A Blog About Disney Stuff

The end of 2020 is in sight, people. In less than a month, we will finally bid this strange year goodbye and ring in 2021 with the hopes of both good news and a return to normalcy. So in the spirit of the new year, I’m taking a look at what’s coming to Walt Disney World in 2021 beginning with Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure!

Inspired by Pixar’s Ratatouille, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will make its debut at the France Pavilion at EPCOT’s World Showcase! This new attraction will be similar to its original version located at Disneyland Paris. Guests can expect to board rat-shaped ride vehicles (don’t worry – they’re cute like Remy!) and race through Gusteau’s kitchen, walls, and dining room all from the perspective of a rat.

Here are 5 things you should know about Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure coming to EPCOT in 2021!

5. Trackless Ride Vehicles

Just like Disneyland Paris’s version of the attraction, guests looking to enjoy Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will ride in trackless ride vehicles! Overseas Disney Parks have enjoyed trackless ride technology for some time so it’s great to finally see this tech continuing to be utilized at Walt Disney World alongside Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

4. No Height Requirement

Since Disneyland Paris’s Ratatouille attraction has no height requirement, it’s likely Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT probably won’t have a height requirement either. This upcoming attraction has been openly promoted as a family-friendly ride which EPCOT desperately needs more since it has long struggled to appeal to the youngest guest demographic.

If all goes according to plan, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure should join the ranks of Frozen Ever After as another any-height headliner for EPCOT.

3. Ride Style of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

If you’ve experienced Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway this year, you may have already had a taste of what to expect aboard Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

As I previously explained, EPCOT’s newest addition will be trackless in the style of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. But the similarities don’t stop there! The ride experience will offer massive 3-D screens, ride through sets, and sensory effects like heat and water.

2. Opening in 2021

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure was originally slated to open summer of 2020; but due to COVID-19, Disney has postponed its opening until sometime in 2021. In the meantime, guests riding the Skyliner can see the nearly complete expanded France pavilion, as well as the attraction’s exterior and marquee!

1. Newly Expanded France Pavilion

Even though EPCOT’s Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will be similar to the original version at Disneyland Paris, the newly expanded area around the attraction will be completely new and unique to EPCOT! In addition, guests will also be able to enjoy a La Creperie de Paris. This new restaurant will function as both a table service and quick service dining destination with a menu from celebrity chef Jerome Bocuse.

Are you planning to visit Walt Disney World in 2021? Is Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure on your to-do list? Let us know in the comments!

The post 5 Things You Should Know About Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Coming to EPCOT appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Attractions, Epcot, Walt Disney World (FL), Disney Attractions, disney world, epcot attractions, France Pavilion, new Disney attractions, Ratatouille, ratatouille ride, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, walt disney world, World Showcase

One of the most popular sweet treats at Walt Disney World has been given an upgrade. At Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort you can enjoy Pineapple Dole Whip, and even Lime Dole Whip at the Pineapple Lanai. This lovely little walk-up counter with lanai style seating serves up variations of this beloved treat, but they’ve outdone themselves. The new Lapu Hula is quite the creation.

Pineapple Dole Whip is swirled inside of an entire pineapple. Then a little sidecar shot of rum is served with it. For $14.25 it is a pretty good deal considering the serving size and that it comes with a shot. Our team got extra creative and asked for their Dole Whip to be swirled with the lime flavor. This special treat needs to be on your must-do list if you’re a fan of Pineapple Dole Whip.

How do you feel about Dole Whip? Would you head to the Polynesian to get your own Lapu Hula?

 

The post REVIEW – The ULTIMATE Pineapple Treat for Any Dole Whip Fan appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Adults, Dining, Drinking, Resorts, disney dole whip, disney drinks, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

I may get some pushback from our readers by revealing this little secret, but I just can’t keep quiet. Geyser Point Bar and Grill at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is one of the best Disney restaurants and lounges, and it should be on your must-do list. I’ve dined here countless times and during a recent trip with my parents and in-laws Geyser Point once again did not disappoint.

The menu at Geyser Point Bar and Grill showcases the hearty flavors of the Pacific Northwest. During my family’s visit the burgers, both Bison and Bacon Cheeseburger, were the popular choice. The Bison Cheeseburger is an excellent choice with Bacon, Sweet Crispy Onion Straws, Marionberry Sauce, Lettuce, Tomato, and Garlic Aïoli. At $16.00 it is higher priced than your average Disney burger, but that quality matches the price. The multiple people in my party who ordered this loved it.

My personal favorite is the Grilled Portobello Salad with Salmon. This salad is so fresh, flavorful, and satisfying with Grilled Portobello, Zucchini, Roasted Red Peppers, Tomato and Multigrain Salad and Goat Cheese Dressing. At $15.00 it is a bargain as the quality is great and the portion is generous. The salmon was cooked perfectly, which is an accomplishment as often times I’ve experienced overcooked salmon at many Disney restaurants.

One of my favorite menu hacks is to order the kids’ Finger Food Sampler; it’s like a kid-friendly charcuterie board. Sliced Smoked Turkey, Tilamook Cheddar, Quinoa, Cucumbers, and Wheat Crisps are all served on a platter for $7.49, and it includes a kids drink. My son actually loved the turkey and quinoa, and he’s been super picky lately, so that’s saying something.

There are great light bites, handcrafted cocktails, and a lovely selection of craft draft beer and wine. So Geyser Point is a fantastic spot if you’re just looking to lounge and don’t need a full meal. I ordered the Huckleberry Punch made with 44° North Mountain Huckleberry Vodka, Bols Crème de Cassis, Lemon Juice, and Cranberry Juice. At $15.00 it is a pricier cocktail, but it is great to enjoy a cocktail that fits the theme of the location and not just the standard Disney bar drinks. It was the perfect balance of sweet and tart.

We have listing and ratings for every Walt Disney World restaurant on our site and Lines app. Geyser Point has an impressive 96% thumbs up rating from our readers, and is ranked number 4 out of 107 similar options at Walt Disney World.

The lounge-style seating is very comfortable and inviting. It is entirely open-air with a lakehouse-style setting. The views of Bay Lake are stunning. If you want to take a break from Magic Kingdom or if you’ve got a no-park day on your itinerary, make time for some lakeside relaxation at Geyser Point.

Have you ever been to Geyser Point? What’s your favorite thing to order?

The post REVIEW – Geyser Point Bar and Grill Never Disappoints appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Adults, Dining, Drinking, Magic Kingdom, Resorts, disney bars, disney dining, disney drinks, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, on site disney hotels

One of the most exciting parts of my job as a Disney Parks photographer is capturing images of a new attraction before it opens to the public, and when I get to work with one of my favorite franchises like Star Wars, it’s even better.  On the flip side, one of the most challenging parts of my job is figuring out how to convey the emotion of a new attraction through still photos. I’ve found if I focus on the things that stand out most to me in the moment – stretch out with my feelings, you might say – it usually works out for the best. 

Today marks one year since the debut of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s a Star Wars adventure of massive proportions, where you blast off Batuu with the Resistance, only to be captured by the First Order and make a daring escape. This one-year anniversary got me thinking back to the time just prior to the attraction’s grand opening when I spent an entire day inside Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, taking literally thousands of pictures. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

I was all over Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance that day, and one of the best parts was the hour I took inside the First Order Star Destroyer hangar. There’s a garrison of 50 First Order Stormtroopers in there – quite an intimidating display – and I wanted to convey the awe I knew guests would feel as they enter the huge room. I used wide-angle lenses to capture the scope of the garrison and the hangar, then swapped in telephoto lenses to investigate all the little details of the seemingly overwhelming number of Stormtroopers. After settling on an interesting angle, I would sometimes have to wait for a Stormtrooper to strike just the right pose or for a passing Star Destroyer to be in just the right spot in the background. With a Disney Imagineer by my side, I was even able to walk among the Stormtroopers, finding new perspectives I knew I’d never get the chance to capture again once the attraction opened to the public. 

My favorite photo from that morning, though, was taken from the center of the hangar, where guests now walk every day. I got down flat on my stomach, holding my camera as low as possible to increase the Stormtroopers’ reflections in the shiny black floor. Shooting from such an extreme angle, I could make them appear taller in the frame and even more intimidating, while still able to see through them and out into space beyond. By changing my own certain point of view that was just slightly different from that of a guest, I emphasized some of the attraction’s key storytelling details and, hopefully as you look at the photo now, conveyed the feelings I had facing off with all those Stormtroopers! 

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com

Filed Under: Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World Resort, DHS, Photography, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, WDW

This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at Give Kids The World’s NIGHT OF A MILLION LIGHTS! For theme park fans, the Christmas season has always been something to look forward to every year. At the Disney hotels there were elaborate gingerbread houses, while at Universal there was the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, one of the best stage shows of any park. Unfortunately, because of the “unprecedented times” we are currently in, much of what we have grown to love over the years (including the Candlelight Processional, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and the annual Mannheim Steamroller concerts at Universal) aren’t taking place this year. It’s a tough pill to swallow, and one we’ve unfortunately had practice with when Disney got rid of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights several years ago to make way for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

For me personally, the Osborne Lights at DHS were one of my favorite things at Disney or Universal. I looked forward to seeing them every year more than experiencing any ride or show. Being enveloped in a sea of lights, with Christmas music playing in the background and a ton of Easter Eggs to look for was simply magical, and something I couldn’t experience anywhere else. When the Streets of America were removed from DHS, and along with them the Osborne Spectacular, it was a painful loss for me because there was nothing quite like that experience anywhere….until now.

# 6 – Give Kids The World

Give Kids The World Village – located in Kissimmee, Florida – is a nonprofit resort dedicated solely to help fulfill the wish of critically ill children from around the world that want to visit Florida. Covering the entire cost of the trip, GKTW has the children and their families stay in its elaborate and whimsically designed 89 acre resort that is staffed by thousands of volunteers. The selfless work that GKTW does is extraordinary, and while the village isn’t currently hosting any families due to COVID, they still need donations to make sure they can operate for the sick children and their families once things get anywhere close back to “normal.” Over 4,000 wishes (and counting) were lost due to the pandemic, so GTKW wants to be bigger and better than ever once they can safely reopen.

This year GKTW has Night of a Million Lights, which allows guests to opportunity to walk the village and see it decorated with over three million lights! Back to Disney Hollywood Studios for a moment; before the Osborne Lights were part of the Spectacle in the Streets of America, they were part of the studio backlot experience and decorated houses on Residential Street. The setup at GKTW Village is more akin to the original version of Osborne Lights at Disney, except even more elaborate and dazzling!

Okay, let’s check out the event. Keep in mind that this is the first time in the history of the village (outside of other charity relate events) that guests are allowed to walk the grounds and see the wonderful world that they have created.

# 5 – The Rides

GKTW Village has several themed rides available for families staying at the resort, and the attractions have been fully decorated and available to guests experiencing Night of a Million Lights. There is no extra charge to ride these attractions, and they are the family-friendly rides you would find at places like LEGOLAND Florida or SeaWorld’s Sesame Street area.

Near the Enchanted Carousel you’ll find some trees donated by Walt Disney World that many of us have seen before in Disney Springs as part of their annual Christmas Tree Trail.

# 4 – Planet Hollywood Christmas Movie Exhibit

If you’re like me, Christmas movies are as big a part of your holiday season as the Christmas tree, gingerbread cookies, and Bing Crosby singing “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” Planet Hollywood has sponsored an exhibit which features film-used props from several well known Christmas movies.

We watch Arnold Swarzeneggar’s Jingle All The Way every year as a guilty pleasure, and there are several props from this film at the exhibit. First up is a Santa hat that is accompanied by some of the Turbo man action figures there were released to consumers when the film came out.

This mask was worn by one of the members of the Demon Team who attack Turbo Man in Jingle All the Way.

Bill Murray’s Scrooged is one of my favorite versions of A Christmas Carol, as I will never not laugh at the trailer for Bob Goulet’s Old Fashioned Cajun Christmas. The prop for this movie is the taxi cab operator’s license for The Ghost of Christmas Past.

You have anything related to either of the first two Home Alone films and I’m in. Watch both every single year.

This Santa suit is from the original Miracle on 34th Street, which is in my Christmas movie Hall of Fame.

This sled was used in the film Jack Frost, which is so bonkers that it must be seen. In the film, Michael Keaton plays a father who comes back to life as a snowman. Yes, a snowman. Even better? The snowman was made when George Clooney was originally slated to play the father and the film didn’t change it’s look when Keaton got the role instead. If we did a Turkey of the Year Awards for Hollywood instead of theme parks, that would have been a clear winner.

This prop comes from a movie called The Preacher’s Wife, which I haven’t seen but stars Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, and Courtney B Vance, so I’m definitely going to check it out now.

Love the show 30 Rock. LOVE the character Jack Donaghy who wore this sweater.

# 3 -The Spectacle (and The Photo Ops!)

Aside from supporting a great cause, the main reason to come to Night of a Million Lights is to see, well, the lights. It’s impossible not to be almost slack-jawed from the amount of work put into the entire experience. Everywhere you go there are lights and decorations.

Truly a “winter wonderland.”

If America looked like this during the holiday season, I’m convinced crime would go down by at least 90%. It is just about impossible to not be uplifted in a setting like this.

The various themed villas are just awesome. My family enjoys taking walks around our neighborhood to see houses decorated and this is sort of like that except on steroids.

Tons of whimsical and cute designs.

Night of a Million Lights has many sponsors, and most took the time to also incorporate some fun photo-ops for guests to take photos with, including this one by The Lost Bros.

Dreams Unlimited Travel have been raising money for GKTW Village for years.

This polar bear was a big hit with guests, including TouringPlans’ own Ivonne.

What photo-op is more “Christmas” than Santa Claus himself?

# 2  – The Connection to Florida

While Night of a Million Lights has a bunch of wonderful sponsors decorating the villas – all of whom are based in Florida or have locations in the state – for ME, there’s a big difference between Home Depot, Mattress Firm, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car and locations that we all think of when people mention “Florida” as a destination. For instance, the Space Coast is just a hop, skip, and jump away from Central Florida and GKTW Village, so it was nice to see a display from NASA and the Kennedy Space Center.

Hard to get more “Florida” than Margaritaville.

The Orlando City soccer club has made huge roads in building a rabid fanbase in Central Florida and is coming off one of their best seasons ever and even made the playoffs!

For fans of professional wrestling, WWE has their developmental territory NXT based in Orlando which has been running many live events at the Amway Center in Orlando.

mix105.1 is a popular Orlando based radio station.

The Crayola Experience flies under the radar in Orlando, but it is a really fun time for families.

WonderWorks and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! are two fun “day trips” for families spending time in Central Florida. There’s things in both locations that are just mindblowing to see.

Love these gingerbread men!

There are two Fun Spot America locations in Central Florida, including one close to Universal Orlando and my beloved Disney Outlet Store off International Drive.

# 1 – The Orlando Theme Parks

This is the SATURDAY SIX, and we love our Orlando theme parks, so of course we’re going to really enjoy seeing them as part of such a great event. To start off, Disney donated 3 million lights to the event!

Those keeping their head on a swivel will notice props that Disney has donated, such as this Santa Claus who formerly had a home at DHS.

Disney also decorated two villas, including one to Belle & the Beast.

With the other to Cinderella and Prince Charming.

During regular operations, GKTW Village has its own mini-golf course. While guests can’t play the course during Night of Million Lights, Universal Orlando sponsored the course and designed a dinosaur theme into it. Guests can walk the course and get a ton of great photos.

SeaWorld joined in the fun as well!

To experience Night of a Million Lights you need to purchase your tickets in advance, which can be done so by CLICKING HERE. Many dates have SOLD OUT, so if you’re interested in this incredible experience, don’t hesitate! The phrase “the reason for the season” has become cliche and many times used as a punchline, but there is no better cause than GKTW. In normal circumstances you can’t just “stop by” and see this wonderful village, but now you can AND get the chance to see some world class decorations and everything combined will remind you what Christmas is all about.

Keep in mind that temperature checks are taken, face masks must be worn, and social distancing measures are in place.

HONORABLE MENTION – The Gimmick Table

In today’s theme park world, just about everything we get at the parks comes with a merchandise component, and Night of a Million Lights has items to purchase as well. This money goes directly to GKTW Village.

Branded hand sanitizer is the official item of 2020.

Nicely themed event t-shirt.

We’ve purchased these holographic glasses to look at our decorated house and it is wild. At Night of a Million Lights it’s that’s same “holy cow” moment times a thousand. I’ve never had an “acid trip” but I can’t imagine it’s much different than looking at these elaborately lit up houses wearing these glasses!

Hot chocolate and ice cream are complimentary~!

So there you have it: Six Reasons We Love GKTW’s NIGHT OF A MILLION LIGHTS! See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles covering the latest from the Disney Outlet Stores. You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan).

If you enjoyed this article, you will surely like the following: 

DAVID & DEREK: The Do’s and Don’ts of COVID-19 Safety Protocols at the Theme Parks

6 Pieces of Disney Merchandise That Don’t Exist (but Totally Should)

SATURDAY SIX Presents: The Disney Signage Hall of Shame

Special Thanks to The Elite Brandon Glover, the bio-est of all reconstructs @bioreconstruct, Captain Cruiseline Scott Sanders of the world famous Disney Cruise Line Blog, my personal protege Hunter “Elvey” Underwood, the SAT SIX Fun Squad of Parkscope Joe and “the Dadalorian” Nick, hot shot Michael Carelli, charter member of the Universal Four @Nitro230, and Hermione Granger’s tutor Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. The SAT SIX is inspired each week by goofballs Aengus Mackenzie and LitemAndHyde and you Potterheads will  enjoy Meg’s other blog work over at the Central Florida Slug Club.

The post SATURDAY SIX: 6 Reasons We Love GIVE KIDS THE WORLD’s “Night of a Million Lights” appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com

Filed Under: Beyond the Parks, Christmas, Saturday Six, Universal Orlando Resort, Walt Disney World (FL), saturday six