Walt Disney World hosts several events that everyone knows to anticipate, from Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival to Magic Kingdom’s holiday parties. However, there are several events that are more easily overlooked. Whether you want to coordinate your vacation with one of these fun occasions, or simply find something new to appreciate the next time you’re in town, these occasions are worth marking on your calendar.
1. Cars Masters Weekend at Downtown Disney
Cars Masters Weekend takes place each summer at Downtown Disney. The event lasts all day Saturday and Sunday and includes more than 100 cars on display. You can also meet characters from the Disney-Pixar films Cars and Cars 2. The 2014 event even included a movie marathon of the two films at the AMC Downtown Disney 24 theater.
Live entertainment, car themed food and beverages, and special souvenirs for the event round out the offerings. If you’re interested in cars, this is a must-see for your summer visit. However, if you’re not into cars, make sure you mark your calendar and avoid the crowded streets at Downtown Disney during these two days in June.
2. Holidays Around the World at Epcot
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Magic Kingdom’s Very Merry Christmas Party is so well-known that guests often forget to keep their eyes open for holiday happenings at other parks. Unlike Mickey’s Christmas Party, which is a separately ticketed event, Holiday Around the World is included with your admission to Epcot. Each country hosts its own event, from musical performances to dramatic story telling. You’ll also find special seasonal treats to enjoy around the world.
Times guides are essential if you plan to enjoy Holidays Around the World. Arrive early if you want to see them all because show times are staggered and you may have to be flexible with your schedule to see the holiday performances in your favorite countries. In the America pavilion, you can even meet Santa Claus.
3. Sounds Like Summer at Epcot
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Sounds like Summer is a concert series hosted in the America Gardens Theater at Epcot. The best part about this concert series is that admission is included with your ticket, so you can see some of your favorite bands at the end of a fun theme park day without spending another penny. Performers and concert dates for 2015 haven’t been announced yet, but the 2014 lineup included seven tribute bands covering songs from the Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Bon Jovi, and more.
4. Atlanta Braves Spring Training at the Wide World of Sports
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Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex hosts the Atlanta Braves spring training each year. 2015 will mark the 18th spring training season hosted here. Tickets go on sale at the beginning of December, and training takes place in March and April.
Whether you want to see the Braves themselves, or you’re itching to catch another favorite team, these games are a great opportunity to add the great American past time to your vacation. If standard seating just doesn’t do it for you, you can also book a luxury suite, open air terrace, or tented patio. Champion Club tickets get you reserved lower or bleacher level tickets as well as a reserved table on the first base patio and access to a ballpark-style buffet with hot dogs, hamburgers, pretzels, cookies, brownies, popcorn, and roasted peanuts.
5. Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney
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Festival of the Masters took place 38 years in a row before it was cancelled in 2014 due to the extensive construction taking place at Downtown Disney. Since the construction is slated to continue through 2016, Disney hasn’t yet commented on the future of the event, though fans fervently hope to see it return. The festival traditionally took place every November and featured some of the best artists in mediums ranging from paint to jewelry.
Participants in Festival of the Masters must have won awards in other art shows, thus ensuring that this event presents only extremely talented artists. In addition to browsing and buying original pieces, guests also had the opportunity to get prints autographed and speak with the masters themselves. Though this one isn’t back on the schedule yet, if you’re an art aficionado, this is something you’ll want to keep an eye on for the future.
Add something extra to your next Disney trip by planning your visit to coincide with one of these great events.
