Couponing to Disney

There are exciting new things popping up every day at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida! Join us every week to read about what’s new “Around the Mouse.” This week’s Walt Disney World news update features: new events at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, a Haunted Mansion shop coming soon, new foods, drinks, new merchandise including an Epcot cookbook and much more!

Walt Disney World Theme Parks

New! New Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Late Nights – LIVE!: Epcot Food & Wine Festival – Late Nights LIVE! street party will run from 9:45 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday during the festival between the United Kingdom Pavilion and World Showcase Plaza. The event includes six tastes (food and beverages) from select marketplaces, live music, entertainment, and a DJ. Cost is $79, plus tax. Admission to Epcot is not required after 9 p.m. for guests who have purchased credentials to the event.

New! Epcot Food & Wine Festival Premium Package: From noon-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday during a select festival period (September 22-November 6), the Epcot Food & Wine Festival Premium Package is an opportunity for guests staying in a Walt Disney World Resort hotel (or the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels) to sip and savor in style. The package includes an in-room gift with wine for guests 21 and older, a festival wine glass, truffles and credential for the Premium Package Areas at the festival – plus an Epcot International Food & Wine Festival MagicBand and a $50 Disney Gift Card to start the fun. The credential gives access to 10 VIP “Premium Package Areas” around World Showcase Promenade where you can order items from Marketplaces and have them delivered to you – no waiting in line. You can also bring your favorite marketplace treats into the Premium Package Areas and just relax. The package also includes one admission to Epcot Food & Wine Festival – Late Nights LIVE!, which you can attend on Tuesday or Thursday night. Cost is $199 per guest, plus tax, plus Epcot admission.

New! Epcot Canada Pavilion Cast Members Get New Costumes: From time to time, Creative Costuming updates the costumes of Cast Members around Walt Disney World. Starting July 28, Cast Members in Canada have a new look. For the design, all parts of Canada were included with the iconic check and maple leaf patterned fabric, which was created specially for Walt Disney World. The vest includes the Northwestern influence of Canada with native influences from French and Native American design. When the weather cools down, the winter wear includes a nod to iconic Canadian trappers with a plaid trapper’s hat.

Haunted Mansion-Themed Merchandise Shop Opening This Fall in Magic Kingdom Park: The new merchandise shop will be located in the current Yankee Trader shop, which will have its last day of operation on July 27, 2014. Inspired by Madame Leota, the new location will carry select items from the upcoming Haunted Mansion Authentic program including apparel, home goods, souvenirs, and more.

New! Find Your Perfect Beauty Accessory from Givenchy: Experience the Couture Accessory Event, where Givenchy beauty experts will help you find the perfect beauty accessory to complete your look at the Givenchy Boutique in Epcot. From July 31-Aug. 3, Guests who make a Givenchy purchase of $100 or more will receive a complimentary deluxe fragrance sample.

New! Epcot Cookbook Announced for September: A new Epcot cookbook will be released this September. What makes this cookbook different than all the rest is that it contains recipes from all three annual events held at Epcot: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Holidays Around the World and Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. The title and the arrival date of this book have yet to be released.

New! New Bloody Mary Drinks at Dawa Bar in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park: Beginning Sunday, July 27, Dawa Bar will have new Bloody Mary offerings inspired by Discovery Island, Asia and Africa. The following drinks will be available:

• Dawa Bloody Mary – Classic Bloody Mary with a strong horse radish finish. Garnished with truffle blue cheese olives and prosciutto ham.
• Discovery Island Bloody Mary – Classic mix with lemon juice and olive brine. Garnished with tomato, mozzarella, fresh basil skewer. Drinks light and refreshing.
• Asian Bloody Mary – Cocktail made with Kim chee salad purée and sriracha. Garnished with Asian salad and grilled shrimp. If you love a spicy Bloody Mary, this is the one for you.
• African Bloody Mary – A classic blend with the addition of berbere spice. Garnished with fresh vegetables and house made beef jerky.

New! Change to Aug 22 – 23 Extra Magic Hours: Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be moving its AM Extra Magic Hours from Aug. 23 to Aug. 22. Extra Magic Hours for those days are now as follows:

• Friday, Aug. 22: AM EMH at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, PM EMH at Epcot
• Saturday, Aug. 23: PM EMH at Magic Kingdom Park

Reminder! Book Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2014 Events July 31: Beginning July 31 at 7 a.m., Guests can officially book a spot for some of the most coveted events at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2014. All events will be posted on epcotfoodfestival.com beginning July 24.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

New! Operating Hours Change at Senses – A Disney Spa: Beginning Monday, Aug. 4, through Thursday, Sept. 25, Senses –  A Disney Spa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Senses – A Disney Spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort will be closing at 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.  Operating hours will remain 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday through Sunday. “Me Time” Magic events will not be affected and operating hours will remain the same for all resort fitness centers and salons.

 New! Nanea Volcano Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Resort is Closed: Though the upcoming refurbishment has been known for some time, the pool is now officially closed to guests. Guests of this resort will be able to enjoy Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park as a complimentary offering. Barefoot Pool Bar will be temporarily closed during the refurbishment of the Nanea Volcano Pool. Beverages will still be available for purchase at the Polynesian East Pool during this time.

New! Intermission Food Court and Note’able Games Arcade Closing for Refurbishment: Intermission Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort will be closed for refurbishment Aug. 4 – Dec. 19, 2014. During the refurbishment, bus transportation will be provided to End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort and World Premiere Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort. Buses will run daily from 7 a.m. to midnight. Buses will pick up and drop off Guests at each theme’s porte cochere.

Note’able Games arcade, closed July 27 until late December 2014, will be temporarily converted into a grab-and-go Food & Beverage location for the duration of the food court refurbishment. The Note’able Games Grab ‘n’ Go, which opens Aug. 4, will have cold breakfast, lunch and dinner options available throughout the day. Alternative food and beverage options also are available at the Singing Spirits Pool Bar and through in-room pizza delivery from 3 p.m. to midnight.

New! Captain’s Grille Cast Members Receive New Costumes: On July 2, Captain’s Grille Cast Members said farewell to their heritage costumes, which have been around for the past 22 years. The costume design changed from the more muted seaside village look to a bold, stately seafaring style fit for the elegance of the restaurant.

Walt Disney World Resort – General

New! Change to Gluten Free Foods: Walt Disney World locations utilizing Udi’s Gluten-free Hamburger and Hot Dog buns will transition to Local Oven Gluten-free buns available through US Foods. Other GF items available at resort hotels include gluten-free naan bread at Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the angel food cake with seasonal fruit compote at Captain’s Grille at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and hot beignets at Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort.

New! WonderGround Gallery Joins Marketplace Co-Op at Downtown Disney: A small assortment of WonderGround Gallery items was recently added to the Marketplace Co-Op in Downtown Disney Marketplace. WonderGround Gallery opened in June 2012 at Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort in California. It is a distinctive and eclectic contemporary art collection which showcases unique art by some incredibly talented artists. Now a small sample of their work is available at Walt Disney World too.

New! Filter Concert at House of Blues Downtown Disney: Filter, Helmet and Local H will perform at House of Blues at Downtown Disney WestSide on Aug 3, 2014. Doors open at 6 pm, show starts at 7 pm. The concert venue is general admission standing. This event is all ages. Tickets are $24.50.

New! Jesse McCartney Concert at House of Blues Downtown Disney: Jesse McCartney and Guinevere will perform at House of Blues at Downtown Disney WestSide on Aug 5, 2014. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:30 pm. The concert venue is general admission standing. This event is all ages. Tickets are $35.00.

Reminder! Disney’s Military Salute Discount Renewed: Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and the Disneyland Resort in California are bursting with new attractions and entertainment for the entire family – and America’s military personnel can experience the fun through special theme park tickets and special pricing for accommodations. 

Reminder! Fall Vacation Discounts Announced: You can save up to 30% on rooms at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels for stays most nights Oct. 4-Nov. 25 and Nov. 29-Dec. 23, 2014, when you book by Oct. 3, 2014.  It’s the perfect time to visit Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and more!

Reminder! 2015 Vacation Package Prices Released July 30: The 2015 Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland® Resort and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa vacation packages are now available to book. These packages will be valid for arrivals Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2015. Please note the last date of your vacation must not be more than 499 days in the future.

Merchandise Events

• July 30-Aug. 3:  Artist Greg McCullough will make appearances throughout the day at Art of Disney, Downtown Disney® Marketplace.
• August 7 - Meet Disney’s “Planes: Fire & Rescue” director/co-writer Bobs Gannaway from 3 – 4 p.m. at Once Upon A Toy in Downtown Disney Marketplace, as he signs some of the new “Planes: Fire & Rescue” merchandise available at Disney Parks.
• August 7 – 11: Find the latest releases from Precious Moments doll designer and artist Linda Rick at Once Upon A Toy in Downtown Disney Marketplace.
• August 14 – 17: Keep an eye out! Renowned artist David E. Doss will be appearing daily at Art of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace. Stop in and find a new piece of art to add to your collection!
• August 14 – 17: It’s time for you to check out the latest releases from international artist Larry Dotson, who will be appearing throughout the day at Main Street Cinema in Magic Kingdom Park.
• August 23: Keep an eye out for spellbinding commemorative T-shirts and more as part of the “Villains Unleashed” event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Remember, a separate ticket is required to attend this event. If you are thinking of going, purchase tickets now at www.DisneyVillainsParty.com or by calling 407.939.1933.
• August 29: Be sure to pick up a copy of Tinker Bell: An Evolution, a full biography about everyone’s favorite fiery fairy by author Mindy Johnson. Mindy will appear at Art of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace from 3 – 4 p.m., alongside special guest and Disney Legend, Alice Davis. Tip: Also being released during the event is Marc Davis: Walt Disney’s Renaissance Man.

Written by Lori Wall:  Lori is a lifelong fan and visitor of Walt Disney World! Her love of Disney World has grown through visits with her own family as well as through planning magical vacations for others! Lori is an expert in maximizing vacations while sticking to a travel budget. Contact her about saving an extra 5% off your Disney vacation with an insider tip!  Book your vacation with Lori at (845) 698- 0102 or request a price online.