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An exciting line up of Disney Parks presenters will participate in five panels that are a part of the D23 Fantastic Worlds Celebration, a week of virtual events, articles and merchandise releases celebrating all the wonderful worlds of Disney taking place November 16 – 20 on D23.com. 

Premiering at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET on Monday, November 16, Brad Schoeneberg, Tracie Alt and Cody Hampton from the Disney Parks Merchandise team explore the rich storytelling that goes into the exotic and authentic imports of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!

It’s all aboard at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 18, for a birthday celebration of everyone’s favorite pals, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse! Host Mark Daniel takes you on an inside a look at the wild and zany world of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with one of the attraction’s lead Imagineers, Kevin Rafferty. Then get a special look at the new Disney+ series “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” and hear from Bret Iwan, official voice of Mickey Mouse, as he shares a sneak peek of his designer Mickey Ears.

Once you decide you are going to Walt Disney World Resort, the fun really begins. The dreaming, planning and sharing of excitement takes on a magic of its own. At 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 19, join host and Walt Disney World Ambassador Stephen Lim as he talks with fellow planners sharing stories and secrets on creating a memorable vacation to The Most Magical Place on Earth and discover how a great big beautiful tomorrow is just a dream away.

Premiering at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 19, host and Walt Disney World Ambassador, Marilyn West, is joined by Zach Riddley, Imagineering Portfolio Executive for Walt Disney World Resort and Melissa Valiquette, Vice President of EPCOT as they share about the Magic of Possibility at EPCOT and how this park is transforming today and building toward the future. You’ll also hear from Pixar’s Roger Gould and Harley Jessup along with Tom Fitzgerald from Walt Disney Imagineering about the making of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and what it takes to bring this animated favorite to life in the France pavilion.

Finally, as a D23 Gold Member Exclusive, Creating Fantastic Worlds: A Journey into Disney Worldbuilding premiers at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET. From San Fransokyo and Wakanda to Treasure Cove, Mustafar, and beyond, enjoy the ultimate conclusion to D23 Fantastic Worlds Celebration as we bring together creative wizards from across the realms of Disney to share a collective look behind the magic in creating the worlds that we all love. Hosted by Justina Ireland, this all-star lineup of creative geniuses will include Paul Felix, Production Designer, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Noah Klocek, Production Designer, Pixar Animation Studios, Luc Mayrand, Creative Portfolio Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, Ryan Meinerding, VP of Visual Development, Creative Director, Marvel Studios, Mark Miller, Executive Creative Producer, ILMxLAB and Andy Park , Director Visual Development, Marvel Studios. Gold Members can register here! Not a Gold Member? Learn more here.

Be sure to join D23: The Official Disney Fan Club for an exciting week of more virtual events, articles, and merchandise releases celebrating all the fantastic worlds of Disney by visiting D23.com, Facebook.com/DisneyD23, or YouTube.com/DisneyD23.

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized

When you spend some time in Orlando during the holiday season you generally do not have to worry about winter weather. In case you want to heat things up regardless of the weather there are two seasonal treats at Magic Kingdom that give cozy vibes without actually turning up the heat.

The Spice Up Your Holiday Chicken Sandwich is featured at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café. This spicy chicken sandwich is topped with Sriracha Aïoli and Pickle Slaw and sandwiched on a Santa Mickey Brioche Bun. For $11.99 it is one of the best deals in Magic Kingdom considering its elevated flavors and toppings. Many have compared it to popular chicken chains like Popeyes and Chik-Fil-A, and while it is not exactly on that level, it comes close. The spice is not overpowering and could be handled by most everyone, though if your level of spiciness tolerance doesn’t go beyond mild this may be a tad too spicy for you.

After something spicy you may want to satisfy your sweet tooth. Over at Pinocchio Village Haus you can cozy up to Yuletide Wishes. This chocolate Yule-log-style dessert is full of delightful chocolate. Chocolate cake is filled chocolate mousse and covered in chocolate ganache. At $4.99 it is one of the lowest price seasonal treats available.

If you’re visiting Walt Disney World this holiday season, make sure you have holiday magic at your fingertips. Become a TouringPlans Subscriber and gain access to our Lines app. Our Lines app users save 2-3 hours on average per day in the parks, so you’ll have more time to savor the magic of this festive season.

Which sounds better to you – the Spice Up Your Holiday Chicken Sandwich or the Yuletide Wishes?

The post REVIEW – Heat Things Up With Two Seasonal Items at Magic Kingdom appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Christmas, Holidays, Magic Kingdom, disney desserts, disney dining, magic kingdom christmas, magic kingdom food

Over the past eight weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of sharing my insights about National Geographic’s “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom” on Disney+.

While it feels a little bittersweet as we mark the final episode in this phenomenal series, I’m so proud of our cast for giving viewers a peek behind the curtain to show how we care for animals and connect our guests to the magic of nature. You’ve seen our vet teams, aquarists, keepers and educators in action, but behind-the-scenes, our science, education and conservation teams are supporting the care of our animals every step of the way.

From studying which forms of enrichment activities each animal likes best, to monitoring hormonal levels in a pregnant female white rhino, our work is grounded in science so we can ensure we’re meeting the needs of each individual animal and giving them the very best care.

Check out what it was like for the team to learn white rhino Kendi was expecting a baby, which resulted in the birth of our now weeks-old male white rhino:

As you can see, science requires teamwork, and sometimes includes smelly situations. Animal keeper Jess is committed to her work, even when the task at hand requires rolling up her sleeves and digging in to collect samples.

Jess, and all our keepers, work closely with the science team, who have expertise in areas such as endocrinology, field research and behavioral science. In fact, many of our science and conservation team cast have PhDs in biology and conservation and regularly share their learnings with the zoological community around the world.

Their knowledge has been invaluable to our work with species survival plans at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.  With our most recent rhino birth, Science Operations Director Dr. Mandi and Research Manager Dr. Shana closely watched Kendi’s hormone levels and how she was behaving before, during and after her pregnancy. Prior to working at Disney, both Dr. Mandi and Dr. Shana spent years teaching doctoral and masters students about biology. Dr. Mandi is a specialist in reproductive health, and Dr. Shana got a hands-on start early in her career as a veterinary technician before her path eventually brought her to Disney as a scientist, where she monitors hormones in our animals.

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Science in the field also relies on great observational skills to ensure animals are thriving in their environments. A keen eye for details is exactly how the primate team discovered western lowland gorilla infant Grace needed a little extra help meeting her developmental milestones, such as climbing. So, they brought in the help of occupational therapists to evaluate Grace and suggest new training the team could do with her to build her muscles, coordination and confidence. Grace is now holding her own with the rest of the troop and getting stronger each day.

Want to see more behind-the-scenes sneak peeks from our scientists? You can hear from our research team in next week’s edition of #AskDrMark on Instagram (@DrMarkAtDisney). And be sure to download this week’s activity guide which allows you to capture and share your own wildlife story that takes place out in nature near you.

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, disney+, WDW

If you’re ready to expand your horizons and explore the fascinating world of tequila and mezcal, La Cava del Tequila at EPCOT is the place to be. Tucked inside what used to be a merchandise shop in the Mexico Pavilion, La Cava is an intimate, dimly lit tequila bar that beckons to be explored. The staff at La Cava hail from Mexico, many from Tequila itself. And their latest creation is creating quite the buzz.

For months tequila fans have been asking the staff at La Cava if they would offer a margarita with the new tequila brought to market by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. La Cava has a history of featuring specialty drinks and tequilas from celebrities. There’s a margarita from Neil Patrick Harris who is a self-proclaimed fan of La Cava. Currently, La Cava only serves their margaritas to-go; the seating area is not available as a safety precaution. Still, you don’t want to pass up a chance to enjoy the delicious margaritas here. Our readers have given La Cava del Tequila a 94% thumbs up rating, and it is ranked number 11 out of 58 lounges at Walt Disney World.

The new Tomato Margarita is made with Teremana Tequila, tomatoes, agave, lime juice, and a hint of watermelon. Teremana is a somewhat high-end tequila, though not unattainable. It is said to be extremely smooth, with bright citrus notes. This quality tequila, blended with fresh ingredients fetches a $19.00 price tag. La Cava’s margaritas are generally $3-$4 more than the average Disney cocktail.

Now, you might be thinking this could be like a not-spicy Bloody Mary perhaps, at least that’s what I thought. But reports from our field team indicate it is a slightly sweet, refreshing, and delicious frozen margarita. You do not necessarily need to be a fan of tomatoes to enjoy the Tomato Margarita. It’s a great blend of vibrant flavors. Could this newcomer dethrone the popular Avocado Margarita? Perhaps – after all it does have the appeal of sounding like a weird combination, but surprisingly pulls through and delivers.

Have you been to La Cava del Tequila? Do you have a favorite margarita or tequila to order there?

 

The post REVIEW – La Cava del Tequila’s NEW Tomato Margarita Is Not What You Expect appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Adults, Drinking, Epcot, Trip Planning, disney bars, disney drinks, epcot bars, epcot drinks, epcot mexico

The holidays are here and we’re ready to share some jolly foodie cheer! There’s no denying that some of the best food comes out around the holiday season and that’s no exception at Disney Springs. With everything from quick, sweet bites at your favorite quick-service locations to delicious and indulgent dishes, desserts, and cocktails at our incredible restaurants, there’s a little bit of something for everyone’s taste buds. Ready to plan your culinary adventure? I’ve curated all the flavorful details for you and where to find them below: 

Amorette’s Patisserie (All items available through Jan. 2)

• Black Forest Parfait – Chocolate mousse with cherry cream and cherry liquor
• Holiday Mickey Mousse – White chocolate mousse, dark chocolate with chocolate chiffon cake
• Holiday Petit Cake – Almond Chiffon cake, Hazelnut Panna Cotta, Cherry jam, Chocolate pieces, and hazelnut liqueur 
• Mickey Santa Dome Cake – Large Dome Cake (Ask a Cast Member for available flavors.)
• Peppermint Crème Brûlée – Chocolate Peppermint-infused custard with crushed peppermint, meringue and sable cookie 
• Spiced Yule Log – Red Velvet Chiffon with spiced cheesecake filling, Dark Chocolate Crisp Pearls, garnished with chocolate ganache, poinsettia, and a fondant reindeer

AristoCrepes

• Cherry Jubilee Bubble Waffle – Cherry fruit filling and ice cream in a waffle (Available Dec. 1-Jan.3)
• Sweet Potato Pie Bubble Waffle – Sweet potato waffle and ice cream topped with marshmallow fluff (Available through Dec. 1)
• Eggnog Crepe – Eggnog custard in a crepe with pralines (Available Dec. 1 through Jan. 3)
• Mickey Snow Globe Sipper Cup – Disney Annual Passholder exclusive novelty (Available while supplies last)

Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ (Available Nov. 13-Dec. 31)

• Pumpkin Bread Pudding – Warm, house-baked pumpkin bread in a rich custard topped with rich vanilla bean ice cream and finished with a golden spun sugar garnish

City Works Eatery & Pour House

• 1871 Chili – Angus steak, milk stout, pork, chipotle peppers, sour cream, red onions, served with a cornbread muffin

The Daily Poutine (Available through Jan. 3)

• Gobbler Poutine – French fries with shredded turkey, gravy, and cheese curds

Earl of Sandwich 

• Holiday Turkey Sandwich – Turkey, cornbread stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and  mayonnaise

The Ganachery (All items available through Jan. 3)

• Eggnog Ganache Square – Creamy bourbon eggnog covered in dark chocolate
• Gingerbread Ganache Square – Gingerbread spices combined with creamy milk chocolate
• Mickey Santa Piñata – Dark chocolate piñata decorated like Mickey Santa filled with marshmallow treats

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop (All items available through Dec. 25)

• Ghirardelli White Chocolate Caramel Steamer – Steamed milk, rich cocoa butter notes from the white chocolate caramel squares, classic caramel sauce, whipped cream, and a touch of sea salt.
• Ghirardelli Peppermint Hot Cocoa – Peppermint with the decadence of Ghirardelli chocolate

Häagen-Dazs 

• Peppermint Bark Ice Cream – Rich white chocolate ice cream blended with crunchy chocolaty peppermint bark and peppermint pieces. (Available in a cone, cup or any handmade dessert through Jan. 15.)

Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar (All items available through Jan. 3)

• Milk and Cookies by the Fireside – Butter cookies and coquito with rum
• Child Cookies and Milk – Chocolate chip cookie and milk
• C9 Light Deviled Eggs – Colored deviled eggs with shrimp, and caviar
• Grandma’s Favorite Sliders – Venison sausage sliders, cranberry-bacon jam, and watercress on brioche bun
• Papa Noel’s Churrasco – Flank steak with fried sweet plantains and spicy aji amarillo peanut sauce
• Jock’s Holiday Nog – Cinnamon- and vanilla-flavored cream liqueur, vodka, hazelnut-flavored liqueur, and vanilla
• Mistletoe Mule – Vodka, lime, and passion fruit topped  with ginger beer
• Very Berry Margarita – Tequila, coconut rum, cinnamon- and vanilla-flavored cream liqueur, and cranberry juice

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea

• Celebrate this holiday season and warm up your heart and cup with Joffrey’s new line of blends including Disney’s Riviera Resort Blend and the 2020 Holiday Blend plus Campfire Mug Gift Set

Mac & Cheese (Disney Food Truck)

• Fried Mac and Cheese – Crispy fried cheesy elbow macaroni with tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese (Available through Jan. 3)

Marketplace Snacks

• Jolly Holiday Float – Cranberry orange juice with vanilla ice cream
• Olaf Pilsner Novelty Cup 

Outdoor Vending Carts & Kiosks (Available through Jan. 3)

• Feliz Navidad – Tequila, crème de cassis, apple juice, and lime juice
• Claus-Mo – Vodka and orange-flavored triple sec liqueur mixed with cranberry juice
• Mistletoe – Coconut rum, melon-flavored liqueur, blue curaçao liqueur mixed with Pineapple Juice and Orange Juice
• Florida Yule – Vodka and orange juice topped with ginger beer
• Winter Wonderland – Cinnamon whisky and cinnamon- and vanilla-flavored cream liqueur
• Fireside Cider – Cinnamon whisky, vodka, and white cranberry juice
• Mickey Christmas Tree Novelty Popcorn Bucket (Available while supplies last)
• Peppermint Mickey Novelty Bottle Topper (Available while supplies last)
• Mickey Jingle Bell Novelty Glow Cube (Available while supplies last)

The Polite Pig

• Holiday Feast – Leave your Thanksgiving meal to The Polite Pig and order the Holiday Feast featuring your choice of main course, sides, and dessert. Call (407) 938-7444 to order. (Orders must be placed by Nov. 23 for pickup on Nov. 25 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.)
• Apple Cider Whiskey Sour – Hand-crafted special blend of rye, apple cider, sour mix, and bourbon with a sweet cinnamon sugar rim.

Splitsville (All items available Nov. 13-Dec. 31)

• Grilled Chicken & Apple Flatbread – Maple apple butter, smoked gouda, and goat cheese topped with crisp diced apples, grilled chicken, red onion, bacon, and cilantro 
• Spiced Pear Spritzer – Fresh pear nectar, ginger liqueur, vodka, lemon juice and allspice topped with ginger ale and garnished with star anise

Sprinkles 

• Pumpkin Cupcake – Pumpkin cake laced with fragrant ginger, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon, topped with sweet cinnamon cream cheese frosting rim (Available through Nov. 29)
• Double Stuffed Oreo® Cupcake – Oreo® cookie crust, chocolate cake, vanilla buttercream filling, vanilla buttercream frosting with Oreo® crumble rim (Available through Nov. 22)
• Cannoli Cupcake – Ricotta Pistachio Cake filled and frosted with mascarpone cream, topped with crushed cannoli shells, chopped chocolate chips, and chopped pistachios; finished with truffled chocolate ganache (Available Nov. 23-29)
• Christmas Cookie Cupcake – Vanilla cake studded with red and green sprinkles topped with vanilla buttercream frosting with red and green sprinkles and a homemade sugar cookie coated in sprinkles (Available Nov. 27- Jan. 3)
• Gingerbread Cupcake – Spiced ginger cake topped with cream cheese frosting and dusted with cinnamon sugar (Available Nov. 30-Dec. 27)
• Chocolate Peppermint Cupcake – Belgian dark chocolate cake topped with bittersweet chocolate-peppermint frosting and sprinkled with crushed peppermint candies (Available Nov. 30-Dec. 27)

Vivoli il Gelato

• Tiramisù Push Pop – Tiramisù cream, cocoa powder, and cake soaked in coffee sauce
• Cotton Candy Affogato – Choice of gelato paired with espresso, whipped cream, and cotton candy

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill (All items available through Dec. 31)

• Roasted Pumpkin Soup – Cardamom cream, spiced pumpkin seeds
• Butternut Tortellini – Delicate Squash, cranberries, pumpkin butter
• Heirloom Apple Salad – Local burrata, baby kale, pear butter, currants, ver jus
• Fall Spiced Sangria – Apples, pears, cinnamon

Wine Bar George 

• Saganaki On Fire – Made with vlahotiri cheese and metaxa (a Greek spirit), this traditional dish from Greece is set on fire tableside and served with crostini
• Hooten Young American Whiskey –  Discovered by Master Sommelier George Miliotes – American whiskey with notes of maple, vanilla, ripe apple. and a long smooth finish. Available in the Hoot Cocktail, Wine Bar George Old Fashioned, or however you like to enjoy your whiskey.

I know we’re all anxiously awaiting the upcoming opening of Gideon’s Bakehouse! As a sneak peek, I’m excited to share two of their limited-time cookies that will be available through Dec. 31 when they open soon at Disney Springs:  

• Santa’s White Christmas Cookie – White Chocolate Chip Cookie filled with notes of Coconut, Sweet Caramel, Vanilla, and Nutty Flavors with freshly ground locally roasted coffee beans throughout. The cookie elves have also added the crunch of coarse sugar, the Gideon’s signature sea salt, and a pinch of Christmas glitter.
• Cookie Vom Krampus Cookie – Deep, dark Triple Chocolate Velvet textured cookie filled with Andes Mint and available in its own special packaging. 

Looking to enjoy a special Thanksgiving meal? A few of our table service restaurants are offering their own unique menus on Thanksgiving Day including: Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, City Works Eatery & Pour House, Paddlefish, Paradiso 27, Taste of the Americas, Planet Hollywood, Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant, Terralina Crafted Italian, The Edison, and Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill. Reservations are highly encouraged and can be made at disneysprings.com or opentable.com. 

Remember to allow at least 60 minutes to reach your destination when traveling to Disney Springs and be sure to follow @disneysprings on social media for more delicious happenings across property. 

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com

Filed Under: Disney Dining, Disney Springs, Walt Disney World Resort, Food & Beverage, Holidays