Update on seasonal events at Walt Disney World Resort
Disney has just made some announcements and updates for seasonal events at Walt Disney World are we’re here to let you know all about them.
First, the good news!
When EPCOT opens next month, they will open with a “creative, modified experience” festival. They are starting the Food and Wine Festival early and calling it “A Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival!” They will have 20 global marketplaces which is significantly less than past years. They will also be spaced out throughout the park. This will help with the park being able to follow government and health official guidelines.
They are also describing the festival as a cross between the Flower and Garden and the Food and Wine Festivals. You will have the global marketplaces of Food and Wine. You will also have the topiaries from Flower and Garden. They do not state if all the topiaries will be up from before the park closed but we hope they are. Epcot will also have the Flower and Garden merchandise available in July when the park opens and the Food and Wine merchandise will come later. Also, for the fans of the scavenger hunts, you will be able to do Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak hunt which is around for Food and Wine.
Sadly, the popular “Eat to the Beat Concert Series” will not be back this year. Since the proper social distancing can not be maintained during the concerts, it is not within the best interests of guests to host the concerts this year. But Disney will have some of their own EPCOT entertainment to perform at the American Gardens Theaters like Mariachi Cobre and the JAMMitors.
We are sad to hear that our favorite performer won’t be at EPCOT this year but it’s understandable because Disney wants to keep their guests safe. We are excited though that Food and Wine marketplaces will be available when the parks open next month though!
Now for more bad news.
Disney also announced that they will not hold Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this fall or H2O Glow Nights this summer. These are two very popular extra ticketed events but Disney is taking precautions to keep their guests safe in the world we are currently living in. Here’s is the official announcement:
“While assessing another fall special event, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, we determined that many of its hallmarks – stage shows, parades and fireworks – are unable to take place in this new, unprecedented environment. With that in mind, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Additionally, Disney H2O Glow Nights, the nighttime special ticket event at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, will not take place for the remainder of 2020. Guests who have already bought tickets to these events will be assisted with refunds over the coming weeks.
Looking ahead to the holiday season, this may spark questions about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, which includes the Candlelight Processional. We are monitoring our new environment closely, and will make a decision on these events as we continue to learn more from government and health officials. As always, our goal is to explore every option and look at ways in which we can still host events and festivals full of Disney magic, while still operating responsibly with the health and safety of our guests and cast members in mind.”
Some good and bad news to come from Walt Disney World today but with the understanding that safety is what’s important in addition to giving guests a great experience. For now, we will focus on the good news of this modified festival at EPCOT and hope for an amazing Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and H2O Glow Nights next year.
