Posted by Ashley McChesney on Tue, Aug 24, 2010 @ 09:05 AM
The Disney Parks Blog caught up with Richard Debler, the president of San Angel Inn LLC, and Executive Chef Ernesto Zendejas, in charge of the big changes at the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot. The all-new La Hacienda de San Angel and La Cantina de San Angel are on schedule for a mid-September opening, taking reservations for Oct. 15 and thereafter. (The first few weeks are a “soft opening” with no reservations.)
What’s going to wow guests about the new look?
The architecture resembles an old hacienda, and you’ll see the distinctive blue dome from a distance. It’s right on the water, and very eye catching. And the view – the whole building is geared to World Showcase Lagoon and the fireworks…during the day it’s great for enjoying the waterfront.
Tell us about the “flex space” idea.
We need quick-service capacity, but at the same time we want to increase table service. This space allows us during the lunch period to use a section of the dining room for quick-service guests – an air-conditioned space that will complement the terrace outside seating. So we will have 250 to 300 seats during the day; later in the afternoon La Hacienda switches to table service with 250 seats. We have a total of 400 seats.
What’s special about La Hacienda cuisine?
We’re bringing two taco specialists from one of the best taquerias in Mexico to work with us. Corn tortillas are a major component of a great Mexican meal, and all of ours will be made fresh right there every day, also for La Cantina. Salsas will be made fresh – and not just tomato salsa. We have salsas made with chipotle and Serrano peppers, tomatillos, mangos. There are unique flavors from different regions of Mexico. Cilanto, habanero, spicy flavors from Southern Mexico . . . this will be a little different than our past menus.
Any favorite menu items?
We have three or four spectacular appetizer items at La Hacienda. The trend in Mexican food is appetizers, such as mini tacos. [One that sounds especially delicious is chiles toreados y chorizitos, roasted sweet peppers with lime and sea salt and mini chorizos (pork sausage).] And I really like the skillet entrées – skillets with cuts of meat, veggies, seafood, to make your own taco. I’m still tweaking the menu!
How does La Cantina menu change?
The Cantina menu will focus on tacos with meat or chicken, properly grilled, and garnished with fresh pico de gallo. We want to create an authentic Mexican taco, something that locals would buy at the market. Less Tex-Mex, more regional authentic Mexico.
We have to talk margaritas!
La Hacienda will have a tequila ambassador on staff every day. We will feature tequila flights there like we do in La Cava [inside the Mexico pavilion]. We’ve developed a whole new line of margaritas with a mixologist from New York City.
New flavors?
The coffee margarita is one of my favorites. We wanted to incorporate a little mescal, which has more of a smoky flavor than regular tequila. The Mescal gives it a cacao flavor, almost like a cappuccino. The top sellers right now are passion fruit and lime-raspberry, but we’re going to serve a mango-blueberry-basil margarita with fresh blueberries, mango puree and mashed basil. And an orange mango fire margarita with a dash of Tabasco and chile powder and ginger liquer.
Frozen or on the rocks?
All frozen margaritas at La Cantina, on the rocks at La Hacienda.
And desserts?
[Chef Ernesto chimes in.] At La Cantina, paletas, or popsicles, with fresh fruit, such as mango with peppers. At La Hacienda, the sorbets are outstanding, like tamarind, watermelon – very tropical fruit flavors. And a sweet tamal del dulce filled with guava paste. That’s a good one for sharing!
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Posted by Ashley McChesney on Fri, Aug 13, 2010 @ 09:39 AM
Epcot’s World Showcase has been considering adding a 12th country to the park, with Spain being the likely choice, according to one Walt Disney World insider. There is significant space between the France and Morocco pavilions — enough to accommodate an additional pavilion, said the source. Spain was actually under consideration by Epcot when it was first developed, but like the proposed pavilions for Australia, Russia, Venezuela, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, it never got off the drawing board.
Read more here.
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Posted by Ashley McChesney on Tue, Aug 10, 2010 @ 01:55 PM
Disney has released their Guides and Maps for the 2010 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. Click on the images below for a larger version.
Disney World Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2010 Dates are October 1, 2010 — November 14, 2010. Event is included in general admission tickets.
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$299 for 2 tickets for 3 days at Disney World Orlando and 5 days and 4 nights in a luxury resort!
Posted by Ashley McChesney on Sat, Apr 24, 2010 @ 08:44 AM
The Eat to the Beat concerts during Epcot Food and Wine Festival are included with Epcot admission, will be at the America Gardens Theatre stage beginning October 1. Performances will be nightly at 5:15 p.m. 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.
This year's schedule (subject to change) includes:
- 10/1-10/3 - Taylor Dayne, "Tell It to My Heart"
- 10/4-10/5 - Kool & The Gang, "Celebration"
- 10/6-10/8 - Sugar Ray, "Fly"
- 10/9-10/10 - Taylor Hicks, "Do I Make You Proud "
- 10/11-10/12 - Air Supply, "Lost in Love"
- 10/13-10/15 - Sister Hazel, "All For You"
- 10/16-10/17 - Howard Jones, "No One Is To Blame"
- 10/18-10/19 - Exposé, "Seasons Change"
- 10/20-10/21 - 38 Special, "Hold on Loosely "
- 10/22-10/24 - Night Ranger, "Sister Christian"
- 10/25-10/27 - Billy Ocean, "Caribbean Queen"
- 10/28-10/31 - Starship starring Mickey Thomas, "We Built This City"
- 11/1 - 11/3 - Boyz II Men, "End of the Road"
- 11/4-11/5 - Roger Hodgson formerly of Supertramp, "Give A Little Bit"
- 11/6-11/7 - Jon Secada, "Just Another Day"
- 11/8-11/9 - Hanson, "MMMBop"
- 11/10-11/11 - Rick Springfield, "Jessie's Girl"
- 11/12-11/14 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, "Go Daddy-O"
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Posted by Ashley McChesney on Wed, Apr 07, 2010 @ 10:59 AM
Disney Food and Wine Festival 2010 will be held October 1st through November 14th 2010, at least that's what FoodWineFest.com says.
According to the Disney Food Blog this same site offered insight into what the theme design and main logo of the 2009 Disney Food and Wine Festival would be.
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Posted by Ashley McChesney on Wed, Mar 31, 2010 @ 10:01 AM
Dining
Cantina de San Angel restaurant is expanding. There will be 400 seats - both al fresco and air-conditioned seating for lunch and a coveted spot for dinner and viewing IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.
A pizzeria coming to the Italy Pavilion in Epcot has yet to be named and will feature 300 seats and outside dining and vaulted-ceilings.
New Stores
• Good Fortune Gifts, has opened in front of the China pavilion and has parasols, puppets, solar-powered keychains and t-shirts for sale.
• By September, Givenchy will open a 300-square-foot shop at the France that will offer the full line of Givenchy make-up and skincare products, as well as a large selection of Givenchy fragrances.
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Posted by Ashley McChesney on Mon, Mar 29, 2010 @ 12:24 PM
Special for spring, Precious Moments Dolls & Disney Theme Park Merchandise have created a line of Pretty in Pink dolls featuring your favorite Disney Princess & Characters in their classic gowns that have been fashioned from shimmering pink fabrics and lace. The dolls will be available at Heritage Manor in Epcot beginning April 2, 2010.
Get a sneak peek here!
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$99 Magic Kingdom Vacation Package includes 2 one day tickets for Disney and hotel for 3 days and 2 nights!
$299 for 2 tickets for 3 days at Disney World Orlando and 5 days and 4 nights in a luxury resort!
Posted by Ashley McChesney on Mon, Mar 01, 2010 @ 09:45 AM
Planning on visiting Disney World Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival? There is a iPhone app for that! Introducing PixieFlowers for iPhone and iPod Touch.
Official Description:
Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival is always a signature event for Spring. Showcasing some of the most amazing floral displays throughout the park, the event also showcases great American gardeners who can help you make the most of your green thumb.
PixieFlowers offers a quick and easy way to locate all of the great attractions, concerts, presentations and features of the 2010 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.
The festival runs from March 3, 2010 - May 16, 2010 and will also feature a Flower Power Concert Series every weekend showcasing some of the most popular music stars through the generations.
Epcot admission is required for these event. Availability is limited for some of the events. Events may also be cancelled at any time without notice.
Since PixieFlowers uses the iPhone's mapping systems an iPhone using release OS 3.1.2 or greater is required for use with this application. PixieFlowers will not function properly in the park on earlier versions, but can operate with a connection to a wifi network.
Disclaimer: PixieFlowers is not affiliated, endorsed or connected with The Walt Disney Co. in any way.
Get it here.
Get your tickets for the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival now before prices go up this year!
Disney World Epcot Vacation Packages start at $109 for 3 days and 2 nights in a resort and 2 tickets for the event at Epcot.
See all of the attractions at Epcot in Disney World!
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Posted by Ashley McChesney on Tue, Feb 23, 2010 @ 04:22 PM
NEW Garden Town Breakfast
March 21, April 18, May 16 - 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Enjoy a Disney welcome breakfast prepared by our chefs that will include a special selection of fresh ingredients from our own Land Pavilion while having the opportunity to learn some garden and culinary techniques from professional horticulturists and chefs. $60.00 Per person plus tax; gratuity is included and Theme Park admission is required. Call 407-WDW-Fest for reservations.
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$299 for 2 tickets for 3 days at Disney World Orlando and 5 days and 4 nights in a luxury resort!
Posted by Ashley McChesney on Fri, Feb 19, 2010 @ 11:56 AM
The International Flower and Garden Festival at Disney Epcot in Orlando, Florida will be held March 3, 2010 through May 16, 2010. Here are some fun tidbits you probably don't know.
- 30 million blooms blanket the park throughout the festival, which runs 75 colorful days.
- More than 100 topiaries displayed throughout the park add up to 60 tons of plant materials.
- More than 70 Disney character topiaries represent the largest collection of Disney character topiary in the world and include classic film stars like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Cinderella and Tinker Bell.
- At 14 feet tall, Goofy is the tallest character topiary ever created.
- 600 native butterflies, more than ever before, represent up to 10 species at Fawn's Butterfly House, a gazebo-type screened enclosure filled with lush plants where guests can view the colorful butterflies. Among the garden's two dozen nectar plants are Cape Royal plumbago, passion flower, coral honeysuckle, blazing star, butterfly bush, scarlet milkweed and canna lily.
- More than 500,000 plants, trees and shrubs are planted for the festival; 250,000
- of those are annual blossoms installed for the festival.
- Festival plants include 60 different species of trees, 47 types of palms, and 48 varieties of bedding plants.
- At least 25 different plants, grasses and mosses of various colors, including pink and red begonias, dusty miller, palm fiber, palm seeds, ficus and lichen, are used to create and define features of the festival topiaries. More color has been added to the topiaries than in any previous topiary presentation.
- More than 15 floral, herbal and spice ingredients of 10 popular perfumes are revealed in the Fragrance Garden presented by Guerlain at the France pavilion. Guests can sniff the enduring fragrance Shalimar to discover botanical notes that include lemon, Arabian jasmine and vanilla. Some components of nine other Guerlain fragrances include mimosa, magnolia, rose, nutmeg and vetivergrass.
- 198 hands-on gardening demonstrations and seminars will be presented.
- Forty-four "flower towers" of impatiens line Innoventions Plaza.
- 120 floating mini-gardens, each three feet in diameter, of multi-hued impatiens provide splashes of color on two ponds that border the walkway between Future World and World Showcase.
- 700 container gardens of flowers, herbs, plants and vegetables in clay pots, barrels and urns enhance the landscape throughout Epcot.
- 600 Walt Disney World horticulturists are needed to install the festival landscape, topiaries and many exhibits; 100 Epcot horticulturists maintain topiaries and other festival displays.
- It takes more than one full year and about 24,000 cast member hours to prepare for the annual festival.
- The festival's weekend Flower Power concert series includes 11 artists and groups with 126 Top 40 hits, including 16 No. 1 songs. This year's musical hit-makers from the 1960s and '70s include Jose Feliciano, Paul Revere & The Raiders, David Cassidy, Starship featuring Mickey Thomas, Tony Orlando, Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone, Ricky Nelson Remembered Featuring the Nelsons, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Fran Cosmo, Davy Jones, and Chubby Checker & The Wildcats.
Via:
Disney World News
Get your tickets for the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival now before prices go up this year!
Disney World Epcot Vacation Packages start at $109 for 3 days and 2 nights in a resort and 2 tickets for the event at Epcot.
See all of the attractions at Epcot in Disney World!
Take a look at all of the Disney Theme Parks!