With Star Wars taking a permanent presence in Hollywood Studios, the long-running Star Wars Weekends event, normally held at DHS in the early weeks of summer, will no longer occur.
There is no word yet on the long-term future for events like Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars Dine at Hollywood and Vine or other Star Wars Weekends favorites.
The first performance of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is on Nov. 8th. The Christmas tree is up early this year.
Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival runs through November 16, 2015, with unique dishes from around the world, seminars from celebrity chefs, and special merchandise.
Flower and Garden is in full bloom at Epcot.
Let me take you back to a time when Friends was still producing new episodes. This was a time when Grunge was more than just the gunk under your fingernails, and flannel shirts played a major role in your weekly “shirt rotation.†A band with a decent following in Tempe, Arizona hit the radio waves with catchy tunes like “Hey, Jealousyâ€, and “Found Out About You.†No, I’m not talking about the Goo Goo Dolls, or Lit, or Toad the Wet Sprocket.
I’m talking about the Gin Blossoms.
They had a rocky start to their career, and a road filled with few hits after that blast in the early 90s, but they’re still putting butts in seats for their concert. Take, for example, the three nights they just completed at EPCOT’s America Pavilion. The Gin Blossoms were the first in a long series of concerts that will accompany the 2015 International Flower and Garden Festival at EPCOT this year.
I can tell you that nearly every person in that audience tonight knew all the words to all the songs. Playing the hits mentioned above, they also dipped into “Allison Road†and “Follow You Downâ€. On more than one occasion, Robin Wilson felt comfortable enough with the audience that he wandered out into our midst, to lead us on and let us sing into the microphone.
This wasn’t the Gin Blossom’s first visit to EPCOT. They were here back in 2012 for both Food & Wine as well as 2013’s Flower & Garden. But, it’s been a while for the band, so we’re happy to have them back. According to Robin, at the outset of the show, they’re in talks for returning again next year.
Holidays at the 
Walt Disney World resort are packed with special experiences designed to make your season merry and bright, so much so that finding out about everything that’s going on can be difficult. If there’s a park that takes the holidays to heart more than any other, it’s Epcot. With its World Showcase Holidays Around the World and Candlelight Processional, the park is brimming with cheer – and crowds. We’ll show you how to get the most out of both offerings and fill you in on all the need-to-know details to make experiencing Epcot’s holiday festivities as easy and enjoyable as possible.
Continue reading Epcot Christmas: Candlelight Processional and Holidays Around the World
Dates for 2015’s Star Wars Weekends at Hollywood Studios were announced late last night (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from May 14 to June 15, 2015) and early this morning, Disney snuck in the opening of reservations for Star Wars Weekends dining.  Offered daily May 4, 2014, through June 15, 2015, the meals include the Star Wars Dine-In Galactic Breakfast at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, and Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars Dine Dinner at Hollywood & Vine. Here’s what you need to know about these experiences to book a great meal.
Continue reading Star Wars Weekends Dining at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater and Hollywood & Vine 2015
The halls at the Walt Disney World Swan are decked!
The Christmas decor at the Swan fits the overall resort’s overall theme well; tasteful, quiet touches, like the bows on the Swans on the central fountain, dignify the resort. This contrasts with the Swan’s sister resort, the Dolphin, which has very bombastic decorations (which will be examined tomorrow).
During the Christmas season last year, Walt Disney World experimented with its first holiday overlay of a Magic Kingdom attraction. While Disneyland has holiday overlays for Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Jungle Cruise, and It’s a Small World, the Orlando area had yet to see a ride get holiday’d. And so, in mid-November, Jingle Cruise was born to mostly great reviews from guests but feedback that more decorations and more consistent skipper spiels were desired. Fast Forward to November 7 of this year and the return of the Jingle Cruise. What’s in store for this year’s guests? Find out in our trip down the World’s rivers.
Continue reading Walt Disney World’s Jingle Cruise – A look at Christmas on a Boat
MNSSHP 2014 Character Index
Aladdin, 🕷 Abu, Jasmine, and 🕷 Genie – Across from the Swiss Family Robinson tree house
Alice in Wonderland, Mad Hatter, White Rabbit & 🕷 Queen of Hearts – by the Mad Tea Party (teacup ride).
🕷 Captain Jack Sparrow – stage across from Pirates of the Caribbean
! Daisy, Donald & Minnie – Just outside Big Top Souvenirs in Storybook Circus
! Goofy – In front of the Barnstormer
🕷 Jack Skellington and Sally – between City Hall and the Chamber of Commerce in Town Square
🕷 Jafar – In the Agrabah Bazaar across from Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Buzz Lightyear and 🕷 Lotso – Next to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin toward Carousel of Progress
🕷 Madame Carlotta & Madame Rinata – Haunted Mansion Courtyard
! Mickey Mouse – Inside Town Square Theater
🕷 Monsters, Inc. Boo, Sulley, Needleman, Mike, & George Sanderson – Monsters, Inc. Dance Party at the Tomorrowland Stage.
! Pooh, Piglet, Tigger & Eeyore – In the Thoughful Spot next to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
🕷 Seven Dwarfs – at the gates between Fantasyland and New Fantasyland
🕷 Tarzan, Jane, & Terk – on the terrace to the right just across the Adventureland bridge
🕷 Witch – (from Snow White) between Seven Dwarfs Mine Train & Enchanted Tales with Belle.
*Cruella de Vil, Dr. Facilier, the Tremaine family, Frollo, and Gov. Ratcliffe meet and greet in the Villains Dance Party at the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon in Frontierland.
*Tinker Bell, Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White, Ariel, Tiana and Merida all meet in their normal locations in their regular costumes throughout the night as well. Check your park map for locations.
| 🕷 | These characters are party-exclusive. |
| ! | These characters have special party costumes. |
Locate your favorite spooky characters at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party with this convenient index. This is just one page from our comprehensive expanded guide for MNSSHP 2014, which will be available to elite members shortly!
