The Blog - DESTINATIONS WITH DANIELLE

Full Lineup: Eat to the Beat Concert Series

7/1/2022

Disney Live Entertainment continues to bring new flavors into the mix, giving even more guests a chance to savor the music they love. Fresh acts will take the America Gardens Theatre stage during this year's EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

This year's lineup includes:

July 14-15 – Baha Men
July 16-18 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
July 22-23 – Tonic (NEW)
July 24-25 – Jeremy Camp (NEW)
July 29-30 – Taylor Dayne
July 31-Aug. 1 – Tiffany
Aug. 5-8 – Joey Fatone & Friends
Aug. 12-13 – The Devon Allman Project
Aug. 14-15 – Christopher Cross
Aug. 19-20 – Journey former Lead Vocalist Steve Augeri
Aug. 21-22 – Air Supply
Aug. 26-27 – Blanco Brown (NEW)
Aug. 28-29 – 98°
Sept. 2-3 – Southern Avenue
Sept. 4-5 – Kris Allen & David Cook
Sept. 9-10 – Hoobastank (NEW)
Sept. 11-12 – Jimmie Allen
Sept. 16-17 – Los Amigos Invisibles (NEW)
Sept. 18-19 – American Authors
Sept. 23-24 – BBMAK
Sept. 25-26 – Postmodern Jukebox
Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Stokley (NEW)
Oct. 2-3 – Sheila E.
Oct. 7-8 – Mark Wills
Oct. 9-10 – 38 Special
Oct. 14-15 – Robert Randolph Band (NEW)
Oct. 16-17 – Newsboys (NEW)
Oct. 21-22 – Ray Parker Jr. (NEW)
Oct. 23-24 – Billy Ocean
Oct. 28-31 – Hanson
Nov. 4-7 – Boyz II Men
Nov. 11-12 – Kenny G
Nov. 13-14 – Sugar Ray

Guests can secure a spot at the show by reserving an Eat to the Beat Dining Package available Friday-Monday. For more information about booking dining and special experiences, contact me!

Holiday Favorites Across Walt Disney World - Coming in 2022!

6/27/2022

Believe it or not, it takes a full 12 months to prepare for the holiday season at Walt Disney World Resort! Cast Members are already busy planning for the most wonderful time of the year at the “Most Magical Place on Earth."

While I've already announced the return of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, there is plenty of other holiday cheer that will spread through the other Walt Disney World parks, too! Keep reading for a preview of what you can look forward to, beginning November 11th!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

EPCOT

The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will begin on November 25, 2022. The Holiday Kitchens will feature traditional and inspired adaptations of holiday dishes from around the world.
The Holiday Cookie Stroll will return, inviting you to partake in a sweet scavenger hunt.
Also starting November 25th, EPCOT will celebrate the return of Candlelight Processional! This beloved long-standing tradition of heartwarming holiday performances will take place at the America Gardens Theatre.
Santa Claus will join storytellers from around the world.
The Guardians will trade in their classic hits playlist for a mash-up of seasonal jams at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Blast off to the tune of an awesome holiday single, bringing joy to Xandar and Terra, too!

Animal Kingdom

The park will come alive with the return of a Merry Menagerie of winter animals in the form of life-size, artisan-sculpted puppets.
Santa Claus will voyage across the Discovery River as part of a flotilla.

Hollywood Studios

Santa Claus will cruise down Hollywood Boulevard in his red convertible during the Santa Claus Merry Motorcade.
“For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” at Hollywood Studios will add a festive finale, featuring Olaf and celebrating songs of the season.

Disney Springs

An opportunity to visit with Santa Claus.
Guests visiting Town Center will experience a magical snowfall.
Virtual holiday backdrops can be found at the Disney PhotoPass Studio.
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar becomes Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar and will feature yuletide touches alongside festive food and craft cocktails.
The Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll will feature elaborately-themed Christmas trees inspired by beloved characters.

Across Walt Disney World

Park icons will continue to transform into Beacons of Magic each night. As a special yuletide surprise, there will be a rotation of unique holiday-themed displays at each park.
Resorts across Walt Disney World will feature artisan-made gingerbread creations displayed in select locations.
Stunning Christmas trees and holiday decor can be found at all Disney Resort hotels.
Select dining locations throughout Walt Disney World will feature tasty winter-inspired dishes.
Disney PhotoPass photographers can help Guests enhance their Disney vacation photos with holiday-themed Magic Shots at all four Walt Disney World theme parks.

Stay tuned for more festive announcements!

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Out of This World! Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

4/4/2022

Get ready for an intergalactic chase through time and space – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is set to officially debut May 27 at EPCOT!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

I can't wait until Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind releases its awesome mixtape of an attraction to the world. This attraction will feature a one-of-a-kind coaster and amazing soundtrack!

A major headliner attraction like this will draw massive crowds to a busy travel season. If you're ready to save the galaxy, get started here!

Dates announced for the 2022 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

3/31/2022

Get your appetite ready, because the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival returns to Walt Disney World Resort July 14th through Nov. 19th!

This is my favorite festival, and it's going to last a whopping 129 days this year!

Last year's festival passport at the Food & Wine Festival

In addition to the incredible food booths, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series returns this year with both internationally known artists and local bands on the America Gardens stage. The lineup of musicians will be released at a later date.

The family-friendly Remy's Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hung will return again. Emile's Fromage Montage will also return as a fun way to try delicious cheeses!

Stay tuned for more information about this popular festival as it's released!

The Food & Wine Festival is one of the most popular festivals that Walt Disney World offers every year. To be among the first to get information, join my newsletter! (Linked below!) To book your Walt Disney World vacation during this festival, click here.

New & Returning Dessert Parties and Dinner Packages at Walt Disney World Resort

9/15/2021

Looking for a special way to celebrate the fireworks at Walt Disney World? Now you can choose from FIVE dessert parties and TWO dinner packages!

From sweet treats to international fare, there’s no shortage of options for making the most of the nighttime spectacular experience. To make your evenings even more magical, a new lineup of Appetizing Occasions will be returning just in time for “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.”

Disney Enchantment, a brand-new, dazzling nighttime fireworks spectacular, debuts October 1st at Magic Kingdom. To enrich the experience of this immersive show, there’s a full menu of dessert party options that include viewing locations from the heart of the park to the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Learn more about Disney Enchantment here.

Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors and Fireworks at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
$129 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Dress code requirements apply.

Beginning October 2nd, a sophisticated evening awaits you at this event, where you'll be welcomed to the private Sonoma and Napa Rooms at California Grill to sample specialty drinks, canapes, sushi and small plates. After an elevated cocktail hour, step outside to the observation deck on the 15th floor for a unique viewpoint of Disney Enchantment, complete with the synchronized music. The event continues back inside after the show with petit-fours, cordials and coffee.

At Magic Kingdom Park, three dessert party options put you right in the middle of the magic to view Disney Enchantment. Each event includes 50th anniversary-themed delights at different times throughout the evening at Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant. These events will begin on October 3, 2021.

Each of these 3 parties will include 50th anniversary-themed desserts, a variety of cheeses, and drink selections, including beer and wine for anyone ages 21+

Disney Enchantment Pre-Party
$99 per adult (ages 10+); $59 per child (ages 3 to 9)
You'll begin your evening at Tomorrowland Terrace for your desserts and drinks. Before the show, you'll be escorted to a reserved standing viewing location in one of the plaza gardens.

Disney Enchantment Treats & Seats
$114 per adult (ages 10+); $69 per child (ages 3 to 9)
During this dessert and drink party, you'll experience the fireworks views from the comfort of dedicated reserved seating at Tomorrowland Terrace.

Disney Enchantment After-Party
Admission: $99 per adult (ages 10+); $59 per child (ages 3 to 9)
Like the Pre-Party, this experience includes reserved standing viewing in one of the plaza gardens. Afterwards, you'll head to Tomorrowland Terrace for desserts and drinks.

As I previously shared, Disney's Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise begins September 18th. Reservations are available now. On select Wednesday and Saturday nights. set sail on an iconic ferryboat for a magical evening on the Seven Seas Lagoon. Once onboard, you can enjoy bite-size signature sweets including build-your-own mousse, key lime tarts, cupcakes and specialty beverages. (Beverages both with and without alcohol are available.)

Kids can participate in an ultraviolet scavenger hunt. During the cruise, you'll get to experience observe the Magic Kingdom fireworks accompanied by stunning water views.
$99 for adults and $69 for children ages 3 to 9 (tax and gratuity included)

Harmonious, one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for Disney Parks, will light the EPCOT's World Showcase Lagoon beginning October 1st.

With choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics and lasers in a 360-degree view, Harmonious shows how Disney music and stories have the power to bring people from all around the world together. To celebrate there are two new package options available at World Showcase restaurants. Both of these experiences will be available October 1, 2021.

Rose & Crown Fireworks Dining Package
$89 per adult (ages 10+), $39 per child (ages 3 to 9), tax and gratuity included
Dine under the stars on the patio at Rose & Dining Room, which serves classic British fare, while you enjoy Harmonious. This package features a prix-fixe menu including one appetizer, entrée, dessert platter and unlimited beverages.

Spice Road Table Dining Package
$72 per adult (ages 10+), $31 per child (ages 3 to 9), tax and gratuity included
Dine waterfront in the covered, outdoor dining area of Moroccan restaurant, Spice Road Table with a stunning view of Harmonious. This package includes two small plates, a dessert platter and unlimited beverages.

For more information about reserving one of these dessert or dinner experiences, click here.

10 Must-Have Photos in Walt Disney World

2/1/2021

From the classics to the "Disney walls" to foodies...there are 10 photo ops you don't want to miss on your next trip! (Pro tip: make sure that you ask me to add on Memory Maker to your package! Adding it prior to your stay will save you $20!)

Yours truly in front of the iconic Purple Wall!

#1 - The Park Icons (Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, the EPCOT Ball, Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom, Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios)
Yes, I know, technically this is 4 photos altogether, but did you really visit Walt Disney World if you didn't get a photo in front of these icons? You'll see tons of PhotoPass photographers stationed all around these areas, so make sure you grab one. These all look totally amazing in the sunshine AND all lit up at night!

#2 - The Purple Wall (Tomorrowland, Magic Kingdom)
The original wall to go "viral" at Walt Disney World! This one can be found as you're heading into Tomorrowland from Main Street USA. Get your Insta captions ready!

#3 - The Popsicle Wall (Toy Story Land, Hollywood Studios)
You'll find this one as you're exiting Toy Story Mania. The detail in this wall (and all of Toy Story Land, really) is incredible!

Mid-Week News Roundup!

1/13/2021

Menus, events, tours, and special offers! It's been an eventful week at Disney and Universal...let's dive in!

Universal Orlando Resort
All-New Celebration Of Flavors – Mardi Gras 2021: International Flavors Of Carnaval
Universal Orlando Resort will be celebrating Mardi Gras for the first time ever! This festival will feature cuisine and entertainment inspired by the most iconic Carnaval festivities worldwide. It will take place daily at Universal Studios from Saturday, February 6 through Sunday, March 28. You'll be able to enjoy:

Eclectic global food with more than 70+ dishes and beverages from 13 locations around the globe.
Vibrant décor
A chance to get up close with Mardi Gras floats stationed throughout the park.
A Big Easy bash in the streets complete with dancers, stilt performers, brass band musicians, and beads
A Mardi Gras Tribute Store

Special Offers Announced!
Universal Orlando Resort welcomes 2021 with a selection of special offers! With the upcoming summer debut of the Jurassic World VelociCoaster, the recently-opened The Bourne Stuntacular stunt showm and the all-new Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites hotel, now is the perfect time to plan a visit! Offers include:

Guests who purchase a 4-Day, 2-Park or 3-Park ticket can save up to $50 per ticket. (That’s a combined savings of up to $200 for a family of four!) This package is stackable! Must be booked through April 27th for travel now through December 17th.
Florida residents can purchase a 1-Day, 2-Park ticket and receive THREE EXTRA DAYS FREE! This can be purchased now and can visit any four days through April 30th. There are NO blockout dates and this offer is NOT available for purchase at the front gate!

Walt Disney World
Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts Now Open!
The Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts began January 8th at Walt Disney World Resort! This incredible festival celebrates visual, culinary and performing arts from around the world. The festival is included with your EPCOT park admission and runs through Feb. 22nd. You can expect to enjoy:

Voices of Liberty and the JAMMitors with all-new shows
Performance artists, chalk artists, and visiting artists all performing live!
The Animation Academy will have a Disney artist providing a step-by-step lesson
A Paint-by-Number Mural invites you to help complete a larger-than-life piece of arts, or create your own art by “spinning” it to life via a specially-made stationary bicycle.
Special photo-ops, custom t-shirts, and event-specific merchandise
A family-friendly scavenger hunt around World Showcase where you can look for Figment hiding inside famous works of art at each pavilion. Return the map for an artful surprise!
15+ Food Studios offering art-inspired food and drinks

"The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure" Coming to EPCOT
In early February, “The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure,” will debut! This exhibit, inside The American Adventure, features Joe Gardner from Disney and Pixar’s “Soul”. The exhibit will invite you on a musical tour of America to learn about all about jazz music!

New Mediterranean Small plates at Spice Road Table
With scenic views of World Showcase Lagoon and décor inspired by outdoor cafés from the Moroccan seaside, Spice Road Table is now open offering a delicious new menu of small plates and sips for Guests to enjoy al fresco or in the dining room. B’Saha!

Adventures by Disney
First-Ever Dedicated Expedition Cruises
Journey to some of the world’s most sought-after destinations when you set sail on all-new Adventures by Disney Expedition Cruises. Voyages will include both Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands! (Just like Ted! Any Schitt's Creek fans?) This means that Adventures by Disney now offers experiences across all seven continents!! Antarctica and Patagonia Expedition Cruises will sail with PONANT, a leader in luxury polar expeditions. A Buenos Aires Escape will also be an option. It will be a 4 day, 3 night guided group experience in Argentina!

On the Adventures by Disney Galapagos Islands Expedition Cruise (coming 2022), families will island-hop from one adventure to the next with five 9-day, 8-night sailings aboard the boutique expedition ship, the Galapagos Legend. Three routes are scheduled.

River Cruise Departures Return in 2022
Adventures by Disney’s popular river cruise vacations return to Europe with three itineraries along the Danube, Rhine and Seine. New for 2022, specialty National Geographic Photography Sailings along the Seine will offer photo-driven excursions with National Geographic photographers. Sailing with AmaWaterways, these all-inclusive voyages are filled with immersive experiences in European destinations. Advance booking begins Jan. 19, 2021 for all previous Adventures by Disney Guests, or Jan. 21, 2021 for Disney Vacation Club Members, Golden Oak Club Members and Disney Cruise Line Gold & Platinum Castaway Cay Club Members. General booking begins Jan. 22, 2021.

5 Things to Know About Disney's Skyliner

12/29/2020

As someone with a bona fide fear of heights, I had my reservations about using Disney's Skyliner. After experiencing it firsthand, here are 5 quick tips for anyone planning a trip on Disney's aerial gondola transportation system.

1) It Connects A LOT of Walt Disney World
The Skyliner conveniently connects Disney's Hollywood Studios and EPCOT to Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Disney's Pop Century Resort, and Disney's Riviera Resort. Plus, anyone staying or visiting Disney's BoardWalk, Yacht Club, or Beach Club Resorts can easily walk over and hop on at EPCOT's International Gateway.

2) It Moves Quickly
With so much of Walt Disney World being connected, you might expect that this mode of transportation is slow. It's actually quite the opposite! The gondolas slow down at stations for loading (or pause temporarily to allow guests on scooters and wheelchairs to board) so it's continually loading, much like many of your favorite Disney rides. This allows for any lines to move very quickly, even if they look long.