Candlelight Processional Narrators Announced!

The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year and with it comes the return of Epcot® International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth. This special event runs Nov. 29-Dec. 30, 2019, inviting you to discover holiday cheer throughout Epcot and across all 11 World Showcase pavilions. Seasonal fun includes sweet and savory treats at Holiday Kitchens throughout the park and special entertainment such as the Guest-favorite Candlelight Processional.

Held in the America Gardens Theatre, the Candlelight Processional is a cherished part of the Walt Disney World® holiday season, combining the talents of a live orchestra, massed choir and celebrity narrator in the retelling of the traditional Christmas story in a spectacular and heartwarming performance!

Here’s the line-up of celebrity narrators* confirmed to-date, and stay tuned for updates as additional narrators are announced:

• Neil Patrick Harris – 12/2-12/5

• Whoopi Goldberg – 12/6-12/7

• Gary Sinise – 12/13-12/15

• Pat Sajak – 12/16-12/18

• Steven Curtis Chapman – 12/22-12/24

• Edward James Olmos – 12/25-12/26

The Candlelight Processional is performed three times per night (5, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m.), and guaranteed seating is available by booking a breakfast, lunch or dinner Candlelight Processional Dining Package at select Epcot eateries. Availability is limited and advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made up to 180 days prior to your visit. Bookings for Candlelight Processional Dining Packages will begin on July 3, 2019.

Following the show, you can shop “around the world” to find the perfect holiday gift with a variety fragrances, specialty handbags, ornaments, toys, dolls, jewelry and stocking stuffers available at merchandise locations across Future World and World Showcase. And you can also catch the new, limited-time nighttime spectacular, Epcot Forever, debuting at Epcot this October.

The Christmas season is such a magical time to be at Walt Disney World! It’s not too late top plan a visit! Our travel consultants can help you plan the perfect visit!

Contact us to for more info!

or email us at info@uponastartravel.com

Save up to 20% for Fall and Holiday room rates at Walt Disney World

From festively themed entertainment to photo-worthy decor to sweet treats, it's a phenomenal time of year to visit Walt Disney World Resort. And staying in the middle of the magic makes it even easier for your family to become swept up in the spirit of the fall and holiday seasons.

With this offer, you can save up to 20% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels.

• Book through October 7, 2018 for stays most Sunday through Thursday nights October 8 through November 8, 2018. 
• Book through December 24, 2018 for stays most nights November 11 through December 24, 2018.

Let's plan a magical vacation! Contact an Upon A Star Travel Expert HERE today!

The 2018 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Starting Thursday, June 14, 2018, favorite festival events including celebrity chef demonstrations, Eat to the Beat dining packages, Party for the Senses grand tasting experiences, beverage and cheese seminars and other fun events go on sale.

The festival’s 23rd year runs from Aug. 30-Nov. 12, 2018.

Celebrity chefs this year include new stars like Cooking Channel host Tiffani Thiessen and Richard Blais, along with returning favorites like Alex Guarnaschelli, Robert Irvine, Masaharu Morimoto, Buddy Valastro, Art Smith and Carla Hall and many others.

Brand new events to this year’s festival include:

• • Sunday Brunch with the Chef: This two-hour event includes a brunch buffet and featuring a distinguished culinary television personality.  While enjoying a meal inspired by some of our VIP guest’s favorite dishes, attendees will be part of an in-depth question-and-answer session featuring kitchen tips, tricks and insights. Finally, foodies are in for a fabulous pièce de résistance: a sparkling wine toast and an exclusive meet-and-greet photo opportunity with our celebrated gourmet guest.

• Food & Beverage Pairing: Your Clients can learn from the pros at these 45-minute sessions, held each Friday to Sunday. They can enjoy a collaboration between the featured chef and beverage presenter, pick up a few tips and best of all – taste the demonstrated dish and beverage pairing.

Family fun activities will abound during the festival, including the return of Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak scavenger hunt, and new offerings like an interactive playground, a character dance party on Friday and Saturday evenings and a new Junior Chef Kitchen, program offered every Sunday and designed with kids in mind.

Stay tuned for updates on this year’s celebrity chef events, special activities and other fun.

It's not too late to get a reservation to head down and experience the festival! Contact our expert agents HERE today!!

Incredible Summer Offer from Walt Disney World!

Disney is creating an Incredible Summer for everyone! Staying in the middle of the magic will help make a Walt Disney World Resort vacation even more super—especially when there are new and exciting experiences debuting at all 4 parks.

With this offer, you  could save on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights June 11 through August 1, 2018:

• Save up to 25% on rooms, when you book by May 22, 2018.
• Save up to 20% on rooms, when you book by August 1, 2018.

This offer is very limited and there are restrictions. 

• The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited.
• Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room.
• Additional per adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts.
• Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion.
• Advance reservations required.
• Offer excludes the following room types: campsites, 3-bedroom villas, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms at Disney's Art of Animation Resort and Bungalows at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.

With Toy Story Land opening June 30, this will truly be an Incredible Summer at Walt Disney World! You don't want to miss it! If you don't have a reservation for this Summer, contact our expert agents today here!

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New Childcare Experience at Walt Disney World

The new Pixar Play Zone for “Kids Night Out” will debut on April 13, 2018 at the Contemporary Resort.  Kids ages 4-12 can enjoy an immersive experience and adventure with their favorite Toy Story and Incredibles friends. 

They will start with Space Ranger Training where the kids will learn how to recognize and battle their enemies of the Star Command. They’ll then join Woody’s Roundup and learn the ropes of the Wild West with they’re favorite Cowboy & Cowgirl- Woody and Jessie. During the Piston Cup Challenge, kids will be able to build a race car and take it for a spin on the Radiator Springs Racetrack. To finish off the night, they’ll dance the night away at the Incredible Dance Party with Mr. and Mrs. Incredible! Also included with this fun night of games, characters and dancing is dinner and dessert!!

The Pixar Play Zone will be open nightly from 6pm-10:30pm and cost $65 per child (plus tax).  Parents can begin signing kids in as early as 5pm.  You do not need to be a guest at the contemporary to enjoy this event.  Please only register children who are fully potty trained! While your kids are occupied, parents get to enjoy their own kid free night at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Reservations are now available!  Contact your Upon A Star Agent for more details and to book!

A Path Less Traveled: Disney's Animal Kingdom 20th Anniversary

As a part of the 20th anniversary celebration of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, you can get an insider’s look at some of the ways Disney brings the magic of nature to life in a new limited-time experience called A Path Less Traveled – Disney’s Animal Kingdom 20th Anniversary tour. This collection of experiences will take you backstage to tour the vet hospital and Animal Nutrition Center, perform a nest check on a purple martin birdhouse as part of a Disney’s conservation project, gaze at some of the park’s largest inhabitants during Caring for Giants and end the day with VIP viewing of Rivers of Light. 

A Path Less Traveled will be offered daily from April 1-May 5, 2018. Tours can be booked in advance for $59 per person, plus tax.

This sounds like a great way to add some extra magic to your next trip!

Contact your Upon A Star Agent today here!

Egg-stravaganza scavenger and more at Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival

From March 16-April 1, 2018 you can visit the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival and participate in our Egg-stravaganza scavenger hunt – hunting high and low in World Showcase for “eggs” that portray favorite Disney characters. 

As you find the hidden Disney Character-themed “eggs” in the park, you can record their discoveries by placing a corresponding sticker on a specially themed Egg-stravaganza map. Maps and stickers can be purchased for $5.99, plus tax at the following parks and locations:

• Disney Trader
• Pin Central
• World Traveler

When you have found all of the “eggs” and complete the scavenger hunt map, you can return it to Disney Traders for a sp-egg-tacular surprise.

Also, featured will be a new springtime scavenger hunt called Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration. In this hunt, Disney’s favorite honey bee, Spike, has been pollinating his way around the festival, giving gardeners of any age the chance to follow his pollination trail around World Showcase at Epcot.

It’s easy to start this new scavenger hunt. You can pick up a garden map and stickers at Port of Entry. Then, it’s time to look for Spike! 

As you explore the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, be on the lookout for Spike as he pollinates Epcot’s gardens. In each garden, you have to search for the plant Spike has pollinated, identifiable by Spike himself and a Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration plant stake. Once you find him, they can add the corresponding sticker to your map. 

After your journey is complete, you can return their map for a springtime surprise.

Maps and stickers for Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration can be purchased for $5.99, plus tax at Port of Entry.

What a fun addition to your magical vacation!

For help planning your next magical vacation, contact us today!

12 Days of Christmas: Day 10! ✨Enchanted Tales with Belle✨

This attraction a very special way to have your little ones interact with Belle from Beauty & the Beast! First, wander through Belle & Maurice’s cottage and workshop; you then magically find yourselves within the Beast’s castle! The kids will help re-enact the “tale as old as time” once you travel into the library and see Lumiere as well. Soon after, Belle will come in to meet everyone & each child will have a chance to meet & take pictures with the princess! 

Contact your Upon a Star agent to FastPass this attraction for your next Disney vacation!