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Ears the News with Richard

Image courtesy Disney Parks Blog
The Magic Kingdom's nightly Wishes Dessert Party has undergone some modifications, bringing some more upscale food and drink offerings and a higher price point.

Previously priced at $29, the new Wishes Dessert Party jumps to $49 for adults, and $29 for ages 3-9.

Along with the price increase comes an update to the food and drink offerings, along with a more upscale experience with table cloths and place settings.

Sparkling cider, hot drinking chocolate and signature lemonades join the beverage line-up in addition to the soft drinks.
Desserts include chocolate-dipped strawberries, chocolate mousse, ice cream, seasonal fruit and cheese, and Disney character-themed cupcakes.
Reservations can be made beginning today by visiting DisneyWorld.com/dine, or calling 407-WDW-DINE. 
The event begins on July 5 2015. Until then, the existing Tomorrowland Terrace dessert party continues to be available.

Epcot's Innoventions West will be closing on April 30 2015.
The final day of operation for the remaining Innoventions West exhibits, THINK by IBM, Piggy Bank Adventure and Where's the Fire will be April 29 2015. There is no word yet on what will be taking over the space, although there are indications that the space will be reused.
Over at Innoventions East, Vision House will be closing on April 22 2015.

You can now meet Mr and Mrs Easter Bunny daily through April 5 at the Magic Kingdom. The Easter fun makes place in the Town Square Courtyard from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, March 22 to April 5 2015.

One of the most anticipated additions to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is set to open before the end of the month and Disney has released some new details about what you can expect at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto.

Following on from the hugely popular Trader Sam’s at Disneyland, Walt Disney World’s Grog Grotto is located in the former arcade space, next-door to Captain Cook’s, just off the main lobby area.
The lounge will serve both food and drinks, with an emphasis on specialty cocktails and small bites.
The lounge will operate daily from 4:00 PM to midnight, and will be available exclusively to guests aged 21+ after 8:00 PM.
The drink line-up includes 12 specialty cocktails, a rum flight, and 3 non-alcoholic specialty drinks, along with a range of beers and wines. Keeping with the Polynesian theme, a Kona beer flight will also be available. Most drinks come in souvenir tiki glasses.

Bites to eat include pork tacos, sushi roll, chicken lettuce cups, fried Portuguese sausage bites, dumplings with sesame soy dipping sauce, and tuna poke.

There is seating both indoors, and outdoors on a patio. Just like at its Disneyland sister location, inside space is limited, with seating for 50 guests. Outside on the patio there is seating for 80 guests. 

To put the size into context, the Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar lounge at Epcot’s Italy Pavilion seats 96 guests. There will be no advance reservations at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, so be prepared to wait to get inside, at least during the first months of operation.

The interior theming is tiki through and through, with artifacts and artwork throughout. Completing the authentic Polynesian style theme is a range of audio and lighting effects that will come to life when certain drinks are ordered.

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is just one of the new additions to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, part of a multi-year renovation project. The new Bora Bora Bungalows and Deluxe Studios will be opening April 1 2015, joining the newly redesign lobby area, Pineapple Lanai, and the soon-to-open new pool area.

Epcot will be showing a sneak peek of the upcoming "Tomorrowland" movie in April 2015.

The exclusive preview scenes will be shown in the Imagination Pavilion Theater, which is currently home to Captain EO. The preview will also feature special effects that are part of that theater location. “Tomorrowland” opens in theaters on May 22, 2015.


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