Get Ready For HarmonioUs @ Epcot

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

With IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth gone, “Epcot Forever” has been trying to fill the nighttime spectacular void in Epcot. Even though “Forever” is in the name, Epcot Forever is only a temporary show. Disney has been hard at work with the permanent Epcot nighttime spectacular, “Harmonious”. Check out the details and video below from DisneyParksBlog:

Epcot is in the midst of an historic, multi-year transformation that is bringing a wide variety of exciting new attractions and experiences to the park. Among these is “Harmonious,” set to debut later this year, which will be one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney Park. Our Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Parks Live Entertainment teams recently passed a major milestone in the development of the show, with the delivery of several floating platforms that will provide a base for the technology used to create “Harmonious.”  

“Harmonious” will bring to World Showcase Lagoon an innovative toolkit of massive floating set pieces that house a variety of show effects, including custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, colorful lights, lasers, pyrotechnics and more.  

The show is a beautifully crafted nighttime dreamscape of Disney music and images, reimagined by diverse cultural musicians and artists from around the world. It’s a transformative experience, where we can discover how Disney music has the power to inspire and unite us all. You can catch an early glimpse of concepts for the show now by visiting Walt Disney Imagineering Presents the Epcot Experience, located in the Odyssey Events Pavilion. 

Over the coming months, with development and infrastructure work for “Harmonious” ramping up both behind the scenes and in the center of the lagoon, we’re pleased to present the limited-time spectacular “Epcot Forever.”  

“Epcot Forever” has been described as a “love letter” to the park. The show tells the story of Epcot, beginning with the first spark of inspiration and the opening day anthem, “We’ve Just Begun to Dream,” and continuing through chapters dedicated to the thematic pillars of innovation, exploration, imagination and celebration. It concludes with an all-new verse of the classic song, “One Little Spark,” leading into a spectacular grand finale promising “A Whole New World” of magical possibilities to come.  

“Epcot Forever” is now showing nightly in World Showcase, and we’ll have more to share on “Harmonious” in the months ahead.

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New Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Train Whistle Available

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

The second-ever toy themed to Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway has arrived at Walt Disney World, and it’s none other than a toy train whistle themed after the Runnamuck Locomotive in the attraction.

The wooden train whistle features a glossy outer layer stamped with the attraction’s logo. On top, Conductor Mickey peeks out of the engineer’s cabin on the Runaway Railway train. The train itself follows the exact color scheme and design as the one featured in the attraction.

You can find the new train whistle inside Donald’s Double Feature at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort. (No, they aren’t available at All-Star Sports.) The toy whistle retails at $12.99, making it slightly more expensive than the toy train that debut a few weeks ago.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway opens March 4th, 2020 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and in 2022 at Disneyland Park.

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Duffy’s New Friend, CookieAnn Makes Debut @ Aulani Disney Resort and Spa

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

Do you know Duffy? Duffy is Mickey Mouse’s cuddly teddy bear that Minnie gave him so he could travel the world without being lonely. Duffy used to be available for a meet and greet in Epcot but hasn’t been seen in any of the Walt Disney World parks recently. It is exciting however that Aulani Disney Resort and Spa is embracing Disney fans’ love for Duffy by introducing his new friend, CookieAnn. Check out CookieAnn’s story below from DisneyParksBlog:

We’re thrilled to share some wonderful news for fans of Duffy and his friends. CookieAnn, Duffy’s creative, food-loving friend, has arrived on Oʻahu to bring her recipe for friendship to Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa.

In an Aulani-exclusive outfit that celebrates her imaginative spirit, CookieAnn showcases her passion for the culinary arts in a pretty pink outfit adorned with a colorful sweet treat motif. Her look is topped off with her signature chef’s hat, with a beautiful pink flower inspired by the flowers of Hawaiʻi.

So, how did Duffy’s inventive friend arrive at Aulani Resort? Here’s the story of how CookieAnn came to bring her delicious recipes and creative spirit to Hawaiʻi.

Duffy and his friends were planning a lūʻau to welcome CookieAnn, who loves to put things together to create something new and interesting, like delightful recipes and desserts. Duffy and his friends decorated with beautiful flowers like plumerias and prepared snacks and fruits that are enjoyed in Hawaiʻi.

As soon as she arrives, CookieAnn is fascinated by so many things she had never seen or smelled, such as pretty flowers, tropical fruits and a never-ending blue ocean.

All these sights and scents inspired CookieAnn to decorate plain cupcakes with blue icing, slices of star fruit and mango, and a plumeria flower to create a tropical cupcake.

Duffy and his friends are all excited that CookieAnn shared her liking of Hawaiʻi in such a delectable way. They all enjoyed the cupcakes and the special time of friendship together.

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Epcot’s International Festival of The Arts is Now Open

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

The Arts have arrived at Walt Disney World’s Epcot! With entertainment, food, and excitement galore, the Epcot Festival of the Arts is now open through February 24. Curious of what you can expect to enjoy? Check out the details below from DisneyParksBlog:

It’s time to get your art on during the fourth Epcot International Festival of the Arts! Step inside the new life-sized frames of Van Gogh’s famous Café Terrace at Night or Sunflowers paintings to star in an Artful Photo Op. Taste culinary wonders at the 12 festival Food Studios, presenting artfully crafted dishes and libations. Watch uber-talented artists at work, then take home your favorite pieces. Grab a seat for an unforgettable complimentary performance of the Disney on Broadway Concert Series. 

It’s all happening now through Feb. 24 at this fourth annual Epcot festival celebrating the visual, culinary and performing arts. You can even exercise your own artistic talent at multiple interactive exhibits and workshops. Bring the family for fun-filled activities like Figment’s Brush with the Masters scavenger hunt, Animation Academy at America Gardens Theatre and the Expression Section: Paint-by-Number wall mural in Future World. Interact with the Epcot Living Statues (laughs guaranteed!) in Future World East, and marvel at acrobatic performances of the Art Defying Gravity troupe at the World Showcase Plaza stage.  

For a primo photo session at some of the festival’s most popular stops, step into life-sized versions of famous paintings like those of Van Gogh, Edvard Munch and Leonardo da Vinci. There’s an homage to artist Frida Kahlo at the Mexico pavilion, and you’ll want to jump into the Peter Pan Storybook photo-op before posing with Washington Crossing the Delaware. Get silly with the kids at the Green Landing Family Play Zone. And go Broadway each evening for a show-stopping performance at the America Gardens Theatre — here’s the talent lineup for the Disney on Broadway Concert Series: 

  • Jan. 17, 20, 21 and 24 – Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White (“The Lion King”) 
  • Jan. 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Heidi Blickenstaff (“The Little Mermaid”) and Gavin Lee (“Mary Poppins”)
  • Jan. 25 – Special performance featuring Simmons, White, Blickenstaff and Lee 
  • Jan. 26, 28, 29; Feb. 1, 2, 5 and 6 – Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) and Kevin Massey (“Tarzan”)
  • Jan. 27, 30, 31, Feb. 3, 4, 7 and 8 – Liana Hunt (“Newsies”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
  • Feb. 9 – Special performance featuring Lindsay, Massey, Hunt and Jacobs
  • Feb. 10, 12, 13, 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
  • Feb. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21 – Syndee Winters (“The Lion King”) and Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
  • Feb. 24 – Special performance featuring Brown, Strickland, Winters and Scott

Twelve Food Studios surrounding the World Showcase offer creative bites and refreshing sips like these standouts: Sous Vide Chicken Roulade at Pop Eats!; Vanilla, Rose Water and Pistachio Panna Cotta at The Masterpiece Kitchen; and the Rainboba sparkling water layered with Fruit Boba and topped with a Foam Cloud (heavenly!) at The Deconstructed Dish. Need chocolate? Head to The Artist’s Table for the Sipping Chocolate Flight of white, milk and dark chocolate – yum!

And don’t miss these brand-new permanent films debuting around the park:

“Awesome Planet” at The Land pavilion, narrated by Ty Burrell (Modern Family), features spectacular imagery, in-theater effects, and an original musical score by Academy Award-winning composer Steven Price.

“Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” in the Canada pavilion, narrated by award-winning actors Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy, presents breathtaking new scenes in this update of the original “O Canada!”

“Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along” in the France pavilion, directed by Don Hahn, who produced the animated and live-action “Beauty and the Beast” films, invites guests to sing-along to this thrilling new animated twist on a “tale as old as time.” At the theater’s entrance, you can explore a new exhibit, “Tales as Old as Time: French Storytelling on Stage and Screen,” featuring a stunning display of ornate costumes, music and artwork dedicated to the adaptation of French literature in cinema, theater, ballet and opera. Don’t miss the glass slipper from the live-action “Cinderella” film or Belle’s costume from “Beauty and the Beast.” Community arts organizations from Florida also contributed pieces to the exhibit.

While visiting World Showcase, be sure to check out two new bands including Lebendig, an award-winning German pop rock band who will perform their modern take on Germany’s well-known Schlager sound in the Germany pavilion. And in the Morocco pavilion, enjoy the creative mix of traditional Gnawa music and the current sounds of Morocco with Atlas Fusion.

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