As Floridians have officially gone back to school, Walt Disney World theme parks are looking like a ghost town ahead of Labor Day Weekend.
Walt Disney World is home to four theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Guests from all around the world travel to Orlando, Florida to experience the magic of Disney World and everything it has to offer, including its one-of-a-kind nighttime spectaculars.
On October 1, 2021 Magic Kingdom debuted a brand-new fireworks show, Disney Enchantment, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. In order to make way for this new nighttime spectacular, we had to say goodbye to the fan-favorite show, Happily Ever After, which sparkled into Disney history on September 29, 2021.
If you have not yet seen Disney Enchantment, the official Walt Disney World website describes it as:
Watch in awe as Cinderella Castle comes to life with magical effects that—for the first time ever—extend down Main Street, U.S.A.! Plus, enjoy dazzling new lighting that illuminates the Castle courtyard and stunning fireworks that light up the night sky. All the while, classic and reimagined Disney songs will sweep you up into the adventure of a lifetime, along with an original new song by 7-time Grammy award-winning songwriter Philip Lawrence.
Disney Enchantment, presented by Pandora, is truly a celebration of magic, imagination, joy and hope for all who carry dreams in their hearts. Throughout your journey, favorite Disney Characters like Raya, Moana and Joe Gardner from Soul will join as you explore a world of wonder filled with friendship, love and fun. And if darkness tries to hold you back, you’ll discover you only have to look within to find the power to believe and make your dreams come true. The magic has been inside you all along!
This nighttime spectacular debuted as part of The World’s Most Magical Celebration—the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary.
Despite the backlash Disney Enchantment has received from fans, Magic Kingdom Guests continue to line up along Main Street, U.S.A. every evening to watch the night sky light up with fireworks.
However, because many Floridians have gone back to school, the last week of August at Walt Disney World is considered a “low crowd” week, and that is definitely shown in the video shared to Twitter by RandomDisneyDude:
Chocolate lovers rejoice! Disney has once again shared a recipe for an item available at the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival!
From a Disney Cast Member;
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE is in full gear! There are so many amazing foods to try. This year’s festival menus were filled with recipes I wanted to test and share with the home cook. One dessert that really stood out was the Rocky Road Cake at the Flavors from Fire Global Marketplace. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to test this recipe!
When I came home from the store with marshmallows and chocolate, the taste testers in my house were excited. After having a chance to taste the final product, they were not disappointed. One of the taste testers revealed that reheated leftover cake made an excellent breakfast the next morning.
Some of my favorite desserts to bake are ones that look time-consuming and difficult but are secretly easy to make. This Rocky Road Cake is a perfect example of that. The cake is delicious and does not take much more time than a standard chocolate cake. The individual cakes topped with marshmallows, almonds, and ganache really set this apart from an everyday chocolate cake. Rocky Road Cake is going on my list of desserts to make again.
Now that I’ve talked it up- it’s time to share the recipe!
ROCKY ROAD CAKE – EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Serves 8
SPICY SUGARED ALMONDS
1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar, divided
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne
3 tablespoons water
3/4 cup unsalted almonds
CHOCOLATE GANACHE
6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
2/3 cup heavy cream
CHOCOLATE-BUTTERMILK CAKE
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup hot water
TOPPINGS
1 cup mini marshmallows
Sea salt
Reserved chocolate ganache
FOR SPICY SUGARED ALMONDS:
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
Combine 1 teaspoon sugar with the cinnamon and cayenne in a small bowl; set aside.
Stir remaining 1/3 cup sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until boiling. Carefully add almonds and stir frequently for 8-10 minutes, until water evaporates. Continue stirring for 2-3 minutes, until sugar begins to caramelize. Sprinkle cinnamon reserved mixture over almonds and stir to mix.
Carefully pour almonds onto prepared baking sheet, separating with spatula.
Cool completely, then coarsely chop. Store in airtight container up to 3 days.
FOR CHOCOLATE GANACHE:
Spray eight 6-ounce ramekins with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
Place chopped chocolate in a medium glass bowl.
Bring heavy cream to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Pour over chocolate. Let chocolate sit for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth.
Place 1 1/2 tablespoons of ganache in each ramekin and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Keep remaining ganache at room temperature until ready to serve.
FOR CHOCOLATE-BUTTERMILK CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add egg, oil, and buttermilk. Whisk to combine. Carefully add boiling water and whisk until batter is smooth.
Remove ramekins filled with ganache from refrigerator and fill each with 1/3 cup cake batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool 5-10 minutes before serving.
TO SERVE:
Carefully remove cakes from ramekins. Top each rock road cake with 2 tablespoons of mini marshmallows and 1 tablespoon of spicy-sweet almonds. Warm chocolate ganache in the microwave for 30 seconds on 50% power. Drizzle ganache over each cake and sprinkle with sea salt.
Note: Always use caution when handling sharp objects and hot contents. Please supervise children who are helping or nearby. This recipe has been converted from a larger quantity in restaurant kitchens. The flavor profile may vary from the restaurant’s version.
Last November, Disney Parks celebrated the first Disney+ Day. Disney is once again celebrating and subscribers can take advantage of some pretty cool offerings at Disney Parks around the world.
Here are all the details from Disney Cast Member Thomas Smith:
We’re making it blue once again at Disney Parks as we celebrate Disney+ Day on Sept. 8! You’re invited to “plus” up your day with special offerings and fan-favorite fun.
Mornings at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California will be “plussed” up with early entry pixie dust! Disney+ subscribers and their travel party with valid admission and reservations are once again invited to enter the theme parks at Disneyland Resort* and Walt Disney World Resort 30 minutes before regular park opening.
To capture the memories of this special day, subscribers can also enjoy complimentary Disney PhotoPass photo downloads at select locations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Disneyland Resort theme parks that day.
We’re also excited to share that in celebration of Disney+ Day, on September 8 only, guests staying in select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels and Hotels of the Disneyland Resort (with valid admission and a reservation) will have the opportunity to enter 60 minutes before regular park open at any Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort theme parks.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort, celebrate Disney+ Day with Disney+ character meet-and-greets and cavalcades, “plus” more surprises throughout the day (valid theme park admission and Disney’s Hollywood Studios park reservation required). The fun doesn’t end there! Guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can wind down with a special Disney+ screening at Movie Under the Stars.
It’s too good to be blue at Disneyland Resort! Be on the lookout for commemorative chalk art at the Downtown Disney District and at the Disneyland Hotel, ways to “plus” your pics as well as fun and festive food and beverage throughout the Disneyland Resort. Strike a starry pose at Hollywood Land with a photo op featuring Mater and Lightning McQueen before vrooming over to Cars Land – inspired by the Disney and Pixar movie “Cars” – to meet the four-wheeled stars themselves! Wishing for more? Guests staying at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort are invited to stop by Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa for a special movie screening.
While we celebrate all things blue, we’re eating them too! Satisfy your sweet tooth with blue dusted churros – only available at Disneyland Resort theme parks this Disney+ Day on Buena Vista Street and Grizzly Peak at Disney California Adventure park, near Sleeping Beauty Castle and Astro Blasters in Tomorrowland at Disneyland park. At the Downtown Disney District, choose from three true-blue cocktails: an Ocean Breeze at Naples Ristorante E Bar, Blue Hawaiian at Uva Bar & Cafe, and a Tropical Margarita at Tortilla Jo’s.
Fans are also invited to join the celebrations digitally by stepping up their selfie game with Disney PhotoPass Lenses for Disney+ Day. Don festive Mickey ears or invite Groot to make a cameo through these limited-time lenses – available to those celebrating in the parks or at home in the U.S. through Snapchat and the My Disney Experience app.
On Sept. 8, Disneyland Paris will delight guests with a dedicated entertainment program specially developed for this occasion, in addition to photo opportunities with Disney PhotoPass and a blue-themed chocolate hazelnut donut. For more fanfare, Disney+ subscribers and their party with theme park tickets and reservations are invited for the first time to enter Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris at 9:00 a.m. (30 minutes before regular park opening) only on Sept. 8, 2022. Hong Kong Disneyland will celebrate with guests visiting the park on Sept. 10.
Guests will be seeing blue on this cruise! During the Aug. 29-Sept. 5 Disney Vacation Club Member Cruise, members aboard the Disney Wonder will be treated to special gifts from Disney+ and 9 exclusive shows and experiences supporting current and upcoming Disney+ programming.
Around the world, Consumer Products, Games and Publishing will also be celebrating Disney+ Day. More in the coming weeks on how to join in on the fun.
Stay tuned for more as we continue to share how we’re making it blue for Disney+ Day!
Guests may be required to verify that they are a Disney+ subscriber by displaying their logged-in home screen on the Disney+ app via their phone to enter early and to receive special benefits at the parks. Please be sure to download the Disney+ app and sign in prior to arrival. Entertainment is subject to change.
* Only Disneyland Resort hotel guests will have access to the direct theme park entrances at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel walkway and Downtown Disney District Monorail.
Many exciting things are happening across our parks and resorts in celebration of World Princess Week, and today we are excited to share a first-look at some design details within Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. This upcoming attraction at EPCOT is taking shape before our eyes, as our Walt Disney Imagineering team and crew of artisans have already begun sculpting the rockwork in this immersive exploration trail.
Designed for all ages, Journey of Water will allow guests to explore and engage with water as it travels from our skies to our oceans and back again. Walt Disney Imagineering partnered with artists and cultural consultants from Walt Disney Animation Studios to bring this experience life, and our team tasked themselves with capturing the beauty of the natural water cycle within the attraction. We were also inspired by Moana’s fierce determination to protect her environment – her bond with water is unique, and we are excited for guests to learn about the importance of water and experience its playful personality just as she did.
Fans of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana” will be delighted to see familiar shapes and characters carved into the rocks and waterways throughout Journey of Water. A great example of this is Moana herself, who will be positioned proudly – celebrating water’s arrival to our ocean.
As part of our design process, Imagineers create models, mock-ups, and maquettes to bring our beloved characters and stories into the parks in sometimes unexpected ways. Above is a behind-the-scenes look for World Princess Week of Principal Dimensional Designer, Jim Towler, sculpting the foam maquette of Moana for this attraction.
This gives a glimpse into the earliest stages of our design process, before paint and additional details have been added. Once the pose of the character is defined, sculptors add detail and texture until the emotional expression of the carving is just right. We then do a paint study and often create full scale samples to test final materials and carving techniques. This process ensures the production and creative vision for the experience align.
Below is another making-of example, showing a sample from the mountain-like forms that will soon mark the entrance to the attraction. Fans will recognize Moana’s iconic spiral, which we portrayed in one of the first concept renderings for Journey of Water.
Every detail helps tell our story. Here, everyone can see how artisans use paint, scenic treatments, and foliage to bring even more life to our worlds and environments.
It’s certainly an exciting time for our project team as these elements are coming together on site now and in the coming months! Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will be brought to life within World Nature – the EPCOT neighborhood dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe, and balance of the natural world. Moana is the perfect role model to inspire us to protect and conserve water and guide us through the Journey of Water.
There’s a lot more to share in the coming weeks and months, so be sure to keep following along here for the latest on this exciting part of the EPCOT transformation!
Disney is once again celebrating World Princess Week from August 21-August 27! Part of the celebrations include limited-time food and beverage items at Disney Parks.
From a Disney Cast Member;
Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort in honor of World Princess Week. From August 21 through 27, this celebration will highlight some of your favorite characters and feature some tasty treats to enjoy along the way.
There are plenty of treats on both coasts, including the lovely Snow White 85th Anniversary Petit Cake, yes 85th, from Amorette’s Patisserie at Disney Springs and the Tangled Loaf Cake over at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. And there’s much more than just food. From merchandise, entertainment, and special announcements, the week will be the ultimate celebration honoring our classic Disney royalty. Stay tuned throughout the week for daily princess fun coming your way.
I present to you the Foodie Guide to World Princess Week at Disney Parks!
Walt Disney World Resort
Magic Kingdom Park
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Lost Slipper: White chocolate mini slipper with white cremeux pearls tucked inside a milk chocolate dome served with hot caramel
Storybook Treats
Snow White Cone: DOLE Whip lemon, blue cone, chocolate bird, and sugar bow
EPCOT
Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
Anna & Elsa Cookie: Sugar cookies with chocolate ganache
Oasis Sweets and Sips
Jasmine Cookie: Sugar cookies with apricot jam
Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue
Tiana Banana Pudding
Sunshine Seasons
Anna & Elsa Cupcake: Strawberry cupcake with strawberry filling and strawberry buttercream topped with a chocolate crown
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Catalina Eddie’s
Enchanted Rose: Dark chocolate, blackcurrant, and morello cherry mousse with whipped cookies ‘n cream fluff, and gilded chocolate-covered cacao nibs on a shortbread cookie
Dockside Diner
Seaside Brownie: Chocolate brownie topped with white chocolate ganache and seaside garnish
Snow White 85th Anniversary Petit Cake: Vanilla chiffon cake layered with apple mousse and cinnamon mousse with white chocolate crunch pearls (New)
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Snack Shack
The Moana Cone: Coconut soft-serve and DOLE Whip strawberry swirled into a chocolate coconut dipped waffle cone with white chocolate and an edible flower (New)
Resorts
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Landscape of Flavors
Mermaid Cupcake: Vanilla cupcake filled with pineapple topped with a coconut buttercream and a white chocolate mermaid tail (Availability will continue past August 27)
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Contempo Café
Cinderella Cupcake: Vanilla cake with vanilla crème custard filling, butter cream, white chocolate slipper, and fondant pumpkin
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Gasparilla Island Grill
Perfectly Princess Cupcake: Vanilla sponge cupcake with pink buttercream ruffles, white nonpareils sprinkles, and Princess white chocolate coin
Disney’s Polynesian Village
Kona Island Coffee Bar and Capt. Cook’s
Moana Mini Cake: Vanilla cake, mango mousse, and a wave of glaçage, buttercream, fondant, and white chocolate décor (New)
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory
Wishing on Stars: Olive Oil cake, banana cream pie mousse, white chocolate Feuilletine crunch, and white chocolate glaçage (New) (Availability will continue past August 27)
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Le Petit Café
Aurora Fruit Tart: Diplomat cream, raspberry mousse, and fresh berries with a white chocolate crown (New)
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Disney’s Old Key West Resort
The Artist’s Palette and Good’s Food to Go
Snow White Cupcake: Vanilla cupcake filled with a spiced caramel apple filling topped with caramel buttercream, red chocolate dip, and a red bow
Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Park
Red Rose Taverne
Coconut-Strawberry Lemonade featuring Minute Maid Zero Sugar Lemonade (New)
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Holiday Cart
The Princess and the Frog Macaron: Mint chocolate chip French macaron (New)
Princess Gown Cookie: Sugar cookie with royal icing (New)
Tangled Loaf Cake: Lemon-blueberry flavored cake with vanilla buttercream (New)
Mermaid Crisped Rice Treat: Crisped rice treat with seashells, mermaid tail, and pearls (New)
Princess Cookie: Sugar cookie with white chocolate icing (New)
Princess Cookie Box with assorted cookies (New)
Princess Waffle Shot with Milk: White chocolate-coated pistachio waffle shot with choice of milk, low-fat milk, strawberry, or chocolate milk (New)
Princess Waffle Shot with Alcohol: White chocolate-coated pistachio waffle shot with choice of Baileys Irish Cream, Grand Marnier, Captain Morgan Rum, Jameson Whiskey, or Rumchata (New)
GCH Craftsman Grill
Princess Cupcake: Vanilla with buttercream, pearls, and a crown (New)
Princess Carriage Donut: Cake donut with white chocolate apples (New)
Available at Various Locations Throughout the Disneyland Resort
Princess Bubble Sipper includes choice of fountain beverage at time of purchase (New)
Available at the following:
Main Street, U.S.A. Fruit Cart
Town Square Churro Cart
Little Red Wagon
Sleeping Beauty Castle Churro Cart
Red Rose Taverne
Maurice’s Treats
Edelweiss Snacks
“it’s a small world” Churro Cart
Downtown Disney District
California Churro
Princess Churro: A strawberry filled churro dusted with delicious pink strawberry sugar and served with a side of cream cheese frosting
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes
The Mermaid CrazyShake: Blueberry shake with vanilla-frosted rim and mermaid sprinkles topped with a mermaid tail, pearl clam shell, fish lollipop, whipped cream, and mermaid sprinkles
Splitsville Luxury Lanes
Pink Paloma: Tequila combined with pink grapefruit juice, agave syrup, premium grapefruit soda, and freshly-squeezed lime juice
Be sure to check out both the Walt Disney World Resort app and the Disneyland Resort app for items available on mobile order.
(Note: All offerings are subject to change and availability.)
