MickeyBlog News for September 2nd, 2024
EPCOT’s most famous festival just opened, and we were there!
We’ll talk about all the exciting new stuff, plus water parks, after-hours events, and changes coming to Disneyland Resort.
2024 Food & Wine Festival
We’ve got a hectic week for MickeyBlog News.
Welcome to Food & Wine Season!
The 2024 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival has officially opened.
Disney delayed this year’s festival relative to recent years due to the various EPCOT expansions.
With CommuniCore Hall & Plaza opening in June, park officials wanted to spread out the various park activities.
With the benefit of hindsight, that was definitely the right move, as Food & Wine 2024 has more of a fall feel.
2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival
Yes, I know the calendar indicates we’re still in summer, but school is already back in session in most places.
So, Food & Wine is starting around the same time its second phase had in recent years.
That’s the time in August when Disney opened another wave of new Global Marketplaces.
For 2024, Disney has hit the ground running with a wave of new offerings, and MickeyBlog’s incredible reporters were there for everything.
2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival map
Our staff showed you pictures of the Food & Wine map and signage for this year’s event.
That was really just the tip of the iceberg for Food & Wine, though.
2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival
We also revealed the menus and prices for everything at this year’s festival.
Then, we showed the Festival Passport for 2024 as well as the Ratatouille Hide & Squeak details.
If you’re in it for the exclusive merchandise, we’ve got you covered. Here are the pictures and prices of everything new!
What Else Is New for 2024?
So, the big feature for 2024 and beyond involves the changes at CommuniCore Hall & Plaza.
Disney built this structure with the intent of it becoming the festival pavilion.
Before each festival, Disney will briefly close at least parts of CommuniCore to change the decorations.
That’s why we were so excited when the new version debuted with the start of Food & Wine.
We now have the first example of how Disney will proceed with CommuniCore, and we were impressed.
There’s even a Global Marketplace inside CommuniCore during the event, an idea we expect to become the norm.
Speaking of the Food & Wine food kiosks, we obviously had a few favorites, and there were a couple we feel need improvement.
That’s the beauty of Food & Wine. Something we love might not do much for you, and a few of our least favorite dishes might be ones you adore!
Eat to the Beat Concert Series
Still, we can all agree on one thing. The Eat to the Beat concert series remains a classic and one of the best reasons to visit.
Walt Disney World Changes for 2024-2025
Photo: planDisney
We’ve got two different stories to cover here, both of which impact your 2025 Walt Disney World vacations.
One technically starts a bit sooner, though, as Disney engages in its odd tradition.
Humunga Kowabunga Slide
Since 2020, park officials have closed one water park and reopened the other. It’s been a constant flip-flop.
While I wondered earlier this year whether Disney might operate both for the summer of 2024, that obviously didn’t happen.
Now, Disney has revealed its plan for later this year and 2025, as Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon will close on November 3rd.
Then, Disney’s Blizzard Beach returns on November 4th and presumably will be the only Disney World water park throughout 2025.
I’ll update you if we receive new information, but that’s been the trend for nearly five years now. So, it seems like a safe bet.
The other thing you’ll want to know while visiting next year is that Disney After Hours will return.
Disney
According to our own Kristin Sabol, “The first After Hours Event will be held on January 6th at Magic Kingdom, January 22nd at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and February 27th at EPCOT.”
About Disney After Hours
After Hours – Magic Kingdom Fireworks
If you’re unfamiliar with Disney After Hours, it’s a paid ticketed event akin to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
The difference is that Disney throws this particular party during non-holiday portions of the annual calendar.
Typhoon Lagoon
In a way, this version is even better in that you’re just buying your way into an exclusive party.
You’re not competing with people who want to show off their favorite Halloween costumes or enjoy Christmas festivities.
Photo: Disney
Instead, Disney After Hours is just for fans who want to maximize their park visit by avoiding the daytime crowds.
I attended one of the first of these after-hours parties and several since then. I’ve never been disappointed.
Photo: Disney
For this reason, I’d encourage you to speak with a MickeyTravels agent to book a 2025 Disney After Hours event.
These parties DO sell out. So, you’ll want to beat the crowd!
Photo: Disney
Also, remember that MickeyTravels agents provide their services free of charge.
You’ve got everything to gain and nothing to lose by speaking with them about tickets.
Disney Miscellany
We’ve had so much happen this week that it’s difficult to encapsulate in 1,000 words.
At Disneyland, MickeyBlog provided you with highlights of the opening night of Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party.
Photo: Disney
Alas, we also revealed that the beloved Red Car Trolley experience at Disney California Adventure is coming to an end.
Park officials must reclaim some of this space for the upcoming expansion projects.
Photo: Disneyland
We also got the scoop on the current Jungle Cruise refurbishment. Disney is paying more for a tiger than Siegfried & Roy ever did.
On the plus side, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is back up and running, and it came with a sweet surprise!
Photo: Disney
Also, we had a lot of news involving Downtown Disney restaurants and some Halloween updates.
At Walt Disney World, this was a week of highs and lows. On the plus side, Disney thoughtfully invited MickeyBlog to a parade.
This one was special because the participants had just won the Little League World Series!
There was also a vastly overblown incident at Magic Kingdom that proved to be thankfully just a fight and some popped balloons.
At Disney Springs, Summer House on the Lake is finally accepting reservations via My Disney Experience. Before now, you had to use OpenTable.
Finally, in Disney Cruise Line news, we learned more about Disney The Tale of Moana and Cask and Cannon, the Pirates of the Caribbean pub.
Photo: Disney
Plus, Disney revealed the itinerary for the Disney Destiny. Can’t wait! Can’t wait! Cannot wait!!!
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Feature Photo: Disney
