/DisneyWorld/index.html Let me know what they say. Thanks for writing and for your encouragement.
A review of eateries at Epcot's Japan Pavilion: "Teppan Edo includes
a floor show from entertaining chefs while Tokyo Dining offers a more serene
atmosphere with good sushi. Both restaurants give an insight into Japanese
customs even as they break down gender stereotypes."
"A circuit breaker tripped at Walt Disney World's Epcot theme park
Friday morning, causing parts of the park to lose power and some of the rides
to close down temporarily."
"Changes continue at Epcot's INNOVENTIONS pavilions with Walt Disney
World opening a new corporate-sponsored interactive technology display that
strips away the myth of the 'garbage fairy' and announcing another that will
help people to prepare for severe weather." |
"In the new final scene of Epcot's Spaceship Earth attraction, a figure
working in a garage on a personal computer represents all those who developed
PCs in California in the 1970s."
Waste Management on display at Epcot's Innoventions: "Visitors will
have the opportunity to virtually experience the operations on a single-stream
recycling line, feed the boiler at a waste-to-energy facility and run the
bulldozer at a landfill in a hands-on, interactive exhibit called 'Don’t
Waste It.'"
Disney's thinking about building a Russia Pavilion at Epcot. To learn
more, see:
"Construction walls near Spaceship Earth, iconic sphere of the theme
park, will fall sometime next week, after five months of refurbishment, Walt
Disney World officials said... Elements to come later include language options
selected by passengers -- a Disney first -- and more post-show goodies."
Includes video of refurbishing.
"Epcot's Spaceship Earth ride is expected to reopen in mid-December
for sneak previews with a new story overlay, new technology and a whole new
soundtrack -- created by 10-time Emmy Award-winning composer Bruce Broughton,
a 63-piece orchestra and a 24-voice choir."
"The Hound spent some time at the Epcot International Food & Wine
Festival last week. As in years past, I found the festiveers had made
some improvements." Interesting review. "While you are chomping, munching and guzzling around the Epcot World Showcase during the Food & Wine Festival, don't forget about the musical acts at the America Gardens Theater. My friends and I saw Sheena Easton -- and she was fantastic." (Source: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_orlando/2007/10/sheena-easton-r.html)
Epcot Fun Facts October 2007 marks the 25th anniversary of the Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World Resort. Following are 25 remarkable facts about Epcot: * It took nearly 3,000 designers and 4,000 construction workers to build the first phase of Epcot. * 54 million cubic feet of dirt was excavated to build the park. * Epcot had its soft opening Sept. 28, 1982, at 4 p.m. * Spaceship Earth, the visual and thematic centerpiece of Epcot, weighs 16 million pounds, measures 165 feet in diameter and encompasses 2.2 million cubic feet of space. The outer "skin" of Spaceship Earth is made up of 11,324 aluminum and plastic-alloy triangles. * At Spaceship Earth, Mickey Mouse is hidden in his own constellation just beyond the attraction's loading area. * The fountain at Epcot Innoventions Plaza can shoot water 150 feet in the air -- within 30 feet of the top of Spaceship Earth. If all of the shooters were fired at once, there would be 2,000 gallons of water in the air. * The ride technology for the Soarin' attraction was based on an erector set model created by Walt Disney Imagineer Mark Sumner. One million pounds of steel provides the ride structure and 37 tons are lifted during each ride cycle. * It took more than 650 Walt Disney Imagineers more than 350,000 hours (the equivalent of 40 years of time) to develop Mission: SPACE. The Imagineers' efforts took place over a five-year period. * At Mission: SPACE, there are 13 quotes by space explorers and visionaries on the attraction's wall of honor. The most recent was added in September 2007 by teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan, reading "Reach for your dreams . . . the sky is no limit." * At nearly a mile long and reaching a top speed of 65 mph, Test Track is the longest and fastest ride at a Walt Disney World theme park. * The body of water at The Seas with Nemo & Friends provides a home to 3,000 fish and other sea creatures and contains 5.7 million gallons of water, one of the largest man-made ocean environments in the world. * More than 30 tons of fruits and vegetables grown at The Land pavilion each year are served in Walt Disney World restaurants. * The Land has a "tomato tree" that is the only one of its kind in the United States. The massive plant has produced a world-record harvest of more than 32,000 tomatoes from a single vine. * World Showcase promenade stretches 1.2 miles and World Showcase Lagoon spans 40 acres. * The gardens of Epcot are among the most extensive at Walt Disney World Resort. The themed landscapes are maintained year-round by a horticulture staff of more than 50. * At United Kingdom's Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room in World Showcase, a specially designed ale warmer can heat your Guinness to 55 degrees, the temperature favored by Brits. * 26.2 miles of bratwurst are served every 60 days at the Biergarten restaurant in the Germany pavilion. That, by the way, is the length of a marathon. * The Eiffel Tower replica in the France pavilion is 103 feet tall. * The castle in Japan is a replica of the Shirasagi-Jo, a 17th century fortress overlooking the city of Himeji, known as one of the most well-preserved castles in Japan. * A Disney crew carried a 300-pound camera up 4,500 steps of the Huangshan Mountain in the Annui Province to film the Circle-Vision 360 film seen in the China pavilion. * From bonsai to roses, there's something for every gardening guru at the annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Disney horticulturists rotate the crops twice during the festival to keep the 30 million blossoms colorful and fresh. * Each year at the annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, more than 33,000 bottles of wine and champagne are uncorked, 1.2 million hors d'oeuvre plates are served and 100,000 miniature desserts are dished up. * More than 26,000 feet of lights outline the World Showcase pavilions for the "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" nightly fireworks show -- a string long enough to stretch across the Golden Gate Bridge more than six times. * Earth Globe is a 28-foot-diameter sphere on World Showcase Lagoon and the centerpiece of "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth." The globe weighs 350,000 pounds and is wrapped in more than 180,000 Light Emitting Diodes arranged in the shape of Earth's continents. * Some 2,800 firework shells are used during each "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" show. (Source: Press Release)
David writes about Epcot's fireworks show, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth: "John, Thanks for the site, really useful notes and updates that helped us during our visit over Easter. Just a quick note to pass on. Taking up a good position, in good time to watch the Reflections display we found a table in La Cantina De San Angel - great. Fueling with Margaritas and nachos, ideal. Unfortunately not put off by propriety or just plain politeness did not stop a parade of people wandering in off 'the street' and standing between the tables, right in front of anyone seated! Otherwise great time, great holiday."
Holly writes: "I know (or think I know, haha!) that a 'soft opening' means an unannounced type - but is that only for passholders? One of my daughters and I..., are heading to MK this weekend (we are driving up to Orlando to pick up a prom dress, if you can believe that!) and want to try to catch It's A Small World; I've heard they are having soft openings for that and Soaring and a few other things.....Any inside scoops you can throw my way?? I did read... that Soaring was not open right now due to some snafu, but hope it will be Saturday afternoon....Let me know anything you think would help us Saturday?? Thanks! PS - Had the opp to chat with your/'our' (LOL) travel guru, Beth, down here in Naples last month; what an awesome find she is!!! Yours in Ears!" From time to time Disney offers a soft opening for AP holders only, but generally everyone is allowed to sample the ride on a soft opening day. Yes, Disney closed Soarin' temporarily due to technical glitches. Hopefully, it was back up when you got there. People seem to like the changes to Small World. Beth is a hard worker and a pleasure to work with.
Beth, our travel agent, writes about Epcot's Food and Wine Festival Package: "I've had a few questions from people that want to know if the Food & Wine add-on that is available for people who have booked packages in October and November is worth it. First, remember that this package ONLY applies to Saturday nights between October 1 and November 12. If Saturday night isn't good for you then neither is the package. Second, the Party for the Senses is a wonderful event, and a lot of fun - but probably not the best place for your kids. If you don't have someone to leave them then be sure you read up on what you're getting into first. You also get reserved seating for the 5:45 Eat to the Beat Concert on that evening - a nice perk if you enjoy the music of the group playing that night - and you get a wine and glasses commemorative gift set (one per reservation). The price is $119 + tax per person, and there is no discount for children even though they don't get wine. So is it a good deal? Well, if you were going to go to the party anyway, then probably yes. Otherwise, I don't know that I'd rush out to sign up - especially if you already have a room-only discount of some sort that precludes you from doing a package. I personally think I'd skip the party, munch my way around Epcot, and listen to the concert as I wandered past the amphitheater."
Fran writes: "Hi John, Thanks for all the wonderful information in your newsletter. I have saved plenty of $$$ using your tips over my 3 last trips to Disney. My question to you is about the Food & Wine Festival in Oct/Nov this year. I've convinced 3 of my friends that this is a great time to go. I experienced it two years ago. How can I find out more about the timetable, or how to make reservations for any of the special dinners or seminars. We want to go when we can do a few of the 'special' things. Thanks for all your help." Call 407/939-3378 for information or to make reservations.
Cynthia writes: "Dear John, We will be at Epcot next week and will view Illuminations for the first time. From your experience, where is the best location from which to the enjoy the show, and how early should we be in that place?
Thanks so much for your valuable input; you and your book have become a staple
to our WDW ventures and we really appreciate what you do. God bless."
Glad to have been of service. We love Illuminations. I'll be with you there in spirit!
See how much you can identify from the air! Beth, our travel agent, writes: "Go to http://www.terraserver.com . On the menu bar across the top, select SEARCH, and then ADDRESS. Enter EPCOT as the street, ORLANDO as the city, and FL as the state. The most recent option is in color and offers a great overall view. Using the Quick Pan navigation tool on the left you can work your way around to the other parks. Try zooming out for an amazing view of the whole property. (resolution at 32 meters should do it) And yes, you can put in your own address and see your house! :-) You can also try this at http://terraserver.microsoft.com . At the top click on FAMOUS PLACES and then find Disney World Epcot or Disney World Magic Kingdom. These are black and white shots and are older, but you can zoom in closer. Use "Advance Find" if you want to put in an address. Have fun!"
Johnny writes: "After two days at Universal Studios (we had two days left on our tickets) we made it to EPCOT. We arrived at 9:30am, the temperature was around 77 at that time and only went up to 84 in the afternoon. We went directly to Mission: Space and only had a 20 minute wait. Of all the rides we have been on, this one is at the top of the list. We had to go on it a second time. We did not use the fastpass because the waits were only around 20 minutes and the fastpass times were for an hour later. We then went on our second favorite ride, Test Track. It used to be our favorite until Mission to Space opened. We look forward to your newsletters every week. Thank you for all your information." Nothing beats a nice day at WDW with no waiting to get on your favorite ride! Glad you are enjoying the newsletter!
John writes: "Was at Disney World August 3-13 and while visiting EPCOT was surprised to see Mission Space operating. Earlier reports indicated that the attraction would not be opened until the 15th of August. Tell all your readers that the ride is excellent and worth any waiting time. Actually the waiting time wasn't very long because in addition to the fast pass, they also have 'single riders.' I went on this ride three times and the experience was 'out of this world." Hope to see more reports from other readers.
Lynn writes: "Boy, they really messed up by closing Horizons. They should have closed Journey to Imagination instead!!! I know it has been gone for quite some time, but we still miss it. Not enough fun rides any more. We walk right past Universe of Energy and Body Wars. Test Track is the only one worth wasting time on and it could use some script change once in a while. If they want us old timers to keep coming back they need to refresh the Park. Epcot used to be our favorite Park. Now it is a real bore."
Leslie writes: "My grandchildren are 7 (boy) and 4 (girl). We have done the Magic Kingdom in the past and I would like to take them to Epcot. Will they at their age have a good time at Epcot? Is there enough to keep them occupied? I have found your site to have wonderful advice and I hope you don't mind offering an opinion to me about this." We love Epcot. There is so much to see and do that we heartily recommend it to all ages. The park is huge, though. Be sure to take breaks, let the kids stop at the Kidcot stops, have their passport books stamped in each country, meet the characters, etc. Of course, some activities are more appropriate to older kids. Glad you have found our advice useful.
Ted from Virginia writes: "-Tell people not to watch the fireworks at epcot with the wind in your face. You get all of the smoke and debris in your face and you can't see the fireworks very well. -Tell people to go to the left line or stay left when going into a building, most others will usually go to the right. -Go to see the shows that hold a lot of people when the park is crowded. Go to the more popular rides later after the families and kids have tired out and gone home. -If you go to epcot after closing another park, take your car also, drive all of the way to the front of the parking area where [there] are usually parking spaces after others have left. -There are small groups of performers (mostly music) at each park that put on good 20 min shows all day. They are listed on the park map at epcot [and Magic Kingdom], but you must ask at guest services at each of the other parks for times and locations."
Rachel in Texas writes: "I have learned so much from reading your site. My husband and I are planning our trip in April. We already reserved rooms at the Caribbean beach but have now discovered some very exciting specials. We are now looking at staying in the Fort Wilderness Lodge. It looks like it is going to cost us about the same price. I have one little question. We saw somewhere about a under water restaurant at WDW. Do you know anything about this. I have looked and can not find anything. I swear we saw it on one of the videos. And it seems that you had to call several weeks in advance to get the reservation to eat there. We really would like to do this since my husband is a scuba diver and our kids should have been born fish. Please let me know if you are aware of anything like this." You're probably referring to the Coral Reef restaurant at the Living Seas pavilion at Epcot. Diners are seated around a huge aquarium where they can watch the fish and scuba divers. Rachel wrote us back: "I called and made new reservations this morning. And we saved over $1,000.00 using the codes you suggested. We are now staying at the Fort Wilderness Lodge instead of the Caribbean beach. Which is where we wanted to stay anyway. We are so excited to have found your site and to be going to WDW! I will let you know how our vacation turns out. Again thank you!!"
The Voices of Liberty, who sing at the American Adventure pavilion at Epcot, now have their own website and they have produced a CD titled "A Slice of A Cappella."
Don and Zoe write: Our first evening at Epcot and plans to see the Tapestry of Nations parade were rained out. We returned on our last day to try and catch it again. When we arrived at the stroller station we asked for a map. When we arrived at France to relax and watch the parade no one seemed to be waiting for a parade. When I asked we discovered the map we were given was the wrong (generic) map that did not show the shortened route for the parade. We had five min to run to the other side of the world to catch the end of the parade. I personally was very tired and disgusted. When trying to walk along side to see more I told our story to one of the gal attendants (taking down ribbons) she was very kind and concerned about our problem. she wrote a note on the map and sent us to the Guest relations. As we left the Park that night we were given a one day free pass to be used anytime in the future for all 7 of us! We had to leave Fla. that night but I am sure we will put them to use another time." 7 free passes to Epcot! I have never heard of that happening before! That's wonderful. Yes, you can walk yourself to death at WDW. We recommend comfortable shoes and getting in shape before you arrive by taking long walks in hilly terrain! I believe the Romans called it "forced march!" :)
To access the web site for Nova Era, the Italian classical group that used to play at the Italy Pavilion in Epcot, click here.
To access the web site for Cast in Bronze
which plays the carillon bells at Epcot, click
here.
A customer writes:
Tina writes: "... what size are the lockers and the price for rental?" Each theme park and the Transportation and Ticket Center have lockers that rent for $5 (includes a $2 refundable deposit). If you have some items that won't fit in the locker, give them to the locker attendant at the package pick up area at Epcot. If you plan to park hop, you don't have to pay another locker deposit. See the locker attendant for particulars.
Keith and Laura returned from their vacation at WDW and gave their impressions of the new "Journey Into Your Imagination" ride at Epcot: "The New Imagination ride: There are very few signs of Figment, and the Professor is gone. It is now hosted by Nigel (Eric Idle). The ride is much more interesting for the adult crowd than the original. There is a segment where you ride through complete darkness and listen and let yourself imagine (train sounds and your seat gets rumbled) - this might be frightening, and there are warning signs up before you enter the ride. There is an up-side down room, and a cloud room (pictures of clouds - imagine what the cloud looks like). In all this ride does stimulate the imagination (as the old ride just sang about it) and our whole family enjoyed it. This ride is NOTHING like the old - good news for some, bad news for others. Personally, I think they should put the old ride in the Tomorrowland of Magic Kingdom so little people will have something to do while the big ones are riding Space Mountain. At the end of the ride there are many more kiosks [interactive exhibits] - but nothing down lower for little people. They have a modern version of "be the conductor" and of the "modify the picture of yourself." They have a professional photography room with blue-screen ability (actually it's a green screen). People were getting their picture taken with Pooh's house (tree with "Mr. Sanderz" over the door) as their background.
The store here has plenty of Figment merchandise -
surprising since he rarely appears on the ride. If you didn't see the original
ride you probably won't even notice him."
Karen writes: "I have got your e-mail-adress at an travelagency in Norway, and they told me I could e-mail you and maybe get an answer to my questions. My family and I will spend new years eve in Disneyworld, Florida, and we would very much like to know ... if it is possible to make a reservation for a place to dine and celebrate the night." To make a reservation for priority seating, call 407/WDW-DINE.
Enjoy the fireworks for free from the second floor patio of the BoardWalk Inn. The white wicker chairs are very comfortable and sturdy!
Test Track The ride is fun and not too scary. That last leg at 65 mph at a banked angle is stimulating, though! If you need the space, be sure to sit in the front row. That seat belt is tight, too. You're not going anywhere! (While in line, I struck up a conversation with a gentleman who turned out to be part of the stage crew for the TV show Law and Order. It's a small world after all!) The gift shop is interesting. We bought an Interstate 4 road sign with a Mickey head on it! Now where am I going to hang that?
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