New Disney100 Experiences Coming to EPCOT This September

The celebration of The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary is underway, and we’re excited to share Disney100 will ramp up at Walt Disney World Resort beginning late September! Throughout the year, we’ve been celebrating the fans and storytellers who have sparked the joy that is Disney over the last century. It’s been so fun to see all of the special surprises at Disney Parks across the globe helping fans and families relive beloved Disney memories and experience new, heartwarming stories.

Guests may have heard that EPCOT will be the center of the Disney100 celebration at Walt Disney World, marking not only a century of magic and innovation, but also ushering in the future as the multi-year transformation of the park wraps up.

So, what’s in store for this limited-time celebration at EPCOT? Keep reading to learn about everything that will debut on Sept. 22!

Taken a selfie with any of the Disney100 backdrops located at all four theme parks and Disney Springs? Guests will be able to snap a photo with a new platinum Mickey Mouse sculpture in World Celebration with Spaceship Earth in the background. And don’t forget about the dazzling Disney100 Magic Shots and PhotoPass offerings currently available across Walt Disney World.

Be sure to check out the all-new mural at the heart of World Celebration to see how many of the 100 Disney characters Guests can find in the incredible scene. This expansive mural located along the walkway to World Showcase will feature some of your favorite characters hidden throughout the various neighborhoods of EPCOT. The rest of World Celebration will also be decked out in Disney100 platinum banners and décor.

Guests will be able to meet, hug and snap a photo with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their platinum best in the Imagination! pavilion. They won’t be the only ones sparkling in honor of the celebration. Spaceship Earth will light up each night with special colors and lights accompanied by the Disney100 anthem, a unique rendition of When You Wish Upon a Star.

Sip and savor tastes of the Disney100 celebration with four limited-time food & beverage locations during both the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays! We can’t wait to sample all of the culinary delights and delectable drinks that evoke new and timeless Disney memories.

That’s not the only exclusive food and beverage Guests will be able to enjoy during the celebration! They won’t want to miss out on the purple metallic Mickey Balloon Premium Popcorn Bucket available only at EPCOT during Disney100.

We can’t wait to welcome Guests to EPCOT to see the ongoing transformation of the park and join the excitement of the Disney100 celebration at Walt Disney World from Sept. 22 to Dec. 31, 2023. Be sure to share favorite Disney100 memories on social with #Disney100. And stay tuned to the Disney Travel News for details about even more new experiences debuting during the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival and EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.

Cheshire Cafe: Where Wonderland Magic Meets Whimsical Delights

Tucked away in the heart of Fantasyland at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, the Cheshire Cafe beckons visitors with its enchanting charm and whimsical offerings. Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” this delightful quick-service eatery invites guests of all ages to embark on a culinary journey filled with color, flavor, and a touch of magical madness.

As you approach the Cheshire Cafe, you are greeted by a larger-than-life, grinning Cheshire Cat perched above the entrance, setting the whimsical tone for what lies inside. The cafe’s design draws inspiration from the vibrant world of Wonderland, with playful colors, psychedelic patterns, and endearing details scattered throughout the venue. The seating areas are adorned with oversized tea cup-shaped chairs and whimsical decor, making guests feel as if they’ve stepped right into the pages of Lewis Carroll’s beloved story.

Cheshire Cafe is not only a feast for the eyes but also a treat for the taste buds. The menu boasts an array of delectable snacks and beverages to satisfy every craving. Guests can indulge in the iconic Cheshire Cat Tail, a flaky pastry filled with chocolate chips and drizzled with colorful icing that resembles the mischievous feline’s tail. For those seeking a refreshing drink, the Mad Hatter’s Refreshments offers iced tea, frozen lemonade, and seasonal slushies, perfect for quenching your thirst on a warm day.

Beyond its delightful treats, Cheshire Cafe also offers enchanting character encounters, allowing visitors to meet some of Wonderland’s most beloved inhabitants. Throughout the day, Alice herself may make an appearance, bringing the magic of her fantastical world to life. These whimsical moments create lasting memories for guests of all ages, adding an extra layer of joy and enchantment to the dining experience.

]Cheshire Cafe is a must-visit destination for anyone exploring the wonders of Fantasyland. With its enchanting ambiance, mouthwatering treats, and character encounters straight out of Lewis Carroll’s imagination, this whimsical eatery captures the essence of Wonderland magic, ensuring that every visit is a fantastical and unforgettable journey down the rabbit hole.

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe: An Intergalactic Dining Experience

Nestled in the heart of Tomorrowland at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe is a futuristic quick-service restaurant that takes diners on an out-of-this-world culinary journey. With its cosmic-themed decor, live entertainment, and diverse menu options, this iconic eatery offers an intergalactic dining experience that captivates visitors of all ages.

Step into Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, and you’ll find yourself transported to a space-age wonderland. The restaurant’s unique design features futuristic architecture, sparkling star lights, and a rotating stage that hosts an animatronic alien lounge singer, Sonny Eclipse, entertaining guests with catchy tunes. The menu is as diverse as the galaxy itself, offering interstellar options like the hearty Galactic Cheeseburger, crispy Chicken Nuggets, and the delightful vegetarian-friendly Plant-Based Sloppy Joe. Whether you crave classic American fare or cosmic-inspired dishes, Cosmic Ray’s has something to satisfy every palate.

Beyond its captivating ambiance and diverse menu, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe sets itself apart with its emphasis on customer experience. The ordering process is seamless, with multiple ordering stations that ensure guests spend less time waiting and more time enjoying their meals. The spacious dining area accommodates a large number of visitors, making it an ideal spot for families and groups. Disney’s renowned attention to detail extends to the cleanliness and organization of the restaurant, guaranteeing a pleasant and hassle-free dining experience.

The heart and soul of Cosmic Ray’s is undoubtedly Sonny Eclipse, the talented animatronic alien lounge singer. Sonny’s lively performances, complete with quirky humor and catchy tunes, elevate the dining experience to new heights. Families and children gather around the stage, mesmerized by his intergalactic melodies and interactive banter. From playful renditions of classic songs to his original space-inspired compositions, Sonny Eclipse creates magical moments that guests cherish long after they leave the cafe.

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe is more than just a place to refuel during a day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. It’s an immersive intergalactic dining adventure that delights visitors with its cosmic atmosphere, diverse menu offerings, and captivating live entertainment. For an unforgettable meal that’s truly “out of this world,” Cosmic Ray’s is a must-visit destination for Disney enthusiasts and space explorers alike.

Trespassing Guest Crashes Carousel of Progress

An uninvited Guest with a sense of entitlement reportedly crashed the Carousel of Progress attraction at Magic Kingdom, and he didn’t even have a park ticket.

When General Electric approached Walt Disney about the prospect of creating attractions for its pavilion at the New York World’s Fair, the genius visionary was excited at the prospect of collaborating again with GE. The two entities had previously worked on plans for an extension of Main Street, U. S. A., at Disneyland, but the idea was scrapped when it was decided that the technology necessary to bring Walt’s plans to fruition simply wasn’t available. But Walt tucked the idea for his so-called “Edison’s Square” into the recesses of his mind, and when GE and Disney partnered to bring four innovative attractions to the New York World’s Fair in 1964 and 1965, that idea served as the inspiration for what would soon be called the “Carousel of Progress.”

The newly-revived Disney-General Electric partnership ultimately gave birth to the development of four attractions: it’s a small worldGreat Moments With Mr. LincolnFord’s Magic Skyway, and the Carousel of Progress. The 1964-65 New York World’s Fair was held in Flushing Meadow Park in Queens, New York, from April to October 1964 and again from April to October 1965. Housed inside the General Electric pavilion called “Progressland,” the Carousel of Progress attraction opened on April 22, 1964, to inquisitive fairgoers, and the response was overwhelming. The attraction accommodated approximately 200 visitors every four minutes.

For the second season of the World’s Fair in 1965, a covered queue was built adjacent to the General Electric pavilion on an open lot in an effort to keep visitors out of the heat from the sun as Disney’s Carousel of Progress was equally as popular as it had been the year before, and wait times were sometimes high.

disney's carousel of progress attraction at the new york world's fair with crowds

The attraction features a unique stage show with various acts, each one performed on a different part of a stationary stage that is partitioned off from the rest of the stage. At the end of each act, the audience seating area rotates around the stage, much like a carousel. (Hence, the name “Carousel” of Progress.) The show made use of animatronic human figures that moved in sync with a recorded script. Each act highlighted electricity and its effects on man’s progress over the years. In the original version, the acts took place in the 1880s, 1920s, 1940s, and 1964, the first year of the New York World’s Fair. It was so popular that following the conclusion of the fair, Disney had the massive attraction dismantled and moved across the country to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, where it opened to park Guests in July 1967.

disney's carousel of progress

The Carousel of Progress wowed Guests at Disneyland until 1973, when it was closed to move it to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park, where it reopened in 1975. Then in 1993, it was renamed “Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress” to honor Walt. The attraction today is a 21-minute production with the same premise—a look at the role electricity and technology have played in man’s progress, though a few minor changes have been made over the years, most of them barely noticeable.

Last month, the final scene of the attraction was rumored to have new additions that included elements to make the scene more “diverse” and “inclusive.” The reported changes were said to have upset some Guests who didn’t feel the new “woke” scene elements should be added. But the rumor was found to be false.

On Wednesday, however, a new addition to the attraction was witnessed by several Guests who were visiting Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom at Disney World. According to Entertainment Weekly, an uninvited Guest “crashed the Magic Kingdom’s Carousel of Progress attraction.”

According to the news outlet, a squirrel was seen scurrying around one of the show’s scenes. The out-of-place critter ran around the feet of John, the audio-animatronic dad and narrator of the show, as the father of two continued the recitation of his lines, as if he never even saw the unticketed, uninvited Guest on the stage floor.

carousel of progress with squirrel

It’s not clear from the report whether any attempts to interview the squirrel or John were made, and as of the time of this publication, there’s no word from either. As such, one can only assume the squirrel was only looking for his Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow as well.

Guest Arrested After Fight Sends Cast Member to the Hospital

Walt Disney World Resort is supposed to be a magical and wholesome place for Guests of all ages. Unfortunately, all it takes is one lousy Guest to ruin the experience for everyone.

An unfortunate incident took place at EPCOT when a Guest assaulted a Cast Member on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a popular attraction based on the hit Disney-Pixar film. It allows Guests to shrink down to the size of a rat and embark on a thrilling adventure through the sights, sounds, and smells of Gusteau’s restaurant in Paris. On this day, a ride breakdown on Remy’s ride ended up resulting in a massive fight between a Guest and a ride worker.

On May 30, 2021, Seth Griffin Davis was spending a day at EPCOT. According to witnesses, Davis was waiting in line to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure when the line stopped moving. Davis was then seen approaching a Cast Member to ask what had happened to the ride. The Cast Member informed him that the ride was experiencing technical issues and that Davis would not be able to go back in line for the attraction at this time.

This news made Davis irate, and he began having a heated argument with the Cast Member. At this time, the Cast Member went to go get his supervisor to help with the situation.

epcot monorail

After the supervisor arrived, Davis began fighting with her as well. The supervisor attempted to aid the situation by adding Davis and his family to the lightning lane for the ride when it reopened, but the iPad could not scan their tickets. This escalated to Davis slapping the iPad out of the supervisor’s hand, causing an injury to her left wrist and ribcage. The supervisor was sent to the hospital for her injuries.

spaceship earth epcot

The police responded to the scene at the Disney Park, where they arrested Davis and transported him to the Orange County Jail.

This situation is very disturbing to hear. At this time, Davis has pleaded not guilty to this crime.