MickeyBlog News for July 31st, 2023
This week: EPCOT opens its most popular festival, the Hatbox Ghost threatens the East Coast, and Disneyland clarifies the fate of Fantasmic!
Also, we learn what “Smellephants” are. We’ll explain everything in MickeyBlog News!
The Food & Wine Festival Debuts
July 27th signified the holiest of days for EPCOT fans.
On that date, the 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival debuted.
As a reminder, EPCOT hosts four festivals now, and they’re all running longer than the average festival ten years ago.
So, EPCOT operates a festival more days than not. Still, Food & Wine represents the best of EPCOT, as it’s been drawing crowds for decades now.
Greece
As such, whenever the annual event opens, it’s a gigantic moment for Disney fans.
MickeyBlog’s ace team of reporters and writers was all over the park, providing you with the best possible opening-day coverage.
We captured early photographs of this year’s EPCOT World Showcase Passport, menus/pricing, and the Food & Wine Festival map.
Our reporters also provided a first look at the Brew-Wing Lab at the Odyssey, which is the locale with the Muppets theme!
This year’s annual passholder collection is also a LOT of fun. As for the merch, I know my wife is gonna want this bag.
Encanto and Disney headband fans will find plenty to love as well. And Spirit Jerseys are somehow still in style, which speaks to the brilliance of the look.
We even met a few iconic characters during the early days of Food & Wine 2023.
In short, this year’s event looks like arguably the best ever and definitely the most entertaining since pre-pandemic times.
You don’t wanna miss EPCOT right now!
PS: You can read our reviews of the various food booths here.
Whither Fantasmic!?
Fantasmic! Fire
Remember when Maleficent the dragon caught fire during a Fantasmic! performance at Disneyland Park?
Yeah, that disaster happened in April. We’re more than three months past that incident, yet the nighttime presentation has yet to reopen.
Photo: Disney
Park officials initially suggested that the show wouldn’t go on for at least a few days.
Then, Disney sheepishly acknowledged the obvious. Fantasmic! had closed for “the foreseeable future” and then at least until Labor Day.
Photo: Disney
Now, the presentation has suffered an even more significant delay.
Management has decided that repairing the Maleficent dragon isn’t feasible at this point.
Instead, Disneyland Park plans to rework Fantasmic! with new special effects instead.
Photo: Disneyland
So, the dragon Disney fans call Murphy won’t be back. To a certain degree, that’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Do you know why people nicknamed the dragon Murphy? It’s a tribute to Murphy’s Law.
Disney has struggled so much with Maleficent malfunctions over the years that fans cheekily reference the dragon as an exercise in Murphy’s Law.
What could go wrong HAS gone wrong with this mechanical contraption. It’s supposed to breathe fire in a safe manner.
Instead, the giant structure just self-combusted. Disney has chosen not to rebuild it.
We’ll get something new at some point in 2024, but that means the park won’t host Fantasmic! again this year.
Please plan your 2023 Disney vacation accordingly. And yes, we are advocating for hot soup in July!
Magic Kingdom Smellephants and Ghosts
Disney just confirmed that two new features will debut at Magic Kingdom soon.
One of them is the previously announced arrival of the Hatbox Ghost.
Photo: @DisneyEats
Disney has gone all-in on this character this summer, with an incredible new sipper available at Disneyland.
The character also plays a vital part in this week’s theatrical release, Haunted Mansion.
Photo: Disney
At the 2022 D-23 Expo, Disney indicated that the Hatbox Ghost would materialize at Magic Kingdom at some point in 2023.
That time is apparently “later this year.” When the attraction announced a brief closure for refurbishment, we thought that may be the reason.
Photo: Disney
If so, Disney isn’t ready to acknowledge that yet. Still, park officials have warned us that we’ll note some construction walls near Haunted Mansion.
Presumably, the changes are underway and should finish in time for Halloween 2023.
The other enhancement will debut at Storybook Circus. It’s something called – I kid you not – Smellephants on Parade.
Scentsy is sponsoring this amenity, which makes me question their management’s awareness of brand identity.
Photo: Disney
When I think of fresh, fragrant smells, elephants don’t spring to mind. That’s why we all giggle during the elephant scene in Soarin’ Around the World.
Anyway, Smellephants on Parade is a “search and sniff” adventure that will entertain kids while their parents happily sit down and catch their breath.
Photo: Touring Plans
Basically, this is the same tactic Disney previously used with Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. Now, it’s smells rather than witchcraft, which strikes me as a downgrade.
Your children WILL disagree with me on this one. It’s sure to delight kids when it debuts.
Disney Miscellany
In case you missed the news, some Disney Springs restaurants are partnering with Taste! Central Florida for a gala event.
On August 18th, a $200 purchase gains you access to the meal of a lifetime.
Photo: Taste! Central Florida
All proceeds go to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.
MickeyBlog also caught some photos of testing underway for the upcoming Journey of Water | Inspired by Moana. It’s almost ready to open to the public!
Some of our reporters also visited the always-popular Disney’s Fort Wilderness to try the new menus at Trail’s End and Crockett’s Tavern.
Disney fans had expressed concerns about the fates of both places when they closed for renovations.
Thankfully, Disney has merely updated the décor and menus!
Meanwhile, in news sure to make you smile, Magic Kingdom has already added some of its Halloween decorations!
Photo: Disney
Specifically, the park is readying for the beloved Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which begins on August 11th.
That’s right, my friends! Halloween at Magic Kingdom starts a week from Friday!
Photo: Disney
Speaking of Halloween, Disney California Adventure announced the dates for its Guardians of the Galaxy: Monsters After Dark spooky attraction overlay.
Guests can enjoy the enhanced experience from September 1st through Halloween Night!
Photo: Disney
Also, Disney’s Happiest Haunts Guided Tour will return starting on August 4th!
This tour includes a two-hour guided walk around Disneyland wherein a VIP cast member tells you all the park’s Halloween secrets.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
You’ll also get a special photo op and exclusive seating for Halloween Screams.
You can speak with a MickeyTravels expert for additional information. Simply fill out the form below this article!
Photo: MickeyBlog
Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below, and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!
