INTERCOT Insider October 2006 - Edition Two

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<< Introduction >>

It’s that time of year again when the tree’s become a canvas of brilliant golds, deep reds, and vibrant oranges. This annual explosion of color is a reminder that we are in that stage of Autumn where two very important “H’s” are upon us -- Halloween and Harvest. Whether you are putting those last touches on a spooky Halloween costume or enjoying some freshly made apple cider, the magic of the season has transcended upon us on a wave of crisp, cool air. To help celebrate the Spooky fun of the Halloween season and the delicious seasonal treats of the mid-Autumn harvest, the Insider is brining you a countdown of favorite Mickey’s Not-so-Scary Halloween Party “Treats” and a look at this year’s International Food and Wine Festival.

If that wasn’t enough Jen and Mary share their thoughts on the brand new Dream Along with Mickey show and we remind you of some great late Autumn savings on both INTERCOT attire and Orlando accommodations. So find your favorite comfy chair and pull on your favorite quilt -- it’s Insider time

<< Fall into Savings >>

- INTERCOT T-Shirt & Hat Combo - Now $15! -
These two items sold separately normally go for $30, but for a limited time in celebration of our 9th Anniversary, and our upcoming 10th Anniversary Celebration in 2007, we are offering the INTERCOT Classic T and Embroidered Baseball Cap Combo for only $15. Two combos ship for the price of one - so buy a couple! These won't last forever, and make a perfect Holiday gift for that special INTERCOTee (or gift to yourself)! So, get your INTERCOT ON, and be seen in the Parks supporting your favorite Disney Fan Site!

Visit the INTERCOT SHOP now to order!

- Gift Card Goodies from All Star Vacation Homes -
Does the crisp Fall weather have you thinking of the sunny blue skies over Florida and palm trees swaying in the breeze? Plan a Fall trip to beautiful Central Florida and enjoy the many attractions and thrills Orlando has to offer. All Star Vacation Homes is now offering a special incentive to guests who stay with us Late Fall through the middle of December. If you book a new reservation for stays between October 19 and December 15, 2006, you will receive a $50 Publix grocery gift card and a $50 BP gas card at time of check-in. From comfort to luxury, All Star Vacation Homes has it all in four series of homes to fit any taste and any budget just moments from the magic of Walt Disney World!

All Star Vacation Homes
 

- Late Autumn Accommodation Discounts  -
Walt Disney World is offering special accommodation discounts for guests traveling during late Autumn; specifically 10/30/06 - 11/18/06 and 11/25/06 - 12/1/06. Snow Birds are in luck too, as this discount also applies 12/9/06 - 12/23/06. Availability for these discounts is very limited, so guests should act quickly.

Details & Discussion
Magical Journeys
 

- Radisson Resort Discounts for INTERCOTees -
The Radisson Resort Orlando - Celebration is offering visitors of INTERCOT an exclusive $79.95 per night room rate through December 22nd. The Radisson Resort Orlando is a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel and is located only 1.5 miles from Walt Disney World. The resort provides shuttles to Disney, Sea World and Universal Studios, 718 remodeled guest rooms, 3 sparkling pools with waterfalls, 2 whirlpools and a 40' water slide, 5 on site food and beverage outlets. Visit the links below for details on pricing and to make reservations. Bookings must be made by October 15th.
Call today and save!

More Information
Reserve A Room Now

<< Festival Foodings >>

Epcot’s 11th Annual Food and Wine Festival has transformed World Showcase into a culinary World’s Fare showcasing and sampling international cuisine. While this Autumn tradition has many special meals, seminars and events; the centerpiece of this celebration is the collection of Food Booths scattered across World Showcase. These special booths give guests a chance to purchase appetizer sized International foods and beverages not normally available at World Showcase during the rest of the year. So let’s take a look at some of the INTERCOTee’s favorite food booths this year.

-Argentina-
New for the 2006 Festival, this booth offers Spicy Beef Empanadas, Grilled Beef Sirloin with Chimichurri, and Marinated Strawberries with Basil priced at $2.00 - $3.75 per serving. To accompany these meaty dishes, choose between Bodegas Salentein Chardonnay, El Portillo Pinot Noir, Bodegaas Salentein Malbec, El Portillo Cabernet Sauvignon priced at $2.00 - $3.50 per serving.

INTERCOTee Recommended: Spicy Beef Empanadas

-Australia-
This booth serves a number of dishes from down under like Shrimp on the Barbie, Beef Skewer with Green Bean Salad, Grilled Lamb Chop with Caramelized Onion, and Macadamia Nut Tartlet priced at $2.00 - $4.50 per serving. Also available are a number of “down under” drinks like Rosemount Traminer Riesling, Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon, Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet, Benjamin Tawny Port, and Foster's Lager priced at $2.25 - $5.75 per serving.

“The Grilled Lamb chop w/ onions was perfectly cooked and tender. Large serving too. I liked the Penfolds Shiraz-Cabernet so much I bought a bottle.” - WDW5150

-Morocco-
This booth invites guests to savor the exotic flavors of Beef Kefta, Chicken Bastilla, and Pistachio Baklava priced at $2.00 -$3.75 per serving. For the full experience, pair one of these delicacies with an exotic beverage like Ksar White, Guerrouane Red, Bodegas Pinord Moscatel, Casa Beer, and Iced Mint Tea priced at $2.00 - $5.25 per serving.

INTERCOTee Recommended: Beef Kefta and Casa Beer

-Champagne-
Celebrating everyone’s favorite “bubbly”, this booth offers Moet and Chandon Champagnes like White Star, Rose Imperial, Nectar Imperial, and Nectar Imperial Rose priced at $8.00 - $10.00 per serving. As the perfect confectionary accompaniment, the booth also offers a Duo of Chocolate Truffles priced at $3.00 per serving.

“My favorite booth. There were 4 choices of champagne and boxes of truffles. The box contained one white chocolate truffle and one dark chocolate truffle. Combined with the champagne, it was an excellent combination”.- McGoofy

-South Africa-
This booth offers the tasty trio of Bobotie with Mango Chutney, Durban Chicken with Mealie Pap, and Melktert priced at $1.50 - $3.25 per serving. This booth also offers the refreshing line-up of Beyond Sauvignon Blanc, Kanu Chenin Blanc, Indaba Merlot, and Indaba Shiraz priced at $2.25-$2.50 per serving.

INTERCOTee Recommended: Durban Chicken and Beyond Sauvignon Blanc

-Spain-
This booth offers the best of the Iberian Peninsula like A Taste of Spain Sampler, Papas Con Chorizo, and Albondigas priced at $2.75 - $3.25 per serving. And to sip the tastes of Spain, this booth offers Nora Albarino, Condessa de Leganza Crianza, and Montecillo Crianza priced at $2.25 - $3.00 per serving.

“I really liked the Spain sampler plate that had sausage, olives and toasted nuts” - Belle's Mom

-Italy-
This booth offers culinary gusto with Timballo alla Penne e Capri, Pizza alla Salsiccia, and Zeppole Fritte al Cioccolato priced at $2.75 - $3.50 per serving. Taste the countries epic vineyards, as the booth offers Sicilian Limonata, Soldo Pinot Grigio, Bellavista Moscato, Castello di Querceto Chianti, Banfi Rosa Regale, and Peroni Beer priced at $2.00 - $6.00 per serving.

INTERCOTee Recommended: Sicilian Limonata

-Wild & Wonderful Florida Shrimp-
This booth celebrates the Cajun under tones of central Florida cuisine with Chilled Rock Shrimp w/ Mango Salsa and Sauteed Shrimp w/ Ginger and Lime priced at $4.00 and $4.25 per serving. To go along with these edibles, the booth also offers imbibements like Blue Fish Riesling and Florida Orange Groves Mango Wine priced at $2.25 and $3.25 per serving.

“The Florida Orange Groves Mango Wine was wonderful stuff, but really too sweet-I think-to drink with food. It was very refreshing, however, and didn’t cling to your mouth and throat the way many sugary drinks do. It was like a really, really good wine cooler.” - sagessa

These elite 8 eateries are just a portion of the deliciously diverse 26 booths at the Festival. The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival continues through November 12, 2006 and entrance is included in regular Epcot Admission. If you are taking a trip between now and mid-November this Festival is a not-to-miss event.

Epcot's Annual International Food & Wine Festival

<< That’s Entertainment! with Jen and Mary >>

- Jen’s Dream along with Mickey Review -
by Jen (Conorsmom2000)

I caught the Dream Along with Mickey Show with Mary (MauiMouse), my husband Mike and my son Conor. Having just watched Fantasmic! For the first time, I do have to say that this show did remind me of that a bit.

But, it was a very nice change and my son loved it. It opened with the main characters, Goofy, Minnie, and Donald on stage, waiting for Mickey and talking about their dreams. I believe Minnie dreams of being a Princess, Goofy a pirate, but Donald does not believe in dreams. Then it went into a wonderful song and dance number with all the princesses dancing with their princes, then Mickey dancing with Minnie. (and he was quite the romantic at the end – If I remember correctly, he referred to Minnie as his princess, or something like that, which made her dream come true).

As Goofy came back out, so did the cast of Peter Pan, which led up to a fight scene between Captain Hook and Peter Pan. It was actually quite humorous as Captain Hook was being taunted about by Croc! Next, in a huge cloud of smoke, out came Maleficent! As she tried to spread her evil, and tell everyone dreams are nonsense, Mickey and gang triumphed by making the crowd believe in dreams. In the end, Donald comes around and does believe in dreams!

It was a very nice show, with something for everyone, and it was nice to see Donald in his “starring” role! I asked Conor what he thought and he said he loved it – I asked what his favorite part was and he said “the whole thing!!”

- Mary’s Dream along with Mickey Review –
by Mary (MauiMouse)

I also got to catch the new Dream Along with Mickey show in front of the castle on opening morning, September 30, 2006. I got to watch the show with Jen (Conorsmom2000), her husband Mike and son Conor. We had a great advantage point near the Partner Statue. I really enjoyed the new color scheme of the show as all the characters and actors were dressed in shades of blue, along with the background as well. Mickey looked so dapper in his blue tuxedo. The music was very catchy and upbeat. All your main characters are involved in the show so it should be something for the whole family to enjoy.

Dream Along With Mickey Pictorial & Video


<< INTERCOTee Top 5: Halloween Party “Treats >>

Boo! Yep, its that time of year again when spooks and ghouls alike come out in. Walt Disney World is no different as, on select nights throughout October, the Magic Kingdom transforms into Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. While the festivities are wrapping up for this Halloween season, there’s always next season to look forward too. So for those considering the party next year, the Insider has reviewed recent discussions and put together a countdown of the Top 5 Not-So-Scary Halloween Party “Treats”.

Coming in at number 5 … Shorter Lines for Attractions
The Halloween party is a after hours hard ticket event and that means restricted attendance. While the park is certainly not empty, the lines for most rides are much shorter during the party than they are during normal hours. Even when the party sells out (typically only happens on dates close to Halloween) the maximum number of guests admitted is about half of an average daily attendance.

Coming in at number 4 … Boo-To-You Halloween Parade
There’s only one parade lead by the Headless Horseman--Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade. This special parade features a cavalcade of Disney characters in their Halloween best and special floats such as the Haunted Mansion and Goofy’s Candy Machine.

Coming in at number 3 … Costumes
The Not-So-Scary Halloween party is one of the few times of the year where guests of all ages can experience the Magic Kingdom in costume. Dress up like your favorite Dwarf and meet Snow White, or dress up as your favorite Princess and find your Prince, the possibilities are nearly endless–-plus it’s just plain fun to dress up!

Coming in at number 2 … Happy HalloWishes
This special seasonal version of Wishes dazzles guests with special Halloween-themed fireworks and effects. HalloWishes features spooky music from family-friendly Disney attractions and movies including Haunted Mansion and “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” as well as the voices of memorable Disney characters such as Madame Leota, Ursula, Jafar, Maleficent and Oogie Boogie. If that wasn’t enough this is one of the few displays that features “perimeter fireworks” where fireworks are shot to give the effect that they are encompassing the guests.

And coming in at number 1 … Candy, Candy, Candy
What would a Halloween Party be with out goodies? Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party is no exception with oodles of ways to grab some goodies. Guests can encounter treat squads at the finale of the Boo-To-You Parade, along the Alice and Mad Hatter Treat Party Trail, at the Adventure Friends Treat Encounter and at nearly a dozen other treat locations around the park. Who wouldn’t want to Trick-or-Treat in the Magic Kingdom?

That’s it for the countdown, hope it’s given you some spooktakular reasons to plan for the 2007 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party.


<< Conclusion>>

That wraps it up for this issue. Hope this issue got your planning gears in motion for an Autumn trip to the world! We’ll be back in a few weeks with our regular monthly columns, but for now we need to make like a tree and leaf.

 
<< INTERCOT Would Like To Thank>>