Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Food Guide to the 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival



Spring is almost here and that means the 2019 Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival is about to begin!  Starting March 6, 2019, you can join in on the fun, flowers, and food! This year’s festival features 17 Outdoor Kitchens and several other locations through the park that will be offering delectable festival bites and libations.
Special dining packages are also available for the Garden Rocks Concert Series. This concert series runs for 90 nights and features over 270 performances by tons of popular artists. This dining package allows you to have either breakfast, lunch, or dinner at nearly any table-service restaurant in the park and grants them guaranteed seating at one of three concert performances that day. Be sure to reserve these early so you can savor every single minute! 
This year’s menus are incredible and you won’t want to miss out on any of these delicious bites! In addition to the returning Outdoor Kitchens like The Honey Bee-stro, the festival has four new Outdoor Kitchens this year: Arbor, The Citrus Blossom, Trowel & Trellis, and Flavor Full Kitchen! Fried green tomatoes, tuna tataki, blood orange aqua fresca, and grilled street corn on the cob are just a few of the new mouthwatering items featured on the menus. Check out these and all of the offerings for the 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival detailed below. The festival runs March 6–June 3, 2019.
(GF) Gluten/Wheat Friendly Menu Selections
(V) Vegetarian Menu Selections
ARBOR (Located at The Gardeners Terrace in The Odyssey Center)
Food:
  • Fried Green Tomatoes with Blue Crab-Fennel Salad, Remoulade, and Smoked Paprika Oil
  • Smoked Salmon Stack with Avocados, Tomatoes, Sour Cream, Caviar, and Focaccia Crostino
  • Mixed Berry Buttermilk Cake with Apple Cider Sorbet (GF, V)
Beverages:
    • Original Sin Brewery Black Widow Hard Cider, New York, NY
    • Florida Beer Company Caribé Strawberry Rose Hard Cider, Cape Canaveral, FL
    • 3 Daughters Brewing Key Lime Apple Hard Cider, St. Petersburg, FL
    • Karbach Brewing Lemon and Ginger Radler Houston, TX
    • Seadog Brewing Company Sunfish Ale, Clearwater, FL
    • Shipyard Brewing Company Grind the Rind Watermelon IPA, Portland, ME
    • Cider Flight
    • Beer Flight
LA ISLA FRESCA (Located in Showcase Plaza East)
Food:
    • Jamaican-braised Beef with Pigeon Pea Rice and Micro Cilantro
    • Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer with Steamed Rice and Coconut-Lime Sauce
    • Tropical Mousse Cake: Layers of Passion Fruit Cake, Coconut Mousse, and a Tropical Fruit Glaze with Fresh Pineapple
Beverages:
    • Tropical Freeze (non-alcoholic)
    • Golden Road Brewing Tart Mango Cart Wheat Ale, Los Angeles, CA
    • Tropical Freeze with Mango Rum
THE CITRUS BLOSSOM (Located near Refreshment Port)
Food:
  • Lobster Tail with Meyer Lemon Emulsion and Grilled Lemon (GF)
  • Tuna Tataki with Spicy Yuzu Glaze, Mango, Avocado, and Pappadam Crisp
  • Crispy Citrus Chicken with Orange Aïoli and Baby Greens (GF)
  • Citrus Shortcake: Orange Chiffon Cake, Lemon Curd, Mandarins, Whipped Cream, and Citrus Crumble (V)
Beverages:
  • Orange Cream Slushy in a Souvenir Orange Bird Sipper (sipper only available while supplies last) (non-alcoholic)
  • Islamorada Beer Company Coconut Key Lime Ale, Fort Pierce, FL
  • First Magnitude Brewing Lemon Hefeweizen, Gainesville, FL
  • Heavy Seas Brewery TropiCannon Citrus IPA, Halethorpe, MD
  • Orange Sunshine Wine Slushy
  • Beer Flight
PINEAPPLE PROMENADE (Located near Refreshment Port)
Food:
  • Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Plantain Chips
  • Pineapple Soft-serve Ice Cream (V)
Beverages:
  • Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (non-alcoholic)
  • Pineapple Soft-serve Ice Cream with Fanta (non-alcoholic)
  • Coastal Empire Beer Co. Coco Piña Gose, Savannah, GA
  • Maui Brewing Co. Pineapple Mana Wheat, Kihei, HI
  • SweetWater Brewing Company Goin’ Coastal IPA with Pineapple, Atlanta, GA
  • Playalinda Brewing Company Violet Lemonade Ale, Titusville, FL
  • Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Pineapple Wine, St. Petersburg, FL
  • Pineapple Soft-serve Ice Cream with Coconut Rum
  • Pineapple Beer Flight
THE HONEY BEE-STRO Hosted by National Honey Board (Located near Refreshment Port)
Food:
  • Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Purée, Wild Rice Pilaf, Asparagus, Honey-blistered Grapes, Sunflower Brittle, and Coriander Flowers (GF, V)
  • Honey Tandoori Chicken Flatbread with White Cheddar Cheese, Charred Vegetables, Clover Honey Sour Cream, and Micro Citrus Greens
  • Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake with Orange Blossom Honey Ice Cream garnished with Fennel Pollen Meringue Kisses and Petite Lavender Shoots (V)
Beverages:
  • Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze (non-alcoholic)
  • Goodwood Brewing Company Brandy Barrel Honey Ale, Louisville, KY
  • Florida Orange Groves Winery Orange Blossom Honey Wine, St. Petersburg, FL
  • Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze with Blueberry Vodka
FLAVOR FULL KITCHEN Hosted by AdventHealth (Located near the Honey Bee-stro Garden)
Food:
  • Citrus-poached Salmon with Ancient Grain Salad, Roasted Vegetables, and Citrus Greens (GF)
  • From the Garden: Roasted Beets, Cashew Cheese, and Micro Herbs with Lemon-Oil Dressing (GF, V)
  • Mickey Tart Peanut Butter Mousse with Strawberry Jam and Boba Pearls (V)
Beverages:
  • Blood Orange Aqua Fresca (non-alcoholic)
  • Cookie Butter Worms and Dirt (non-alcoholic)
REFRESHMENT PORT (Located near the Canada Pavilion) 
  • Coffee-rubbed Pork Poutine with Barbecue Demi-Glace, Fire-roasted Corn Relish, and Cheese Curds
  • Stow Away Mary: Classic Bloody Mary with Vodka garnished with Pimento-stuffed Olives, Cherry Tomato, Celery, Jumbo Shrimp, and Smokehouse Jerky
NORTHERN BLOOM (Located in the Canada Pavilion)
Food:
  • Seared Scallops with French Green Beans, Butter Potatoes, Brown Butter Vinaigrette, and Apple-wood Smoked Bacon (GF)
  • Beef Tenderloin Tips, Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce, and Whipped Potatoes with Garden Vegetables
  • Griddled Maple Pound Cake with Warm Peach Compote and Sweet Corn Gelato featuring Burton’s Maple Syrup
Beverages:
  • Maple Popcorn Shake (non-alcoholic)
  • Unibroue Éphémère Apple Wheat Ale, Chambly, Québec
  • Unibroue Blanche de Chambly Belgian White Ale, Chambly, Québec
  • Unibroue Lune de Miel Amber Ale, Chambly, Québec
  • Maple Popcorn Shake with Crown Royal Maple Whisky
  • Beer Flight
FLEUR DE LYS (Located in the France Pavilion)
Food:
  • Vichyssoise aux Concombres: Chilled Cucumber Vichyssoise Soup (GF, V)
  • Tarte au Chévre: Goat Cheese Tart with Caramelized Onions on a Flaky Pastry Crust (V)
  • Canard Confit à la Provençal: Braised Duck Confit with Tomatoes and Olives on Polenta
  • Macaron au Chocolat en Sucette: Large Chocolate Macaron Lollipop (GF)
Beverages:
  • La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush: Vodka, Orange Vodka, Elderflower Liqueur, and White and Red Cranberry Juice
  • Kir Framboise: Sparkling Wine and Monin Raspberry Syrup
  • Cabernet Sauvignon, Maison de France
  • Kronenbourg Blanc 1664
FLORIDA FRESH (Located between the France and Morocco Pavilions)
Food:
  • Carne Guisada with Black Bean Cake and Cilantro-Lime Sour Cream
  • Spicy Blackened Shrimp and Cheddar Cheese Grits with Brown Gravy and Local Sweet Corn Relish
  • Key Lime Tart with Toasted Meringue
Beverages:
  • Watermelon Cucumber Slushy (non-alcoholic)
  • Tampa Bay Brewing Company Twisted Strawberry Fest Fruit Ale, Tampa, FL
  • Big Top Brewing Company Conch Republic Key Lime Wheat, Sarasota, FL
  • First Magnitude Brewing Monarch Milk Stout, Gainesville, FL
  • Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Key Lime Wine, St Petersburg, FL
  • Watermelon Cucumber Slushy with Gin
  • Beer Flight
TASTE OF MARRAKESH (Located in the Morocco Pavilion)
Food:
  • Harissa Chicken Kebab with Dried Fruit Couscous Salad
  • Fried Cauliflower with Capers, Garlic Parsley, and Chili-Ranch Sauce
  • Walnut Honey Baklava
Beverages:
  • Casa Beer
  • Larroque Chardonnay, Meknes
  • White Sangria
  • Desert Rose: Sparkling Wine topped with Pomegranate Liqueur
HANAMI (Located in the Japan Pavilion)
Food:
  • Frushi: Fresh Pineapple, Strawberry, and Melon rolled with Coconut Rice, sprinkled with Toasted Coconut, Whipped Cream with Raspberry Sauce on the side (V)
  • Chilled Soba Noodle Salad with Pan-seared Tuna and Wasabi Dressing
  • Chicken Karaage with Nanban Sauce: Japanese-style Fried Chicken served on a bed of Shredded Cabbage and topped with a Soy and Vinegar-based Dressing
Beverages:
  • Kirin Draft Beer
  • Sayuri “Little Lilly” Nigori Sake
  • “Ichigo Sun” Strawberry Lemonade Cocktail with Sake, Strawberry Purée, and Lemonade
FUNNEL CAKES (Located in The American Adventure)
  • Key Lime Funnel Cake topped with Crumbled Graham Cracker and Whipped Cream
  • Lexington Brewing Company Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale, Lexington, KY
  • Short’s Brewing Company Local’s Light Lager, Bellaire, MI
  • Dogfish Head Brewery American Beauty Pale Ale, Milton, DE
  • Brooklyn Brewery Defender IPA, Brooklyn, NY
  • Golden Road Brewing Pineapple Cart Wheat Ale, Los Angeles, CA
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Hard Rosé Cider, St. Petersburg, FL
  • Beer Flight
THE SMOKEHOUSE: BARBECUE AND BREWS (Located in The American Adventure)
Food:
  • Pulled Pig Slider with Coleslaw
  • Beef Brisket Burnt Ends and Smoked Pork Belly Slider with Garlic Sausage, Chorizo, Cheddar Fondue, and House-made Pickle
  • Shredded Beef Brisket with Smoked Potato, Chorizo Fondue, and Green Tomato Relish
  • Warm Chocolate Cake with Bourbon-salted Caramel Sauce and Spiced Pecans (V)
Beverages:
  • Frozen Simply Lemonade (non-alcoholic)
  • Central 28 Brewing Company Sunshine Greetings Orange Hibiscus Wheat Ale, DeBary, FL
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Phantasmas Spicy Double IPA, St. Petersburg, FL
  • Shipyard Maple Bacon Stout, Clearwater, FL
  • Boneshaker Zinfandel, Lodi, CA
  • Frozen Simply Lemonade with Blackberry Moonshine
  • Beer Flight
FIFE & DRUM (Located in The American Adventure)
  • Short’s Brewing Company Soft Parade Shandy, Bellaire, MI
PRIMAVERA KITCHEN (Located in the Italy Pavilion)
Food:
  • Pizza Toscana: Rustic Italian Flatbread with Sweet Sausage, Caramelized Onion, Mozzarella, Asiago, and Parmesan Cheeses
  • Pomodori Verdi e Mozzarella: Fried Green Tomatoes, Mozzarella Cheese, and Balsamic Reduction
  • Tri-colored Cheese Tortellini, Sage Butter, and Chicken Veloute
  • Zeppole: Ricotta Cheese Fritters, Powdered Sugar, Raspberry Sauce, and Chocolate-Hazelnut Drizzle
Beverages:
  • Peroni Nastro Azzurro Pilsner
  • Placido Pinot Grigio
  • Placido Chianti
  • Villa Sandi Prosecco
  • Montegrande Corbinello
  • Fior d’Arancio Montegrande Moscato
  • Bellini: Sparkling Wine and Peach Purée
  • Frozen Italian Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila
BAUERNMARKT: FARMER’S MARKET (Located in the Germany Pavilion)
Food:
  • Potato Pancakes with House-made Apple Sauce (V)
  • Potato Pancake with Caramelized Ham, Onions, and Herb Sour Cream
  • Toasted Pretzel Bread topped with Black Forest Ham and Melted Gruyère Cheese
  • Warm Cheese Strudel with Mixed Berries
Beverages:
  • Stiegl Brewery Radler Zitrone, Salzburg, Austria
  • Paulaner Original Munich Lager, Munich, Germany
  • Köstritzer Schwarzbier Black Lager, Bad Köstritz, Germany
  • Hugo Cocktail with Sparkling Wine, Elderflower, and Mint
  • Beer Flight
LOTUS HOUSE (Located in the China Pavilion)
Food:
  • Szechuan Spicy Red-braised Beef Shank over Rice
  • House-made Crab and Cheese Wontons
  • Vegetable Spring Rolls (V)
Beverages: 
  • “Panda” Bubble Tea: Classic Milk Tea with Black and White Bobas (non-alcoholic)
  • Jasmine Draft Beer
  • Pirates of the China Sea: Dark Rum, Peach Syrup and Piña Colada Mix
  • Kung Fu Punch: Vodka, Triple Sec, Mango Syrup, and Orange Juice
  • Plum Wine Cooler
JARDIN DE FIESTAS (Located in the Mexico Pavilion)
Food:
  • Tlacoyo: Blue Corn Masa topped with Black Bean Spread, Ground Chorizo, Queso Fresco, and Mexican Cream
  • Beef Torta: Braised Beef served on a Crispy Sourdough Roll with Queso Oaxaca, Avocado, Pickled Onions, and Jalapeños in a Spicy Habanero Sauce
  • Tres Leches: Milk-soaked Sponge Cake topped with Cajeta Whipped Cream and Almond Powder
Beverages:
  • Cerveza: Allende Golden Ale Craft Beer served with a Liqueur Floater
  • Damiana Flower Margarita: Damiana Flower Liqueur, Blanco Tequila, Agave Nectar, and Citrus Juices served on the rocks with a Black Ant Salt Rim
  • Oaxacan Gin & Tonic: Smokey Gin, Black Currant Liqueur, Vermouth, Lime Juice, and Tonic Water
  • Rosé Sangria: Withers Rosé Wine, Tequila Blanco, Elderflower and Ginger Liqueur, Pineapple, Cactus Pear, and Ginger Juices
TROWEL & TRELLIS Hosted by IMPOSSIBLE Foods (Located near the Mexico Pavilion)
Food:
  • Grilled Street Corn on the Cob with Savory Garlic Spread (GF, V)
  • Farmhouse Meatball with Lentil Bread, Spinach, Marinated Vegetables, and Creamy Herb Dressing (V)
  • Chocolate Pudding Terrarium with Avocado Cream, Matcha Crumb, Pomegranate, and Baby Herbs (GF, V)
Beverages:
  • suja Organic Cold Pressed Juice: Noon Greens (non-alcoholic)
  • suja Organic Cold Pressed Juice: Vibrant Probiotic (non-alcoholic)
  • Bloomin’ Blueberry Lemon and Ginger Tea featuring Twinings of London (non-alcoholic)
  • Playalinda Brewing Company Tropical Wonderland Wheat Ale, Titusville, FL
  • Bloomin’ Blueberry Lemon and Ginger Tea featuring Twinings of London with Vodka served in a Mason Jar
TASTE TRACK (Located in Future World East)
  • Violet Blueberry Vanilla Croissant Doughnut
  • Berry Tea Mint Julep (non-alcoholic)
  • Berry Tea Mint Julep with Bourbon
Sunshine Seasons (Located in The Land Pavilion)
  • Earl Grey Tea Cake with Orange-Honey Filling topped with Honeybell Tangelo Buttercream, Honeycomb, and Bee Pollen
JOFFREY’S COFFEE & TEA (Located throughout the park)
  • Future World East – Pedal to the Meadow: Frozen Cappuccino topped with Vodka and Kahlúa Liqueur
  • Near Canada – Cold Clover: Cold Brew Coffee with Irish Cream Syrup and topped with Irish Cream Liqueur
  • Near Disney Traders – Goose on the Loose: Frozen Passion Fruit and Vodka topped with Iced Tea
  • The American Adventure – Bee’s Buzz: Frozen Lemon and Coconut Syrup topped with Pineapple Rum

For Disney Vacation pricing, contact me! As a Disney Vacation Planner, I'll help you plan the perfect vacation at no extra charge to you! Just a few of the few things I'll do for FREE!
  • Help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World hotel; 
  • I'll make your Advance Dining Reservations (no early mornings for you!); 
  • I'll make your Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Reservations;
  • I'll make your FastPass+ selections (once gain no early mornings for you!); 
  • Book any tours or unique experiences; 
  • Send you tips and tricks to get the most out of your vacation investment; AND 
  • Get a FREE DISNEY GIFT CARD for qualifying vacations and more!
To book your Disney vacation with me, Lauren Gonding a professional Disney Vacation Planner, contact me by: email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com; answer a few quick questions to request a quote; message me on Facebook; or call me at 800-883-1535 x 46!

Monday, February 25, 2019

European-Inspired Amenities Coming for Disney’s Riviera Resort


Construction is moving along on Disney’s Riviera Resort, which celebrates the grandeur of Europe. Here are more details of what you can experience by staying at this all-new Walt Disney World® Resort hotel.
The image above showcases the feature pool, Riviera Pool, and S’il Vous Play, an interactive water play area. The feature pool will offer fun for the entire family with a touch of Disney magic. Guests can soak up the sun in lounge chairs, hang out beneath a colorful sun umbrella, or take a trip down a stone turret slide.
Young Guests will love S’il Vous Play, a whimsical fountain featuring several beloved characters from Disney “Fantasia.” With a patina and limestone-inspired design, this area draws inspiration from the grand public fountains seen throughout Europe. The nearby movie lawn will offer the perfect place to take in your favorite Disney film as you lounge poolside.
At Beau Soleil leisure pool will be the perfect place for Guests to kick back and relax under a blanket of sun, or enjoy a bit of quiet time beneath shaded seating areas.
Bar Riva, the open-air pool bar will feature a cool, seaside vibe, and offers the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a cold beverage poolside.
And the gorgeous waterfront promenade will offer a relaxing stroll around the resort. All along the promenade, you will be able to enjoy grand views of the resort’s lush European-inspired landscapes.
Plus, Guests staying at Disney Riviera Resort can hop aboard a Disney Skyliner gondola for a bird’s eye view of Walt Disney World Resort. Once aboard, you can take a European-inspired ride through the sky to Epcot International Gateway or Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and on to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, or Disney’s Hollywood Studios®! 
Stay tuned to Disney Travel News for more sneak peeks of what is to come!
For Disney Vacation pricing, contact me! As a Disney Vacation Planner, I'll help you plan the perfect vacation at no extra charge to you! Just a few of the few things I'll do for FREE!
  • Help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World hotel; 
  • I'll make your Advance Dining Reservations (no early mornings for you!); 
  • I'll make your Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Reservations;
  • I'll make your FastPass+ selections (once gain no early mornings for you!); 
  • Book any tours or unique experiences; 
  • Send you tips and tricks to get the most out of your vacation investment; AND 
  • Get a FREE DISNEY GIFT CARD for qualifying vacations and more!
To book your Disney vacation with me, Lauren Gonding a professional Disney Vacation Planner, contact me by: email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com; answer a few quick questions to request a quote; message me on Facebook; or call me at 800-883-1535 x 46!

Friday, February 22, 2019

New Park Entrance Part of Epcot's Historic Transformation



As you many know, Epcot has BIG plans for its multi-year transformation, with new experiences that will "wow" you, while keeping true to the original vision of the park. 
The ongoing evolution of Epcot includes plans for a play pavilion that'll be unlike anything ever seen at the park. This new space will be devoted to playful fun and feature an innovative city that'll come to life under the dome of the un-named pavilion previously known as Wonders of Life. The pavilion's city will be bursting with interactive experiences, favorite Disney characters, hands-on activities and engaging entertainment when it opens just in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World® Resort!
There will also be exciting changes to the way your come and go at Epcot. As you can see in the image above, changes are coming to the Epcot main entrance, where the plaza will welcome Guests with new pathways, sweeping green spaces and a newly reimagined fountain. This new design will pay homage to the original park entrance with fresh takes on classic elements.
As part of the new entry experience, Leave a Legacy photos will be moving into a beautiful setting just outside the park's gateway. Additional significant redevelopment will begin between Spaceship Earth attraction and the World Showcase Promenade. More details about the transformation of this area will be announced at a later date.
A new Experience Center will be coming to Epcot later this year. The Experience Center will be located in the former Odyssey Pavilion and feature interactive exhibits to help visualize park projects throughout this unprecedented period of transformation.
Here are some of the other new Epcot experiences that are coming that have been previously shared:
  • Guardians of the Galaxy-themed roller coaster in Future World
  • Epcot Forever, a 2019 limited-time nighttime experience over World Showcase Lagoon set to classic Epcot tunes, followed by an all-new nighttime spectacular debuting in 2020
  • Space-themed table-service restaurant adjacent to Mission: SPACE
  • Remy's Ratatouille Adventure attraction in the France pavilion, patterned after the number-one family attraction at Disneyland Paris
  • Circle-Vision 360 film for the China pavilion and updated O Canada! 360-degree show
  • Signature Dining experience inspired by the natural beauty of Japan
  • "Beauty and the Beast" sing-along in the France pavilion, showing in addition to the pavilion's current film, Impressions de France.
Stay tuned for more updates on the continuing transformation of Epcot.

For Disney Vacation pricing, contact me! As a Disney Vacation Planner, I'll help you plan the perfect vacation at no extra charge to you! Just a few of the few things I'll do for FREE!
  • Help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World hotel; 
  • I'll make your Advance Dining Reservations (no early mornings for you!); 
  • I'll make your Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Reservations;
  • I'll make your FastPass+ selections (once gain no early mornings for you!); 
  • Book any tours or unique experiences; 
  • Send you tips and tricks to get the most out of your vacation investment; AND 
  • Get a FREE DISNEY GIFT CARD for qualifying vacations and more!
To book your Disney vacation with me, Lauren Gonding a professional Disney Vacation Planner, contact me by: email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com; answer a few quick questions to request a quote; message me on Facebook; or call me at 800-883-1535 x 46!