Explore our Etsy shop brimming with fun Disney items.

Disney Parks Podcast

All the Disney Parks in One Podcast

You are here: Home / Home

NEWS: First Look: New Entrance Fountain Celebrates the Past, Present and Future of EPCOT

By

The past, present and future of EPCOT are all coming together today in one special moment at the front of the park. Anyone visiting as of this morning will see in real life what we at Walt Disney Imagineering have been dreaming up in our heads for many years now.

Overnight, our crews removed all the “progress walls” from the main entrance plaza, giving you the first full look at this next major milestone in the park’s historic transformation. While there is still more work to be done here in the future, the area is much more open and welcoming now. It features new planters, pathways, lush landscaping and a vibrant new color palette that will eventually tie into the four new neighborhoods we’re creating inside the park – World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature and World Showcase.

And there in front of iconic Spaceship Earth you’ll now see a reimagined fountain, standing in the footprint of the original that welcomed guests on the park’s opening day in 1982. Our design team took special interest in this water feature, as we looked back to the geometry of the original for inspiration while creating some new magic of our own. In the fountain’s center is a brilliant light, a unique liquid-cooled fixture we’ve designed with new capabilities that complement the fountain’s changing colors and will coordinate with new lighting coming to Spaceship Earth and the upcoming World Celebration beyond.

Three acrylic pylons, each standing over 16 feet tall and featuring the park’s logo, surround the fountain and hearken back to the creation of EPCOT. Their timeless design and vertical presence draw your eye upward toward the sky – perfectly framing views of Spaceship Earth.

This new fountain is the centerpiece of EPCOT’s entrance plaza, which we’ve designed as a welcoming area that brings people together. The greenery and use of water celebrate a harmony between humanity and the natural world. This park was built to inspire optimism, and we’re infusing this transformation with the magic of possibility.

Today we took a big step toward that goal, and I’m so proud to be part of the team at Walt Disney Imagineering bringing this dream to life. I hope you’ll continue along with me on this exciting and amazing journey by keeping tabs on my updates here on the Disney Parks Blog

FIVE WAYS LOCALS CAN CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS AT FOUR SEASONS RESORT ORLANDO

By

The holiday magic has transformed Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort into a dazzling sight to behold, with beautiful palm trees wrapped in glittering white lights, festive floral arrangements, and the Resort’s signature Christmas tree in the main lobby evoking awe and wonder as soon as one sets foot into the lobby.  This holiday season, the Resort offers numerous reasons for locals to come visit, in addition to providing a perfect backdrop to capture a family photo while everyone’s dressed in their holiday best.

Intimate Private Dining Holiday Event

This year, now more than ever, people are celebrating the holidays with their closest family and friends only. For as few as six people, Four Seasons Resort Orlando has introduced two new decadent menu options for private celebrations, in the Resort’s beautiful Lakeside Event Pavilions.  The two Lakeside event rooms are located on the north side of the Resort’s main lake, freestanding buildings that also offer a private terrace on the lake and an outdoor fireplace, perfect for creating wintertime ambiance. The Resort’s catering team can assist with special event décor, such as holiday-inspired floral centrepieces, custom chargers and place cards, themed table linens, faux fur pillows, accent throws and more. The new holiday event offerings available in the Lakeside pavilions include an afternoon tea service, or a hot chocolate bar and dessert station.  The tea service is available for USD 55 per person and includes an assortment of teas, plus the following menu:

Desserts:

  • Peppermint macaron
  • Pumpkin macaron
  • Apple crumble mini tart
  • House-made cranberry scones with cinnamon whipped cream

Tea Sandwiches:

  • Chicken salad, cranberries, pecans, curry aioli
  • Prosciutto, herb goat cheese, asparagus
  • Pimento cheese, sweet drop pepper, pumpernickel

The hot chocolate bar and dessert station is available for USD 60 per person, and would be ideal for a late afternoon or evening setup, when guests can use the fireplace and enjoy views of the illuminated palm tree-lined pathway.  This offering includes chocolate bombes (house made chocolate spheres filed with hot chocolate mix) and assorted hot milks (whole, skim, two percent, oatmeal) for a rich, make-your-own hot chocolate station, complete with all the toppings including mini marshmallows, chocolate shavings, cinnamon, whipped cream, chocolate marshmallows.

Desserts include PB&G holiday s’mores with peppermint chocolate, and Italian nut cookies, plus Spanish churros with chocolate dipping sauce.

“The Lakeside rooms are absolutely perfect for a magical afternoon holiday celebration with close family or friends,” says Laure Hitzig Clavtte, Director of Catering. “Guests will feel special when hosted in this unique setting that feels secluded and charming, with its own private outdoor space and fireplace.”

In addition to these special offerings in the Lakeside rooms, the Resort offers private dining menus for the two main restaurants, Ravello and Capa, for parties of up to 30 guests.  A private dining room rental fee applies. For more details or to reserve a special holiday private dining offering, contact the Resort’s Catering team at 407 313 6745.

Holi-Dazzle at The Spa & Salon

The Spa at Four Seasons offers a variety of treatments for locals to look and feel their very best, including facials, massage, body treatments, cryotherapy, hair and nail care, plus new Vitality Drip therapies. To treat oneself to holiday relaxation, or to give the gift of relaxation to a spa-lover, The Spa can be a one-stop shop for beauty and wellness.

The new Signature Silk Hair Treatment, USD 140, offers a luxurious deep sea salt scalp and hair exfoliation with essential oils followed by a caviar hair mask and warm towel treatment. The Signature Silk Hair Treatment is an effective, natural and decadent solution for the ultimate in hair shine, softness and hydration.  The Merry Mani & Mistle Toes, 90 minutes for USD 160, offers the comforting, festive and spiced scent of warm apple cider or the peaceful and traditional benefits of precious frankincense and myrrh. Including a warming soak, exfoliation, massage and much needed hydration, this service includes nail shaping, cuticle care, buffing and the perfect seasonal polish.  To reserve a Spa appointment, contact 407 313 6160.

Shop the Season’s Best Gifts at Wardrobe and Fable

A best-kept-secret among locals in-the-know are the Resort’s lobby level boutiques, Wardrobe and Fable, which boast unique apparel and accessories for all ages. Wardrobe offers a wide selection of stylish apparel, swimwear, footwear and accessories for both men and women, from renowned designers such as Missoni, Golden Goose, Veronica Beard, Tory Burch, Lilly Pulitzer, and more. Wardrobe is open every day from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm.  Fable, the whimsical shop across the hall from Wardrobe, offers a variety of necessities for the on-the-go traveller, including new Corkcicle cups and many fun accessories. Fable also features sought-after Four Seasons logo apparel as well as exclusive gifts and memorable treasures.  Stoney Clover Lane bags and accessories that can be customised with patches exclusive to Four Seasons Resort Orlando are a hot item at Fable.  Satisfy those with a sweet tooth with Sugarfina candy gifts, stock up on organic Coola Suncare or find a delightful gift for little ones, such as Jellycat plush toys. Fable has something for the entire family, and is open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm daily.

Dinner at Ravello or Capa

The Resort’s signature restaurants are always a treat for locals to enjoy, whether it’s authentic Italian by Executive Chef Fabrizio Schenardi, or expertly grilled steaks and Spanish tapas by Capa Chef Gabriel Massip. At Ravello, diners can enjoy a spacious restaurant with a covered terrace, and a menu with new seasonal offerings such as braised lamb shank and wild mushroom risotto. At Capa, the new Espana Clasica prix-fixe paella menu available on Wednesday nights only for USD 85 per person is a must-try.  Capa has a beautiful rooftop terrace, perfect for taking in the sunset while enjoying a signature Capa GinTonic cocktail or glass of Iconoclast cabernet.  The restaurants have modified seating capacities to ensure physical distancing, and private dining rooms are available to reserve for those who would like a private space.  For dining reservations, call 407 313 6161.

Chef Rabii Saber’s Holiday Chocolate Display

Stop by simply to be wowed by the amazing chocolate creation designed by Executive Pastry Chef Rabii Saber and his team of pastry professionals. This year’s creation is designed to be a Christmas Village, reflective of the old-world style, featuring a small town and tiny village of homes and shops. A beautiful lake and a train surround the darling village, complete with sculpted chocolate and fondant animals such as reindeer. While viewing the creation is sure to inspire one’s cravings for sweets, Lickety Split, just around the corner, awaits. Lickety Split is a sweet treat for locals to enjoy decadent coffee drinks, milkshakes, and holiday gelato flavours such as eggnog and white peppermint.  Don’t miss Chef Saber’s special holiday offerings available for purchase, such as hazelnut cookies, peanut butterscotch dark chocolate bark, and pecan brownie cheesecake. Locals can also order a custom cake, in an assortment of design and flavour options, and even a bûche de Noël, for pick-up.

Holiday décor will be in place through January 5, 2021. For reservations, call 407 313 7777.

Disneyland Paris to remain closed until early 2021

By

Disneyland Paris has confirmed that the resort will remain closed until early on in 2021, as a result of the latest government measures for France related to COVID-19.

The resort was aiming to reopen for the holiday season, but now it appears that it will have to keep the gates closed until Feb. 12, 2021.

For guests who had booked a future trip during this closure period, options availalble include canceling and receiving a full refund or postponing the trip and booking new dates to visit. Starting Dec. 1, guests will be able to rebook their summer break trips at the current available rate for arrivals starting on April 1, 2021.

As for Annual Passes, the duration of those and their benefits, depending on the pass type, will be extended the number of days the resort is temporarily closed—starting from the expiration date of the pass—and monthly payments will be suspended from Nov. 1, 2020 through March 2021. As of right now, new Annual Pass sales are currently suspended.

To learn more about temporary adjustments and cancelation policies for Disneyland Paris in relation to this second temporary closure, visit DisneylandParis.com.

Disneyland Paris shares update on Cars Route 66 Road Trip attraction

By

Disneyland Paris recently shared an update and photos for the upcoming attraction, Cars Route 66 Road Trip, which is set to debut in 2021 at Walt Disney Studios Park.

The sneak peek shared a look at the attraction’s new boarding station, which is inspired by mid-century modern architecture with several nods to the automotive world of Pixar’s “Cars.”

cars route 66 road trip

Guests will enter the station through a tourist booth filled with maps, postcards, and other decorative items. The loading station, which is about halfway through construction, is the first building built outside the current perimeter of Walt Disney Studios Park. Once completed, it will be accessible to guests by a new road that extends from Toy Story Playland.

cars route 66 road trip

Cars Route 66 Road Trip represents the first step in the multi-year expansion of Walt Disney Studios Park.

Stay tuned for more updates on this attraction and Disneyland Paris as we await its grand opening next year!