The Kitchen Karnivale at Epcot's Food & Wine Festival provides entertainment
for children. MousePlanet photo by Mark Goldhaber.
For those who miss the old Kitchen Kabaret Players from the former attraction at The Land, they are making a return appearance at a special area of the Food & Wine Festival aimed at kids.
The stars of the old Kitchen Kabaret show return to play host to the Kitchen Karnivale. MousePlanet photo by Mark Goldhaber.
The players appear as flats throughout the Kitchen Karnivale area, with some of the show music on the background loop in the area.
Find out "The Buzz" About Honey and sample fresh honey and make your own bee at this pavilion at Epcot's Food & Wine Festival. MousePlanet photo by Mark Goldhaber.
There's a swing-the-mallet-and-ring-the-bell carnival-type attraction, a veggie-veggie-fruit-fruit hopscotch court, and even free (that's right, free) fruit cups at the area on the rose walk between Future World and World Showcase—that's the pathway to the west of the main pathway, on the Imagination/Canada side.
It's eleven-thirty in the morning, but for some it's never too early for
a beer. MousePlanet photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Just down the rose walk from the Kitchen Karnivale is an area featuring “The Buzz” About Honey. At this pavilion, you can find out about how honey is made, taste some fresh honey straight from the hive, and even make your own bee with colored cotton balls, colored pipe cleaners, and a little concentration.
Kids (and kids at hear) can play hopscotch over the Kitchen Kabaret Players at Epcot's Food & Wine Festival. MousePlanet photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Registration for next January's Walt Disney World Half-Marathon (link) filled up in record time this past March—so quickly, in fact, that Disney increased the event size by another 1,000 registrants for a total of 6,000. Registration for the Walt Disney World Marathon (link) took a bit longer to fill (it's easier to decide to run “only ” 13.1 miles instead of 26.2), but that event has now also filled up, with 18,000 registrants. However, you can still register by running on behalf of one of many charitable organizations. A list of participating organizations can be found on the Marathon page.
Their course—26.2 miles for the full and 13.1 for the half—takes them on the highways and byways of the Vacation Kingdom, including such fabled avenues as Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom, World Showcase Promenade at Epcot and Hollywood Boulevard in Disney-MGM Studios.
The two running events, on Sunday, January 11, serve as centerpieces for the 2004 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, which also features the FamilyFun Magazine 5K (3.1 miles) and Kids' Races on Saturday, January 10, and the two-day Disney's Health and Fitness Expo presented by Tylenol 8 Hour in the Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex on January 9 and 10.
If you have friends or family that you'd like to be able to see you while you're running, the Marathon and Half Marathon pages contain a list of viewing locations and directions on how to get there in the wee hours of the morning. Remember, the runners go around the course once, so spectators will not be able to see their favorite runner pass by more than once. Depending on timing, however, you could travel from one viewing spot to a later viewing spot before the runners get there.
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort has been testing a tea party designed for girls ages 4 to 12. Called “My Disney Girl's Perfectly Princess Tea Party,” the tea is 90 minutes long, and is held at the resort's Garden View Tea Lounge.
The five-part party is led by a professional actress/singer named “Miss Rose Petal,” and culminates with each child getting to meet Princess Aurora, Disney's Sleeping Beauty, in person. The tea also includes tea and brunch for two, a Princess dream dessert for all guests, a My Disney Girl doll, a princess bracelet, special gift for adults, and a “Best Friend” certificate so girls can name their My Disney Girl doll. In addition, the following (last) days of the tea include special artist proof princess cameo pins (one per group with a child attending the tea party):
The tea costs $200 plus tax for one child and one adult. Each additional child is $135, and each additional adult is $65. There is a limited seating of 42 per day. To reserve a space, call Walt Disney Event Services at (407) 566-5880.
Congratulations to Vijay Singh for winning the Funai Classic at Walt Disney World.
The 40-year-old from Fiji finished at 23 under par 265, and was four strokes ahead of Tiger Woods, Scott Verplank, and Stewart Cink.
The tournament was played over the weekend on the Palm and Magnolia courses near the Magic Kingdom.
Approximately 150 award-winning visual artists will show their works at Downtown Disney the weekend of November 7-9 at the 28th annual Festival of the Masters. The Festival will also include special performances, including Cirque du Soleil acts performing on Friday and Saturday at 2pm and 4pm. The Festival also includes such diverse elements as the House of Blues Folk Art Festival, performance artists, Madonnari Masters Chalk Artists, Disney Magic Music Days Jazz Jam, and children's activities.
You can now have a nice pleasant meal with an Imagineer at the Hollywood Brown Derby at the Disney-MGM Studios. The four-course lunch costs $60.99 per person, while the four-course dinner with included wine pairing costs $99.99 per person. You can make reservations by calling 407-WDW-DINE, which is the same number as for the Lunch with a Disney Artist program.
…The Magic Kingdom has recently opened a second bus turnaround for guests to help handle the upcoming addition of the Pop Century and Saratoga Springs resorts. The Animal Kingdom Lodge, Old Key West Resort, and Port Orleans buses pull up to the original bus turnaround (pavilion "A"), while all other Disney Resorts use the new turnaround (pavilion "B").
…A quick unscientific survey on the opening day of the Food and Wine Festival showed that many people didn't care what time it was, they wanted their beer. Lines at the Specialty Beer Garden were growing rapidly at 11:30 am.
That there is a new Disney's Visa “Kids Stay and Play Free” Package, available most nights January 4 through June 12, 2004, where when you buy a full-price Walt Disney World Dream Maker Package with your Disney?s Visa card, for each adult on the package, one child (3-9) gets a free Ultimate Park Hopper pass for the length of stay. 4-night minimum. Plus you receive $100 in Disney Dollars per package at check-in! Go to www.disney.com/kidsfree for more information, or call your travel agent and book using package code ZXFA. You must book your package by January 2.
Are you planning a trip this fall? Check out this offer from the Swan and Dolphin:
Get more details and the discount codes at MouseSavers.com.
Active U.S. Military personnel or spouses are also eligible for a 40 percent savings per night (based on the non-discounted price of the same room) at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, and special rates on Disney Cruise Line sailings. This offer is available most nights through December 19, 2003 at Walt Disney World, and for most sailings through December 18 on the Disney Cruise Line. Hotel rooms and staterooms are limited at this special rate.
For more information, call (407) 939-7424 for Walt Disney World, and (800) 951-2659 for the Disney Cruise Line. You must be 18 or older to call these numbers.
Disney is offering a special for active duty military—a free five-day park hopper ticket, as well as discounted companion tickets. Offer valid through December 19, 2003 and includes all active military personnel, including Coast Guard, as well as activated National Guard and Reservists. See their official Web site for more information.
WDW Annual Passholder and Florida resident rates are available at select Walt Disney World resorts for check-ins October 2 through November 24, and November 28 through December 26. Discounts range from approximately 30 to 45 percent off regular rack rates.
The Walt Disney World Resort is encouraging visitors to buy their theme park tickets before they even leave home, by offering a slight discount on advance purchases. You can save as much as $22 per adult, per ticket with the Advance Purchase Savings program.
You can also receive these Advance Purchase Savings with packages purchased through AAA.
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Receive 10 percent off the price of their lunch meal at selected Walt Disney World Resort hotel restaurants, and the discount is good for up to three guests. The offer is valid Mondays through Fridays. Call 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) for locations and reservations.
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Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p Wishes Fireworks 7p |
Illuminations! 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3:30p Fantasmic 7p |
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Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic 6:30pm Wishes Fireworks 7:30p |
Illuminations! 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3:30p Fantasmic 7p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p |
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Wednesday 10/29
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Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p Wishes Fireworks 7p |
Illuminations! 9p |
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3:30p Fantasmic 7p |
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p
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Thursday 10/30
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Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p
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Illuminations! 9p
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Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3:30p Fantasmic 7p
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Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p
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Friday 10/31
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Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p
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Illuminations! 9p
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Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3:30p Fantasmic 7p
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Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p
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Saturday 11/1
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Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p SpectroMagic 7p, 9p Wishes Fireworks 8p
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Illuminations! 9p
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Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3:30p Fantasmic 7p
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Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p
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Sunday 11/2
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Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3:30p Fantasmic 7p
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Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade 4p Monday 11/3 |
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Share a Dream Come True Parade 3p Wishes Fireworks 7p
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Illuminations! 9p
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Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade 3:30p Fantasmic 7p
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(Send an email to Mark Goldhaber)
Mark (@MPMark) is a veteran of dozens of trips to Walt Disney World starting in 1972, with a few Disneyland trips thrown in for good measure. As a Disney stockholder and a Disney Vacation Club member, Mark is always in touch with what's going on with The Mouse. Mark serves as MousePlanet's Walt Disney World content coordinator. Mark is a senior information technology manager working for the State of New York. He lives in the suburbs outside Albany, New York, with his wife and son.
