Ears the News: January 5, 2018 Edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News

Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com.

The American Adventure in Epcot's World Showcase will be closing for a month-long refurbishment later this month.

The closure will begin on January 15 through to February 14.

Similar to the recently reopened Hall of Presidents, expect to see upgrades to the projection system and a new finale film.

The American Adventure last closed for refurbishment in the summer of 2007 which saw updates made to the finale of the attraction.


Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade will return to a 3:00 PM start time as of January 1, 2018.

The Liberty Square Riverboat at the Magic Kingdom will be closing for a 6 month refurbishment.

The refurb is scheduled to begin on January 8 through to July 19.

The Edison has soft-opened this week at Walt Disney World, and reservations can now be made for later in the month.

Reservations can be made via OpenTable for dates beginning January 15, 2018. Operating hours are Monday - Thursday 11:30am to 1am, Friday to Sunday 11:30am to 2am. Menus are not yet available, nor are details of discounts and credits on the Disney Dining Plan.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com. 

The cold weather closure of Disney's Typhoon Lagoon has now been extended to the end of the week, meaning it won't reopen before its annual refurbishment begins on January 7, 2018.

Blizzard Beach is currently closed as part of its annual refurbishment, but will reopen on January 7 2018.

Typhoon Lagoon will reopen March 18 following its annual refurbishment.

The 'Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable' at The Land pavilion in Epcot will have its final showing on February 3, 2018.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com. 

In the short term, Disney Performing Arts, a youth program by Disney, will begin using the space for performances and classes. It is expected that the theater will be used again for a permanent attraction at a later time.

Circle of Life at Epcot's Land Pavilion is a 20 minute live action movie featuring Pumba and Timon from The Lion King movie telling the story of man's relationship with the land and how we can protect and care for the environment.

The 2018 Epcot International Festival of the Arts gets started on January 12, 2018, celebrating the visual, culinary and performing arts.

Like the Food and Wine Festival Marketplace kiosks, and Flower and Garden Festival Outdoor Kitchens, the Festival of the Arts will feature special menus at kiosks around World Showcase.

The kiosks this year will be open daily from 11am to 9pm, January 12 to February 19, 2018.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com. 

The Deconstructed Dish
Embark on an edible adventure with delicious dishes that dazzle!

Food:

• Atypical BLT with Crispy Pork Belly, Tomato Jam and Soft Poached Egg 
• Irregular Reuben with Shredded Corned Beef, Thousand Island Dressing, Pickled Red Cabbage and a Rye Curl 
• Deconstructed Strawberry Cheesecake: Whipped, New York Style Cheesecake with Fresh Florida Strawberries and Sugar Cookies with Micro-basil 

Beverages:

• Deconstructed Breakfast: Twinings® Spiced Apple Chai Tea Shake with Maple Bourbon Cream, a Waffle Crisp and Candied Bacon 
• Deconstructed Breakfast: Twinings® Spiced Apple Chai Tea Shake with Maple Syrup, a Waffle Crisp and Candied Bacon (non-alcoholic) 
• Intrinsic Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington 
• Pop-Artsicle: Red, White and Blue Frozen Slushy (non-alcoholic) 

Cuisine Classique
Prepare to be amazed with these hearty braised bites and traditional Old World delights!

Food:

• Red Wine Braised Short Rib with Parsnip Purée, Broccolini, Baby Tomatoes and Aged Balsamic 
• Seared Corvina with braised Ratatouille and Lemon-Thyme Beurre Blanc (GF) 
• Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie 
• Saint-Honore Tart: Caramel Cream Tart with Caramel Glaze topped with Cream Puffs 

Beverages:

• Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Chico, CA 
• Bell’s Two Hearted American-style India Pale Ale Kalamazoo, MI 
• Duck Rabbit Milk Stout Farmville, NC 
• Beer Braising Flight 
• Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva Art Series Logrono, Spain 
• Domaine Savary Chablis, Burgundy 

The Artist’s Table
Satisfy hunger with these savory plates—all prepared using oven and stove-top techniques!

Food:

• Roasted Pork Roulade with Butternut Squash Purée, Marble Potatoes and Baby Carrots with a Red Wine Sauce featuring Melissa’s Produce 
• Pan-Seared Scallop with Chorizo, Roasted Red Pepper Coulis and a Parmesan Crisp (GF) 
• Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie 

Beverages:

• Callebaut Belgian Sipping Chocolate Flight: White, Milk, Dark (non-alcoholic) 
• Callebaut Belgian Sipping Chocolate: Dark Chocolate with Chambord 
• Perla Santa Coffee-flavored Wine 
• Barrymore Rosé, Monterey County, CA 
• Carmel Road Drew’s Blend Pinot Noir, Monterey County, CA 

The Painter’s Palate
Sample this palatable palette of delicacies that looks as good as it tastes… mangiare!

Food:

• Trio of Savory Croissant Doughnuts: 
• Whipped Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese with Fresh Herbs (V) 
• Chicken Salad with Shaved Fennel and Fresh Herbs 
• Spicy Tuna with Wasabi and Seaweed Salad 
• Gallery Bites: A Trio of Hors d’Oeuvres 
• Chilled Shrimp with Cucumber Cream Cheese on a Crostini 
• Traditional Deviled Egg with Candied Bacon 
• Crispy Truffled Risotto Ball with Stone-ground Mustard 
• Pop’t Art: Abstract Designed Sugar Cookie with Strawberry Filling (V) 
• White Chocolate Figment Puzzle on an Artist Palette 
• White Chocolate Painting with Chocolate Easel 

Beverages:

• Pomegranate Mule featuring Van Gogh Vodka 
• North Coast Brewing Co. Scrimshaw Pilsner Style Beer, Fort Bragg, CA 
• M.I.A. Brewing Company Jazz IPA, Doral, FL 
• Central 28 Beer Company Miss Mary Brown Oatmeal Brown Ale, DeBary, FL 
• Popcorn Pairing Flight 

Pop Eats!
Unearth the tasty treasures and tantalizing textures of modern art-inspired eats!

Food:

• Sous Vide Poulet Rouge Chicken Roulade with Apples and Sage served with Warm Brie Fondue, Blueberry and Beet Gel and garnished with Apple and Beet Chips 
• Shrimp Ceviche with Lime Mint Foam 
• Almond Frangipane Cake layered with Raspberry Jam and Chocolate (V) 
• Pop’t Art: Modern-design Sugar Cookie with Strawberry Filling (V) 

Beverages:

• Cloudem Sparkling Wine 
• Cloudem Sparkling Wine in a Souvenir Glass 
• Popping Bubbles Cocktail 

Decadent Delights
Indulge in a gallery of divine delectables that transform dessert into a fine art!

Food:

• White Chocolate and Purple Sweet Potato Mousse, Salted Caramel and Maple Meringue with Coconut 
• Crisp Caramel Chocolate Mousse Bar, Flavored Merengue Kisses and Passion Fruit Sauce 
• S’mores Tart: House-smoked Buttermilk Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Mousse, Toasted Marshmallow Meringue, Graham Cracker Dust and Malted Milk Chocolate Sauce 
• Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie 

Beverages:

• Ferreira 10 Year Old Port 
• 3 Daughters Strawberry Nitro, St. Petersburg, FL 
• Breckenridge Nitro Vanilla Porter, Breckenridge, CO 
• Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, England 
• Neapolitan Beer Flight 
• Coppo Moncalvina Moscato d’Asti, Piedmont 

The Masterpiece Kitchen
Raise your glass and celebrate this fabulous fusion of food and wine—cheers!

Food:

• Charcuterie Palette with Artisan Cured Meats, Nueske’s Smoked Beef and Cheese 
• Smoked Salmon Tartare, Caviar, Crisp Lavash and Traditional Accompaniments 
• Wild Mushroom Risotto, Aged Parmesan, Truffle Shavings and Zinfandel Reduction (V) 
• Triple Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Crunch, Dark Chocolate Sauce and Gold Leaf from our Master Pastry Chef 

Beverages:

• Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque Brut Champagne 
• Classic Sidecar with a Chocolate Twist 
• The Meeker Vineyard Winemakers’ Handprint Merlot, Sonoma County, CA 
• Pinord La Dama Reserva Familiar Brut 
• Pinord La Dama Reserva Familiar Brut Rosé 
• Silverado Vineyards Chardonnay 

Additional Festival Locations
Delight your appetite with mouthwatering morsels, nibbles and noshes from these year-round food stops.

Fife & Drum

Food:

• Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie 

Takumi Table – Japan Pavilion

Food:

• Chirashi Sushi and Haupia Pearl: Salmon, Tuna and Yuzu Miso with Coconut Tapioca Pudding 
• Taiyaki: Stuffed Japanese Pastry with Sesame Cream and Raspberry Sauce 

Beverages:

• Calpico Yogurt Strawberry Swirl Sake 
• Masu Sake in a Personalized Wooden Cup 

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

Beverages:

All Festival specialty drinks served hot or cold.

• Canada: Night Sky Latte: A delicious shot of Joffrey’s Italian Espresso mixed with Creamy Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, topped with Steamed Milk and Whipped Cream 
• Disney Traders: Cinnamon Sensation: A shot of Italian Espresso mixed with RumChata and Cinnamon Whiskey, blended with Steamed Milk and Whipped Cream 
• Future World East: Painted Lady Latte: A shot of Joffrey’s Italian Espresso mixed with rich Baileys Espresso Créme Liqueur, topped with Steamed Milk and Whipped Cream 
• The American Adventure: Dreamy Bourbon: A shot of Italian Espresso mixed with Bourbon Whiskey Cream Liqueur, blended with Steamed Milk and Whipped Cream 

El Arista Hambriento (The Hungry Artist)

Food:

• Mixiote de Cordero: Wrapped Slow Braised Lamb marinated in Tres Chiles Paste and Spices 
• Tacos de Puerco: Two Corn Tortillas with Slow-roasted Pork Shoulder marinated in Ancho Paste, served with Sweet Plantain Purée and garnished with Pea Tendrils 
• Atole de Fresa and Mexican Concha Bread: Warm Strawberry Drink served with Mexican Concha Bread 

Beverages:

• Frida Guava Margarita 
• Diego Passion Margarita on the rocks 
• Allende Craft Mexican Golden Ale 

Refreshment Outpost

Food:

• Chilled Shrimp, Quinoa, Layered Vegetables, Spiced Yogurt and Red Pepper Coulis 

Refreshment Port

Food:

• Croissant Doughnut filled with Pastry Cream and topped with Colored Pearls 

The Painted Panda – China

Food:

• Coconut Panda Rice Cake 
• Crispy Fried Shrimp in a Wonton Chip Lotus Flower 
• Crystal Mooncake with Fruit Filling, garnished with Toasted Coconut 

Beverages:

• M.S.G.: A cooler of Mango Wine, Strawberry Syrup and Ginger Ale 
• Fortune Cookie: ByeJoe Red, Amaretto, Coconut and Pineapple 
• Strawberry Bubble Tea (non-alcoholic) 
• L’Art du Cuisine Francaise – France 

Food:

• Rillettes du Mans, Cornichons, Carré du Boulanger: House-made Pork Rillettes, Cornichons and House-made Bread 
• Saumon en Croute Façon Paul Bocuse: Salmon in a Puff Pastry Crust, Paul Bocuse-style, with Spinach and Beurre Blanc Sauce 
• Le Coucher de Soleil: Sunset Mango and Raspberry Cake 

Beverages:

• Frosé: Frozen Côtes de Provence Rosé Wine with Grey Goose Vodka and Peach Purée 
• L’Or par Edmond Thery: French Sparkling Chardonnay 
• Alsace, Pinot Blanc, Reserve 2015, Gustave Lorentz 
• Bordeaux, Château Tour de Granins, Grand Poujeaux, Moulis en Medoc 2015 

Mosaic Canteen – Morocco

Food:

• Hummus Trifle: Layered Hummus topped with Spiced Beef, Pine Nuts and Dry Cherries, served with Pita Chips 
• Mediterranean Flat Bread with Zaatar, Olive Oil Artichoke, Olives, Mozzarella and Feta Cheese 
• Chebbakia: Hand-twisted Strips of Fried Dough coated with Honey, Rosewater and Sesame Seeds 

Beverages:

• Embrace the Arak: Massaya Arak, Grapefruit Juice and Grenadine 
• Tarima Red, Alicante, Spain 
• Casa Beer 

L’Arte di Mangiare – Italy

Food:

• Involtini di Salmone al Basilico, Piso Venere, Salsa Romesco: Basil-scented Salmon Roulade, Purple Rice and Romesco Sauce 
• Sformato di Melanzane e Pomodori, Mozzarella Fior di Latte: Tomato and Eggplant Terrine, Fior di Latte Mozzarella 
• Crema Fitta, Pesche e Rucola Pesto, Ciliege di Amarasca: Cream Fritters, Peach and Arugula Pesto and Amarena Cherries 

Beverages:

• Amaretto Bellini: Amaretto, White Peach Purée and Prosecco 
• Vodka Rossini: Vodka, Strawberry Purée and Prosecco 
• Prosecco, Villa Sandi 
• Moscato Fior d’Arancio, Montegrande 
• Corbinello, Montegrande 
• Pinot Grigio, Bosco del Merlo 
• Merlot, Montegrande 
• Moretti Lager 
• Moretti La Rossa Double Malt Beer 

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