Skip to main content

Ears the News: December 13, 2019 Edition



Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News
Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com


Both Chita Rivera and Warwick Davis have pulled out of the narrator line-up for the 2019 Candlelight Processional.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Chita Rivera has pulled out for health reasons and will be replaced by Alton Fitzgerald White. Warwick Davis will be replaced by Geena Davis.

The new 'Pin Traders and Camera Center' is now open in Epcot's Future World and is located in the former Camera Center.
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

The new store combines the Pin Central and original Camera Center into one location.

Merchandise on offer includes pins, Magic Bands, phone cases and a PhotoPass kiosk to review and purchase PhotoPass pictures.

Kali River Rapids at Disney's Animal Kingdom is scheduled to close for its annual refurbishment in early 2020.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

The refurbishment is planned to begin on January 6 and will reopen to guests on March 21 2020.

Cirque du Soleil and Disney have announced that the name for the new show debuting March 20 2020 at Disney Springs is 'Drawn to Life.'


Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and Disney Parks, Experiences and Products are thrilled to announce Drawn to Life, the highly anticipated, new family friendly show coming to Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Written and directed by Michel Laprise and Fabrice Becker, this collaboration between Cirque du Soleil,Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering will open for previews March 20, 2020, and officially premiere April 17, 2020. The show will take residency at Disney Springs. Tickets are on sale now at cirquedusoleil.com.

Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group President and CEO Daniel Lamarre, says, “For Cirque du Soleil, this is a beautiful way of celebrating Disney’s legacy in the art of animation. This new and exciting production is most certainly the best way to highlight the privileged relationship we have with our colleagues at Walt Disney World andour joint commitment to continually bring audiences new experiences that surpass their expectations.”

The show is a result of years of research and extraordinary collaboration that included extensive visits to Disney theme parks, Walt Disney Archives, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, The Walt Disney Family Museum, as well as hands-on work between Disney animators andCirque du Soleil. ln fact, the Cirque du Soleilteams collaborated extensively with legacy animators to create the show.

For more information on show tickets, dates and pricing, visit cirquedusoleil.com. Tickets are priced between $79 and $179.

Disney's Contemporary Resort will be hosting religious services on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for 2019.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Taking place in the Fantasia Ballroom, the schedule is as follows:
Christmas Eve Catholic Mass at 9pm
Christmas Day Protestant Service at 9:15am
Christmas Day Catholic Mass at 10:30am

Parking at the Contemporary will be restricted, so if you are staying at a monorail resort, take the monorail or boat service. If you are staying at another resort you can take normal transportation to the Magic Kingdom and then take a bus, monorail, boat or walkway to the Contemporary.

Disney is continuing to make adjustments to the operating hours at Disney's Hollywood Studios following the opening of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Morning Extra Magic Hours have been removed on December 15 and 22, replaced with evening EMH from 9pm to 11pm.

Beginning December 12 and through to December 21, the park will open to all at 7am. This will likely mean that the park will now actually open at its posted opening time and will then allow those guests to join the virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance. Since the December 5 opening of Rise of the Resistance, the park has routinely been opening hours before its officially posted time, leaving some guests unable to join the virtual queue before it reached capacity, even though they arrived at the posted park opening.

The hours for January have now been updated from a 9am opening to an 8am opening. All morning Extra Magic Hours have been removed and replaced with a 2 hour evening Extra Magic Hour offering.

It isn't clear yet if Rise of the Resistance will be available during the evening EMH, but Disney has previously stated that Rise of the Resistance will not be part of morning EMH.

The operating hours for Disney's Hollywood Studios have been changing daily since the opening of Rise of the Resistance so make sure you check Disney’s official site for any updates.

The park has also been opening up around 20-30 minutes prior to the official opening time.

The newly expanded Beaches and Cream Soda Shop at Disney's Beach Club Resort will reopen on December 26 2019.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Fan favorites like the Kitchen Sink will return, along with sodas, malted milkshakes, and hot-off-the-grill items.

According to Disney, "The new look embraces the timeless charm of an old-fashioned soda fountain. Throughout the playful eatery are subtle pops of color found within its beach-inspired design. Soft shades of teal, almond and rose adorn the walls and décor, along with accents of yellow and blue. Colorful, decorative balls reminiscent of beach balls are scattered throughout, while a collection of blue, amber, and pink beaded glass globes hang overhead highlighting the center of the space. At the counter, bistro-styled barstools are situated in front of scalloped aqua tiles and rose-colored banquettes line the tables along the wall. And prominently situated near the counter is a tall, bright jukebox, a staple within this turn-of-the-century soda fountain, featuring hits that span the decades. Framed antique mirrors and artwork of Mickey and friends at the beach complete the space."

New menu items include a Seared Salmon Filet Sandwich (with bacon aïoli, lettuce, and tomato on a house-baked multi-grain bun), a French Dip Sandwich (topped with crispy fried onions and swiss cheese and served on a toasted French roll), and a selection of loaded tots like the Sock Hop Topped with cheese sauce and green onions.

A new dessert is plant-based cookie fries, complete with marshmallow cream, chocolate, caramel, and strawberry dipping sauces.

The 2020 Epcot International Festival of the Arts gets started on January 17 2020, celebrating the visual, culinary and performing arts.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com


Like the Food and Wine Festival Marketplace kiosks, and Flower and Garden Festival Outdoor Kitchens, the Festival of the Arts will feature special menus at kiosks around World Showcase.

The Food Studios kiosks this year will be open daily from 11am to 9pm, January 17 to February 24 2020.

The Deconstructed Dish

Embark on an edible adventure with delicious dishes that dazzle!

Food:
Deconstructed Reuben: Sliced Corned Beef, Rye-crusted Sauerkraut and Jarlsberg Cake with Broken Thousand Island Dressing
Deconstructed BLT: Crispy Pork Belly, Tomato Jam and Soft Poached Egg
Deconstructed Strawberry Cheesecake: Whipped New York Style Cheesecake with Fresh Florida Strawberries and Sugar Cookies with Micro-basil (KA)

Beverages
Rainboba: Sparkling Water layered with Fruit Boba and topped with a Foam Cloud (non-alcoholic) (KA)
Deconstructed Breakfast: Twinings® Spiced Apple Chai Tea Shake garnished with Maple Syrup, a Waffle Crisp and Candied Bacon (non-alcoholic) (KA)
Imagery Sauvignon Blanc, California
Mad Genius Red Blend, California
Deconstructed Breakfast: Twinings® Spiced Apple Chai Tea Shake with Cream Bourbon, garnished with a Waffle Crisp and Candied Bacon

Cuisine Classique

Food:
Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib with Parsnip Purée, Broccolini, Baby Tomatoes and Aged Balsamic
Seared Corvina with braised Ratatouille and Lemon-Thyme Beurre Blanc (GF) (KA)
Saint-Honoré Tart: Caramel Cream Tart with Caramel Glaze topped with Cream Puffs
Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate-Chip Cookie (KA)

Beverages
Angry Orchard Rosé Hard Cider, Walden, NY
Concrete Beach Brewery Rosé Ale, Miami, FL
Frozen Rosé
Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva Art Series, Logrono, Spain
Domaine Savary Chablis, Burgundy
A Play on Rosé Flight

The Artist’s Table

Food
Beef Wellington with Mushroom Bordelaise, Fennel Cream, and Roasted Baby Vegetables (KA)
Pan-Seared Scallop with Chorizo, Roasted Red Pepper Coulis and a Parmesan Crisp (GF)
Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate-Chip Cookie (KA)

Beverages
Sipping Chocolate Flight: White, Milk and Dark (non-alcoholic)
Saugatuck Brewing Co. Neapolitan Milk Stout, Douglas, MI
Lexington Brewing Company Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale, Lexington, KY
Lindemans Framboise Lambic, Belgium
Barrymore Rosé, Monterey County, CA
Carmel Road Drew’s Blend Pinot Noir, Monterey County, CA
Symphony in Chocolate Flight: Mozart Cream Liqueurs paired with Sipping Chocolates
Chocolate and Beer Pairing Flight

Pop Eats!

Food
Sous Vide Chicken Roulade with Apples and Sage served with Warm Brie Fondue, Blueberry and Beet Gel and garnished with Beet Chip Crumbles (GF)
Shrimp Ceviche with Lime Mint Foam (GF)
Almond Frangipane Cake layered with Raspberry Jam and Belgian Chocolate (KA)
Pop’t Art: Modern-design Sugar Cookie with Strawberry Filling (KA)

Beverages
Blue Sky Black Cherry Boba Freeze (non-alcoholic) (KA)
#RainbowSherbetGlitterDreamAle by Playalinda Brewing Co., Titusville, FL
Popping Bubbles Cocktail
Tomato Soup Can Bloody Mary

Decadent Delights

Food
White Chocolate and Purple Sweet Potato Mousse, Caramel, Coconut and Maple Meringue
Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Pretzel Crunch (KA)
Lemon and Blood Orange Tart
Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate-Chip Cookie (KA)
White Chocolate Figment Puzzle on an Artist Palette (KA)

Beverages
3 Daughters Strawberry Blonde Nitro, St. Petersburg, FL
Breckenridge Nitro Vanilla Porter, Breckenridge, CO
Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, England
Biagio Moscato d’Asti, Piedmont
Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port, St. Petersburg, FL
Cold Fashioned Coffee Cocktail
Neapolitan Beer Flight

The Masterpiece Kitchen

Food
Wild Mushroom Risotto, Aged Parmesan, Truffle Shavings and Zinfandel Reduction (KA)
Smoked Salmon and Cream Gâteau with Egg Yolk Cream, Paddlefish Caviar and Micro-herbs
Charcuterie Palette with Artisan Cured Meats and Cheeses featuring Nueske’s ® Applewood Smoked Beef
Vanilla, Rose Water and Pistachio Panna Cotta

Beverages
Weihenstephaner Original Lager, Freising, Germany
Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque Brut Champagne
The Meeker Vineyard Winemakers’ Handprint Merlot, Sonoma County, CA
Pinord La Dama Reserva Familiar Brut, Spain
Pinord La Dama Reserva Familiar Brut Rosé, Spain
Classic Sidecar with a Chocolate Twist

Additional Festival Locations:

Funnel Cakes – The American Adventure

Food:
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich Funnel Cake with Peanut Butter Ice Cream, Marshmallow Cream and Raspberry Glaze (KA)

Fife & Drum – The American Adventure

Food
Musical Float: Layered Strawberry, Lemonade and Blue Raspberry Slushy with Vanilla Ice Cream and White Chocolate (non-alcoholic) (KA)

Block & Hans – The American Adventure

Beverage
Arendelle Aqua Lemonade: Frozen Lemonade with Monin Cotton Candy and Ole Smoky Blackberry Moonshine

Goshiki – Japan Pavilion

Food
Taiyaki: Fish-shaped Cake stuffed with a Sweet Red Bean Filling served with Green Tea Chocolate and Whipped Cream Cheese (KA)
Sushi Donut: Donut-shaped Sushi featuring Salmon, Tuna, Shrimp, Cucumber and Sesame Seed over a decorated plate of Wasabi Aïoli, Sriracha and Eel Sauce
Vegetable Gyoza: Vegetable and Edamame filled Gyoza atop Truffle-mashed Potatoes, Shiitake Mushrooms, Pepper Strings and Tonkatsu Teriyaki Sauce (KA)

Beverages
Nomi Masui Draft Lager
Masu Sake in a Traditional Personalized Wooden Cup
Nigori Sake Cocktail: Frozen Nigori Sake and Calpico accented with Strawberry and finished with Cotton Candy

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

Beverages
Canada: Impressionism Pairing: Blackberry Iced Latte topped with a delicious Blueberry Donut and Sweet Whipped Cream
Showcase Plaza: Renaissance Pairing: Iced Mocha Latte served with a timeless Glazed Donut and Sprinkles
Future World East: Modern Pairing: Coconut Iced Latte garnished with a decadent Chocolate Donut and topped with Whipped Cream and Sprinkles
The American Adventure: Baroque Pairing: White Mocha Iced Latte layered with a Red Velvet Donut and Sprinkles

El Arista Hambriento – Mexico Pavilion

Food
Sopes de Barbacoa: Braised Barbacoa Beef served on Fried Guajillo Corn Shell with Black Beans, Cotija Cheese, Mexican Cream and Chives
Agave Pork Belly: Pork Belly caramelized with Agave atop Pumpkin Seed Pesto Lentil Salad

Beverages
Frida Banana Daiquiri: Mexican Handcrafted Rum, Banana Purée and Applejack (served Frozen)
Diego Blackberry Margarita: 100% Agave Tequila, Blackberry Purée, Fresh Jalapeño-Lime Juice served with Black Ant Salt Rim
Mexican White Sangria: White Wine, Fruit Juices and Sweet Cinnamon-infused Tequila

Refreshment OutPost – Outpost

Food
Plant-based Bratwurst with Spicy Turmeric Aïoli, Coffee Barbecue Jackfruit and Slaw
Paintbrush Churros: Cinnamon-Sugar Churros Dipped in Colorful White Chocolate (KA)

Beverages
Barrel of Monks Brewery Endless Enigma Golden Pale Ale, Boca Raton, FL
Collective Arts Brewing Life in the Closus Hazy IPA, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
M.I.A. Beer Company Malt Bach Brown Ale, Doral, FL
Popcorn Pairing Flight

Refreshment Port – Showcase Plaza

Food
Lobster Chips: House-made Chips, Lobster, Lobster Bisque Cheese Sauce, Pickled Jalapeños and Citrus Cream

Beverages
Ciderboys Zen Berry Apple Boysenberry Hard Cider, Stevens Point, WI
Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, CA

Test Track Cool Wash – Future World East

Beverages
Assorted Coca-Cola Slushies (non-alcoholic) (KA)

The Painted Panda – China

Food
Spicy Beef Shumai
Char Siu Pork Bun

Beverages
“Panda” Bubble Tea: Classic Milk Tea with Black and White Boba Pearls (non-alcoholic) (KA)
Jasmine Draft Beer
Fortune Cookie: ByeJoe Spirit, Amaretto, Coconut and Pineapple
Kung Fu Punch: Vodka, Triple Sec
Sea Butterfly: Butterfly Pea Flower-infused Cocktail with Lychee Syrup, Vodka, Light Rum and Magic Boba Pearls

L’Art du Cuisine Francaise – France

Food
Crème de Brie en Petit Pain: Warm Creamy Brie in a House-made Bread Bowl (KA)
Tomate Farcie Fa?on Paul Bocuse: Tomato Stuffed with Braised Ribs Paul Bocuse-style
Moelleux Aux Chocolats Valrhona: Molten Chocolate Cake with Pure Origin Valrhona Chocolates (KA)
Trio de Macarons: Assortment of Three House-made Macarons in a Gift Box

Beverages
Frozen French Martini: Grey Goose, Vodka, Chambord Liqueur, Pineapple, Orange and Grape Juice with Lemon-Lime Foam
Veuve du Vernay, Brut N°1, Limited Edition: French Sparkling Wine
Vouvray, Marcel Dubois, 2018
Bordeaux, Château Malbec, 2015

Mosaic Canteen – Morocco

Food
Spiced Beef with Pine Nuts and Dried Cherries, Hummus and Pita Chips
Mediterranean Flatbread with Zaatar, Olive Oil Artichoke, Olives, Mozzarella and Feta Cheese
Chebbakia: Hand-twisted Strips of Fried Dough coated with Honey, Rosewater and Sesame Seeds

Beverages
Casa Beer
Kabash Prestige White Wine
Embrace the Arak: Massaya Arak, Grapefruit Juice and Grenadine

L’Arte di Mangiare – Italy

Food
Insalata di Gamberi al Limone di Zagara: Salad of Poached Shrimp in Sicilian Lemons, Arugula, Shaved Fennel, Avocado, and Citrus Dressing
Pollo ala Pirandello: Golden Chicken Drumstick stuffed with Ricotta Cheese and Pomodoro Sauce (KA)
Rossini: Prosecco Mousse with Strawberry Sauce (contains alcohol)

Beverages
Peroni Nastro Azzurro Pilsner
Prosecco, Villa Sandi
Moscato Fior d’Arancio, Montegrande
Corbinello, Montegrande
Pinot Grigio, Santa Marina
Merlot, Montegrande
Amaretto Bellini: Amaretto, White Peach Purée and Prosecco

New performers have been added to the 2020 Disney on Broadway concert series - part of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com


The shows take place three times daily at the America Gardens Theatre and are included with theme park admission.

Here is the latest performer line-up:

· Jan. 17, 20, 21 and 24 – Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White (“The Lion King”)

· Jan. 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Heidi Blickenstaff (“The Little Mermaid”) and Gavin Lee (“Mary Poppins”)

· Jan. 25 – Special performance featuring Simmons, White, Blickenstaff and Lee

· Jan. 26, 28, 29; Feb. 1, 2, 5 and 6 – Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) and Kevin Massey (“Tarzan”)

· Jan. 27, 30, 31, Feb. 3, 4, 7 and 8 – NEW! Liana Hunt (“Newsies”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)

· NEW! Feb. 9 – Special performance featuring Lindsay, Massey, Hunt and Jacobs

· Feb. 10, 12, 13, 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)

· Feb. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21 – NEW! Syndee Winters (“The Lion King”) and NEW! Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)

· NEW! Feb. 24 – Special performance featuring Brown, Strickland, Winters and Scott.




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Cruising with a Baby: A Complete Guide

You took a baby on a cruise!? Yep, and I'd do it again knowing what I know now. So, say goodbye to months of research - Everything you need to know is here!! One of the biggest challenges of traveling with a baby is planning what you need to bring. I wanted to share what worked for us, and hopefully help others who are planning their cruise! Remember, babies can only cruise after their 6-month birthday on sailings from the U.S. If you are going transatlantic, or have more than three days out at sea, they must be 12 months old by the first day of your cruise. Pre-Cruise   We flew to the cruise port, and I couldn’t bring all the food and snacks I needed, so I placed an Instacart order for pick up near the port. I chose Publix in Cocoa Beach which is a few miles from Port Canaveral. I placed the order a few days before we left home, and set the pickup time to 11:00 a.m. I ordered formula, a box of diapers, swim diapers, bottle brush, dish soap, baby food, and baby snacks. I also broug

The Villas at the Disneyland Hotel Review

I love staying at the Disneyland Hotel so when I got the opportunity to stay at the new Villas at the Disneyland Hotel during opening weekend, I couldn’t pass it up. Because it was opening weekend, we were greeted in the entrance way of the lobby with balloons and many photo opportunities. When we arrived, there was a mural of the Haunted Mansion. I love how the seats in the main lobby were designed like the teacups in the parks. You can check in using the Disneyland app, drop your bags with bell services and head into the parks or use the amenities why you wait until your room is ready. When your room is ready, the resort will send you a text and you can use the Disneyland app on your mobile device to unlock the room. We dropped off our bags and went straight to the parks. We received a text around 1PM that our room was ready. In the new Discovery Tower (the Villas), you'll find that the lobby is very spacious with many places to sit while you read or wait for your family. Th

Chronos Club Review at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

I recently stayed at the Chronos Club at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. I've been a fan of Disney's Coronado Springs Resort since my first visit as it reminds me of my hometown, San Antonio. I've stayed in rooms ranging from preferred, Casita Suite, Tower King, and now Club Level access. The Chronos Club is located on the 15th floor of the Gran Destino Tower and can only be accessed with a key card or MagicBand to a corresponding Club Level reservation. I've previously stayed Club Level at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, Disney's BoardWalk Inn, and Disney's Grand Californian Resort. These are all considered Deluxe Resorts. Something that makes the Chronos Club stand out is that it is located in what Disney considers a Moderate Resort. I was really excited to check out the difference in experience, since there can be a notable difference in price tag for Moderate vs. Deluxe Res