Food and wine lovers can rejoice with the vast array of satisfying treats awaiting them at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival being held September 30 to November 13, 2011. With seminars, special events, cooking demonstrations and dining events taking place during this festival, there is something for everyone to enjoy – especially if you like food and wine!

The Festival Welcome Center will provide you with your Marketplace Discovery Passport that will get stamped each time you dine in the International Marketplace where a world of flavors awaits you from foods to luscious wines. With your Passport you can plan your day filled with international cuisine and culinary demonstrations. Admission to Epcot Theme Park is required.

The International Marketplace features over twenty-five international kiosks where you can sample foods from six continents with regional specialties along with recommended wine and beer pairings. Countries represented include Australia, Brazil, Scandinavia, Morocco, Portugal, South Africa and many others. There is a Brewer’s Collection along with Hops & Barley for beer lovers and a Cheese kiosk along with Desserts & Champagne.

Eat to the Beat! Concert Series – While at the festival you can enjoy a variety of music from soul, rock, R&B, and jazz with artists like Taylor Dayne, Jon Secada, .38 Special or Billy Ocean to name a few. Premium events include opportunities to meet chefs, celebrity speakers or winemakers that require an additional charge but they can be booked online:

“3D” Disney’s Dessert Discoveries – Hosted by DeKuyper Cordials & Liqueurs, if you have a sweet tooth you can enjoy delectable desserts while sipping cordials and a VIP viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.

Party for the Senses – You can enjoy dining while listening to popular artists and performances by Cirque du Soleil acts. This is presented by Vanity Fair, maker of premium napkins and plates.

Culinary Demonstrations – You can learn how to make your own delightful dishes when you watch a 45 minute demonstration by celebrated chefs and beverage professionals.

Mixology Seminars – You can learn how to make your own trendy cocktails at this Happy Hour where a mixologist will demonstrate and serve cocktails.

Beverage Seminars – A beverage expert or a winery representative will provide you with helpful tips while you sip wines or other beverages.

Mexican Pavilion Lunch or Tequila Tasting – You can sample tequila while dining on regional cuisine or you can have snacks while you taste your tequila.

Italian Pavilion Events – You will be able to try four different events at the Italian Pavilion from pizza and Italian beer pairings or desserts and Italian wine pairings. Others include a five course white truffle lunch with Italian wine pairings or a food and wine pairing with four courses.

French Pavilion Events – The French offer three different choices: lunch paired with wines from various regions, dinner by Chef Paul Bocuse, a 3 star Michelin chef and wines from the Rhone Valley or a tasting event of Grand Marnier.

At the Festival Welcome Center you will also find book signings by famous chefs and other food and wine experts along with celebrity cooking demonstrations. Plus you will find lots of shops that can explored throughout the International Food & Wine Festival.

For those planning a trip to Disney World between September 13 and November 1, 2011, you could take advantage of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party that is scheduled on special dates at the Magic Kingdom Theme Park. This event provides you with the opportunity to enjoy Halloween in a completely different way that the whole family will enjoy.

Because the theme of the event is titled Not-So-Scary, it means that the event will be appropriate for children of all ages so that the emphasis is on fun – not scary. There will be special music and lighting in specific areas of the Magic Kingdom along with Halloween themes to transform them into happy little haunted places for the family to enjoy.

As always at Disney World you can expect to be entertained in interesting and fun ways. Here are some of the reasons why you should take advantage of this special event to attend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party:

Halloween Costumes – Everyone in the family can dress up in their best Halloween costume because guests of all ages are encouraged to attend – from the little ones to adults – all will enjoy getting a chance to show off their favorite character with a costume that puts them in the mood for a party.

Trick-or-Treat – Everyone can collect candy the same as you would do at home – only you get to do it at the Magic Kingdom making it even more enticing.

Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade – Stars of the Haunted Mansion attraction and other Disney Characters will be part of the parade led by the Headless Horseman. Many will be in Halloween costumes including some well- known Disney Villains that you can “BOO” as they pass by.

Fireworks – A special Happy HalloWishes fireworks show will showcase the Disney Villains again – only this time they will go trick-or-treating in the sky.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is not scheduled every day during this period but only on specific dates. In September it is only scheduled two days per week – Tuesdays and Fridays - starting September 13. In October it continues its two day schedule but on different days each week with the schedule escalating towards the end of October with a final party on Tuesday November 1, 2011. Check the website for exact dates.

Attendance at Mickey’s No-So-Scary Halloween Party will require the purchase of a special event admission ticket. Why not make this year’s Halloween extra special by spending it at your favorite theme park - Disney World?

While you are pretty much guaranteed to have a great time when you visit the Disney theme parks, you’ll have an even better time if you manage to save money on your trip. By saving a little bit over a lot of areas, you can significantly reduce the amount you spend on your Disney World vacation. With just a little extra planning, you may save enough to pay for extra days in the park or even your airfare. Use these great ideas to minimize the cost of your next Disney vacation.

1. Stay Offsite: While Disney resorts offer interesting themeing and a few minor perks, they can’t match the amenities offered elsewhere. Some Disney resorts are so far away from the theme parks themselves, you have to ride on a bus for over 30 minutes just to get to the front gates. Staying offsite generally for example in a Florida rental villa provides you with far more luxurious and roomy accommodations with many more amenities than you’ll find in a similarly priced Disney room.  You may also find you’ll have better access to some of the Orlando areas other offerings if you stay in a site that is not Disney-centric. Universal Orlando, Islands of Adventure (including the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter) and Sea World are all more accessible to guests staying off of Disney property.

2. Travel off season: Plan your trip for less busy months; the best months for Florida travel include non-holiday dates from September-March each year. Not only is the weather better, but you‘ll save quite a bit on your travel and your accommodations as well.

3. Buy only the tickets you need: Disney World tickets can be confusing. Each ticket is purchased based on the length of your stay–so if you plan on visiting Disney World three times, buy a three day ticket, not three one-day tickets. You’ll save hundreds  just buy buying multiday tickets (called “Magic Your Way” tickets by Disney).

Don’t buy options you don’t need–the “Park hopper” Option is a useless expense if you don’t plan on going from park to park every day of your trip–and the water park option only makes sense if you plan on spending an entire day at a Disney-owned water park.

4. Pack essential items: Bring along items like over the counter medications, diapers and personal grooming items from home instead of purchasing them in Florida. Simple items like disposable rain ponchos can be found for under a dollar in your local big box store, but they will set you back $8.00 each in the Disney theme parks.

5. Pack some snacks: You don’t need to drag along a full-sized cooler each day, but bringing a few basic snacks along for the ride will save you quite a bit of cash each day. Pack a granola bar or similar non-perishable snack for each member of your party (even small children can wear a little backpack or belt pack). If you add a bottle of water or other beverage for each member of your group, you’ll save $2.50 a bottle. Simply packing a single snack and water a day will save you about $5.00 per day per person, adding up to over a hundred dollars a week for a family of four.

You’ll enjoy the same great rides, service and fun no matter how much you spend on your vacation, so plan ahead and save a bundle on your next Disney vacation.