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Walt Disney World
New details have been announced for the upcoming Disney Villains After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park, starting February 7, 2020 and running over 24 select nights. One of the most popular attractions throughout the night is Maleficent the dragon winding through the park. This will be expanded to the Villains Cursed Caravan, a procession of villains following her through the park. Appearances will include Gaston, Ooogie Boogie, Cruella DeVil, Captain Hook and more!
Some new treats will also make their debut at this special separately ticketed event including:
· Painting the Roses Red: A cheesecake mousse with raspberry gelee, red cocoa butter, and buttercream leaves at Cheshire Café in Fantasyland
· Body Language: A cookies and cream mousse with chocolate cake, glacage, and meringue tentacles garnished with a chocolate shell available at Storybook Treats in Fantasyland
· Five Dozen Egg Slush: A frozen custard with brown sugar topped with whipped cream and garnished with a cinnamon stick available at Gaston’s Tavern in Fantasyland.
Tickets for this special event are available for purchase now.
If you’re visiting the Magic Kingdom between December 23rd – December 31st you have one last chance to take in “The Muppets Present…Great Moments in American History.” Multiple performances will be held daily in Liberty Square near the Hall of Presidents
Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts is set to run beginning January 17, 202 through February 24, 2020. The complete lineup of entertainment has now been updated to include some new additions. The schedule is as follows:
· Jan. 17, 20, 21 and 24 – Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White (“The Lion King”)
· Jan. 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Heidi Blickenstaff (“The Little Mermaid”) and Gavin Lee (“Mary Poppins”)
· Jan. 25 – Special performance featuring Simmons, White, Blickenstaff and Lee
· Jan. 26, 28, 29; Feb. 1, 2, 5 and 6 – Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) and Kevin Massey (“Tarzan”)
· Jan. 27, 30, 31, Feb. 3, 4, 7 and 8 – NEW! Liana Hunt (“Newsies”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
· NEW! Feb. 9 – Special performance featuring Lindsay, Massey, Hunt and Jacobs
· Feb. 10, 12, 13, 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
· Feb. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21 – NEW! Syndee Winters (“The Lion King”) and NEW! Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
· NEW! Feb. 24 – Special performance featuring Brown, Strickland, Winters and Scott.
Following Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts will be Epcot’s International Flower 7 Garden Festival. New acts for 2020 will join the popular Garden Rocks Concert Series. The lineup so far includes:
March 4-5 – Peabo Bryson
March 13-16 – Simple Plan
March 17-19 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
March 20-23 – Mark Wills NEW to Garden Rocks
March 24-26 – The Spinners
March 27-28 – Sister Hazel
March 29-30 – The Pointer Sisters
March 31-April 2 – Former Journey Lead Vocalist Steve Augeri
April 3-4 – Blood, Sweat & Tears
April 5-6 – Exposé
April 7-9 – Berlin
April 19-20 – Rick Springfield
April 24-27 – Plain White T’s
April 28-30 – Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles
May 1-2 – Don McLean NEW
May 5-7 – Ambrosia with Peter Beckett NEW
May 8-9 – Thelma Houston NEW
May 10-11 – The Allman Betts Band NEW to Garden Rocks
May 12-14 – Air SupplyMay
May 15-18 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
May 19-21 – Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot NEW to Garden Rocks
May 24-25 – Daughtry NEW
May 26-28 – Marshall Tucker Band
May 31-June 1 – Survivor
Performances will occur nightly and 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8 PM at the America Gardens Theater stage. Reserved seating can be secured as part of a Garden Rocks Concert Series Dining Package, which couples a dining experience at select Epcot eateries. Reservations for the dining package are now available.
In addition to some rockin’ tunes, guess can view numerous colorful topiaries, the centerpiece being a Ratatouille themed exhibit in the France courtyard, the home of the upcoming Remy’s Ratotuille Adventure which is set to open in the Summer of 2020. 17 outdoor kitchens will offer fresh and delicious bites and educational seminars and exhibits will anchor this special event. The 27th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival runs from March 4th – June 1st, 2020.
Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom can get a first look at the new TRON Lightcycles which will be part of the upcoming TRON Lightcycle/Run attraction, set to debut in 2021. The Lightcyles are available for viewing and photo ops near Space Mountain.
Disneyland
If you’re looking for a last minute holiday gift, Disneyland has you covered. Special offers are now available for guests wishing to stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, the Disneyland Hotel, or Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with savings from 10 -25% for Sunday through Thursday night stays from April 19th through June 18th.
Disney Parks
New scenes have been added to the popular Star Tours attraction across the globe in conjunction with the cinematic debut of Star Wars: Episode IX Rise of Skywalker.
Adventures by Disney
Have you always wanted to walk in a real-life winter wonderland in the wilderness of Wyoming? (That’s a lot of W’s!) Adventures by Disney offers a once in a lifetime adventure through this vast land and has one more, special adult-only adventure this season departing on February 12, 2020.
Exclusive activities offered as part of this departure include:
Winter Wander Land
Visit the natural wonders of Yellowstone National Park including breathtaking waterfalls, a hike to the parks thermal features and a snowshoe trek around the Old Faithful Geyser basin.
Springs of Steam
Enjoy a relaxing soak and swim in the Granite Hot Springs while surrounded by picturesque mountains and pine trees!
Here to Sleigh
Enjoy two unforgettable sleigh rides: one along the Snake River as the sun sets behind the Teton Mountains, and another through the National Elk Refuge as you keep and eye out for elk, eagles, bighorn sheep, pronghorns and coyotes.
Snow Much Fun
Spend the day in Jackson Hole and make time for this classic winter pastimes, including snowman making.
Chills and Thrills
Spend an afternoon exploring and shopping along picturesque Jackson Hole, or take a more adventurous excursion to Snow King Mountain where you take in the King Tubes and Cowboy Coaster.
This special offering would make a perfect gift for the adventure seeker (or yourself) in your life.
Stephanie McNulty is a Vacation Specialist with Coasters and Castles Travel. She helps plan magical vacations to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Aadventures by Disney, Aulani and other travel destinations throughout the world. Contact her at smcnulty@coastersandcastlestravel.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram under her username @magicaltravelwithsteph
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