Disney News

Guests celebrating the Fourth of July at Walt Disney World® Resort will have a choice of fireworks shows as Magic Kingdom® Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ present special pyrotechnics, and Epcot® adds a patriotic tag to its famous “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” spectacular. Here’s what’s in store:

Magic Kingdom® Park
“Celebrate America Fireworks” will fill the sky at 9 p.m. July 4.  Or kick off the celebratory weekend a day early and enjoy the special fireworks on July 3 at 9 p.m. After the fireworks, guests can enjoy Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” of lights, music and magic at 10 p.m. and midnight on July 4 (on July 3, the parade will be at 10:30 p.m.). Park hours on July 4 are 8 a.m.-1 a.m.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios™
Special fireworks set to a rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack will be presented at 9:50 p.m. on July 4, providing guests with a bonus nighttime entertainment extravaganza to complement “Fantasmic!” (which will be at 9 and 10:30 p.m.). Park hours on July 4 are 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

Epcot®
“IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” which features dazzling special effects, colorful lasers, brilliant fireworks, and fiery torches all choreographed to a musical score, becomes even more dynamic on July 4 as the normal show is supplemented with a patriotic finale. The performance begins at 10 p.m. Earlier in the day, guests will be treated to the Voices of Liberty 4th of July Concert – featuring an expanded cast of singers plus the Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps and Disney characters – at 12:30, 1:45 and 3 p.m. on the America Gardens Theatre stage. Park hours on July 4 are 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
Guests can enjoy all the regular attractions and shows on July 4 from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

(entertainment and park hours are subject to change without notice)

Pirate fever has made its way to the beach, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort to be exact. Shutters restaurant at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort is having some swashbuckling fun this summer with a special Pirate Character dinner every Monday night hosted by Pirate Goofy and Pirate Donald. It’s an all-you-can-eat feast with guava barbeque ribs, rotisserie chicken, brisket, barbeque pulled pork and loads of favorite sides.

Now thru Labor Day
Adults              $26.99
Ages 3-9         $12.99

Like a fine wine that improves with age, the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival celebrates 15 years this Oct. 1-Nov. 14, 2010 with an unrivaled global tasting experience.

Where on the planet can foodies sample the cuisine, culture and entertainment of more than two dozen countries during a 1.3-mile stroll around a picturesque 40-acre lagoon?  Only at Walt Disney World® Resort, where more than 25 international marketplaces around the World Showcase promenade at Epcot® invite guests to taste tapas-sized portions and sip wines, beers and spirits from six continents.

This year, Disney and celebrity chefs are teaming with winemakers and brew masters from around the world to commemorate 15 years of Delicious Discoveries.  During the six-week festival, guests will discover:

• Two new tasting marketplaces – Belgium and South Korea –plus new menu offerings at popular returning marketplaces including Singapore, Argentina, Chile, Poland, South Africa, Australia, U.S.A., Spain and others.
• Celebrity chef appearances starring top culinarians like Warren Brown, Cat Cora, Todd English, Gale Gand, Robert Irvine, Art Smith, Andrew Zimmern and more.
• A complimentary Marketplace Discovery Passport to be stamped at each international marketplace visited for the perfect scrapbook souvenir.
• Daily wine seminars, bottle signings, author events and culinary demonstrations at the Festival Welcome Center.
• Eat to the Beat! concerts three times nightly at America Gardens Theatre.
• Two Epcot restaurants grand opening just in time for the festival: Via Napoli at the Italy pavilion and La Hacienda de San Angel at the Mexico pavilion.

New Sips, Fresh Bites

Whether sampling steamed mussels with roasted garlic cream at the new Belgium marketplace or sipping the trendiest wines from South Africa and Chile, festival guests can make a day of grazing their way around the World Showcase promenade.  Tapas-sized portions of regional specialties run $3-to-$8 each, and recommended wines and beers make perfect pairings at each marketplace.  To make grazing simpler and more fun, guests can purchase a festival-themed mini-Disney Gift Card that can be loaded and reloaded at several park locations.  The card comes attached to a band that can be worn conveniently on the wrist and used for purchases at park marketplaces, restaurants and shops.

Live regional entertainment includes music, acrobatics and improv performances along the promenade.  Evening Eat to the Beat! concerts at America Gardens Theatre feature acts from many musical genres.  Appearing for the first time on the Eat to the Beat! stage are: Sugar Ray, Air Supply, Howard Jones, 38 Special, Roger Hodgson (formerly of Supertramp,) Hanson and Rick Springfield.  Kicking off the festival Oct. 1-3 is fan-favorite Taylor Dayne, and wrapping the event Nov. 12-14 is crowd-pleaser Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Each fall, the festival attracts a diverse audience of more than 1 million guests ranging from wine connoisseurs and epicures to novices wishing to boost their culinary IQs.  Special culinary programs showcase a lineup of renowned winemakers, guest chefs and speakers participating in elegant dinners, luncheons, seminars and wine schools.

Festival highlights include:

• The Festival Welcome Center, with a Wine Bar, Authentic Taste Seminars, Authors Without Borders weekend conversations and more.
• Some 250 chefs including Disney chefs and guest chefs from across the country conducting culinary demonstrations and hosting dinners and tasting events.  Guest chefs on tap include Debbie Gold, Rock Harper, Jeff Henderson, Robin Miller, Jamie Deen and many other culinary stars.
• New events that include 3-D Disney’s Dessert Discovery and a festival preview night, First Bites Opening Reception, on Sept. 30.
• Popular returning events that include Celebrating Family and Friends in the Kitchen, Epcot Wine Schools, Mexico Tequila Tastings and Food and Wine Pairings.

Festival guests can enjoy fresh Epcot experiences including the latest Future World high-tech fun at Innoventions.  They also can go “under the sea” at The Seas with Nemo & Friends, “up in the air” at Soarin’ in The Land pavilion or “out of this world” at Mission: SPACE.  In World Showcase, new and updated restaurants welcome guests at the Italy, Japan, Mexico and China pavilions.

Included with Epcot Admission

Authentic Taste seminars and Authors Without Borders programs with special book signings at the Festival Center, Eat to the Beat! concerts, cultural adventures, Marketplace Discovery Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.

Special Programming by Reservation

The Party for the Senses grand tasting events and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission.  Contact your Magic Maker® for more information.

Hungry yet?  Click below to request a quote!

Mickey’s Halloween Party moves to the Disneyland® Park in California this Halloween season. The private, costumed trick-or-treat party that guests enjoyed at Disney California Adventure® park and was formerly known as Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party has moved to Disneyland® Park. The new event has some new, really cool benefits:

• Access to Disneyland park – With a ticket to Mickey’s Halloween Party, you’ll get access to nearly all the attractions Disneyland park has to offer—from the classic attractions in Fantasyland to the Halloween-themed attractions like Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday.
• Earlier access – You can start the party early at Disneyland park at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and 4:00 p.m. on Fridays. The official event starts at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and 7:00 p.m. on Fridays and on Halloween night.
• Tons of treats – We’re adding even more trick-or-treat locations – more treats!
• Exclusive access to Halloween Screams – Mickey’s Halloween Party guests will have exclusive access to one of the most popular fireworks spectaculars ever – Halloween Screams!

Mickey’s Halloween Party will be offered on Halloween night and every Tuesday and Friday in October. Contact your Magic Maker® for more information on purchasing tickets to this exclusive event.

Request a quote for the Disneyland® Resort in California
so you don’t miss this exclusive party!

Heading to the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida this fall?
Don’t miss Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom!  Click here for more information.

The below serve as Official Rules for the Following Sweepstakes:

• Cars Land Checkered Flag Giveaway
• ‘King of the Pride Lands’ Giveaway
• Cars ‘High-Octane’ Giveaway

1. ELIGIBILITY: Off to Neverland Travel, LLC Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia over the age of 18 with access to the Internet at all times during the Sweepstakes and subsequent prize-award period unless otherwise specified by Off to Neverland Travel, LLC. All employees of Off to Neverland Travel, LLC. (“Sponsor”), all associated agencies and each of their sales representatives, distributors, or agents (all of the foregoing, together with Sponsor, collectively referred to as “Sweepstakes Entities”), and their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses) and those living in the same household of each (whether related or not), are ineligible to participate in the Sweepstakes. All applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Entry in the Sweepstakes constitutes your full and unconditional acceptance of these Official Rules. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

2. SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD: The Sweepstakes entry period begins and ends at the times listed below for the sweepstakes indicated:

• Cars Land Checkered Flag Giveaway – begins at June 13, 2012, 6 a.m. (UTC) and ends at June 18, 2012, 6 a.m. (UTC)
• ‘King of the Pride Lands’ Giveaway – begins at Aug. 6, 2012, 8 p.m. (UTC) and ends at Aug. 13, 2012, 6 a.m. (UTC)
• Cars ‘ High-Octane’ Giveaway – begins at at Jan. 24, 2013, 8 p.m. (UTC) and ends at Feb. 1, 2013, 6 a.m. (UTC)

(the “Sweepstakes Period”). Winners will be selected from entries properly submitted and timely received during the Sweepstakes Period.

3. SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS: During the Sweepstakes Period, you may submit an entry form online. Limit One (1) Online Entry (the “Entry”) per person, per e-mail address, and per household during the Sweepstakes Period via Online Form, regardless of whether a person has more than one address or more than one person uses the same address. Additional “bonus” entries may be possible via Online Form for specific actions as outlined and may vary per sweepstakes.

4. PUBLICITY: As a condition of entry into the Sweepstakes, except where prohibited by law, each entrant and each winner by accepting a prize grants to Sponsor and its affiliates, legal representatives, assigns and licensees, all right, title and interest in to publicize, broadcast, display and/or otherwise use the Sweepstakes entrant’s name, city, state, and biographical material (collectively, “Licensed Rights”) in any media now or hereafter known throughout the world in perpetuity for advertising and publicity purposes, without additional review, compensation, permission or approval of the winner. Where necessary, the Prize winner will be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability and Publicity Release within twenty four (24) hours of attempted notification or the winner may be disqualified and an alternate winner selected. Prize winner must be available for promotional display and presentation if requested within forty eight (48) hours of attempted notification or will forfeit prize to next winning entrant.

5. SELECTION OF SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS/ODDS: The potential Prize winners will be selected in a random drawing to be held after the above listed end date. Winners will be selected from entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. The potential winners will be notified via email to the email address submitted with the potential winner’s entry within twenty four (24) hours after the drawing. The drawing will be conducted by Sponsor, the judge of the Sweepstakes, whose decisions on all matters relating to the Sweepstakes shall be final and binding. In the event that a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, award the applicable prize to an alternate winner selected at random. Any return of prize notification or prize email as undeliverable will result in forfeiture of any prize and an alternate winner may, at Sponsor’s discretion, be randomly selected.

6. PRIZES: The prize is  listed below for the sweepstake indicated:

• Cars Land Checkered Flag Giveaway – 9″ Lightening McQueen & Tow Mater Plush Toy given to (8) winners. One winner per household.
• ‘King of the Pride Lands’ Giveaway – (1) Disney “The Lion King” DVD & (1) Disney “The Lion King 1½” DVD. There will be only one winner for this giveaway
• Cars ‘High-Octane’ Giveaway – (1) Disney•Pixar’s “Cars” DVD & (1) Disney•Pixar’s “Cars 2” DVD. There will be only one winner for this giveaway

Prize will be delivered after the above listed end date. The Prize will be delivered to the winning entrant’s address or at the sole option and discretion of the contest sponsor to a recipient designated by the contest winner. Prizes are not transferable and are not redeemable for cash. All taxes and other charges are responsibility of the winner. No substitutions allowed. All expenses not specifically mentioned herein are not included as part of any Prize package, and are solely the winner’s responsibility.

7. ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF ENTRY: You may also enter the Sweepstakes by mailing a standard-size postcard with your name and email address to: Off to Neverland Travel, LLC Sweepstakes #15646, 2390 El Camino Real, Suite 240, Palo Alto, CA, 94306, USA. Postcard entries must be postmarked and received during the Sweepstakes Period listed above to be included within the random drawing, and no more than one postcard/email address may be submitted during the Sweepstakes Period.

8. GENERAL RULES: By entering or participating in the Sweepstakes, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules, and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. Sweepstakes Entities are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information or technical failures of any kind, (2) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Sweepstakes; or (3) any other computer, network, technical, human or other error, problem or malfunction that may occur in connection with the administration of the Sweepstakes, the processing of entries, or the selection or notification of winners. Further, if, for any reason, the Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned for reasons outside the control of the Sponsor which, in the sole opinion of Sponsor, may corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes (or portion thereof), Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes (or portion thereof). Sponsor also reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify the Entry of any individual found to be (a) tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes or any website operated by the Sweepstakes Entities; (b) using any robotic, macro, automatic, programmed or like entry methods, which will void all such entries; (c) violating these Official Rules or the terms of service, conditions of use, and/or general rules of any Sponsor property or service; or (d) acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other person. Sweepstakes Entities are not responsible for claims, injuries, losses or damages of any kind resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the awarding, delivery, acceptance, use, misuse, possession, loss or misdirection of the prize; participation in this Sweepstakes or in any activity or travel related thereto or from any interaction with, or downloading of, computer Sweepstakes information.

9. PARTICIPANT OBLIGATIONS: By participating in the Sweepstakes, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor. By accepting the prize, the winner agrees to release and hold Off to Neverland Travel, LLC and affiliates harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, rights, claims, actions and liabilities of any kind in connection with the Sweepstakes or receipt or redemption of the prize. The winner assumes all liability for any injury, death, or damage caused, or allegedly caused, by participating in the Sweepstakes or use or redemption of the prize.

10. PERSONAL INFORMATION: This sweepstakes is being managed through PunchTab http://www.punchtab.com. The personal information collected through the Sweepstakes is subject to PunchTab’s Privacy Policy which is located at http://www.punchtab.com/privacy. By entering the Sweepstakes, you agree to the use of your personal information as described in the above Privacy Policy. Also, entrants will be subscribed to the Neverland News weekly email newsletter using the email address provided. This email newsletter contains current Disney news and vacation planning information and can be unsubscribed from at any time.

11. SPONSOR: Off to Neverland Travel, LLC