Epcot

News

Man Arrested After Flashing Fake Badge at Epcot

Recently, a man was arrested at Epcot after flashing a fake badge at an entrance turnstile - all in an attempt to gain entrance to the park for free.

Emerito Pujol, 74, entered Epcot on Saturday, November 3, and showed a badge as he passed through the turnstiles. An employee demanded a closer look of the badge, and Pujol said he was an undercover officer. The Miami man went on to tell a security officer he was "in service" and "guarding someone important."

Frozen Draft Beer Invades the U.S. - At Epcot's Japan Pavilion

It's a hit across the ocean in Tokyo, Japan , and now it's hit the mainland U.S. We're talking, of course, about frozen draft beer; guests heading out to the Japan Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase can now sample one of these frosty beverages.

As you can see in the picture, the beer looks like it's topped with a whipped topping of some sort, or even ice cream. Rest assured, it's truly a cold beer, Kirin brand, topped by frozen beer. The frozen topping helps the beer retain its refreshing coldness quite a bit longer than its regular counterparts.

New Year's Eve Events Around Walt Disney World Announced

It's never too early to figure out what you're doing New Year's Eve - especially when Walt Disney World is involved. Disney recently announced events for bringing in 2013, and we've got the scoop on what's going on where for December 31.

Test Track Set to Reopen in December

You probably know the Test Track attraction at Epcot has been closed for some time now as it's being re-imagined, and up until now, only a vague re-opening timeframe of "fall 2012" has been mentioned. Recently, though, Disney announced the new and improved Test Track will reopen December 6.

News Tidbits: Animal Guides and New Home for Marie

Here are a couple of news tidbits for those of you heading out to the parks soon that have to do with Disney's Animal Kingdom and an Epcot character meet and greet.

First up, the next time you find yourself at AK, check out the new animal guides. Found at the main entrance, the tip board and Mombasa Marketplace, the animal guides should cover most animals found within AK. These guides look to be in a trial phase which began just the other day (October 1) and should be available through November 30.

VIP Treatment for Chase Cardholders at Food & Wine Fest

As you probably already know, Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival kicks off today, and those of you luckey enough to be heading over there to take in the festivities who have a Chase debit and/or credit card are entitled to some VIP treatment from Chase itself.

This year at the Food and Wine Fest, Chase cardholders have access to an exclusive Chase Lounge at the Festival. The Lounge gives guests with a Chase card at their fingertips a place to unwind and relax while enjoying complimentary beverages, electronic charging stations and WiFi access.

News Tidbits: Kali Rapids and Epcot Meet-and-Greet

Here are two brief news stories that could be of interest to our Walt Disney World fans.

First up,some helpful news from Disney's Animal Kingdom. That park is said to start offering two-hour locker rentals to guests riding the Kali Rapids. Look for the new lockers by the restroom near the Rapids' main entrance. Keep in mind, it is a two-hour rental; those wishing a longer rental time can still utilize the lockers for rent near the front of the park.

Epcot's 30th Anniversary Schedule of Events

Epcot is turning the big 3-0 this year, and D23, Disney's official fan club, is helping the park celebrate. For those of you lucky enough to be planning a trip to Epcot this October 1, here is a list of what to expect to help Epcot ring in their 30th anniversary.

D23 is planning special presentations about the history of Epcot in the World Showcase. Each presentation is included in the park admission ticket, but seating is limited. Here's the schedule:

Celeb Meals Coming To WDW As Part of Food & Wine Fest

The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is just around the corner, and this year there are a few meals with celebrities planned as part of the fest. In October, guests can choose to rub elbows and break bread with the likes of Cat Cora, John Lasseter, Andrew Zimmern and the Voltaggio brothers this October.

First up is a five-course dinner with Cat Cora at her Disney Boardwalk restaurant, Kouzzina by Cat Cora. Guests can sign up for either the October 2 or October 4 meal. Cost is $170 per person.

Chat With Disney Imagineer Reveals Reimagined Test Track Details

Today over at the Disney Parks Blog, a live chat was held with Imagineer Melissa Jeselnick. The Imagineer revealed some details about the currently-being-revamped Test Track in Epcot.

First off, Jeselnick said guests can expect a totally different queue area, noting it "will look like nothing guests are used to seeing it look." The design aspect of automotives will dominate the queue; look for "items, sketches, cars and models from GM that have never been seen outside the Chevrolet family."

Forum Posts

Epcot was one of Walt Disney's original visions. Originally standing for the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, it was actually intended to be much more of the basis for Walt Disney World than the Magic Kingdom. Eventually however his initial vision proved too grand to be carried out and it became the less expansive park that you see today.

Articles

Why We Love The Walt Disney World Monorail

One of the most iconic sights at the Disney is the fun and fantastic highway in the sky known as the Walt Disney World monorail. For many Disney fans no trip to the vacation kingdom is complete without a ride on one of the 3 separate lines that make up the system traveling throughout Walt Disney World Resort. The Monorail System regularly operates from 30 minutes prior to earliest park opening until one hour after latest park closing, for many guests it's the first and last Disney ride of every trip.

The Top Five Salty Snacks at Walt Disney World

If given the choice between a sugary sweet treat or a salty snack, I'm more likely to choose sweet over salty on any given day. However, when I'm at the Walt Disney World Resort there are several salty snacks that are on my must-eat list.

Our Favorite Things in Epcot’s Japan Pavilion

When visiting Epcot's World Showcase there are several must-visit destinations, many of which include food or drink (I'm looking at you France. And Norway.) But one of my favorite spots to visit has more to do with the look and feel of the pavilion than anything else.

Join The Fun Fresh Weekends At Epcot Throughout April

The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival continues to bring a burst of spring life and color all across Epcot. While visiting during the festival is always great fun, in 2016 weekends in April have even more exciting programing! Fun Fresh Weekends arrive to add novel dimension to an already exciting line up.

Five Walt Disney World Restaurants Specializing in Seafood

While there are many restaurants around the Walt Disney World Resort that offer fantastic seafood dishes, may travelers are more comfortable getting their seafood from someplace that specializes in it. Here are 5 fantastic restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort that specialize in serving up the bounty of the sea.

The Top 10 Relaxing Rides at Walt Disney World

While I love most of the attractions at Walt Disney World, I have a great fondness for what we like to call "chill rides." Basically they're the exact opposite of the thrill rides we talked about last week. I will freely admit that I like the rides where I can sit back, relax, and not have to worry about my roller coaster car suddenly speeding backward down a steep incline. Yeah, chill rides.

Top 5 Thrill Rides at the Walt Disney World Resort

While I'm not exactly a thrill-seeker when I'm on vacation at the Walt Disney World Resort, there are a few attractions that are always on my must-do list. And yes, some of these attractions are "thrill rides." After all, as much as I love it's a small world, I would lose my mind if that is the only attraction I could ride for an entire week.

The Best of Epcot

Epcot opened as Walt Disney World's second gate on October 1st, 1982. A tribute to the vision and creative genius of Walt Disney, this Park was meant to celebrate human achievement, to be a community of new thought, and a permenant installation of modern international culture. The Park is split into two distinct sections, guests stepping through the main gate first arrive in Future World. This portion of the Park is dedicated to science and technology, where guests can explore the bottom of the sea, or reach for stars.

Top 5 Things You Don’t Want to Miss at Walt Disney World this Spring and Summer

Spring is most definitely in the air at the Walt Disney World Resort! The 2016 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is in full bloom and the spring break crowds will be descending upon Orlando very, very soon. And if you're planning a visit this spring or summer we have a list of the top 5 things you don't want to miss.

Get A Taste Of The Cider House Hard Cider and Beer Flight

Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival is finally in fully bloom, and the Outdoor Kitchens are serving up some enticing intoxicants for guest to imbibe in. The Cider House is new this year and offers modern spins on culinary tastes from the United Kingdom and Hard Ciders from across the U.S. For a fun introduction to the some fabulous tastes - order up a Hard Cider and Beer Flight.