LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — From Labor Day to Thanksgiving there’s a bounty of festive offerings at Walt Disney World Resort to satisfy all tastes. With sporting events, annual holiday parties, concerts and international food fest, the Vacation Kingdom is the place to celebrate the golden days of the harvest season.
The fall lineup kicks off on September 1 with the popular Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party offering three extra nights of happy haunts. Here’s more:
Family Friendly Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Extends to 26 Nights
Not-so-spooky ghosts and goblins return this fall with three extra nights of fun during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, delighting fun-seekers of all ages in the Magic Kingdom. On select nights September 1 through October 31, the Magic Kingdom will host this special hard ticket event from 7 p.m. – midnight. Highlights include Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade; Happy HalloWishes Fireworks Spectacular; Disney characters dressed in their favorite Halloween costumes; and candy galore with treat trails throughout the Magic Kingdom. Plus partygoers can enjoy favorite attractions including the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Visit Disneyworld.com/Halloween for party dates and prices, or call 407-W-DISNEY.
Disney’s Night of Joy Celebrates a Stellar Line-Up of Christian Music Sept. 5-6
This year will mark the 32nd year for Disney’s Night of Joy, where the best in Contemporary Christian music meets the excitement of the Magic Kingdom. From contemporary hits to hard-hitting, high-energy rock, there’s something for every kind of music fan Sept. 5-6 at Walt Disney World Resort.
This year’s lineup showcases a stage-load of talent on each night.
Friday, Sept. 5: Hillsong United, Chris Tomlin, Matthew West, for KING & COUNTRY, Mandisa, Building 429, Matt Maher, The Neverclaim
Saturday, Sept. 6: Skillet, Casting Crowns, MercyMe, Israel Houghton & New Breed, Britt Nicole, Colton Dixon, Rhett Walker, We As Human, 1 Girl Nation
Single-night tickets are $59 plus tax in advance and $69 plus tax on the days of the show. There is also a two-night ticket option, which is $108 for both nights and includes a 1-day admission to one of Disney’s two water parks or DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park if purchased no later than August 5.
Tickets are subject to availability and entertainment is subject to change without notice. Night of Joy admission is a special ticket event and is not included in any other form of ticket media. Tickets are valid during specific event hours only. To purchase tickets, or for more information about the event and the benefits of coming as a group, check out NightofJoy.com or call 407-W-DISNEY.
53 Days of Food, Wine and Rockin’ Entertainment Run Sept. 19-Nov. 10 at 19th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Disney guests will need no passports for an epic global culinary journey brimming with festival fun during the 19th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 19 through Nov. 10, 2014, at Walt Disney World Resort. Eager taste buds can expect treats from six continents during this 53-day culinary extravaganza – seven days longer than last year’s fest.
The new Patagonia and Farm Fresh marketplaces join more than 25 ethnic and specialized food-and-beverage stops located around the park’s World Showcase Promenade. Puerto Rico, Brazil, Ireland, South Korea, Australia and other countries, plus specialty marketplaces with vegan and dessert treats, will present tapas to be paired with wines, cocktails and beers.
Festival premium programming will include the “Party for the Senses” grand-tasting gala and new events like “Dining Through the Decades—A Tribute to Walt Disney,” a foodie “Boot Camp Series” and a Friday-morning celebrity-chef nosh-and-chat cookbook gathering, “Food for Thought.” At the Festival Center, celebrity chefs like Jamie Deen, Warren Brown and “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro will stir up plenty of food fun at culinary demonstrations. Music stars of past decades including Hanson, The Pointer Sisters and Jo Dee Messina will rock the party with nightly Eat to the Beat concerts at the outdoor America Gardens Theatre.
Back to Basics seminars, special book signings, Eat to the Beat concerts and all park attractions are included with Epcot admission. Premium wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) to make reservations. Information and reservations for select programs will be at www.epcotfoodfestival.com.
A Frightfully Good Time Awaits Disney Cruise Line Guests this Halloween
Disney Cruise Line will treat guests sailing this fall to a spooktacular good time as the Disney ships transform into a ghoulish wonderland filled with frightfully fun events and activities, special decorations, unique menu items in the restaurants and themed parties on deck. In 2014, Halloween on the High Seas takes place on most voyages aboard all Disney Cruise Line ships from late September through October. This extra-spooky celebration features Halloween-themed parties, lively entertainment and elaborate décor, including The Pumpkin Tree, which magically transforms throughout the cruise. Other experiences include spooky storytelling, interactive movies, special character meet-and-greets and Halloween-themed arts and crafts.
To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can visit www.disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500 or contact a travel agent.
Disney Fit Challenge Invites Athletes to Compete September 27-28
The sport of competitive fitness, which is growing rapidly nationally and internationally, is coming to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort this September. The inaugural Disney Fit Challenge, a two-day competitive fitness event comes to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Sept 27-28. The competitive fitness event, involves athletes competing in different fitness challenges that test a participant’s speed, strength, skill, endurance, balance and power and are based on age and skill level.
Registration remains open at www.espnwwos.com. Daily admission for spectators is $16.50 for adults and $11.50 for children and can be purchased at the sports complex box office.
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend Celebrates Fifth Anniversary November 7-9
Runners will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World Resort on Nov. 7-9. Participants in the Wine & Dine Half Marathon, which is sold out, will run a 13.1-mile nighttime race on Nov. 9 through Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot. The race weekend will also include Mickey’s Jingle Jungle 5K and runDisney Kids races on Nov. 8. To register for the runDisney kids races and to purchase the few remaining tickets for the Disney Wine & Dine Pre-Race Taste Party at Epcot, visit www.runDisney.com.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Delights Holiday Revelers Nov. 7- Dec. 19
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will celebrate the joy of the season for 19 magical nights from November 7-December 19. For a quarter century, Walt Disney World Resort guests have been mesmerized by this festive tradition immersing families in the holiday spirit. Dates for 2014: Nov. 7, 10, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 30?Dec. 2,4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19
Beginning at 7 p.m. (after regular park hours), guests with special event tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party can enjoy all the holiday splendor with lively stage shows featuring Disney characters all dressed up for the holidays, a unique holiday parade and favorite holiday traditions including complimentary cookies and hot cocoa, and snow flurries on Main Street, U.S.A. The fun continues with a holiday “Celebrate the Magic” castle projection show and Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season nighttime fireworks spectacular. Guests can enjoy experiences and attractions, including the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, in New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom.
Orlando Classic Returns to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex November 27-30
Eight of the top men’s college basketball teams in the country will compete in the Orlando Classic over Thanksgiving weekend, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Nov. 27, 28 & 30, at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The 2014 Orlando Classic features 12 games over the three days. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout will face off in the championship game Sunday, Nov. 30. For more information, visit www.espnevents.com/orlando-classic, or www.disneysportsnews.com.
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