Disney summer full of Pandora, fireworks, food and wine

All 4 Disney theme parks have something new going on.

Lyn Dowling
For FLORIDA TODAY

Fresh off the opening of Pandora: World of Avatar last month at Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World's not slowing down.

The summer will bring changes and new shows throughout all four theme parks in Orlando, most recently James Cameron's Pandora, which officially opened Memorial Day weekend.

Visitors to Pandora a treated to this detailed display on the way to the Flight of Passage ride.

In addition to the much-praised rides there – they take longer than the theme park norm, for what it’s worth – Pandora also has the spacious Satu’li Canteen, a new, fast-casual restaurant in keeping with the attraction’s earth-friendly motif.

Forget burgers and dogs; this restaurant features “pods” (bao) and build-your-own bowls, with emphasis on grains, vegetables and healthy proteins. It also has indoor and outdoor dining with lots of “Avatar”-looking décor

Here's what's happening at Disney

Disney extends two-ship stay at Port Canaveral through 2018

Fireworks

Walt Disney World Resort guests can discover a very spectacular fireworks show at Magic Kingdom Park with "Happily Ever After." The stunning nighttime extravaganza features more lasers, lights and projections than any Magic Kingdom Park show before it. Characters and scenes from more than 25 Disney films are featured through state-of-the-art projections, enchanted by more than 50 choreographed spotlights, brilliant lasers and plenty of awe-inspiring fireworks.

But this is completely different.

“We used animation from the films and we also brought in new scenes. We asked the animators, in some cases the original animators who worked on these classic films years ago, to create fresh animation for this show,” Walt Disney World president George Kalogridis said.

How popular is the 18-minute show? According to Kalogridis, 2.1 million computer users saw a livestream presentation of it on its first night in May.

Rivers of Light is an all-new nighttime show at Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. Rich in symbolism and storytelling, the elaborate theatrical production takes guests on a breathtaking emotional journey -- a visual mix of water, fire, nature and light all choreographed to an original musical score. Rivers of Light will be performed on select nights.

 

Hear Animal Kingdom roar

Not to be outdone, Animal Kingdom has a new nighttime show of its own, “Rivers of Light,” that celebrates “the beauty of all living things” with water, fire, light and imagery, according to Disney.

Visually stunning, the elaborate theatrical production takes guests on a journey set to an original musical score. Rivers of Light will be performed on select nights.

Seared Scallop,Truffled Celery Root Puree, Brussel Sprout and Wild Mushrooms served up at the  Epcot International Food & Wine Festival preview party Sunday afternoon, for a tasting of food that will be served at this falls festival.

 

Good eats at Epcot

Epcot will have its day(s) at summer’s end, with its 22nd annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival – remember when it was a short, fall-only event? – scheduled to start Aug. 31 and carry on until Nov. 31.

That’s 75 days of 35 food and wine marketplaces, with India and Spain due to return to the international fold. India will offer Madras Red Curry and Pistachio Cardamom Bundt Cake. Spain will have Charcuterie in a Cone.

Two stormtroopers guard the entrance to the new Launch Bay attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

 

'Star Wars' in Hollywood

Meanwhile, back at Hollywood Studios, there’s yet more "Star Wars."

Star Wars Launch Bay now features BB-8, the loyal droid, as well as other character, and props from “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” are there too. By day, the stage show “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away” also has new AWR troopers from “Rogue One.

For more information, visit disney.go.com.

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