I just received a text from a friend telling me that one of the biggest parties of the year has been canceled, and I must say I am a bit down. 

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has officially been canceled this year, along with other key mainstays in the Disney summer and fall playlist.

But don’t fret, friends!

I also received some great news that will offset that disappointment, and that comes in the form of a new festival to indulge in!  

Let’s Start With the Good News!

Something To Look Forward To!

A new food and wine event is coming to Epcot, and it is spectacular!

This event, entitled “A Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival!” will be a great way to celebrate the reopening of Epcot. 

Get ready for some seriously good food this July! Photo by Brett Svenson

It will give a great glimpse of all of the different flavors and introduce guests to new portions of the park.

Flower and Garden Meets Food and Wine

To add, Disney also plans to release new surprises, like merchandise and topiaries, over the duration of the festival.

From Disney, “… if you’ve ever imagined a world where the floral fun of Flower & Garden is sprinkled in with the global goodies of Food & Wine, here’s your chance – guests will be able to see our newest topiary, Remy, in the France pavilion and find Flower & Garden merchandise.”

Get ready to play Remy’s Hide and Squeak this July! Photo by Rich Ramos

The new festival will be a long-running one, starting on July 15 and going through the fall. 

This will give guests time to sample great food and wine pairings while having the opportunity to see the new Remy topiary in the France pavilion and play his Hide and Squeak scavenger hunt.

Eat to the Beat Canceled for 2020

Another loss is the ever-popular “Eat to the Beat Concert Series” held at Epcot. The music will still be happening on the streets and at pavilions throughout the day at intervals.

From Disney, “We know the popular musical acts during the “Eat to the Beat Concert Series” often pack the house, and, in an effort to accommodate proper physical distancing, we will not be able to host these concerts this year. There will be plenty of music to enjoy at America Gardens Theatre with local EPCOT entertainment such as Mariachi Cobre, the JAMMitors, and more. These fan favorites will spread out their performances throughout the day, giving audiences more options to enjoy them. “

We will miss rocking out this year at EPCOT. Photo by Courtney Reynolds

For me, the most notable loss on this list of cancellations would be the collection of nightly fireworks and daily shows that bring the parks to life. 

Unfortunately, if the event is going to cause a large crowd gathering, then it probably will not happen in the near future.  

What About Christmas Events? 

If you are planning to visit Disney around the Christmas holidays, know that Disney officials are monitoring the Covid-19 situation closely and are keeping health and safety a top priority.

While we don’t know anything other than speculation, we are hoping that events such as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays, along with its coordinating Candlelight Processional will run as normal!

Disney always finds ways to keep things magical, and that includes finding new ways to take care of its Guests.

Keep checking our blog for the most current information on how you can best plan your Disney escape. Even better, Subscribe to the print edition to get WDW Magazine delivered to your door each month or subscribe to the digital edition to read it online.