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If you haven't watched our latest Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party video yet, start there because most questions are answered in detail in that video, including allergy/gluten-free/vegan and other dietary information, the best times and places to claim a spot for shows, what to do at specific times during the event and even what to do if it rains. You can watch the video here: Here are some of the answers we couldn't include in the video: Q: If I am attending the party without children is it worth the price for reduced wait times on rides? And if so, is it possible to ride all the big attractions? - Fred While I wouldn't recommend the party if your primary goal is to simply ride the attractions that are available all the time, you could certainly get all the big attractions done during the party if that was your focus. The reason I wouldn't recommend it is because you could likely get a day ticket to the park on one of the party days where Magic Kingdom closes at 6PM for less than the price of the party and you would find the park is very quiet on those days. You could ride pretty much everything, you'd have more time in the park and if you are going to the other parks, you would get a discounted price on the multi-day tickets. Q: Is it better to meet characters at the end of the party? - Sarah This is a tricky strategy because many of the characters will stop meeting early and it is difficult to pinpoint what time each character will step off for the night. While most of the characters will have the shortest waits at the very beginning of the party (or before the party starts in the case of Jack & Sally) and later in the night, the benefit of going early is that there is less risk you won't get to meet them. Q: What rides are not operating during the fireworks at the party? - Carl On the night we were there, only Big Thunder Mountain and Prince Charming's Regal Carrousel were closed for the fireworks. Tiana's Bayou Adventure was also closed, but that seemed to be related to technical difficulties, though it is possible it would have also closed for fireworks had it been up and running. Q: Do the spots change per party where the villains are located or are they at a specific spot each time? - Ashley This is a tricky one for us to answer because the night we were there, it rained almost all night long. Cast Members told us that villains normally roam a bit more, but they also suggested that you were more likely to find the villains at their stations for the night. Cruella was at the party entrance, Jafar was in Agrabah in Adventureland, the Evil Queen and Maleficent were at Princess Fairytale Hall and the Queen of Hearts was near the Mad Tea Party. Q: What are the best times to ride rides? See the posted wait times at the bottom of this post. Still don't see the answer you're looking for? Ask your question in the comments section below! Here are the posted wait times for the night we were at the party (September 6, 2024): 2:30 PM Astro Orbiter - 5 min The Barnstormer - 5 min Dumbo the Flying Elephant - 5 min “it’s a small world” - 5 min Mad Tea Party - 5 min The Magic Carpets of Aladdin - 5 min Meet Ariel at Her Grotto - 5 min Pirates of the Caribbean - 5 min Prince Charming Regal Carrousel - 5 min Tomorrowland Speedway - 5 min Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover - 5 min Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid - 5 min Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress - 5 min Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin - 10 min Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor - 10 min Space Mountain - 10 min Walt Disney World Railroad (Fantasyland) - 10 min Walt Disney World Railroad (Frontierland) - 10 min Walt Disney World Railroad (Main Street, U.S.A.) - 10 min Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - 15 min Country Bear Musical Jamboree - 15 min Enchanted Tales with Belle - 15 min Meet Daring Disney Pals at Pete’s Silly Sideshow - 15 min Meet Daring Dashing Pals at Pete’s Silly Sideshow - 15 min Mickey’s PhilharMagic - 15 min Tom Sawyer Island - 15 min The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - 20 min Meet Cinderella at Princess Fairytale Hall - 20 min Peter Pan’s Flight - 20 min Haunted Mansion - 25 min Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater - 25 min Meet Princess Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall - 30 min Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - 35 min 3:00 PM Astro Orbiter - 5 min The Barnstormer - 5 min Dumbo the Flying Elephant - 5 min “it’s a small world” - 5 min Mad Tea Party - 5 min The Magic Carpets of Aladdin - 5 min Pirates of the Caribbean - 5 min Prince Charming Regal Carrousel - 5 min Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover - 5 min Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid - 5 min Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress - 5 min Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater - 10 min Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor - 10 min Space Mountain - 10 min Tomorrowland Speedway - 10 min Walt Disney World Railroad (Fantasyland) - 10 min Walt Disney World Railroad (Frontierland) - 10 min Walt Disney World Railroad (Main Street, U.S.A.) - 10 min Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin - 15 min Country Bear Musical Jamboree - 15 min Enchanted Tales with Belle - 15 min Liberty Square Riverboat - 15 min Meet Daring Disney Pals at Pete’s Silly Sideshow - 15 min Meet Daring Dashing Pals at Pete’s Silly Sideshow - 15 min Mickey’s PhilharMagic - 15 min Tom Sawyer Island - 15 min Big Thunder Mountain - 20 min Meet Cinderella at Princess Fairytale Hall - 20 min Haunted Mansion - 25 min The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - 25 min Meet Ariel at Her Grotto - 30 min Meet Princess Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall - 30 min Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - 35 min Peter Pan’s Flight - 40 min 4:00 PM Astro Orbiter - 5 min The Barnstormer - 5 min Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin - 5 min Dumbo the Flying Elephant - 5 min “it’s a small world” - 5 min Mad Tea Party - 5 min The Magic Carpets of Aladdin - 5 min Pirates of the Caribbean - 5 min Prince Charming Regal Carrousel - 5 min Space Mountain - 5 min Tomorrowland Speedway - 5 min Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover - 5 min Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid - 5 min Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress - 5 min Meet Ariel at Her Grotto - 10 min Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater - 10 min Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor - 10 min Walt Disney World Railroad (Fantasyland) - 10 min Walt Disney World Railroad (Frontierland) - 10 min Walt Disney World Railroad (Main Street, U.S.A.) - 10 min Country Bear Musical Jamboree - 15 min Enchanted Tales with Belle - 15 min Liberty Square Riverboat - 15 min Meet Daring Disney Pals at Pete’s Silly Sideshow - 15 min Mickey’s PhilharMagic - 15 min Tom Sawyer Island - 15 min Big Thunder Mountain - 20 min Meet Cinderella at Princess Fairytale Hall - 20 min Meet Daring Dashing Pals at Pete’s Silly Sideshow - 20 min Haunted Mansion - 25 min The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - 25 min Meet Princess Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall - 30 min Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - 30 min Peter Pan’s Flight - 35 min 5:00 PM Astro Orbiter - 5 min The Barnstormer - 5 min Dumbo the Flying Elephant - 5 min “it’s a small world” - 5 min Mad Tea Party - 5 min The Magic Carpets of Aladdin - 5 min Prince Charming Regal Carrousel - 5 min Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover - 5 min Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid - 5 min Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress - 5 min Meet Ariel at Her Grotto - 10 min Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor - 10 min Tomorrowland Speedway - 10 min Walt Disney World Railroad (Fantasyland) - 10 min Walt Disney World Railroad (Frontierland) - 10 min Walt Disney World Railroad (Main Street, U.S.A.) - 10 min Country Bear Musical Jamboree - 15 min Enchanted Tales with Belle - 15 min Liberty Square Riverboat - 15 min The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - 15 min Meet Cinderella at Princess Fairytale Hall - 15 min Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater - 15 min Mickey’s PhilharMagic - 15 min Pirates of the Caribbean - 15 min Tom Sawyer Island - 15 min Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin - 20 min Haunted Mansion - 20 min Meet Daring Disney Pals at Pete’s Silly Sideshow - 20 min Meet Daring Dashing Pals at Pete’s Silly Sideshow - 20 min Space Mountain - 20 min Big Thunder Mountain - 30 min Meet Princess Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall - 30 min Peter Pan’s Flight - 35 min Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - 40 min 6:00 PM Wait Times Not Posted 7:15 PM Prince Charming Regal Carrousel - 5 min Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid - 5 min Mad Tea Party - 10 min Pirates of the Caribbean - 10 min Space Mountain - 10 min Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover - 10 min Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin - 15 min Country Bear Musical Jamboree - 15 min The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - 15 min TRON Lightcycle / Run - 20 min Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater - 30 min Haunted Mansion - 40 min Peter Pan’s Flight - 40 min Meet Daring Disney Pals at Pete’s Silly Sideshow - 120 min Astro Orbiter - Temporarily Closed The Barnstormer - Temporarily Closed Big Thunder Mountain - Temporarily Closed Dumbo the Flying Elephant - Temporarily Closed “it’s a small world” - Temporarily Closed The Magic Carpets of Aladdin - Temporarily Closed Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - Temporarily Closed Tomorrowland Speedway - Temporarily Closed 8:00 PM The Barnstormer - 5 min Dumbo the Flying Elephant - 5 min The Magic Carpets of Aladdin - 5 min Prince Charming Regal Carrousel - 5 min Big Thunder Mountain - 10 min Mad Tea Party - 10 min The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - 10 min Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover - 10 min Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid - 10 min Astro Orbiter - 15 min Country Bear Musical Jamboree - 15 min Pirates of the Caribbean - 15 min Tomorrowland Speedway - 10 min Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin - 20 min Space Mountain - 20 min Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater - 25 min Peter Pan’s Flight - 25 min Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - 30 min Haunted Mansion - 35 min TRON Lightcycle / Run - 45 min Meet Daring Disney Pals at Pete’s Silly Sideshow - 60 min “it’s a small world” - Temporarily Closed Tiana’s Bayou Adventure - Temporarily Closed 9:00 PM The Barnstormer - 5 min Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin - 5 min Dumbo the Flying Elephant - 5 min The Magic Carpets of Aladdin - 5 min Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater - 5 min Pirates of the Caribbean - 5 min Prince Charming Regal Carrousel - 5 min Space Mountain - 5 min Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid - 5 min “it’s a small world” - 10 min Mad Tea Party - 10 min Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover - 10 min Astro Orbiter - 15 min Country Bear Musical Jamboree - 15 min Tomorrowland Speedway - 15 min Big Thunder Mountain - 25 min Haunted Mansion - 25 min TRON Lightcycle / Run - 30 min Peter Pan’s Flight - 35 min Tiana’s Bayou Adventure - 35 min Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - 40 min Meet Daring Disney Pals at Pete’s Silly Sideshow - 60 min The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - Temporarily Closed 10:00 PM Astro Orbiter - 5 min The Barnstormer - 5 min Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin - 5 min Dumbo the Flying Elephant - 5 min Mad Tea Party - 5 min The Magic Carpets of Aladdin - 5 min The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - 5 min Pirates of the Caribbean - 5 min Space Mountain - 5 min Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover - 5 min Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid - 5 min “it’s a small world” - 10 min Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater - 10 min Tomorrowland Speedway - 10 min Country Bear Musical Jamboree - 15 min Haunted Mansion - 15 min Tiana’s Bayou Adventure - 25 min TRON Lightcycle / Run - 30 min Peter Pan’s Flight - 35 min Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - 35 min Meet Daring Disney Pals at Pete’s Silly Sideshow - 60 min Big Thunder Mountain - Temporarily Closed Prince Charming Regal Carrousel - Temporarily Closed 11:20 PM Astro Orbiter - 5 min The Barnstormer - 5 min Big Thunder Mountain - 5 min Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin - 5 min Dumbo the Flying Elephant - 5 min Mad Tea Party - 5 min The Magic Carpets of Aladdin - 5 min The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - 5 min Pirates of the Caribbean - 5 min Prince Charming Regal Carrousel - 5 min Space Mountain - 5 min Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover - 5 min Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid - 5 min “it’s a small world” - 10 min Tiana’s Bayou Adventure - 10 min Tomorrowland Speedway - 10 min Country Bear Musical Jamboree - 15 min Haunted Mansion - 20 min TRON Lightcycle / Run - 20 min Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater - 30 min Peter Pan’s Flight - 35 min Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - Temporarily Closed

While the initial rollout of Jollywood Nights in 2023 involved some ho-ho-hijinks, the event quickly hit its stride and we're glad to see that the holiday fun is coming back to Hollywood Studios with some "glistening" new additions. New for 2024: "Glisten!" – an Ice Skating Spectacular Disney is bringing some ice to go along with the "snoap" this year and we are so excited to see this new show. "Glisten!" will feature "international champion skaters" performing "breathtaking routines set to a vibrant holiday soundtrack including original songs and Disney favorites like 'Be Our Guest' and 'When You Wish Upon A Star.'" The stage will be set right in front of the Chinese Theatre, which will feature special projections for the show. The Muppets are Back – and So is Oogie Boogie According to the update on the Disney Parks Blog , all the major attractions from 2023 are back this year, including the stage shows featuring The Muppets and The Nightmare Before Christmas. We are feeling particularly jolly about the announcement that Disney Holidays in Hollywood featuring Kermit and Miss Piggy is returning since it was one of our favorite parts of the event last year. If you're planning a trip to Walt Disney World during the holiday season this year and want to know more about Jollywood Nights, you can check out our video from last year with tips on what to do (and what NOT to do) to have a very merry time at the event.

Players wishing to be digitized into the world of TRON can finally skip one major digital hurdle - the Virtual Queue that has been in place since the ride opened finally ended on September 8. Thousands of guests can now get a little more sleep since they won't be required to wake up before 7:00 am in hopes of snagging a coveted boarding group. For those not familiar with the Virtual Queue process, this basically means that you can now simply get in line to ride TRON like most every other attraction at Walt Disney World.. Disney quietly broke this news on the page dedicated to the attraction on the Walt Disney World website . This was surprising since they had described the Virtual Queue in place for Tiana's Bayou Adventure as only being in place for the initial days of the attraction's opening but made no similar mention about the one for TRON. There has been no announcement about the removal of the Virtual Queue for Tiana's Bayou Adventure, making TRON the first to graduate to a traditional standby queue.

Freshly grilled and smoked items are again on the menu at Flavors from Fire, including the perennially popular corned beef chips. Surprisingly, the chips weren't part of Emile's Fromage Montage this year, but they're still worth the stop even though you can't get a stamp in your passport. 😐 Steakhouse Blended Burger: Beef and wild mushroom slider with truffle brie cheese fondue, arugula, and truffle potato chips on a sesame seed bun One look at our photo reveals the real star of this burger – it's that truffle brie cheese fondue. If they sold this on its own, it would be a festival favorite. In this case, it's saving the bacon of an otherwise underwhelming burger. Not that there's bacon here - that crispy piece you see peaking out is actually a wild mushroom, which we also liked better than the burger. The trouble is that the burger itself was very dry and a bit on the gristly side, which is unfortunate because it is surrounded by quite tasty things like a fresh sesame seed bun and truffle potato chips for extra crunch. As much as we liked all the things added to this burger, it's hard to give a rave review when the burger itself is sub-par. 👍 IMPOSSIBLE Montreal Style Burger Slider with cheddar cheese, and tomato jam on a sesame seed bun (NEW) The IMPOSSIBLE plant-based burger is served on the same bun as the steakhouse version, but it boasts a lot more flavor and even a better texture. While the patty was very salty, we still loved it. The tomato jam brought some sweetness to balance out the saltiness of the burger and was a delicious upgrade to boring old ketchup. We weren't sure what Montreal style was supposed to be, so we asked Uncle Google and it apparently involves the addition of a steak sauce when grilling. In this case, it seems the steak sauce was super salty, so those who are sensitive to sodium may need to steer clear. Otherwise, it's a tasty vegan treat. 👍 Smoked Corned Beef with house-made potato chips, cheese curds, pickled onions, and beer-cheese fondue When we saw this dish was missing from Emile's Fromage Montage, we were scared that our favorite cheesy treat from previous years was a goner. Thankfully, it's still here and we're guessing Disney knows it's so good that they don't need a passport stamp to entice you to buy it. Our only note we made as we ate this was "same as always – DELICIOUS!" I'm guessing we were too busy fighting over the last bits of fondue to bother with note-taking. What makes this dish so magical is the fondue – it's rich, cheesy and a little sweet from the beer. The pickled onions add another layer of sweetness and a bit of acid. The meat is smoky, juicy and not overly fatty while the chips complete the dish with a salty crunch. It's a perfect festival treat and we're so glad it's back. Want to discover more flavors from this year's festival? You can find a listing of all of our Epcot Food and Wine Festival reviews on the blog with this handy link , or just watch our video with reviews of ALL the food here:

With one food booth dedicated to Mac & Cheese and another featuring one of our favorite cheese items, this is essentially the starting line for Emile's Fromage Montage. 👍 Traditional Macaroni and Cheese with herbed panko ($5.50) 🧀 This is a solid Mac and cheese that has a surprising kick to it. It tastes like the cheese blend includes some pepper jack, which we loved. It’s not super spicy – maybe a 2 out of 10, but you can definitely taste it and that extra kick takes this macaroni from so-so to a solid 8 out of 10. (Polite Pig and Homecomin’ at Disney Springs are still our favorites for best traditional mac and cheese at Walt Disney World, but all of the macs at this booth are still quite good). 👍 Cheesesteak Macaroni & Cheese with shaved beef, peppers and onions & breadcrumbs ($6.50) 🧀 This is the star of the booth. Even though it’s meant to taste like a Philly cheesesteak, It has a little bit of a southwestern vibe with the spice mix that’s been added to the peppers and onions. The beef is thinly sliced, but still tender and juicy. This is also one of the more filling options at the festival and is the perfect size for a small meal or as an appetizer to share. 👍 Truffle Mac & Cheese ($6.50) 🧀 We love that the truffle flavor is quite mild here – it adds to the flavor of the dish rather than distracting from and overpowering it. If the heat from the traditional is making you nervous and you’re a fan of truffle, this is the mac for you. 👍 IMPOSSIBLE Chili Mac & Cheese with sour cream & cheddar ($6.50) 🧀 This immediately reminded us of the Woody’s Lunch Box totchos in Hollywood Studios (which is a good thing), but with mac & cheese instead of the tots and the whole thing is plant-based. If you’re looking for a vegan treat that tastes like a theme park classic, this is the one. There’s crunch from the Fritos, the impossible chili tastes surprisingly close to the meat version and most importantly, the vegan sour cream brings a creaminess that really does taste like the dairy version. We were so glad to find two of our favorite dishes from previous festivals were given a second life at this booth. While we didn’t review it this year, the Bailey’s Coffee & Guinness Shake is on the menu and we were so happy to see it after discovering that the Ireland booth had vanished like one of Darby O’Gill’s little people. Give yourself extra credit if you knew that deep cut Disney reference. 👎 Kielbasa and Potato Pierogis with caramelized onions & sour cream ($6.00) These are altogether average pierogis and ours were a bit past their prime. They were a bit tough and leathery. The kielbasa had a nice char, but this dish needed more than that little swirl of sour cream because everything was so dry. This one was NOT a festival favorite for us. 👍 BBQ Pork Rinds served with pimento cheese ($5.00) 🧀 This has been part of Emile’s Fromage Montage for several years now and it is just as delicious as ever. The pimento cheese is a little sweet, a little spicy and a whole lot cheesy. It’s the perfectly creamy addition to these crunchy, keto-friendly snacks that pack a surprising amount of heat. Most of the spiciness is actually coming from the pork rinds themselves. This is the perfect pick if you’re looking for something low carb that also feels like a total indulgence. 👍 Key Lime Tart ($4.75) From the delicate crust to the toasted marshmallow flavor of the topping to the bright, tangy sweetness of the key lime filling, this is a surprisingly solid version of a classic Florida dessert. Hardcore Key lime fans won’t be disappointed! Want to discover more flavors from this year's festival? You can find a listing of all of our Epcot Food and Wine Festival reviews on the blog with this handy link , or just watch our video with reviews of ALL the food here:

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his trusty assistant Beaker are back in the lab this year concocting bold flavors for the Brew-Wing Lab. Not only will you find some delicious and inventive food, you can also enjoy some delightfully maudlin Muppets shorts as you chow down in the air-conditioned dining room. 👍 Traditional Buffalo Wings with celery and ranch ($7.75) While we enjoyed these wings, they were not the traditional Buffalo wings we are used to. Though the sauce had lots of spices, it was surprisingly mild. It’s also a very dry sauce – almost like a dry rub – and doesn’t have that vinegar flavor that you find in most traditional wing sauces. If you prefer a less saucy and crispier wing, you’ll really enjoy these. 👍 Peanut Butter and Jelly Sticky Wings ($7.75) These seem to get better every year. Disney has perfected the balance of peanut and sweetness and managed to create a sauce that is pleasantly sticky, but still allows for a crispy wing. The initial flavor is reminiscent of an Asian peanut sauce with some extra sweetness from the grape jelly. Thankfully, these don’t have a bold grape flavor – the jelly is a very subtle second fiddle to the peanut. 👍 Garlic-Parmesan Wings ($7.75) These were our favorite wings this year. They are packing so much flavor with bold Parmesan and a buttery garlic and herb finish. While the garlic flavor is definitely there, it’s balanced by a blend of of Italian herbs and it makes the perfect wing sauce because it enhances the flavor of the chicken without overpowering it and keeps the skin nice and crispy. 😐 Unnecessarily Spicy Yet Extremely Tasty Carolina Reaper Pepper Curry Wings with creamy cucumber raita ($7.75) These absolutely live up to their name – they are very spicy. As in you-might-have-a-runny-nose-spicy. You can also taste that Indian curry flavor, but it’s overpowered by the Carolina reaper pepper. These are also super saucy – it’s almost like they’re meant to be eaten as a dare. The problem with that because there is so much sauce, the skin gets really gummy pretty quickly. For that reason, I’d say these are only for folks who truly love a crazy spicy wing - or those who just want a challenge. 👍 IMPOSSIBLE Buffalo Chicken Tenders with ranch and celery ($7.75) These are really good for what they are, but they can’t compete with the real wings. That said, if you’ve got some vegetarians in the group and they enjoy plant-based chicken nuggets, these are well prepared. The sauce has a lot of traditional buffalo flavor and the vegan ranch is surprisingly tasty. It actually tasted more like a vegan blue cheese to us, which was right up our alley. 🏅 Fried Pickle Spears with dill ranch ($5.75) As a fried pickle aficionado, I have had a LOT of fried pickles. I am pleased to report that these are the best fried pickles I’ve ever had. Sometimes fried pickles can be overwhelmingly salty, but these are absolutely perfect. The batter is not terribly salty and allows the saltiness to come from the pickle itself. I also love that they’re spears instead of chips because you get lots of pickle flavor in each bite. If you’ve never had fried pickles – or they’re a favorite for you, as well – put these on your must-try list. Want to discover more flavors from this year's festival? You can find a listing of all of our Epcot Food and Wine Festival reviews on the blog with this handy link , or just watch our video with reviews of ALL the food here:

While the menu may look a lot like last year, the flavors have gotten a big upgrade at the Ramen Exchange for the 2024 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. While we may not have a hankering for hot soup in the heat of August and September, this booth is likely going to become a go-to in the cooler months ahead. 👍 Ramen with shaved beef, shiitake mushrooms, pickled carrots and daikon radish, shaved spicy peppers, and a soy egg in citrus-sesame broth Last year, this soup had a broth that was saltier than sea water and barely edible. This year, the citrus-sesame broth has the perfect amount of saltiness, especially when paired with the noodles. The beef is buttery and tender and the noodles are similar in texture to egg noodles. We especially loved the addition of the hot peppers and shiitake mushrooms. This is a great classic ramen that is both filling and comforting on a cooler afternoon at Epcot. 👍 Thai Shrimp with Rice Noodles, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Basil in Coconut-Curry Broth If you're more in the mood for a Thai treat, this mildly spiced and coconut-infused rice noodle ramen may be just what you're looking for. While the shrimp was perfectly fine, we really enjoyed the flavor of the shiitake mushrooms mixed with the spices of the curry. Last year, the broth had a bit more sweetness to balance out how salty it is. While we miss the added sweetness, this is still a good soup and the saltiness of the broth is now balanced by the noodles. 👍 Ramen with tofu, shiitake mushrooms, pickled carrots and daikon radish, shaved spicy peppers, and Baby Bok Choy in Citrus-Sesame Broth We are fairly certain that this is the same broth that comes in the meat version, though the addition of the beef makes it taste a bit more rich than its plant-based partner. The star of the show here are those spicy peppers. They add so much flavor and pair wonderfully with the mushrooms and vegetables. The tofu, on the other hand, is the weakest part of this dish. It is not marinated or prepared in any way. They just dump in the raw tofu and it doesn't bring much fun to the party. Thankfully, everything else more than makes up for it and we ended up really enjoying this soup. Want to discover more flavors from this year's festival? You can find a listing of all of our Epcot Food and Wine Festival reviews on the blog with this handy link , or just watch our video with reviews of ALL the food here:

The humble food cart near The Land pavilion got a fancy turf-topped upgrade for the Flower & Garden festival this year, but it was still serving up pre-packaged grab-and-go items like hummus kits and overnight oats. For Food & Wine, it is finally all grown up and serving full-fledged festival food that is freshly prepared and worlds apart from the Value Resort fridge food it featured before. 👍 Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib with goat cheese polenta, puttanesca sauce, shaved pecorino, and petit herbs (NEW) The big flavor here is actually from the olive and capers, but we weren't complaining - they gave everything a briny boost and blended beautifully with the other flavors. The short rib itself was also delicious and perfectly braised – it fell apart with a little nudging from our plastic fork. The goat and pecorino cheeses added a salty pop of cheesy flavor while the polenta provided the perfect base and added a creamy richness. There’s also a little bit of spice in that sauce. We absolutely loved this, but those who aren’t fans of olives or a little heat might want to steer clear. 👍 Lemon Poppy Seed Cake with lemon icing (NEW) We loved that this cake is decorated with an edible flower that’s grown next door at Living with the Land. It’s a perfectly good lemon poppy seed cake, but not significantly better than what you might find at your local coffee shop. In fact, it would be perfect for breakfast alonside a hot cup of coffee from Joffreys or Starbucks. As a dessert, it is good but not remarkable and there are much better options from nearby festival booths like Milled & Mulled . Want to discover more flavors from this year's festival? You can find a listing of all of our Epcot Food and Wine Festival reviews on the blog with this handy link , or just watch our video with reviews of ALL the food here:

We always love delicious Food & Wine item that we can skip the line for and easily grab with a mobile order. The fact that this one also happens to be a delightfully spicy Korean-inspired treat that's based on Connections' already amazing chicken sandwich means we'll be back for seconds before the festival wraps up in November. 👍 Korean BBQ Chicken Sandwich with pickled cucumbers on a brioche bun This sweet and spicy sandwich is served with your choice of fries or Connections' new coleslaw, which has been greatly improved. It is now a sweet, Southern-style coleslaw with a mayonnaise base. The fries are the same as always - fresh, crispy and delicious, though we would recommend the slaw as it pairs nicely with the flavors of the sandwich. If you've never had the chicken sandwich at Connections, you're in for a treat. It's always perfectly seasoned, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The closest comparison would be Chik-Fil-A, though we prefer this one. Added to the classic chicken breast is a Korean BBQ sauce that is spiced with red chili flakes and sweetened with honey. This sauce is moderately spicy, but not overpowering and it pairs beautifully with the generous amount of freshly pickled cucumbers you'll find under the chicken. These have lots of fresh flavor and taste more like cucumbers than pickles. Holding it all together is a soft brioche-style bun. This makes a perfect lunch or a quick dinner before fireworks at the end of the night - just make sure to place your mobile order early because Connections is a very popular spot around mealtimes. Want to discover more flavors from this year's festival? You can find a listing of all of our Epcot Food and Wine Festival reviews on the blog with this handy link , or just watch our video with reviews of ALL the food here:

In a surprise announcement on Disney Parks Blog , it was revealed that Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy is headed for the junkyard and a new Villains-themed show will take its place in 2025. On the one hand, this change makes sense because Cars will now have its home in Magic Kingdom as the anchor of a new Frontierland. On the other hand, Cruella, Ursula and their foul-natured friends are also getting a new home in Magic Kingdom with their own Villains land. Of course they also feature prominently in Fantasmic!, which is not likely leaving Hollywood Studios any time soon. The provided artist rendering shows Maleficent, Hook, Jafar, the Queen of Hearts, Scar, Ursula, Hades and Cruella surrounding the Magic Mirror and the description notes that they will be "breaking through the glass to take the stage in live production numbers." International parks like Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland prominently feature large-scale stage shows that feature song and dance numbers from a variety of Disney characters that are loosely threaded into a larger narrative. Currently, the closest thing to those productions at Walt Disney World are the stage shows that happen in front of Cinderella's Castle and as part of special events like Jollywood Nights. This show will likely bring that popular format to Hollywood Studios, which is a logical home with its theming around movies and entertainment. Fans who want one last ka-chow will need to burn rubber over to Hollywood Studios before October 7.

If you haven't gotten your tickets for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party , dates are starting to sell out fast. Not-So-Scary is now completely out of tickets for all of September and October is disappearing faster than an unattended bowl of candy left by the front door on Halloween. While Very Merry only has one night sold out so far, we expect more dates to dash away soon. We'll be at the Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this Friday and hope to have a video up soon. While we usually attend the very first night, some mischief makers at Disney decided the first night should overlap with D23 Expo this year. Now let's just hope this Friday doesn't get deluged with rain like the party has on recent nights. We're not afraid of Oogie Boogie, but the potential for another Mickey's Very Rainy Halloween Party keeps us up at night.

It's no surprise that one of the most popular booths at the Food and Wine Festival is dedicated to french fries and other deep-fried delights. What is surprising is that they chose to overhaul their most popular menu item: the Fry Flight. We're pleased to report that the new version is even better than before. 👍 Adobo Yuca Fries with garlic-cilantro aïoli We loved these last year and we love them again this year. If you've never had yuca fries, they taste very similar to traditional fries, but in some ways they are even better thanks to their super soft center and extra crunchy exterior. These are actually entirely plant-based, which is surprising because of how rich, creamy and delicious the garlic-cilantro aïoli is. 👍 Fry Flight This year's fry flight swapped out our least favorite fry flavor from last year with a new entry. Instead of the Sea Salt & Malt Vinegar fries, this year's flight includes Truffle-Parmesan fries which we thought were a big improvement. The truffle oil wasn't overpowering and they had a lot of bold parmesan flavor, which we loved. Even though we still think they're our least favorite of the three, it's now just because the other two are so delicious. Our second favorite were the Barbeque Bacon Fries with Smoked Aïoli. If you are a fan of barbecue potato chips, this is like eating the world's greatest barbecue chips in french fry form. While the aïoli didn't add a whole lot of flavor, it did bring a little creaminess to the party which was a welcome addition. As with last year, our favorite were the Sweet Potato Casserole Fries with Candied Pecans, Toasted Marshmallow Cream, and Bourbon Maple Syrup. These taste a lot like the Thanksgiving mainstay they are named after, but even better than most of the sweet potato casseroles we've had over the years. They were salty and sweet with a little cinnamon and nutmeg – and, of course, they're deep fried which gives them a bit of an unfair advantage over the humble holiday hot dish. Topped with toasty marshmallow and sweet bourbon glaze, these are tough to beat. 👍 Sweet Potato Casserole Fries with Candied Pecans, Toasted Marshmallow Cream, and Bourbon Maple Syrup If you just want a larger version of the best flavor from the fry flight, you can now order this one all by itself. This is also perfect for when you finish the fry flight and you're craving more marshmallow-topped deliciousness. Want to discover more flavors from this year's festival? You can find a listing of all of our Epcot Food and Wine Festival reviews on the blog with this handy link , or just watch our video with reviews of ALL the food here: