Walt Disney World Epcot Discussion Thread

^Yes to both. The best option for me was to load money onto one of those F&W gift cards. It comes with a band that you can wear as a bracelet so you don't have to constantly get your wallet out.

Yes, those F&W cards are awesome and make paying so much easier and faster. I make Ice Bat be my card holder!

dt

I'm sad they are updating the Universe of Energy cars because that means they aren't going to tear it out.

So Im Planning my first trip to Disney world next month. The first night im there im trying do dinner at epcot see the night time show. What are the best places to eat at with a great view of the show?

Thanks

^If you are planning on watching the show during dinner, the best place to do so would be at La Hacienda de San Angel at the Mexico Pavilion. It was built just over a year ago out onto the water so it is the closest table service offering you'll be able to have near the water. They actually will loop in the music from Illuminations Reflections of Earth in the restaurant so you get the whole experience while viewing. The food is spectacular and the pricing is reasonable for sure. That being said, you'll probably have to work at it to get a reservation (and a window-view seat) around the time of Illuminations, but it is well worth it.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/la-hacienda-de-san-angel/

The only other restaurant with a direct view of Illuminations from the window that I can think of is Les Chefs de France, but that also requires having a window view, and that is farther from the water, since there is a walking path in front of the windows.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/les-chefs-de-france/

The only other option I would recommend is to eat before the show (reservations are easier to get before Illuminations anyways) and then find a good viewing spot after you eat.

^What about the Fish and Chips place in England? Does it have seating behind it on the dock or is that all reserved viewing?

^That's a good point. The Rose & Crown does have seating on the water, but I do believe that that area is not always available due to Illuminations Dessert Parties.

I there a place to find info about Dessert parties?

Every year they keep adding more and more delicious choices to the food & wine lineup. Drinking around the world will be even tougher this year...

This update needs 100x more photos of the World of Cheese.

^^^The Illuminations Dessert Parties are reserved for private events typically for larger groups and are booked through the events group at the resort.

^If it had been installed, it would've had at least 50 photos.

The Country Of Cheese is the greatest country EVER. Hopefully they will have information on how to move there this year.

dt

So Im Planning my first trip to Disney world next month. The first night im there im trying do dinner at epcot see the night time show. What are the best places to eat at with a great view of the show?

 

 

Thanks

Aside from what Adam recommended, I believe Tokyo Dining in the Japan pavilion offers a pretty good view from the tables at their front windows. Again, it's back across the walkway, but if memory serves me correctly, you can still see everything from there. Also, the food is excellent as well.

^Totally forgot about Tokyo Dining and I couldn't agree more. The food (and atmosphere) is spectacular and if you are near a window closest to the water, you should have a really nice view. Much like with the other table service restaurants with windows facing the water, try to plan to get there early (or get a reservation with a special request) for a window seat.

The Country Of Cheese is the greatest country EVER. Hopefully they will have information on how to move there this year.

 

dt

There may be some embassy openings soon I'd imagine.

^ Is it close to Morocco?

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/09/heading-to-the-30th-anniversary-of-epcot-on-october-1-heres-the-schedule-of-events/

We know that many of you are as excited as we are to celebrate Epcot’s 30th anniversary here at Walt Disney World Resort on October 1.

 

In honor of the milestone, the park has lined up a few special offerings for guests who wish to mark this special occasion.

 

Throughout the day on October 1, guests can attend Epcot history presentations in World Showplace courtesy of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. These presentations are included in park admission and are limited in seating.

• 1-2 p.m. – Designing the Future – Past and Present: A panel of Disney Imagineers remembers 30 years of building tomorrow!
  
• 4:30–6 p.m. – Epcot: How it Changed the World with Marty Sklar
  
• 6:30–8 p.m. – Epcot: How it Changed the World with Marty Sklar

Guests can also attend an anniversary moment at the America Gardens Theatre at 3 p.m., which will feature appearances by Disney leaders and include performances by Mariachi Cobre and Voices of Liberty. (Seating for this presentation is also limited.)

 

That evening, the October 1 presentation of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” will feature a special 30th anniversary tag.

 

And don’t forget to be on the lookout for special Epcot 30th anniversary merchandise while you’re at the park. Check out Steven’s recent blog post on the selection of T-shirts, hats and other 30th anniversary items that will be available. He’ll also have an update next week on what else you can expect!

Ugh. Every year the anniversary rolls around, I feel old....

Ugh. Every year the anniversary rolls around, I feel old....

Hey, dont feel blue. You'll never be as old as Jeff Johnson!

On Friday I was fortunate enough to win two tickets courtesy of BabyCakes NYC to "3D" Disney's Dessert Discovery, a special event only offered four times this year at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. An upcharge event held in the World Showplace venue (formerly the Millennium Village Pavilion during the Millennium Celebration), it is comparable to the Party for the Senses, just a little bit less on the menu and a bit more affordable at $55 per person (park admission not included).

Interestingly enough, the menu changes completely for each of the four nights, so no two evenings at this event will be the same. As you'll see in the photos below, there was a huge amount of food and drink to indulge in and it is definitely something I would pay to go to again!

I'd like to give special thanks to BabyCakes NYC again for giving us the tickets to attend this awesome event. I might not have ever tried to check it out beforehand but it is definitely on my radar for next year (as the remainder of this year's "3D" offerings are sold out)!

Before the event we spent the day in the park enjoying the Food & Wine Festival...

This year's updated lamb chop recipe is definitely my favorite out of those offered over the last few years. The potato chips combined with the pesto went perfectly with the lamb!

Another favorite of mine from last year was the Jerk Chicken Drumstick from the Caribbean booth, and it was just as great this year!

The Dragonberry Colada (also from the Caribbean booth) is great on a hot day and cuts the heat from the jerk chicken very well!

This is the first item in years that I've actually really loved from the Germany booth. Schinken Nudel for the win!

Poland's new flatbread (more like a garlic toast with mushroom, cheese and homemade ketchup) and the pirogies were both great as well.

The Hops & Barley Market is a personal favorite of mine. I had a lobster roll, a pumpkin mousse (probably my favorite "value item" offered at the F&W Festival) a Samuel Adams beer flight including the Chocolate Bock, Cherry Wheat, Boston Lager and the Sam Adams Seasonal.

In all of the five years I had seen Starship starring Mickey Thomas (in passing) at the Food & Wine Festival, this was the first time I heard them sing 'We Built This City."

Time to escape the rain...

Let's go inside!

When I say that the menu for the evening was huge, I mean it. This was handed to us at the beginning of the night and while I'm almost positive that we sampled a ton of it, I'm sure we didn't get to everything.

There was no shortage of food items at this event!

Each station had a theme, like this one, which I stayed away from.

The event also had a live band singing candy and sweets-themed songs to pair with the theme for the evening.

Cruzan Rum had a tasting station and was also making spiked Ginger Beer for anyone interested.

A favorite of mine for the evening was the Red Stag-carmelized doughnut...

Everything tastes better with a little fire!

The doughnut was served with a scoop of either rum ice cream or whiskey ice cream. Both were incredibly strong (and tasty) but I opted for the rum since the doughnut already was glazed in whiskey.

I'm in heaven!

Some more indulgent desserts!

Another favorite for the evening was the Hot Spiced Cider with Red Stag.

While I'm not normally one for flavored waters, I figured I should get with the "Discovery" theme of the event and try with an open mind. The one on the left was Cranberry Bog Water, which tasted slightly sweeter than normal water thanks to the cranberries. The one on the right is Ghirardelli chocolate water, which was really interesting. Again, not my normal thing, but I did enjoy trying it out.

So much food!

Oh, and there was a Savory station too!

The Fruit Station's menu is evidence that this isn't the standard fruit dessert spread...

Singing in Candyland...

I had to go back for more!

BabyCakes NYC also had a great spread of desserts including their fantastic gluten free cookies and cupcakes. I loved their stuff before but this event made them even sweeter in my eyes!

Serrano ham muffins, sliced meats and more filled the Savory station (and my stomach).

What's so peculiar about this chocolate? Well it is at the Savory Station for one...

This is chocolate covered bacon!

They also had the cheese-lover in me satisfied!

At the end of the evening the event moves from the venue out into a fantastic (dead-center) exclusive viewing location for Illuminations: Reflections of Earth... So it was time to head out...

Time to wrap this up! I'll definitely be looking into returning to the "3D" Disney's Dessert Discovery event next year! It was a tremendous value with so much to enjoy!

Thanks again to BabyCakes NYC for getting us into this incredible experience!

So were you able to jump right over type 2 diabetes and face plant into full blown diabetes?

Awesome TR Adam. I only wish that singing chick was Katy Perry in her Candyland outfit.

That event looks amazing!

Everything tastes better with fire..... and Bourbon! (even if it is fake Red Stag Bourbon).

One of these 5 does not belong, but I'll keep my bourbon snobbery comments to myself.

Great report, this looks like a really fun event!

Awesome!

Still trying to reschedule my visit next year from August to October. Must get F&W love.

I think the Sam Adams flights are a great idea too. When did those start?

^I think this might be the first year they've offered beer flights (at least at the Hops & Barley Market booth). That being said, I honestly never looked that closely before this year.