LPWire: Walt Disney World Resort RoundUp
What's cool? Guests who head over to Disney's BoardWalk June 27-29 are in for way-cool fun. Disney Adventures Magazine's Cool Summer Nights event offers interactive fun each evening from 5-10 p.m. Disney Adventures hosts carnival-style games, sport challenges and live entertainment showcasing an extreme bike and rollerblade stunt show and the popular Disney Adventures Trivia Challenge Stunt Show.
The "Special Innovation" award at the second annual America's Best Wine Lists competition at the Monterey Wine Festival went to Walt Disney World Resort. The award recognizes restaurant wine programs that cut new territory in the industry, altering the landscape for consumers and competitors, said Doug Frost, director of the awards.
The nationwide competition recognizes wine lists that are in harmony with the restaurant's cuisine and concept, acknowledging wine lists that are user friendly, easy to use and original. Eleven awards were presented.
Jiko-The Cooking Place at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge received the AAA Four Diamond Award for 2003, one of only 10 Central Florida restaurants ever to achieve the status.
Only 4 percent of the 41,000 AAA-rated lodgings and restaurants have attained this level of excellence, according to AAA. The Disney restaurant, run by the team of Chef Anette Grecchi Gray and manager Keith Landry, serves South African-inspired cuisine and offers award-winning South African wines.
Mitsukoshi USA, Inc. recently debuted a major renovation at the Epcot Japan pavilion, the first since the pavilion opened more than 20 years ago. The 10,000-square-foot store is divided into four areas: Festivity, Silence, Harmony and Interest. Additions include the Nishiki Food Market where guests can experience a sake tasting bar that features five micro-brewed selections, available for sale by the glass or bottle.
The biggest expansion is in the Interest section, encompassing everything from Samurai swords to clocks and famous Mikimoto pearls. A giant selection of Dragonball Z, Totoro, Gundam and Yu-Gi-Oh cards, models and animation paraphernalia is popular with young collectors.
--Posted May 19, 2003
Source: Walt Disney World Resort