Wow, what a fast summer! Kids are toting their backpacks to school but Disney continues to schedule big fun around my favorite season, autumn, and some of my favorite Disney characters too! I want to just move down to Orlando so I can be there year ‘round and catch all the special events, especially these I’ve uncovered for you for the month of September! Without further ado, let me tell you what is happening!
Now till September 28, 2014: School’s back in session but there is still time to see Frozen Summer Fun – Live at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but hurry because this event ends September 28, 2014!!! Olaf is updating everyone on all his summer vacation adventures. At 11:00 am each day, Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff are giving royal welcome to all in a horse-drawn sleigh down Hollywood Boulevard to the Sorcerer’s Hat Icon Stage where the royalty of Hollywood Studios welcome the Royalty from Arendelle! Since I’m a collector of all things snowman, I’ll be grabbing an Olaf stuffed toy on our next visit to Hollywood Studios from one of the Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post & Frozen Funland inside Soundstage One. Wonder if Olaf will teach me to ice-skate while I’m there?
Oh, oh, just found this little announcement from the Animation Gallery at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! The limited release, Summertime Pals, is going to be released on Saturday, September 27, 2014. Pre-orders are accepted through Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 5 pm EST. If you are an Olaf fan, you don’t want to miss this piece of Disney animation art!
September 19- November 11, 2014: Epcot’s 19th Food and Wine Festival. This festival is one of my favorites and not to be missed if you are in Orlando during this time. Your park ticket is all you need to attend the Food and Wine Festival! More than 100 wineries, breweries and cuisines from all over the world are setup in Kiosk to purchase samples of their wares ($4.00 – $8.00….cost of food is not included in your park adm
ission however) as you walk through the world showcase. Food and Wine hosts Eat to the Beat Concert Series with a different performer or group for your listening pleasure at 5:30 pm, 6:45 pm and 8:00 pm at the America Gardens Theater.
The scheduled performers for 2014 are:
09/19 – 09/21 – Jo Dee Messina
09/22 – 09/23 – The Pointer Sisters
09/24 – 09/25 – The Commodores
09/26 – 09/27 – Christopher Cross
09/28 – 09/29 – Hanson
09/30 – 10/02 – Air Supply
10/03 – 10/05 – Starship (starring Mickey Thomas)
10/06 – 10/08 – Sugar Ray
10/09 – 10/10 – Fuel
10/11 – 10/12 – Sister Hazel
10/13 – 10/14 – Richard Marx
10/15 – 10/16 – Billy Ocean
10/17 – 10/19 – Night Ranger
10/20 – 10/22 – Smash Mouth
10/23 – 10/24 – Jim Brickman
10/25 – 10/26 – Los Lonely Boys
10/27 – 10/28 – Wilson Phillips
10/29 – 10/31 – Dennis DeYoung, original member of the group STYX
11/01 – 11/02 – 38 Special
11/03 – 11/05 – Boyz II Men
11/06 – 11/07 – David Cook
11/08 – 11/10 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
There are lots of new sights and smells at Food and Wine this year: Farm Fresh Marketplace is replacing Florida Local Marketplace which will be serving some delicious dishes; an interactive challenge event, Boot Camp Series (more info soon!); Food for Thought is a celebrity cookbook event only on Friday mornings; and some celebrity chefs will be making appearances, Warren Brown, Paula DaSilva, Jamie Deen, Cake Boss Buddy Valastro, and John Stewart, plus others! Grab a map as you enter Epcot so you don’t fill up on samples before you get to one you really want to try!
September 5-6, 2014: Disney’s Night of Joy is a special two-night event featuring Christian performers, including this year, Matthew West, Chris Tomlin, Hillsong United, MercyMe, Phil Perry, Casting Crowns, and Skillet! Be sure to check the Lineup for your favorite’s performance time and stage location! Advance sales prices are $59.00 for one night; $108.00 for 2 nights (plus tax). A big savings here if you purchase by September 5, 2014, a 1-day admission to Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach or Disney Quest is included! There are a number of attractions in the park that will be open for those attending the Night of Joy and special group rates for 10+ are also available. Adult Chaperones are also treated as almost royalty, so Youth leaders make plans now!
September 1 – October 31, 2014: Ghost, Goblins, and Mickey invite you to join the Halloween fun at Disney’s Magic Kingdom! Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party has 26 nights schedule where Magic Kingdom is decked out for Halloween fun, including a special parade, exclusive hours to see all the favorite Disney gang in their Halloween finery. Along with the favorite traditional Trick – or – Treating within the park at the special Trick-or-Treat stations and Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade, rumor has it the Disney Villains have taken over Cinderella’s Castle for a wickedly sinister soiree (additional cost for this event in addition to MNSSHP ticket, $99). Be sure to get the special PhotoPass Magic shot done for your ghoulish surprise during the party.
Do not miss the Happy Hallowishes Fireworks show. Disney does special eye-candy with their fireworks. (Psssttt…. Just a little secret… if you don’t want to do the whole party but are a fireworks fiend like we are, you can grab a hammock on the Polynesian Resort Beach and see the fireworks from there.) Speaking from experience buy your NSSHP tickets early to get the night you want. October 31 is already sold out… Ticket prices range from $58 to $77 for adults; children $53 – $72 (always — + tax), prices vary the closer the calendar moves to Halloween.
September 26-28, 2014: Disney is challenging all you fitness conscious mouseketeers with a three-day competitive fitness event to test your athletic stamina with tests of your speed, power, balance, strength and endurance. The competition is categorized by age and skill levels, ranging from squats and pushups to muscle ups, in which you collect performance-based points. I think I’ll sit on the sideline and cheer the participants on! Registration for this event opened March 18, 2014, so get up and move if you want to compete in Disney Fit Challenge at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Annual Disney Races: Although most of these annual Disney Races are not in September, I do want to mention them since registration is required for most of them. Specifically, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend is coming up in October and does vary in registration fees depending on the date of registration. This particular race is October 3 – 4, 2014. The race is a nighttime race that covers ESPN Wide World of Sports, Hollywood Studios (including the Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show), and ends at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction! There are several races during this weekend: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-miler, Happy Haunted 5k Trail Run, Kids Dash, and Kids’ 1-mile run. Registration includes the Disney Villains Hollywood Bash which is the after-party. Participants’ friends and family can purchase the after party tickets for $65 from 5/29/14 – 9/3/14 or $75 9/4/
14 and after.
Get up, put on your ears, and make plans to go to Walt Disney World in September!
Till Next time have a magical month!
Leigh Anne
Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple and STRESS FREE! And for a limited time only, receive a FREE Disney gift card for qualifying Disney vacation packages! Ask for details!
Leigh Anne, originally from Mississippi, lives in North Alabama with her husband and a menagerie of furry kids (FIDS), including dogs, cats, exotic birds, fish and a lionhead rabbit. Figment, her African Grey parrot, is named after Disney’s small purple dragon, Figment. She works as a motivational speaker and pastoral counselor. In 1974, Leigh Anne marched with the Enka High Marching Band in the Magic Kingdom daytime parade. Leigh Anne fell in love with Disney while on her Disney honeymoon with her husband in 2002. They have made an annual trip back to Disney to celebrate their anniversary every year since. Since they own a piece of the mouse with their Disney Vacation Club (DVC), some years they go twice! She also plans to be the grandmother that introduces all her grandchildren to Disney World first. She has a great start ~ 2 out of 3 so far! As a DVC member married to the best Disney shopper in the world, Leigh Anne has lots of experience in finding the most frugal way to have the most fun in the parks and resorts! Leigh Anne admits to being spoiled as a DVC member but is always on the lookout to keep their WDW vacations fun and frugal! She blogs at Queen of Hysteria and tweets @la_haygood
Want to know when Disney announces special savings and deals? Sign Up to Learn About the Latest Disney Promotions!
