Choza de Margarita Opening at Epcot

Construction walls will be coming down shortly at the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot® World Showcase as the new Choza de Margarita nears completion, a cool new walk-up window for authentic Mexican beverages and street fare. 

“Choza” is the Spanish word for “hut,” and the outdoor bar sits in the shadow of the iconic Mexico pyramid. The menu offers three hand-crafted margaritas, three frozen margaritas, three Mexican beers and a non-alcoholic Mexican fruit punch with orange, pineapple and grapefruit juices and a splash of grenadine.

Small bites include Tacos al Pastor with grilled pork on fresh homemade corn tortillas with green tomatillo sauce, onion, pineapple and cilantro; Empanadas de Barbacoa with beef, topped with chipotle sauce, Mexican cream and queso fresco; and fresh guacamole with mango chutney, pumpkin and pomegranate seeds, served with fried flour chicharrones and salsa Valentina, an authentic Mexican hot sauce.

On a hot Florida day, you can take your pick from one of the three frozen margaritas: Lime (tequila blanco, lime sweet & sour, orange liquor and agave nectar), Wild Strawberry (tequila blanco, strawberry and prickly pear puree, violet flower liquor and lime juice), or Passion Mango (tequila blanco, orange liqueur, wild passion fruit and mango puree).

The hand-crafted, on-the-rocks varieties include Acan Grapefruit (Casa Noble Blanco Tequila, grapefruit liqueur, elderflower cordial, lemon juice, cardamom bitters and ginger beer), Lime Cucumber (Avión Blanco Tequila, fresh cucumber, orange liqueur, lime juice and agave nectar), and Guava Pink Peppercorn (Zignum Mexcal Reposado, guava nectar, grapefruit liqueur, lime juice, Peychaud’s Bitters and pink peppercorns).  

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Epcot International Festival of the Arts - Review

Walt Disney World is planning on some great things for 2017. The first great thing that they lined up for this year is the Epcot International Festival of the Arts.  This is the very first year of this festival!  I think it is a wonderful celebration of the arts and I hope to see it back next year. 

The first ever Epcot International Festival of the Arts.

As you walk in the main gate of Epcot, as with all other festivals, you’re greeted with signs and décor letting you know what is going on at Epcot.

Epcot International Arts Festival signage at night.

The first pieces of art you'll encounter are located the end of the Fountains of Nations.  There are three living statues sitting at the base of the Fountain View Stage. I should have gotten a picture of the other 2 but it was rainy and the kids weren't having it. 

Living Art

This is also the stage where American Music Machine performs in the afternoon. In this area, you can become part of a painting, see artists paint and even talk to some artists.

American Music Machine performing in the afternoon.

Once you enter the World Showcase, the festival really starts to show it's colors.  In the Showcase you’ll find many marketplaces set up with artwork for sale – both Disney themed art and non-Disney themed art.  At some, you can even meet and talk to some of the artists! I was lucky, and fortunate, enough to meet Don “Ducky” Williams – an animator and illustrator who has worked for Walt Disney Company for over 30 years.  (Spoiler alert: The ‘thank you’ cards Walt Disney World Resort guests receive after their vacation – bears his name.)  His favorite Disney character to draw? Without hesitation, “Donald Duck.”  I could have spent hours talking to him but there was quite the line to meet him so we moved on.

Meeting Don "Ducky" Williams.

A big draw to the Arts Festival is the Disney on Broadway Concert Series at the America Gardens Theater.  Each weekend (since the festival is only held on weekends) you can catch different Broadway stars belting out classics from Disney on Broadway’s shows.  The performances are outstanding. I wish Disney on Broadway performances were something we could do at Walt Disney World. But until that happens, this will have to suffice. During the afternoons, guests can check out local student performances on at the America Gardens Theater as well!

The festival also had various food booths set up throughout the World Showcase – similar to Flower and Garden, Food and Wine, and the Christmas Festival.  These food booths were Food Studios and celebrated how food can be art.  My favorite Studios were the El Artista Hambriento and the Artist’s Table.  The El Artista Hambriento booth was located outside the Mexico pavilion.  When I asked the Cast Member taking my order what he recommended between the two options, he couldn’t stop raving about either option. So we got both! These were phenomenal and we kept talking about going back and getting them again (unfortunately we didn’t get the chance).

Guarache on the left and the Choriqueso Taco on the right.

Another food booth that was my favorite was the booth outside the Artist’s Table at the American pavilion.  Here we got the Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie (which was available at multiple booths) and the roasted pork dish. I wish I could cook pork this well.  It was outstanding.  My only complaint with this dish is the ‘sides’ that came with it – I get it was a sample but my carrots were more carrot stems than actual carrot. But the pork was great.

The giant cookie on the left and the pork on the right.

 We also tried the Wild Mushroom Risotto from the Masterpiece Kitchen. This was so good.  If you've had the Le Cellier Filet Mignon, you know how good this risotto dish is.  I failed in taking a picture before we dove in.  I promise it was beautiful to look at and beautiful to eat.

The Wild Mushroom Risotto container. 

The last booth we tried was the Pop Eats! Studio near the Showcase Plaza.  This drink and this cookie weren’t for us. The drink was sour and the leftover ‘bubbles’ were way too sweet.  I think it would have been better to squish the bubbles while the drink was still present - not after the drink had been consumed. The cookie was a sugar cookie with chocolate hazelnut filling. It tasted nothing but of sweetness - very, very sweet. It was pretty. But the chocolate and hazelnut got lost in all of the sugar. 

Our treats from Pop Eats!

One unique thing that this festival offered to Epcot guests was something that was free and all ages could partake in! A giant paint by number piece that by the end of the weekend was an Epcot mural - created by Epcot guests! 

A Cast Member handing out numbered paint and brushes.

You get in line to get a small cup of Glidden paint that had a number on the top along with a brush. Guests are then to paint 5 squares with the same number on their paint cup – a giant paint by number. 

Paint by number!

We went on Friday, and apparently the Cast Member told us they use the same canvas all weekend and it would be full by Sunday.  I wish I had gotten a chance to go back  to see the finished product but it didn’t work out that way.

Everyone got a postcard showing what the finished product will look like.

Some other great things going on with this festival are the live sidewalk chalk art that occurs!  We saw this artist doing a wonderful job in the mid-afternoon in front of the American Routunda.  She was doing chalk art of Mount Rushmore.

Chalk art mid work!

We came back later in the evening to see it completed! It was supposed to be 3D, but Im pretty sure I didn't take the picture correctly. I'd like to blame the bright lights but let's be honest here...

Finished piece.

Some other cool stuff happening around the Showcase included having the option to buy a pair of TOMS (the shoe) custom painted for you by artists. You could pick out any artwork – didn’t have to be Disney related – and depending on the scope of the work being done, you could pick them up later in the day or have them delivered to you or pick them up at Disney Springs.  You could get custom name art done as well.

For the kids (of all ages) they had a find Figment scavenger hunt  - Figment’s Brush with the Masters. Figment was hidden in a piece of art in every country. Some of them took me embarrassingly long to find – even when he was right in front of me!  You can buy a map with stickers and are given a prize when you find them all!

Can you find Figment?

There are lots of other events going on with this Festival that we didn’t have the time to check out – art seminars, interactive workshops, animation academy and more! There is something for everyone at this festival!

I hope Disney brings back this Art Festival next year.  I’d like to see it beyond the weekends and more types of artworks features that are live. It was so neat to go back and see the progression of the art pieces!

Did you and your family make it to the festival this year? Hope it returns for next year?

Beat The Heat in Walt Disney World: Epcot

Today's post in the series of "How to Beat the Heat" takes us the the second theme park established at Walt Disney World: Epcot.  


Epcot is probably my favorite Walt Disney World Theme Park.  The thrilling rides and the rides made for all ages (even the tiny tots!), fun entertainment, delicious restaurants and unique shopping experiences all combine into one truly great theme park.  Lets get to the point of this post: beating the heat while visiting Epcot!  As I did with my Magic Kingdom post on the same topic, I broke it down into sections of the park. So lets go visit Epcot!

Future World East
Head to the ‘giant golf ball’, officially known as, Spaceship Earth.  On this ride the Dame Judy Dench hosts you on a time-travel journey, teaching you about the history of communication throughout time.  Plus it is a long ride, but definitely not the longest Epcot ride, clocking in at 15 minutes. While some of the wait for this attraction is outside, if you time it right the ball will provide excellent shade! 


After you come back to the modern age, spend some time visiting the Project Tomorrow area.  This is an interactive area that has games and displays suitable for all ages.  (Tip: Epcot has a few of these interactive areas which is good during the summer because you can stay here for as long as you’d like!) (Bonus tip: these areas are also great for when kids are done being confined to a stroller - lots of space to run around and get their hands on things!)

Ellen’s Energy Adventure.  Ellen and her friend Bill Nye the Science Guy give us with a long 45-minute break from the Florida heat!  Yes this ride needs an update, but since it is such a great place to sit down. relax and cool off (maybe even let the kiddos take a nap) I'm okay with the 'oldness' of it. (Note: the actual ride is just 37 minutes, the other 8 minutes are from the pre-show movie).

Test Track. This high-speed thrill ride not only offers an interactive queue that is important to the ride, the majority of the time in line is spent inside! YAY!  Plus your wait is rewarded with an amazing and fun ride!  After you disembark your Test Track vehicle, there is another interactive, 'after the attraction' area, also in the A/C, where you can have more fun with the car you've designed and see the newest cars from Chevrolet - you can even get in them!  Tip: If you find yourself in like outside, take turns running over to the cool-zone area sponsored by Coca-Cola.

My personal car creation.

Advance Training Lab after Mission Space.  If you're like me, and you by-pass the ride because it is too intense, head to the interactive area after the ride (are you seeing an Epcot theme?)  If you are a thrill seekers, this ride is definitely for you! Did you know it is the only ride in the Orlando area that provides 'get-sick' bags? True story.  This is also a great option when you want a break from the heat as the queue, the entire ride and then the after-the-ride experience is all indoors. 

Splash zone area!  This fun water spot is great for cooling off on hot days and can be found in-between Test Track and Mission Space.

Innoventions East.  Another hidden gem of Epcot – often overlooked as guests hurriedly rush to the next ride.  This area has activities and exhibits that are science related - so the science geek in my loves it.  If you by-pass it, you’ll miss the opportunity to design your very own roller coaster and clim aboard a simulator to take it for a spin in!  There is also this wind tunnel that simulates gale-force winds which is also a really cool and unique experience.

Epcot Character Spot.  Want to meet Joy and Sadness from the Disney Pixar movie, Inside Out? Or perhaps meet the healthcare companion Baymax?  Maybe you're a Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Goofy kind of person.  Well this is the place to meet these Disney characters! And you get to meet these characters in air conditioned rooms! (Note: characters are subject to change).

Who doesn't want a hug from Baymax?

Mouse Gear. Possibly my favorite Disney Store on property. It is a huge Disney store but not the biggest!  I can get lost in this store for a very long time while finding some unique Disney products - I'll blame the amount of time I spend in here on the air conditioning and the cool stuff!


Future World West

The Seas with Nemo and Friends. I love everything about this ride; from the queue theming to the ride itself to the after-ride area it is a must-do for my Walt Disney World vacations.  I love it even more so in the summer though because it’s so cold in this building - as as you walk up to the doors you're greeted with an icy blast of air! 

Mine! Mine! Mine! Cold air is mine!

The Nemo after-the-ride area is a large aquarium area.  There are lots of different tanks featuring fun and different aquatic life for you to see - from seahorses to huge fish to manatees to sharks and sting rays this area provides entertainment for a long time!  Also, be sure to visit the Turtle Talk with Crush this summer and you'll get to see some of Dory's new friends from Finding Dory! (Tip: this is also a great area for kids who have grown tired of sitting in their stroller!)

Spend time in the aquarium after you visit Nemo - so many neat things to see - when the sun is out in Orlando!

Soarin. I’ve not had a chance to see the new version, Soarin’ Around the World since its June 17th debut ,and I won’t get a chance until September (hopefully, fingers crossed!) but the older version was so great, this new version has to be too! Bonus: The ENTIRE queue for Soarin’ is inside! Plus there are games to keep you entertained while you wait which makes this ride a high ranking option when it is hot out!

Sunshine Seasons. This Quick-Service restaurant is in the Land Pavilion, along with Soarin.  This Quick-Service location is in my top two favorites resort-wide (both of them happen to be in Epcot and this is one of them).  Sunshine Season has a variety of choices - you can get a salad, fresh deli sandwich, fresh soups, Chinese food, and roasted chicken meals.  I love that most of the offers at Sunshine Seasons are healthy and all are super yummy!

Each balloon in The Land Pavilion represents a season!

Journey Into Imagination with Figment.  This is a cute ride for all ages (but focused towards little ones) and has been a favorite of mine since I was a tiny tot myself.  This is a good option when it is hot out because it normally has little, to no wait making all of the queue indoors so you're walking in the A/C and the ride is in the A/C.  Plus Figment is cute.

Imaaaa-gin-a-tion!

World Showcase:
The best part of Epcot! Yummy restaurant and snack options, history lessons, great shopping, delicious drinks for the adults, and lots of Character Meet and Greet opportunities!

Canada.  O Canada! provides a great, unique and funny break for the heat! Plus this pavilion is gorgeous and fun to walk through – the waterfalls might splash you if you’re lucky! If you're really lucky, you were able to score an Advance Dining Reservation at Le Cellier Steakhouse. This restaurant is dark and cozy and a perfect way to cool off while having a top-notch steak dinner.

United Kingdom.  This pavilion has cute shops, all United Kingdom themed, to stroll through when it is hot out.  My favorite being the tea shop!  Once the sun starts to set check out the, The British Revolution band that plays British hits (think Beatle's and Rolling Stone's tunes) in the back corner of this pavilion.  It is great entertainment and is another spot for kids to get some energy out by dancing (and big kids too!).

France.  The prettiest movie in all of World Showcase is Impressions de France plus it is 20-minutes long!  Another way to avoid the heat is by grabbing a bite to eat at my other favorite Epcot Quick-Service location: Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie.  Here you can order some of the "World's" most delectable sandwiches and pastries.  After your meal, stop at L’Artisan des Glaces for some homemade ice cream that is going to knock-your-socks-off, in a good way!  The France Pavilion is also home to one of my favorite Walt Disney World Table Service locations – Chefs de France.  A restaurant that has forever changed my view about salmon and macaroni and cheese.  Plus, this restaurant is so pretty I love to sit here and enjoy a meal when the weather is hot (and when it isn't).

Morocco. Stepping into this pavilion really feels like you’ve been transported to another country.  I really enjoy the Table-Service restaurant Spice Road Table, a tapas restaurant (they have full-sized dishes as well) but request to sit indoors because half of this restaurant is outside! Tip: Save your shopping for after the sun goes down as the have open doors making these stores hot during the day. 

Japan. The Japan Pavilion is home to Mitsukoshi, a store full of Japanese treasures. Here you can buy Hello Kitty trinkets, a sushi set, a kimono, Japanese food and drinks. You can watch, or participate in, the Pick-A-Pearl experience and cheer along for some good fun! There are two Japanese Table-Service restaurants - Tokyo Dining and Teppan Edo - both favorites of mine.  Teppan Edo is a teppanyaki style restaurant and Toyko Dining offers more sushi and bento boxes fair and both offer a break from the heat.

America. Most of the things to do at the American pavilion is outside - making it a great stop once the sun goes down.  When the sun is up, stop at The American Adventure which provides a 30-minute break from the heat which is great for the history buff or for kids that need a nap!

History lesson and a break from the heat!

Italy.  If you're really hot, get dinner at Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria.  This is the coldest restaurant I’ve ever eaten in on Walt Disney World property. We almost froze while having a meal here last November. So if you’re over-heating and hungry, this place is for you!

Germany. The Biergarten Restaurant is permanently set at a dusk evening during a German Oktoberfest celebration.  Being from the Cincinnati area the German food, German beer and the German entertainment at this Epcot Table-Service restaurant is something that I truly enjoy and appreciate.  Plus shopping in this pavilion's shops is fun – I love checking out the German stuffed animals and Christmas tree ornaments while munching on some freshly made caramel treats!

Step inside for some Oktoberfest fun!

China.  The one place I find relief from the heat is sitting down and watching the film, Reflection of China, which provides a 14-minute break from the heat.  And right now, there is a new exhibit featuring the newest Disney Theme Park: Shanghai Disneyland!

Air conditioning and Shanghai Disney!

Norway. Like, Soarin' Around the World, I've not had a chance to ride Frozen Ever After so if it is worth waiting in the heat, is yet to be determined. After seeing the long wait times, I would either try and get a FastPass+ for it though.

Mexico.  The majority of this pavilion is inside making it a truly favorite spot of mine to stop when the Florida heat is taking it’s toll.  When you walk into the pavilion it is set at dusk and the air is cool! This pavilion offers many this for you do to!  You can shop for clothing, glassware, food and other Mexican trinkets. Grab a margarita from La Cava de Tequila and you won't be disappointed. If you're hungry have a bite to eat at San Angel Inn (my dad's favorite restaurant on property). The Kidcot Mexico stop is also indoors! 

Step inside the Mexican Temple for air conditioned fun!

Aside from shopping and good eats and drinks in the Mexico pavilion there is a fun and cute ride featuring Donald Duck that is good for all ages: The Grand Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros.

It is always a party with Donald Duck!

Things to do when the Sun goes down in Epcot:
These are the things I like to do around Epcot when the sun starts to set and it gets cooler out:

Epcot at night!

Living with the Land. I love this ride. But it takes place in a greenhouse so, like all greenhouses, they are naturally warm. When it is Florida middle-of-summer warm outside, it is even hotter on this greenhouse ride.  

The African Outpost. This section of World Showcase is FUN – lots of fun drums for kids of all ages to bang on to make some music or to just go crazy with.  But since the drums area all out-doors bring your kids to this area once the sun starts to set so they can have fun.

China. The shops in this pavilion always tend to be on the warmer side to me, I think they need more A/C, so I don't shop here until the heat breaks.

Concert at America Gardens Pavilion.  This outdoor venue usually has a nighttime concert full of high-energy fun that isn't to be missed!

IllumiNations. This is Epcot's nightly fireworks show that is held over the World Showcase Lagoon.  I love this night show - the music, the fireworks and light show make this a must-see every time I visit Epcot for a perfect way to end my day.

IllumiNations: A Reflection of Earth!

After IllumiNations, I suggest observing the Fountains of Nations, they are so pretty! After you're done and on your way out of the park, take a look down at the sidewalk! It is pretty cool!

What do you think? What is your favorite places to cool off in Epcot when it is hot out? Let me know!