Ears the News with Richard

Pirates of the Caribbean is scheduled to close for a major refurbishment later this year.

The closure will begin on May 11 and will run through to September 25, reopening to guests on September 26 2015.

Pirates of the Caribbean is experiencing a number of show and ride system issues that require a lengthy closure. Animatronic issues, show audio problems, and continuing issues with boats taking on water are all likely to be addressed.

Stitch's Great Escape at the Magic Kingdom will also be closed for refurbishment on March 1 and 2 2015.

The 2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is just around the corner and Disney has released all the menus at the World Showcase Outdoor Kitchens.

Botanas Botànico Seafood Ceviche

Cachapa con Queso

White Corn Arepa

Coconut Tres Leches

Polar Beer

La Tizana

Monte

Paschoal Reserve Tannat

Monte Paschoal Natural Brut White Sparkling Wine

Urban Farm Eat

Kale Salad

Quinoa Vegetable “naanwich”

Ghost Pepper dusted Tilapia

Cucumber Lemon Spa Water with a sprig of fresh Mint

Hess Shirtail Creek Vineyard, Chardonnay

King Estate Acrobat Pinot Noir

Urban Mary

Crispin Blackberry Pear Cider

Pineapple Promenade

Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney

Pineapple Soft-Serve with Sammy’s Beach Bar Red Head Macadamia Nut Flavored Rum

or Parrot Bay Coconut Rum

Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade

Berry Tea Cocktail with Twinings Cold-Brewed Mixed Berry Tea

Sparkling Pineapple Wine

Ace Pineapple Hard Cider

Jardin de Fiestas

Achiote marinated pork taco

Veggie Quesadilla

Mexican Chocolate Custard

Blueberry/Pomegranate Margarita

Tecate with Patrón Citrónge

Mexican Sangria

Tequila Flight

Lotus House

Kung Pao Chicken Bun

Beijing Style Candied Strawberries

Vegetable Spring Roll

Oolong Peach Bubble Tea

Kung Fu Punch

South Sea Storm

Honey Mango Wine Cooler

Tsingtao Beer

Plum Wine

Florida Fresh

Watermelon Salad

Shrimp and Stone Ground Grits

Florida Blueberry and Lemon Curd Tart

Watermelon Passion Fruit Slush

Key Lime Sparkling Wine

Blonde Ale

Channel Marker Red Ale

Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale (Festival exclusive)

Jai Alai

Beer Flight

Primavera Kitchen

Pinwheel of Mozzarella

Prosciutto, Ciabatta Bread

Cheese Manicotti

Lemon Custard with Raspberries

Pinot Grigio

Chianti

Prosecco

Corbinello

Moscato

Bellini

Rossini

Frozen Italian Primavera

Moretti Lager and La Rossa

Espresso, Coffee and Pastries at The American Adventure

Chocolate Stout latte featuring Monin chocolate, caramel and hazelnut with milk and espresso

Iced Bailey’s latte featuring Bailey’s Irish Cream liqueur with milk and espresso over ice

THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews

Pulled Pig Slider

Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash

Smoked Debreziner Sausage

“Piggylicious” Bacon Cupcake

Floridian Hefeweizen

Category 3 IPA

Maple Bacon Stout

Billy’s Chilies

Beer Flight

The Original Rib Shack Red Wine

Frozen Lemonade

Frozen Lemonade with Palm Ridge Reserve Whiskey

R.C. Sweet Tea made with Twinings Cold-Brewed English Classic Tea

Hanami

 

Frushi

Teriyaki Curry Bun

Salmon Sushi

Kirin Draft

Yuzu Plum

Wine Slush

Strawberry Nigori

Karatamba Sake

Taste of Marrakesh

Harissa Chicken Kebab

Falafel Pocket with cucumber tomato salad and Tahini Sauce

Pistachio Baklava

Desert Rose

White Sangria

Guerrouane Red

Mint Iced Tea

Fleur de Lys

Parisian style dumpling with vegetables and mushrooms

Pulled Duck confit, with garlic and parsley potatoes

Large Strawberry marshmallow macaron

Ice Pop Peach Grand Marnier Cocktail

La Vie en Rose St-Germain Vodka Slush

Kir Imperial with Sparkling Wine and Chambord Liquor

Beer Kronenbourg Blanc 1664

The 2015 dates for the Magic Kingdom's hard ticketed event Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are now available.

According to the recently released 2015 Flower and Garden Festival event guide map, this year the party will be held on 25 nights, beginning September 15 and ending on November 1 2015. Pricing is not yet available, nor is a date of when you can start buying tickets, although both typically begin in early May.

The dates for 2015 are as follows.

September 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27.

October 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31.

November 1.

The dates for the 2015 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party have also been released.

Tickets go on sale in April, with pricing to be announced later.

November 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29

December 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18

Bruce Vaughn, Chief Creative Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, today shared a few more teasers for the upcoming AVATAR land at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Along with a new piece of concept art came a video, which shows some of the lighting effects that

WDI have been working on, and more of the area models.

Appearing in the video is Disney COO Tom Staggs, WDI's Joe Rohde, Jon Landau from Lightstorm, and James Cameron, creator of AVATAR.

Video from Disney Parks

ADisney increased ticket prices at Walt Disney World effective Sunday February 22 2015.

Increases are across the board, with only DisneyQuest, parking fees, and ECV Wheelchair and Stroller rentals escaping an increase.

The most notable change is the removal of the No-Expiration option on Magic Your Way multi day tickets.

Single Day Passes

A single day at the Magic Kingdom will increase to $105, up from $99, while Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot will increase to $97, up from the current $94.

Annual Passes

An Annual Pass will increase from $634 to $654, and a Premium Annual Pass from $754 to $779.

Water Parks

Water Parks will increase from $53 to $58 for ages 10 and up, and from $45 to $50 for ages 3-9. Annual Passes for the water parks will go from $104 to $110 adults and $85 to $99 for ages 3-9.

Magic Your Way Multi Day Tickets

Multi-day tickets will no longer be available with the 'No-Expiration' option. Price increases typically reflect a $1 - $2 per day change.

A 10 day ticket is now $365, up from $354. A 7 day is now $335, up from $324. And a 3 day is $275, up from $274.

Park Hopper options on multi-day tickets have increased on average $4. Park hopper on a 10 day is now $64, previously $60. A single day park hopper however is now $50, up form the previous $35.

Florida Residents

Florida Resident tickets Annual Passes are now $529, up from $485. Resident Premium Pass is $649, up from $605. Florida Seasonal Pass is $329 up from $319.

Florida Resident 4 Day Pass is now $209, up from $199. A 3 Day pass is $189, up from $179.

Neighboring Universal Studios Orlando responded with their own ticket price increase 2 day later.

One day park tickets went up $6 to a total of $102.

One-day admission to both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure now costs $147, up $11 from $136 last year.