This is the weekly news, rumors and refurbishments update for Walt Disney World for the week of July 13, 2014.
Here are the three biggest updates from around the resort for the past seven days…
1. Premium event reservations for Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival opens July 31
On July 24 you can go to epcotfoodfestival.com to view all of the new premium events that will be held. Starting at 7am on July 31 you can call 407 WDW-FEST (407-939-3378) to make a reservation for any of the events during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
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The festival runs from September 19 – November 10, 2014 and some of the new and returning events this year are:
- Dining Through the Decades, A Tribute to Walt Disney (October 24) $99 pp or $119 pp
- Experience Puerto Rico – The All Star Island (September 20) $99 pp
- Epcot International Food & Wine Festival — Boot Camp Series interactive epicurean adventure (September 21, October 5, 12, 19, Nov. 2) $119 pp
- Food for Thought (Fridays, plus Saturday October 11) $169 pp
- Mediterranean Food & Wine Pairing (Wednesdays) $55 pp
- Italian White Truffle & Wine Pairing Dinner (October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30) $295 pp
- Parisian Breakfast (Saturdays) $39 pp
- “3D” Disney’s Dessert Discovery (October 3, 10 and 17) $59 or $99 pp – this also can be booked at epcotfoodfestival.com
- Culinary Adventures in Signature Dining (more than 20 dinners throughout the festival; prices vary)
- Shake and Indulge Like the French Featuring Grand Marnier (Saturdays beginning September 27) $55 pp
- Cheese Seminars (Saturdays) $79 pp
- Party for the Senses (October 4, 11, 18 and November 1) $149, $189 or $299 pp – this also can be booked at epcotfoodfestival.com
- Party for the Senses Featuring Disney Chefs from Around the World (October 25) $149, $189 or $299 pp
- Food & Wine Pairings (Tuesdays and Thursdays) $55 pp
- Sunday Mornings With … (Sundays) $99 pp
To get a full list make sure to visit epcotfoodfestival.com starting July 24, 2014.
2. It’s Tough to be a Bug is closed for refurbishment
From now until August 11, 2014, It’s Tough to be a Bug will be closed for refurbishment. In addition to the attraction being refurbished, work is also being done on the Tree of Life as a crane has been reported around the icon. This could be to simply inspect and repair the tree after a piece of a branch fell into the queue area back in April 2012. The fall resulted in nets being installed above the queue, obstructing much of the detail and sculpting.
Another possibility is that the tree is beginning to be revamped as part of the new nighttime entertainment coming to the park. The park’s new nighttime spectacular, Rivers of Light, is expected to debut around March 2016 and the tree may play a significant role in that production.
3. Trattoria al Forno is a new restaurant coming to Disney’s Boardwalk
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When Kouzzina by Cat Cora closes this September, the restaurant will be transformed with an Italian flare. Trattoria al Forno will open in December and feature an authentically Italian menu. Here’s what Disney had to say:
“A beautiful Italian flywheel slicer slices paper-thin Italian meats, served with a variety of olives and caponata. Satisfying pastas, velvety seasonal risottos and fresh seafood and vegetables will celebrate the delectable diversity of Italian cuisine with authentic ingredients and recipes from Italy’s various regions.
…braised beef Bolognese with house-made cavatelli from Bologna, semolina tagliatelli carbonara from Latium (more specifically Rome), pork chop alla Milanese named after the city of Milano. And you’ll find classic Italian favorites: chicken breast alla Parmagiana with tagliatelle pasta; shrimp with garlic, capers and anchovy butter with polenta; whole roasted fish with roasted vegetables; baked lasagna; grilled steak; slow-cooked lamb shank with polenta; and eggplant rollatini.
Add a classic Italian dessert with an after-dinner cappuccino for a perfect ending. Look for tiramisù, lemon panna cotta with almond crunch and berries, gelatos, and the signature bomboloni (Italian donut holes) with dark chocolate and vanilla gelato.”
Let’s go with that.
Trattoria al Forno will be serving breakfast and dinner and will begin accepting reservations in several weeks.
