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2015 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Booth Menus Announced

If you're making plans to attend this 2015 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival you can now check out all the menus for the marketplace booths! New booths this year include Sustainable Chew, the Chew Lab, the Wine Studio, and the Cheese Studio. The Dominican Republic booth is returning after a multi-year hiatus.

Paul Candland Named President of The Walt Disney Company Asia

The Walt Disney Company recently announced that Paul Candland was named to the newly created position of president, The Walt Disney Company Asia.

In this position, Candland will have oversight of Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and Greater China and will be responsible for driving the company's strategy and business efforts in Asia. Candland, a 16-year Disney veteran, was president of Walt Disney Japan.

Epcot’s Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure Now Using New Smartphones

Agent P's World Showcase Adventure in Epcot is now using new Nokia smartphones from AT&T.

The interactive game had been using Verizon Samsung flip-phones for the last two years. AT&T became the official wireless provider for the Walt Disney World Resort in August 2013.

The new smartphones have a much larger screen than the old flip phones and reportedly the quality of the audio is improved. And since it's a smartphone, it also features a touch screen.

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.

Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Preview

While this year's International Food and Wine Festival at Epcot has just ended, already plans are in the works for the upcoming 2012 Flower and Garden Festival. Here is a preview of what guests can expect when that festival gears up in March.

This year's centerpiece will be based on the classic Disney film "Fantasia" and will feature a larger-than-life Mickey Mouse topiary on top of a twelve-foot floral mountain. Below Mickey will be flower versions of buckets and broomsticks, elephants, alligators and hippos.

Tokyo Disneyland Reopens Today

It has been closed since the devestating tsunami and earthquake hit Japan, but now Tokyo Disneyland is reopening its doors.

Starting today, Tokyo Disneyland will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The shorter-than-normal hours are part of an effort by Disney to conserve energy and power consumption.

Tokyo Disneyland will also be donating a certain amount per guest entering the parks to the Japanese Red Cross. Also, starting April 22, charity wrist bands will be available for sale with proceeds also going to the Red Cross to aid its relief efforts.

Tokyo Disneyland Update

The Tokyo Disneyland Resort is still closed in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan earlier this month and will remain closed until further notice.

Thorough inspections were conducted in Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySEA and found that structures and guest areas inside both parks were safe and sound. The same cannot be said, however, for the outside of the parks. More specifically, the parking lots of the parks have sustained damage from soil liquefaction which occurred when the earthquake's tremors caused the soil under the parking lots to act like liquid.

Disney Donates $2.5 Million to Red Cross

As all eyes continue to watch Japan in the aftermath of last week's devestating earthquake and tsunami, the Walt Disney Company is making a $2.5 million contribution to the Red Cross to aid efforts in that country. Disney also has set up a charitable giving program for all its employees and will match each dollar donated with a dollar up to an additional $1 million.

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Articles

Snacking Around The World At Epcot Isn’t Just For Food & Wine Festival

Eating your way around World Showcase is a popular way to spend the day during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, but if you've missed this year's event - never fear - you can snack your way through the park all year long. The counter service restaurant located throughout the eleven international pavilions are more than enough to treat a hungry traveler to an exotic buffet that takes all day long to experience.

Crawl Your Way Around World Showcase at the 2013 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Inspired by the classic pub crawl, where participants spend an evening drinking in a series of pubs, today's post offers a fun way to experience some great tastes. Food & Beverage Crawls have become extremely popular way to enjoy all the delicious treats available at the Walt Disney World Resort. When you add in the annual fan favorite Epcot International Food & Wine Festival to the mix - the stops along the way are raised to a whole new level.

Go Undercover as a Secret Agent in ‘Disney Phineas and Ferb: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure’

If your kids (or you) have ever wanted to be a secret agent - specifically a secret agent like Perry the Platypus from Disney's Phineas and Ferb - then we have the perfect Epcot attraction where the kids can show off their skills.

Kidcot Fun Stops – A Great Way to Entertain the Kids at Epcot

Despite the fact that you can find a good number of characters around Epcot and there are enough attractions to keep the kids entertained and amused, there is sometimes a misconception that Epcot is the "grown up" theme park. But we're here to tell you about the Kidcot Fun Stops, which are a great way to keep the kids entertained as you wander through the World Showcase.

What To Do on a “No Kids” Day at Epcot

On the few occasions when my husband and I have visited the Magic Kingdom without the kids we always feel a little guilty. But, when we're at Epcot without the kids there is less guilt and a little more "Hey! We're having a grown up day!" That means no waiting in line to meet the characters, no whining about sore feet, and most importantly we can visit attractions WE want to see.

Sake House in Epcot's Japan Pavilion

Situated in the center of the courtyard of Epcot's Japan Pavilion is a quaint little building with a stone base and thatched roof. It's held a number of different souvenir shops over the years, but in it's current incarnation, it's an outdoor sake bar. The menu is small and simple, offering a selection of Japanese Beer, Plum Wine and Sake, as well as a few Sake Cocktails.

Holidays Around the World at Epcot

While many families gravitate towards the fantastic environment of the Magic Kingdom for their Christmas time fantasy, I have always loved the cultural diversity of Holidays Around the World at Epcot. A highly anticipated part of the season this tradition brings together storytellers from around the globe to share seasonal tales of Winter Holidays in Epcot's World Showcase.

Epcot's Japan Pavilion Koi Pond

All around the Disney parks there are beautiful, entertaining spots that many guest often miss. These places are all about theme magic, and if one is so focused on getting to the next ride, or making it on time to their ADR it can be easy to overlook. But to travelers who like to enjoy the journey these spots can paint vivid pictures of the beauty and culture of the areas in which they can be found.

Treasured Souvenirs: Pick-A-Pearl at Walt Disney World

There are many creative and off the beaten path experiences that you partake in at the Walt Disney World Resort. One of my favorites is the "Pick-A-Pearl" spots that can be found in a variety of locations around the property. For princesses both young and old Pick-A-Pearl can be an exciting and memorable souvenirs that will last through the ages.

Drinking around the World at Epcot

We've all thought about it, or have done it ... perhaps several times: drinking "around the World" at Epcot's World Showcase.