Ears the News with Richard

The Nanea Volcano feature pool at Disney's Polynesian Resort is set for an extended refurbishment later this year. The pool is expected to be closing in August 2014, reopening sometime in 2015. The work is related to the addition of the new Disney Vacation Club Villas at the Polynesian Resort.

The full menus are now available for the Outdoor Kitchens at the 2014 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, which this year runs from 3/5/2014 to 5/18/2014.

Photo courtesy Disney Parks Blog

Similar to the Marketplace Kiosks at the Food and Wine Festival, these promenade kiosks give you the chance to try small plates of some unique food and drink, for a cost of around $5 per dish. 

Here is the full run-down of this year's offerings:

Florida Fresh: Experience a taste of several fresh Florida ingredients, each grown and produced locally. It’s a perfect opportunity to treat your senses to some of the most delightful fruit and drink the Sunshine State has to offer! Florida Fresh can be found next to the Germany Pavilion.

Food

Watermelon salad with pickled onions, BW Farm baby arugula, feta cheese and balsamic reduction

Shrimp and stone ground grits with andouille sausage, sweet corn, tomatoes and cilantro

Florida kumquat pie (TRYit!)

Drink

Watermelon passion fruit slush featuring Simply Lemonade®

Hurricane Class 5 White Sangria featuring Simply Lemonade, Florida Orange Groves (St. Petersburg, Florida)

Garda Italian Wine Blend, Quantum Leap Winery (Orlando, Florida)

Rogue Valley Pinot Noir, Quantum Leap Winery (Orlando, Florida)

Blonde Ale, Orlando Brewing Company (Orlando, Florida)

Cotton Mouth Belgian Style Witbier, Swamp Head Brewery (Gainesville, Florida)

Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale, Florida Beer Company (Cape Canaveral, Florida) – Festival Exclusive!

Florida Avenue Blueberry, Cold Storage Craft Brewery (Tampa, Florida)

Beer Flight – Blonde Ale, Cotton Mouth Belgian Style Witbier, Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale and Florida Avenue Blueberry

Simply Orange

Hanami: Journey near the Japan Pavilion where the annual ritual of admiring springtime flowers is in full bloom. From delectable bites to refreshing beverages, uncover how Hanami’s flavors reflect the season.

Food

Frushi – Fresh pineapple, strawberries and melon, rolled with coconut rice, topped with raspberry sauce, sprinkled with toasted coconut and served with whipped cream on the side

Temaki hand roll – Sliced Panko fried chicken, curry sauce, rice and pickled julienne carrots wrapped with Nori

Hanami sushi – A flavorful combination of salmon, scallop and beef-topped rice balls served atop a shiso violet sauce (TRYit!)

Japanese puffed rice cakes with green tea whipped cream and azuki

Drink

Kirin draft beer

Pinepple Paradise with Yuzu Slushie – Frozen blend of sweet sake, pineapple juice and crème, flavored with a hint of Yuzu citrus juice

Orange Mango Slushie – Frozen blend of Nigori sake, mango and orange juice

Jardin de Fiestas: Make your way near the Mexico Pavilion where the tapas are spring light and cooked just right. Don’t miss your chance to take part in this festival of flavors, complete with savory tacos and mouthwatering cocktails.

Food

Tacos al pastor – Corn tortilla filled with achiote-marinated pork, garnished with grilled diced pineapple, onions and cilantro

Quesadilla de hongos con queso – Flour tortilla filled with mushrooms and cheese

Flan de chocolate Abuelita – Mexican chocolate custard

Drink

Tecate draft beer

White Mexican sangria

Franbuesa (raspberry) margarita on the rocks

Tequila flight – blanco, reposado and añejo

Dasani® bottled water

Fleur de Lys: Indulge your senses in extravagance at this tasty milieu influenced by the “flower of the lily.” Once a royal emblem used by the French monarchy, the symbol now serves as inspiration for this decadent stop where you can refine your palate with some of the France Pavilion’s most magnificent culinary masterpieces! 

Food

Gnocchi Parisien à la Provençal – Parisian-style dumplings with vegetables and mushrooms

Confit de canard, pommes de terre Sarladaise – Pulled duck confit with garlic and parsley potatoes

Macaron à la fleur d’ Oranger – Orange blossom macaron with white chocolate ganache (TRYit!)

Drink

La Vie en Rose frozen slush – Vodka, Grey Goose Orange, St. Germain Liquor, and white and red cranberry juice

Kir Imperial – Sparkling wine, Chambord and black raspberry liquor

Rosé pamplemousse cocktail – Rosé wine mixed with natural grapefruit syrup

Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 – Fruity white beer with citrus notes

Lotus House: Hit the pavement near the China Pavilion for a garden-fresh take on spring-influenced flavors. Appease your cravings with a wide variety of Chinese cuisine, including popular street foods and bubble tea. 

Food

Beijing-style candied strawberries

Spring pancake with grilled chicken and green apple

Vegetable spring rolls

Drink

Popping bubble tea

Kung Fu Punch – Vodka and triple sec with mango and orange juice

South Sea Storm – Guava juice with light and dark rum

Plum wine

Tsing-Tao beer

Lychee aerated water

Pineapple Promenade: Enjoy the Great White North with a tropical twist at the Canada side of World Showcase promenade. Then, get ready to hear your sweet tooth say, “Thank you!” as you bite into all kinds of treats featuring this popular golden fruit. 

Food

Pineapple soft serve

Pineapple soft serve with Myers’s dark rum

Pineapple soft serve with Parrot Bay coconut rum

Sweet potato cinnamon waffle with pineapple soft serve (TRYit! selection)

Drink

Frozen desert violet lemonade featuring Simply Lemonade (nonalcoholic)

Tropical Mango Pale Ale, St. John Brewers (U.S. Virgin Islands)

Once Upon a Vine’s The Lost Slipper Sauvignon Blanc

Primavera Kitchen: Say, “Ciao!” to spring as you set sail for a land of garden-fresh foods near the Italy Pavilion. On your stop, be sure to explore the countryside’s many flavors—caprese, manicotti, torte di ricotta and fine Italian wines. 

Food

Caprese – Fior di latte mozzarella, roasted peppers and olio verde

Three cheese manicotti – Egg pasta stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, tomato sauce and béchamel

Torta di ricotta – Lemon cheesecake with limoncello-marinated strawberries

Drink

Placido Pinot Grigio

Placido Chianti

Bosco del Merlo Prosecco

White peach bellini – Prosecco and white peach puree

Strawberry rossini – Prosecco and marinated strawberries

Frozen Italian primavera – Assorted fruit slushy with limoncello and vodka

Moretti Lager

Moretti La Rossa

Taste of Marrakesh: Embark on a trek near the Morocco Pavilion and educate your tastes on North African spices. Each unique flavor has been paired with fresh ingredients and can be sampled with Moroccan beer and wine at this garden oasis.

Food

Lamb brewat roll with prunes and sesame

Harissa chicken kebab with couscous salad

Baghrir – Moroccan pancake with honey, almonds and argan oil

Drink

Mint iced tea

White sangria

Guerrouane red

Casa Beer

Desert Rose – Sparkling wine with pomegranate liqueur

Eggplant Scallop- photo courtesy Disney Parks Blog

Urban Farm Eats – NEW!: Honor the earth and all it grows with a refreshing selection from this location’s all-natural menu. Choose from a hearty array of foods and beverages, many of which have been cultivated entirely from th

e soil!

 Food

 Pickled beet salad with goat cheese cream, mizuna and pistachios

Land-grown eggplant “scallop” with romesco sauce and spaghetti squash (TRYit!)

Ghost pepper-dusted tilapia with crisp winter melon slaw and mint oil featuring The Original Sauce Man’s Kick It Up Rub

Drink

 Cucumber lemon spa water, finished with a sprig of fresh mint

The Vegan Vine Chardonnay

The Vegan Vine Cabernet Sauvignon

Redbridge Gluten-Free Sorghum Beer, Anheuser-Busch (St. Louis, Missouri)

THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews: Celebrate the truly American tradition of slow-cooked flavors near The American Adventure Pavilion. Sink your teeth into savory barbecue meats and then pair each one off with craft brews from across the country.

 Food

 Pulled pig slider with cole slaw

Piggylicious cupcake- photo courtesy Disney Parks Blog

Smoked beef brisket with collard greens and jalapeño corn bread

Smoked turkey “rib” (TRYit!)

“Piggylicous” bacon cupcake with maple frosting and pretzel crunch featuring Nueske’s® Applewood Smoked Bacon

 Drink

 Magic Hat #9, Magic Hat Brewing (South Burlington, Vermont)

Maduro, Cigar City Brewing (Tampa, Florida)

Fat Tire, New Belgium Brewing Company (Ft. Collins, Colorado)

Billy’s Chilies, Twisted Pine Brewing Company (Boulder, Colorado)

Beer Flight – Magic Hat #9, Maduro, Fat Tire and Billy’s Chilies

The Original Rib Shack Red Wine

The Buttercup Cottage: Delight in elegant afternoon-tea offerings and fresh garden flavors near the United Kingdom Pavilion. Drop by this charming locale to sample scrumptious treats, British teas and beverages inspired by lovely English fruits and fragrances.

Food

 Freshly baked potato and cheddar cheese biscuit with smoked salmon tartare

Field greens with Plant City strawberries, toasted almonds and Farmstead stilton (TRYit!)

Pork and apple sausage roll with house-made piccalilli

Freshly baked lemon scones with berry preserves and crème fraiche

 Drink

 Chilled rose blush lemonade featuring Simply Lemonade with Raspberry (nonalcoholic)

Twinings® Cold Brewed English Classic with lemon grass syrup

Berry tea cocktail – Twinings Cold Brewed Mixed Berry Tea with Florida Cane vodka and Plant City strawberry, flavored with raspberry and açaí syrup

Iron Horse Fairy Tale Cuvee

Deloach Pinot Noir

Intermissions Café: Dig into your day or turn over the evening at this charming stop found right within the Festival Center. Pop inside to find all kinds of fine food and beverages—wine, cheese, wraps, salads and more!

Food

Grapes

Fruit & cheese plate

Vegan trio

Southwest chicken wrap

Tuna salad with pita

Side salad

Asian tuna salad with noodles

Caprese Push-Pop – Tomato, mozzarella and balsamic (TRYit! selection) 

Drink

 Hurricane Class 5 White Sangria, Florida Orange Groves (St. Petersburg, Florida)

Garda Italian Wine Blend, Quantum Leap Winery (Orlando, Florida)

Rogue Valley Pinot Noir, Quantum Leap Winery (Orlando, Florida)

Martini Prosecco

Strongbow Cider, Bulmers Cider Company (White Plains, New York)

SweetWater Blue, SweetWater Brewing Company (Atlanta, Georgia)

The Downtown Disney Marketplace boat dock is set to close on 2/22/2014 to allow construction on the new Disney Springs Marketplace causeway bridge.

During the closure, which is expected to last through until late 2014, boat service to Downtown Disney from Port Orleans on the Sassagoula River Cruise will stop only at the Pleasure Island dock. Old Key West and Saratoga Springs will stop at the West Side dock. The internal Downtown Disney water taxi service will operate between the West Side and Pleasure Island docks.

The 2014 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival dates are now available, and this year guests get an extra week of festivities. Starting a week earlier than normal, the festival begins on 9/19/2014 through to 11/10/2014.

Remember last summer when Disney announced that AT&T would become the official wireless provider for both Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort?

Less than a year later, AT&T have already carried out extensive upgrades to the AT&T network at the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, giving both guests and cast members enhanced performance.

AT&T has completed the successful deployment of more than 350 small cells, 25 DAS systems and 40 repeaters at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort properties. Already deployed are specialty network solutions at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney.

More info is available at the AT&T blog.