Mouse Extra

We landed at OIA at about 4:30 and took a terrifically uneventful Magical Express trip to the Boardwalk to begin our 6-night vacation here at the Mouse.  Our main purpose for traveling in November was to experience the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, so that was our first stop after checking-in to our room.

My wife and I are going to try and sample one thing for all the 25-plus Food and Wine stations.  (Well, truth be told, this is more my idea.  The wife is somewhat less enthusiastic.)  There are some great additions to this year’s festival, and we will talk about them more as the week progresses.

Our first stop was Canada and Canadian Cheedar Cheese Soup, the wife’s favorite.  Then we tried a Cheese Fondue from a station called “Charcuterie and Cheese”.  It was good, but not the best.

After strolling around a bit, the wife picked Kielbasa and Potato Pierogies from Poland, which is over by the Norway Pavilion, and Italy’s Lasagna sample.  I had the Grilled Pork Skewer with Farofa from Brazil.  Everything was absolutely delicious, and it wil be hard not to go and have them again!

To cap off the night, we went to the Hops and Barley station for a couple of Samuel Adams specialties.  All in all, a great first night at the Food and Wine Festival!

You can now get your reservations for the new tour that will start at Disney’s Animal Kingdom next year.  It is a three hour tour of the Safari area at the park. Apparently, it will involve new ride vehicles and walking the african veldt. It better be pretty nice at a price $129 plus park tickets.

A lion that one may encounter on thier Wild African Trek

It seems you get to walk by the Crocodiles and hippos normally seen from the ride. Plus, you walk a “dangerous” cliff over looking those crocs hooked to a safety harness. I think we are seeing the remnants of the defunct Night Kingdom idea bandied about many moons ago. We will see how popular this idea is in the coming months.

Today’s posting is from Mike, contributing writer to Mouse Extra

One of the more popular dining spots for people who want to sit down but not spend a boat load of cash has always been the Trail’s End at Fort Wilderness. In theory, its not that far from the Magic Kingdom although getting there by car is a bit of a trick. It used to be a buffet known for its comfort foods like fried chicken, ribs and the like.

Personally, I didn’t understand why everyone loved this place. It was OK. Now, according to WDW magic, the place is trying out a new lunch a la carte menu keeping the buffet for breakfast and dinner. It appears that southern food is the order of the day with things like chicken and waffles, and catfish. I always thought the food there was no better than a KFC. Maybe this will be a step up.

Today’s posting is from Mike, contributing writer to Mouse Extra

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is getting a little party started in mid-July, as the theme park adds to this year’s Summer additions at Walt Disney World. As noted in the Mom and The Mouse, there will be a new Taste of Africa Street Party to spice up late afternoons at the park.

The Party will include street vendors selling unusual food and drink, along with music and dancing with Wasslou, the african band, and Harambe’s DJ Khalifa.  There will also be animal education experiences, beer and wine tastings, and event specific merchandise.

The Taste of Africa Street Party will apparently begin just after the Mickey’s Jammin Jungle parade and will run until the park closes, continuing through Extra Magic Hours as well. It will take place daily in Harambe and will launch on July 9.  The event is only scheduled to last about 2 weeks but if popular that could be extended or perhaps brought back for the holiday busy season.

The economy is shaking theme parks across the state of Florida. Universal Florida in Orlando has lost 12 percent in attendance which translates to about 1 million less visitors in 2009. The attendance at WDW dropped a mere one percent but that doesn’t reflect the lost profits from the tremendous amount of discounting that Disney has employed over the last calendar year. The situation is getting desperate for both players. Universal is, of course, counting on the heavily promoted opening of their Harry Potter land. So what is Disney doing?

 
It is not the purchase of Marvel nor is it the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade. Instead, its the return of an old friend (or enemy depending on your point of view). My sources indicate that Michael Eisner has been hired as a consultant to oversee an operational overhaul of Walt Disney World and maybe even the other parks. The title as is stands now is Director of Park Promotions, which is somewhat innocuous. But the power is greater than the title. Michael Eisner, is now basically in charge of Walt Disney World and if he can work his magic there, that might spread to California.
 
Yes, I know that Eisner did not exactly leave on good terms, but some time has passed. And adveristy makes strange bed fellows. Eisner was able to save the company from a big down turn once before. The brass at Disney is hoping he can do it again. I have heard through the grapevine that the Beastly Kingdomme is again at the top of the list of priorities. Pixar Place, however, is not. (Probably out of spite). Instead, that area will get a new Roger Rabbit coaster, not the long rumored Monsters Inc coaster.
 
No official announcement has yet been made at Walt Disney World but that will come in the next few weeks. Some of the other changes that could be coming are the end of the Disney marathon, the limiting of restaurant outsourcing and the cancellation of the Flamingo Crossing project.

Earlier this month we reported on a new waterfront dining spot at the Mexico Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase.  Now, it seems that is not the only exciting new, and hopefully somewhat affordable, restaurant coming to Epcot.

The official Disney Parks Blog reported yesterday that we can expect the Italy pavilion to add a new “authentic pizzeria” to the list of dining options for guests. 

The new 300-seat restaurant will have traditional Florentine architecture, vaulted-ceilings and outside dining. And the food will be authentic — Italian dishes (complimenting the offerings at Tutto Italia ) and pizza from wood-burning ovens.

The pizzeria will be the newest flagship restaurant in the Patina Restaurant Group’s portfolio. And one of the special touches at the Epcot location will be the water. It’ll be imported from a source where the composition most resembles water used in Naples, Italy, to make the authentic Italian dough.

The pizzeria is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010, as apparently construction has already begun.  If anyone has any info about where exactly in the pavilion this is going to be located, please post it in the comments sections.

Along with the aforementioned addition to Mexico, this looks like it has some serious potential.  For one thing, finally being able to get a decent slice of pizza at Walt Disney World would be a welcome change.  But really, whether this is truly a big deal all comes down to how expensive it is going to be.  If these two new restaurants represent something somewhat more affordable then the average Epcot table-service offering, then they may really be on to something here.