Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Concert Series

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival returns Sept. 30 not only with plenty to tempt the palate but also with a heaping side order of music for the ears. Pop songstress Taylor Dayne opens 2011′s 18-act Eat to the Beat concert series with performances on the first three evenings of the 45-day festival.

The musical menu that follows Dayne in October and November has about as much variety as the festival marketplaces, including classic rock, prog rock, soul, R&B, jazz and funk hit-makers. The lineup includes three Eat to the Beat newcomers: Gin Blossoms, The Pointer Sisters and The Orchestra starring former members of ELO.

Here’s the lineup (entertainment is subject to change without written notice):

Sept. 30-Oct. 2: Taylor Dayne
Oct. 3-5: .38 Special
Oct. 6-7: Jon Secada
Oct. 8-9: Roger Hodgson (formerly of Supertramp)
Oct. 10-12: Billy Ocean
Oct. 13-16: Starship starring Mickey Thomas
Oct. 17-19: Sugar Ray
Oct. 20-21: The Orchestra starring former members of ELO
Oct. 22-23: Howard Jones
Oct. 24-26: Boyz II Men
Oct. 27-28: Gin Blossoms
Oct. 29-30: Sister Hazel
Oct. 31-Nov. 1: Hanson
Nov. 2-3: The Pointer Sisters
Nov. 4-6: Night Ranger
Nov. 7-8: Air Supply
Nov. 9-10: Richard Marx
Nov. 11-13: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Performances are at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. at America Gardens Theatre and are included with Epcot admission.

International Food & Wine Festival Party at Epcot

Disney and celebrity chefs will team with winemakers and brew masters from around the world to get the party started Sept. 30. During the six-week festival, guests will discover:

Three new tasting marketplaces — Hawaii, Caribbean Islands and Portugal — plus new menu offerings at popular returning marketplaces
Celebrity chef appearances starring top culinarians like Jeff Henderson, Cat Cora, Alan Wong, Gale Gand, Suvir Saran, Jamie Deen, Rock Harper, Celina Tio, Robert Irvine, Andrew Zimmern, Buddy Valastro, Warren Brown, Art Smith, Keegan Gerhard and more.
First-ever HGTV home entertaining seminars each Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The Cranberry Bog display by Craisins telling the story behind the venerable cranberry’s rich agricultural heritage.
Daily wine seminars, bottle signings, author events and culinary demonstrations at the Festival Welcome Center.
Eat to the Beat! concerts three times nightly at America Gardens Theatre.

Exotic cocktails will pair like a tropical daydream with fresh new tastes from more than one island paradise at the 16th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 30-Nov. 13, 2011, at Walt Disney World Resort. The one-of-a-kind 45-day festival serves up international cuisine, culture and entertainment from six continents, with more than 25 international marketplaces featuring tapas-sized portions paired with beer, wine and inventive new cocktails.

List of the Walt Disney Characters

If there is one thing that can be said Walt Disney World, it’s that the resort is full of character—and characters. From character dining to thrill rides to photo opportunities throughout the park, Disney relies on its characters to give guests the full experience of founder Walt Disney’s cinematic vision. The vast majority of Walt Disney characters found at the resorts and parks originated with Disney films or television shows; in some cases Disney has bought the rights to license characters from popular film franchises such as Star Wars and The Muppet Show. And then there are characters—like Epcot’s Figment—that were created specifically for a ride.

The following list of Walt Disney Characters shows the wide variety of famous faces that have appeared in various parts of Walt Disney World in recent years. As some characters are phased out, new ones are added, so it is never the same experience twice at the Walt Disney World resort:

List of Walt Disney Characters

• Aladdin
• Abby Mallard
• Abu
• Alice
• Annie (Little Einsteins)
• Anastasia
• Ariel
• Aurora
• Baloo
• Beast
• Belle
• Bert (Bert and Ernie)
• Bert (Mary Poppins)
• Big Al
• Bo Beep & Her Sheep
• Brer Rabbit
• Brer Bear
• Brer Fox
• Bullseye
• Buzz Lightyear
• Captain Hook
• Chewbacca
• Chicken Little
• Chip & Dale
• Cinderella
• Cinderella's Mice
• Clara Cluck
• Clarabelle Cow
• Clarence Chipmunk
• Clopin
• Cornataurus
• Cruella De Ville
• Daisy Duck
• Darkwing Duck
• Donald Duck
• Dopey
• Doug & Patti
• Drizella
• Dwarfs
• Eeyore
• Elastigirl
• Esmeralda
• Evil Queen
• Ewoks
• Fairy Godmother
• Fawn
• Figment
• Flik
• Francis Ladybug
• Friar Tuck
• Frozone
• Frollo
• Genie
• Geppetto
• Gideon
• Gold Dust Pete
• Goliath (Jo Jo's Circus)
• Goofy
• Gov Radcliffe
• Green Army Men
• Horace Collar
• Handy Manny
• Hyacinth Hippo
• Hercules
• Incredibles - Mr Incredible
• Iridessa
• Incredibles - Elastigirl
• J.Worthington Foulfellow
• Jafar
• Jane (from Tarzan)
• Jane Porter
• Jasmine
• Jessie
• Jo Jo (Jo Jo's Circus)
• June (Einsteins)
• Jiminy Cricket
• Kermit / Miss Piggy
• Kenai & Koba
• Kida
• Kim Possible
• King Louie
• Launchpad McQuack
• Lady Tremaine
• Leo (Einsteins)
• Little John
• Liverlips
• Mad Hatter
• Malificent
• Mary Poppins
• Max, Goofy's Son
• Meeko
• Meg (Hercules)
• Mickey Mouse
• Milo Thatch
• Minnie Mouse
• Miss Piggy
• Mister Incredible
• Mister Penguin
• Mota Tige & Spider
• Mowgli
• Mr Smee
• Mulan & Shang
• Mushu
• Nemo
• Peter Pan
• Phoebus
• Piglet
• Pinocchio
• Pluto
• Pocahontas
• Pooh
• Power Rangers
• Prince Charming
• Prince John
• Prince Naveen
• Princess Aurora
• Princess Atta
• Quasimodo
• Quincy (Little Einsteins)
• Queen of Hearts
• Rafiki
• Rabbit (Pooh)
• Red Queen
• Robinsons
• Rosetta
• Ron Stoppable
• Robin Hood
• Scrooge McDuck
• Shaker
• Shan-Yu
• Sheriff of Nottingham
• Silvermist
• Snow White
• Snow Queen
• Stitch
• Stromboli (Pinnochio)
• Suzy & Perla
• Tarzan
• Terk
• Three Caballeros
• Tiana
• Tigger
• Timon
• Tinkerbelle
• Thumper
• Tweedle Dum/Dee
• Wendell
• White Rabbit / March Hare
• Wicked Witch
• Winnie the Pooh
• Wendy
• Woody