Writer’s Note, News & Views
It was a very quiet Walt Disney World Resort news week through last night (Monday), and so I opted to delay posting this week’s Update until later than usual. As I have observed many times in the past, Disney often seems to announce things on Tuesdays, and this week, that is just what Disney did! So, not to Passover my usual Tuesday publication slot…
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Scheduled August 29-November 23, 2024
This morning, Disney announced that the 2024 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE will run August 29 through November 23. While all of EPCOT’s seasonal festivals now include food and beverage offerings, this annual festival was the first to do so, though it is now kind of hard to imagine the others without such offerings. In any event, Food & Wine Festival calls the kiosks around the park “Global Marketplaces,” and Disney has yet to share all the details, but Disney Parks Blog previewed a few of the menu items returning this year. A Foodie Guide is expected in the not-too-distant future, and you can always keep an eye on TasteEPCOT.com for official word on all the updated details.
Emile’s Fromage Montage also returns in 2024. It is the festival’s “food stroll” which rewards guests that purchase any five cheese dishes from a list of offerings available at the official Global Marketplaces listed in the Festival Passport (collect a stamp for each dish purchased, by redeeming the completed Festival Passport at a specified location for a specialty unique item.
Before the 2020 global pandemic and temporary closure of Walt Disney World Resort, Food & Wine Festival used to include cooking demonstrations, celebrity chefs, tasting opportunities, and more special offerings (most with an additional fee). Those aspects of the Festival have been notably absent in the various versions of the Festival offered 2021-2023. With CommuniCore Hall set to open on June 10 in the World Celebration neighborhood, and with one of its purposes being the park’s new festival center that includes performance stages and a demonstration kitchen, Disney has teased that, “once the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival begins, the new space will add exciting fresh elements to the festival.” So far, details have not been shared.
The Eat to the Beat Concert Series returns nightly during the Festival in the America Gardens Theatre featuring headlining musical acts and what Disney calls “Orlando’s top talent” (local acts taking the stage, usually on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays). This year’s schedule has not yet been announced. Eat to the Beat Dining Packages will also return, providing guaranteed seating for a specific show. Details tend to be announced for that when the acts are announced.
Like the other festivals, Food & Wine includes a scavenger hunt: at specified merchandise locations, purchase a map for Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak, search to find “hidden” Remy throughout World Showcase, and return the completed map for a prize. And, of course, festival-specific merchandise collections will be available as well, this year featuring Remy, Mickey Mouse, and Figment: Disney Parks Blog’s post includes a brief preview too.
This & That & Reminders…
…NEW: This past week, Disney Parks Blog offered up congratulations to the team at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for being awarded a MICHELIN Star and the 2024 Florida Service Award for Maître d’Hôtel Israel Pérez. This is the first time Disney has received this accomplishment. Disney says that Victoria & Albert’s is the first and only restaurant owned and operated by a U.S. theme park destination to hold a MICHELIN Star, and that it is the sole location in Florida to hold the honor of having both the AAA Five Diamond, consecutively since 2000, and the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star awards, consecutively since 2018, and one of only 26 others in the United States with this same unique distinction.
…UPDATED REMINDER: Walt Disney World Resort salutes Passholders with “v.i.passholder days” from May 1 through June 26, 2024. That catch-all term includes a number of limited time perks, including some perks that are only available for some of those dates.
- Complimentary Passholder Magnet at Creations Shop, EPCOT: May 1 through June 26, 2024
This week’s updated information notes that, a new complimentary Stitch-themed Passholder magnet will be available at Creations Shop at EPCOT. (Usual park entry requirements apply; Passholder must show valid pass or MagicBand or similar plus a matching photo ID; limit one per Passholder.) - Passholder Exclusive Stitch Treat at Sunshine Seasons, EPCOT: May 1 through June 26, 2024
The Stitch Cake Cone features vanilla chiffon cake with coconut buttercream and mango crisp pearls. This Passholder exclusive treat will be at Sunshine Seasons in The Land pavilion at EPCOT during its regular hours, May 1-June 26. Be aware that Sunshine Seasons often has limited hours of operation, and those hours are not published in the My Disney Experience app, so if you want this treat during v.i.passholder days, be sure to have proof of your pass, a valid photo I.D., and stop by this location earlier in the day, as we have often found limited or no operation at this location after 4 p.m.
A Passholder-exclusive Stitch Treat coming to Sunshine Seasons. Image courtesy Disney Parks. - Passholder Lounge at Restaurant Marrakesh, EPCOT: May 1 through June 18, 2024
A Passholder Lounge is scheduled to operate in from noon until 8 p.m. daily in the former Restaurant Marrakesh space at EPCOT’s Morocco pavilion. It is designated a “Passholder Exclusive,” requiring a valid pass and matching photo I.D. (standard park admission rules apply too), and the description of the perk does not include any non-Passholder guest admissions. Complimentary snacks and water, mobile device charging stations, and a complimentary Passholder button will be available in the lounge. - Passholder PhotoPass Photo Opportunities at World Celebration Gardens, EPCOT: May 1 through June 26, 2024
Passholder-exclusive PhotoPass magic shots will be available during regular park hours at EPCOT near Dreamers Point in the World Celebration Gardens area. (Usual park admission required and to obtain the photos, the Passholder must have a downloads option, or Memory Maker, or the photo may be purchased individually in the My Disney Experience app). From May 1 to May 30, a giant Mickey Mouse ice cream bar prop will be available and a Stitch Magic Shot; from June 1 to June 26, an oversized Mickey Mouse donut photo prop will be available and a Stitch Magic Shot. - Passholder Discount at DisneyStore.com: May 5 through May 24, 2024
From May 5 to May 24, 2024, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can save 20% on purchases at DisneyStore.com. Be sure that your Annual Pass is linked to your My Disney Experience account, that you use the same log-on information for My Disney Experience and the Disney Store website, and that you use promo code WDW20 at checkout. Terms and exclusions are spelled out on this page of DisneyWorld.com.
…REMINDER: Earth Month is now underway! Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened on Earth Day, April 22, 1998, and that’s the park that gets most of Walt Disney World’s Earth Month celebrations. Disney Parks Blog has kicked off Earth Month with digital wallpaper offerings featuring photos taken inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and it is promoting some of the Disney PhotoPass Service Magic Shot offerings too. And what is a celebration without a Foodie Guide too? The guide features not only Disney’s Animal Kingdom specialty food and beverage offerings, but Amorette’s at Disney Springs has The Plant in The Boot Petit Cake (inspired by Wall-e), and a Raindrop Tart at The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
…REMINDER: EPCOT’s CommuniCore Hall and Plaza, including its new Mickey & Friends meet and greet area are scheduled to open on June 10, 2024.
…NEW: As the expected summer opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure draws near, Disney shared that the family of Leah Chase, one of the inspirations for Tiana, will be among the first to ride the new attraction.
…REMINDER: Tutto Italia Ristorante at EPCOT Walt Disney World has extended its 20% Annual Passholder discount through September 30, 2024. Although the news we received did not explicitly say so, assume the prior restrictions apply: offer applies to regularly-priced food and nonalcoholic beverages and exempting certain holidays, special events and dining packages.
…REMINDER: Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs has increased its Annual Passholder Discount to 20%. The discount applies to all regular priced food and non-alcoholic beverages during lunch hours, which run from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday through Monday. The offer excludes service at the sushi bar, as well as major holidays, including Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
…NEW: Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs is revamping its offerings with new signature pan-Asian cuisine options for weekday lunch, available 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Highlights of the new lunch menu include:
- Katsudon – Panko breaded pork skirt, dashi soy, organic egg, scallions and pickled ginger on top of house-polished white rice. $21
- Poke Bowl – Tuna, salmon, hamachi marinated in soy, sesame, crunchy garlic chili over sushi rice. $24
- Asian Salad – Mesclun and baby iceberg lettuce, cucumbers, tomato, red onion, orange segment, apple, wonton chips and ginger dressing. $15
- Options to add protein: chicken for $9, oishii shrimp for $10, bulgogi beef for $10, calamari for $9 or fried tofu for $5.
…REMINDER: Speaking of Disney Springs, Enzo’s Hideaway will feature its Bootlegger’s Dinner, featuring Brugal rum pairings, May 16 or 22 • 7 p.m. It is $75 + tax and gratuity for “a trip back in time, to the days of prohibition, speakeasys, and rum-running.” The evening starts with a tropical Brugal 1888 cocktail, paired with coconut shrimp arancini. Next, it explores “the complex depths of a Brugal Visionara concoction,” served with paccheri al ragù cinghiale. Finally, it provides “a luxurious Brugal 1888 dessert drink” to accompany its “decadent affogato.” Adventurous guests can add a 1 oz. pour of Brugal Maestro Reserva for $25. Space is limited, and guests must be 21+ to attend. More information and tickets are available on this page of the Tock website.
…REMINDER: Jaleo at Disney Springs is celebrating Spain’s National Cocktail, the Gin & Tonic, now through April 28. Specialty G&Ts and fried tapas are available.
…NEW: Jaleo at Disney Springs is offering a Florida residents discount (for an unspecified time). According to a promotional email without a lot of specifics, “As a token of appreciation for our local community, all Florida residents can now receive in a 20% discount on their total bill at Jaleo. Just present your Florida ID to your server, and the discount will be applied at the end of your meal.”
…REMINDER: Walt Disney World Golf is again offering its series of four-week Junior Golf Clinics during April and May 2024. With on-course coaching and playing clinics and separate skills development clinics, these are two different options for junior golfers, ages 7 to 17. The clinics will be hosted at Disney’s Palm, Magnolia and Oak Trail Golf Courses, and all are led by PGA of America Professionals. For more information, visit this page of the Walt Disney World Golf website.
…REMINDER: Walt Disney World Golf is also hosting a series of Summer 2024 Skills and On-Course Junior Golf Camps from June to August for young golfers ages 7 to 17. The camps focus on full swing, short game, putting and separately, with on-course instruction, led by its PGA of America Professionals. More details are available on the Walt Disney World Golf Blog.
…REMINDER: Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic event nights are scheduled on select nights into the summer of 2024. The complimentary, after-hours events feature select attractions with shorter-than-usual wait times, plus character greetings, entertainment and more. The remaining events are:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom – April 23 (registration closed).
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park – June 4 and July 11.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios – August 27.
Early registration opens for eligible Disney Vacation Club members (namely, those that have bought a certain number of points directly from Disney) with a qualifying Disney Resort hotel reservation on the event date(s). Pending availability, all other eligible Members may try their luck at reservations for the event on the other General Registration specified dates. A link to the event registration queue is posted online shortly before the registration windows open. If you are an eligible member and have a hotel reservation for an event date, keep an eye on your email for a registration reminder which also includes the link. All of the relevant 2024 registration dates are now posted on the event website. The relevant dates for the remaining 2024 Moonlight Magic events are:
| Moonlight Magic Event | Dates | Hotel Reservation Finalization (Party Size) by 11:59 p.m. Eastern | |
| Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park | June 4 | July 11 | |
| Early Registration | May 2 | May 2 | April 28 |
| General Registration | May 9 | June 27 | N/A |
| Disney’s Hollywood Studios | Aug 27 | ||
| Early Registration | Aug 1 | July 28 | |
| General Registration | Aug 15 | N/A | |
…REMINDER: Give Kids the World Village, the 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit resort in Kissimmee that provides cost-free week-long trips to critically ill children and their families, announced that its Gingerbread Run is returning this fall and will take place at night – under the holiday lights! On Saturday, November 23, you’ll have the chance to run, roll or stroll a 5K or family fun run through the whimsical storybook Village illuminated by thousands of holiday lights. Information and registration is available on this page of the Village’s website.
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Resort Reservations, Ticket Advice & Special Offers
Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Walt Disney World Resort Update.
The 4-day Florida Resident Discover Disney Ticket is $235 ($59 per day), plus tax, and offers admission to one theme park per day. The ticket IS valid through September 28, 2024, and park reservations are required. The ticket can be used on consecutive or non-consecutive days, and there is no fuse, so you can use the first admission in April and space out your remaining visits over the summer.
A 3-day version of the ticket is also available for $219 ($73 per day).
Both of these tickets also offer optional upgrades:
- Park Hopper Option
—$40 More Per Ticket, Plus Tax.
Visit more than one theme park on the same day.
- Water Park and Sports Option
—$35 More Per Ticket, Plus Tax.
Visit one theme park per day. Plus, get a certain number of visits to a water park, golf course or miniature golf course based on the length of your ticket. For example, if you purchase a 3-Day Florida Resident Discover Disney Ticket with the Water Park and Sports option, you can visit a Walt Disney World theme park on 3 days with an advance theme park reservation—and visit a Disney water park on 3 additional days by September 28, 2024.
- Park Hopper Plus Option
—$55 More Per Ticket, Plus Tax.
Visit more than one theme park on the same day. Plus, get a certain number of visits to a water park, golf course or miniature golf course based on the length of your ticket. This option is a combination of the Park Hopper option and the Water Park and Sports option.
It really is important to stress the necessity for making your park reservations as soon as you complete your purchase. Disney is only setting aside a limited number of reservations for this ticket type each day, and states, “Reservations may be unavailable for any particular date or park, especially as you get closer to the date of visit or ticket expiration date.”
If you are not a Florida Resident, or you are, but park reservations are not available for the dates you want to visit, Disney is also offering the 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket from $99 Per Day, Plus Tax (Total Price from $396, Plus Tax). The 4-Park Magic Ticket includes one admission to each of the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks—Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios—for a total of 4 admissions, on 4 separate days. Limit one admission per theme park, one theme park per day. This is a date-based ticket, so it does not require a theme park reservation to enter a park, but you must pick a start date through September 22, 2024, and the ticket must be used within 7 days of the selected start date. This ticket cannot be used to enter the same theme park more than once.
If you are willing to skip Magic Kingdom, Disney is also offering a Special 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom only, starting from $89 per day, plus tax (total price starting from $267, plus tax). This is also a date-based ticket that does not require a theme park reservation to enter a park, but you must pick a start date through September 24, 2024, and the ticket must be used within 5 days of the selected start date.
Disney+ subscribers can get a FREE dining plan when purchasing a non-discounted 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel and theme park ticket with a Park Hopper option. This offer is valid for arrivals most nights July 1 through September 30, 2024. Visit DisneyWorld.com/SpecialOffers for additional offer details!
NEW! Disney Rewards Visa Card users can get a free dining plan when using the card to purchase a non-discounted 4-night/4 day Walt Disney Travel Company Package including room at select hotels and tickets with Park Hopper Option for arrivals most nights July 1 – 31, September 1 – 7, and December 9 – 21, 2024. More details, restrictions, information, and the opportunity to book are on this page of the DisneyWorld website.
Florida residents can save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels, valid for stays most nights from July 8 through October 3, 2024. Which resort qualifies for which discount and booking opportunities are available on this page of DisneyWorld.com.
Details and more special offers are available on this page of DisneyWorld.com.
MousePlanet’s travel partner Get Away Today is available to help you book rooms and packages.
REMINDER: Get Away Today’s Walt Disney World Resort vacation packages can now be booked completely on its website! No cumbersome quotes needed! Simply compare all your favorite Walt Disney World Resort hotels and Get Away Today’s hand selected off-property hotels in a few clicks, and then customize for your included tickets for your vacation.
Get Away Today’s Walt Disney World Resort vacation packages now have the option to add Layaway Plans, which allow you to pay the total balance up to eight days prior to travel. You can also add their popular “Peace of Mind Plan” when booking a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, which allows any reschedules and cancellations up to five days prior to travel with no penalty.
When booking with Get Away Today, all Walt Disney World Resort on-site packages include Get Away Today’s e-concierge, which includes its Best Price Guarantee, Dining Reservation Reminders, access to their Concierge Team email for help before and during your vacation, and more.
Looking to go beyond Walt Disney World Resort when visiting Central Florida? Check out Get Away Today’s Universal Orlando Resort ticket offers too.
Only purchase Disney theme park tickets directly from Disney, an authorized seller, or a travel agency like MousePlanet travel partner Get Away Today! As always, we remind our readers that Walt Disney World Resort theme park tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Florida or eligible for U.S. Military Personnel benefits. Historically, non-Florida residents tend to benefit the most by purchasing tickets in advance (and, of course, being mindful of the rules relevant to those tickets). Don’t get scammed! Never buy tickets from an unofficial or secondary outlet, such as through eBay or Craigslist. Never rent or purchase tickets from people approaching you outside Disney property stating they have remaining days or leftover tickets. This practice is against the terms of use for Walt Disney World Theme Park admissions, and may result in denial of entry. There is no way to determine if these tickets are valid until you try to use them to enter the parks.
