Mariachi Cobre Sing "Remember Me"

Disney

Mariachi Cobre, the vibrant musicians from EPCOT's Mexico Pavilion, are the latest musical group to share their Voices From Home. Here, they perform "Remember Me" from Pixar's animated film Coco.

The Taste of EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is Nearly Here

All images: Disney

I absolutely love the festivals at EPCOT. It's so fun to experience flavors and sights from around the world throughout the World Showcase. This Wednesday marks the start of this year's Taste of EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. There will be dozens of topiary featuring favorite characters, beautiful gardens, including the return of the butterfly house, music, and of course, a ridiculous number of delicious dishes to share.

Spike the Bee can be found buzzing his way throughout the Festival again this year. Guests can take part in Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration, a flower-filled scavenger hunt that's fun for all ages. And there will be lots of festival-specific merchandise featuring Spike, Figment, Orange Bird and Minnie Mouse.

Music performances include the Voices of Liberty celebrating America and Mariachi Cobre performing Mexican folk music. The Jammin' Gardeners will be creating lively rhythms with backyard percussion and the EPCOT Pianist will be playing favorite music from the parks in the World Showplace. And for something new, each weekend, Friday to Monday, local Orlando bands will perform popular songs from yesterday and today in the American Gardens Theatre.

And don't forget to pick up a Festival Passport. Not only does it have all of the menus, but you can use it to keep track of everything you've tried. The Passport is also the place to track your Garden Graze purchases. Each time you buy a Garden Graze dish, get your passport stamped. Collect 5 stamps to receive a complimentary prize from the Promenade Outdoor Kitchen. 

And now for the part we've all been waiting for: the menus!

Flavor Full Kitchen Hosted by AdventHealth (Future World West)

• Grilled Baby Vegetables with Hummus Cream and Red Pepper Coulis 🥖🥬🥕
• Seared Verlasso Salmon with Farro Risotto and Micro Herbs
• Strawberry Mousse with Chocolate Crisp Pearls
• Blood Orange Agua Fresca
• Cookie Butter Worms and Dirt

EPCOT Sunshine Griddle (Future World East)

• Avocado Toast with Marinated Toybox Tomatoes and Fresh Goat Cheese on Toasted Ciabatta 🌻
• Shrimp and Grits: Blackened Shrimp and Cheddar Cheese Grits with Brown Gravy and Sweet Corn Salsa.Corned Beef Brisket Hash with House-made Potato Barrels, Onions, Peppers, Cheese Curds, and a Soft-poached Egg with Tabasco Hollandaise 🌻
• Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites with Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Bacon 🌻
• Froot Loops Shake

The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board (Showcase Plaza)

• Tupelo Honey and Sweet Corn Spoon Bread with Jalapeños, Bacon, and House-made Whipped Honey Butter 🥖🌻
• Lavender Honey Mustard-marinated Chicken Flatbread with Whipped Honey-Ricotta Cheese, Marinated Vegetables, and Purple Haze Lavender Goat Cheese 🌻
• Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake with Orange Blossom Honey Whipped Cream, Whipped Honey, Crystalized Honey, Honeycomb, Dehydrated Honey, and Fennel Pollen Meringue Kisses
• Honey-Peach Freeze in a Souvenir Spike the Bee Sipper Cup

The Citrus Blossom (Showcase Plaza)

• Meyer Lemon-poached Lobster Salad with Grapefruit-Rosé Vinaigrette, Yuzu-marinated Hearts of Palm, and Avocado-Yuzu Panna Cotta 🥖🌻
• Citrus-braised Crispy Pork Belly with Kumquat and Carrot 🌻
• Citrus Shortcake: Orange Chiffon Cake, Lemon Curd, Mandarins, Whipped Cream, and Citrus Crumble
• Orange-Lemon Smoothie in a Souvenir Orange Bird Sipper Cup

Refreshment Port (Showcase Plaza)

• House-made Italian Sausage and Peppers Poutine 🥕🌻
• Popsicle Trio: Honeydew, Raspberry-Mint, and Coconut-Lime 🥖

Pineapple Promenade (Showcase Plaza)

• Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Plantain Chips
• Mixed Berry Buttermilk Cake
• DOLE Whip 🥕
• Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade
• DOLE Whip with Fanta

Trowel & Trellis Hosted by Impossible Foods (Showcase Plaza)

• Grilled Street Corn on the Cob with Savory Garlic Spread 🥖🥕
• Impossible Sausage and Kale Soup 🥕🌻
• Boneless Impossible Korean Short Rib with Cilantro-Lime Rice, Danmuji Slaw, and Kimchee Mayonnaise 🥕🥬🌻 
• Lavender Pot de Crème with Blueberry Cake, Pink Peppercorn, and Lime Whipped Cream 🥕🌻
• Twinings of London Energize Matcha Cranberry & Lime Green Tea 🌻

Refreshment Outpost

• Pineapple Skewer with Tajin Seasoning 🥖🥕🥬

Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market (Germany)

• Potato Pancakes with House-made Apple Sauce 🥖🥕🥬
• Potato Pancake with Caramelized Ham, Onions, and Herb Sour Cream 🥖
• Toasted Pretzel Bread topped with Black Forest Ham and Melted Gruyère Cheese
• Warm Cheese Strudel with Mixed Berries

Magnolia Terrace (American Adventure)

• Crawfish Étouffée with Andouille Sausage and Dirty Rice🌻 
• Cajun-style Roasted Oysters.House-made Boudin Two Ways with Spicy Mustard
• Pecan Cake with Maple Whipped Cream
• Pecan Praline

Funnel Cake (American Adventure)

• Mini Funnel Cake topped with Lemon Cheesecake Ice Cream, Blueberries, and Powdered Sugar

Taste of Marrakesh (Morocco)

• Moroccan Seafood Couscous with Shrimp, Mussels, Olives, Preserved Lemons, and Anchovy Breadcrumbs 🌻
• Shakshuka: Moroccan Baked Eggs in a Spiced Eggplant and Tomato Stew 🌻
• Lemon Magdalena Cake with Fig Compote and Sangria Gel 🥕🥬🌻

La Isla Fresca (Between Morocco and France)

• Lamb Curry with Sweet Plantains and Rice 🥖
• Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer with Steamed Rice and Coconut-Lime Sauce 🥖
• Tropical Mousse Cup: Layers of Passion Fruit Cake, Coconut Mousse, and a Tropical Fruit Glaze with Fresh Pineapple
• Tropical Freeze 

Festival Favorites (World Showplace)

• Watermelon Salad with Pickled Onions, Feta, and Balsamic Reduction 🥖
• Beef Brisket Burnt Ends and Smoked Pork Belly Slider with Garlic Sausage, Chorizo, Cheddar Fondue, and House-made Pickle
• Fried Green Tomatoes with Blue Crab-Fennel Salad, Remoulade, and Smoked Paprika Oil
• Key Lime Tart with Toasted Meringue
• Frozen Lemonade

EPCOT Farmers Feast (World Showplace)

Rotating Menu 1:

• Spring Onion Soup with Crispy Shallots and Micro Chive 🌻
• Duck Confit with Carrot Purée, Roasted Root Vegetables, Rainbow Chard, and Duck Jus 🥖
• Off the “Beet”en Path: Profiteroles with Red Beet Mousse, Golden Beet Pastry Cream, Whipped Goat Cheese Cream, and Candied Walnuts 🌻

Rotating Menu 2:

• Cheesecake on Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Butter with Passion Fruit-Mango Compote

Cider House (World Showplace)

• House-made Potato and Cheddar Biscuit with Salmon Tartare
• Dark Chocolate Raspberry Tart with Whipped Cream

Northern Bloom (Canada)

• Seared Scallops with French Green Beans, Butter Potatoes, Brown Butter Vinaigrette and Apple-wood-smoked Bacon 🥖
• Beef Tenderloin Tips, Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce, and Whipped Potatoes with Garden Vegetables
• Griddled Maple Pound Cake with Warm Peach Compote and Sweet Corn Gelato
• Maple Popcorn Shake

Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico)

• Tostada de Cochinita: Braised Pork on a Crispy Corn Tortilla with Black Beans topped with Pickled Onions, Mango-Habanero Relish, and Oregano 🥖 
• Taco Vampiro: Braised Beef on a Corn Tortilla with Crispy Grilled Monterey Jack Cheese and Salsa Ranchera 🥖
• Sope de Chorizo: Plant-based Ground Chorizo on Fried Corn Dough with Black Beans and Avocado Mousse 🥖🥕

Lotus House (China)

• Papa Cakes: Potato Cakes filled with Shrimp and Water Chestnuts served with House-made Strawberry Sauce 🌻 
• Bon Bon Chicken Skewer with Sesame and Peanut Sauce
• House-made Crab and Cheese Wontons
• “Panda” Bubble Tea: Classic Milk Tea with Black and White Boba Pearls

Primavera Kitchen (Italy)

• Margherita: Rustic Italian Flatbread with Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella
• Arancini: Sweet Sausage Fried Risotto Balls with Pomodoro Sauce
• Traditional Sicilian Cannoli: Crisp Pastry filled with Sweet Ricotta, Chocolate, and Candied Orange

Hanami (Japan)

• Frushi: Strawberry, Pineapple, and Cantaloupe wrapped in Sweet Rice and Pink Soy Wrap served with Whipped Cream, Drizzled Berry Sauce, and Toasted Coconut
• Shrimp and Crab with Spicy Mayonnaise and Cucumber Slices finished with Creamy Avocado and Violet Sauce 🌻 
• Soy-glazed Pork Shank with Truffle Mashed Potatoes, Crispy Lotus Flower, Garlic Chips, and Green Onion                                

Fleur de Lys (France)

• Tarte aux Oignons Caramélisés et Chèvre: Goat Cheese Tart with Caramelized Onions on a flaky Pastry Crust
• Canard Confit à l’Orange aux Gnocchi à la Parisienne: Braised Duck Confit à l’Orange with Parisian Gnocchi 🌻
• Macaron au Chocolate en Sucette: Large Chocolate Macaron Lollipop
• Beignet Caramélisé, Fourré Crème Vanille, Glacé au Caramel Fleur de Sel: Caramelized Beignet filled with Vanilla Cream and Glazed with Caramel Fleur de Sel 🌻

🥖 = Gluten/Wheat Friendly

🥕 = Plant-based

🥬 = Garden Graze

🌻 = New

The Taste of EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival runs from March 3 until July 5.

What to Expect When Disney World Reopens

When Disney World reopens the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11 and EPCOT and Hollywood Studios on July 15, things will look a little different. From reservations to get into the parks on a specific day, to no Fast Passes, to guests and Cast Members wearing masks, it will definitely be a new experience.

Before you go, make sure to book a reservation through Disney's Park Pass System. Reservations can be made beginning June 22 for resort guests, June 26 for Annual Passholders, and June 28 for existing ticket holders. All guests must have a Park Pass and ticket to enter the Parks and can only select one park per day, no park hopping. All guests may be subject to a touchless temperature check and must wear a mask to enter the Parks.

Once you enter the Parks, most attractions will be available including:

• Magic Kingdom - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean
• Animal Kingdom - Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, and Avatar Flight of Passage
• EPCOT - Spaceship Earth (the refurbishment has been delayed), Soarin' Around the World, Frozen Ever After, and Test Track 
• Hollywood Studios - Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway

There will be characters in the Parks, although Meet and Greets have been suspended for the time being. Some characters can be seen in surprise parades while others might pop up in unexpected locations. Here are a few ways the characters will appear:

• Magic Kingdom - cavalcades down the parade route, perhaps a captive Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean queue (I've seen Cap'n Jack in the queue before and it's hilarious!)
• Animal Kingdom - characters sailing the waterways 
• EPCOT - processions along the World Showcase promenade, Queen Anna and Elsa may cross your path in the World Showcase
• Hollywood Studios - motorcades on Hollywood Boulevard, Resistance members may be hiding from the First Order in Black Spire Outpost

Several music groups will also be returning, such as Mariachi Cobre and JAMMitors at EPCOT and the Main Street Philharmonic at Magic Kingdom.

While it will be different, I can't wait to return to Walt Disney World this summer!

Happy 35th Anniversary EPCOT!

Disney

Today marks the 35th anniversary of Disney's Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow, or EPCOT. The park will be celebrating this milestone with a commemorative map, a musical celebration with Voices of Liberty and Mariachi Cobre, special merchandise, and fireworks.

Disney

A unique collection of "I was there" merchandise will only be available for one day at a pop-up shop just past the Art of Disney. 

Disney

Seven items will be available, including shirts for kids and adults, a hat, an ornament, and a limited edition pin. Annual Passholders can also buy a t-shirt designed just for them. 

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Additional 35th anniversary merchandise will be available all year. There are several different collections, from a retro-inspired look that captures the spirit of EPCOT's beginnings "We've only just begun to dream," 

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to a set featuring the unity design from Future World. Which one do you like best? I think I'd go for the Future World set.