Toothsome Chocolate Factory is one of the newest restaurants now open at Universal CityWalk. Over the last three years, they have opened an incredible array of new venues at Universal CityWalk. But none quite compares to The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, which is officially open.

From the very first discussions about this concept, I knew it was going to be something special. Look, there are lots of places where you can get a good meal. But there is, literally, nothing like visiting The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium.

Here are a few reasons why I believe your expectations will be blown away when you come here.

Toothsome Chocolate Factory Amazing Theming

From the minute you lay eyes on the steaming smokestacks from across the lagoon, you know you’re in for a treat. Once inside, you’re transported into a steampunk fantasy with brass piping, rich leathers, and mechanical gadgetry.

In our business, we always try to eliminate what we call “blind spots”. That is, places where the theming ends and you’re left just staring at a regular wall or an everyday table. After months of being in here, I haven’t found a blind spot yet. It’s as immersive as stepping into one of our theme parks.

Delicious Dining
That same attention to detail is also found in your meals. Every dish offers a unique take on some of your favorite foods. And with a menu that—literally—is a book, there’s something for the pickiest to the most adventurous of eaters in your family.

And if you haven’t heard about our desserts yet—boy, are you in for a treat. While our milkshakes are getting all the headlines, the entire dessert menu is a delight for your taste buds.

Toothsome Chocolate Factory The Complete Experience

But beyond the feel of the place and the incredible food, what really sets this restaurant apart is the personal experience you’ll have. You’ll find wait staff that treats you like old friends. Bartenders that can spin you a tale while they craft you a drink.

And of course, there’s Penelope and Jacques—our humble proprietor and her trusty robot best friend. You’re in for a treat when they visit your table. Just ask them a question, and you’ll be delighted with tales of her travels, her inventor father, and how Jacques came to be.

Put that all together, and you’ve got a dining experience like nothing you’ve ever had. So come on down and join us. Full-service dining is available for lunch and dinner. The gift shop and Dessert Foundry are open all day, starting at 11am. Enjoy!

*The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen is not accepting reservations at this time.*

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, Now Open at Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando’s newest immersive dining experience is now officially open at Universal CityWalk with a diverse, radically innovative menu that also raises the art of chocolate to an entirely new level.

A world of unimaginable desserts, delectable dishes and a one-of-a-kind atmosphere awaits at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen.

The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium is unlike anything ever created at Universal Orlando.  The 19^th Century Steampunk-themed restaurant offers guests a unique dining experience that offers something for everyone – and takes one of the world’s most popular confections to the next level. 

Guests can enjoy everything from twists on classic steaks, seafood and pasta entrees to gourmet burgers and sandwiches to an “all-day brunch” menu featuring French toast, crepes and more.  Guests can also satisfy their sweet tooth with an incredible dessert selection that includes artisan milkshakes topped with delicious items such as Key Lime Pie, Red Velvet cupcake and chocolate-covered bacon – as well as a variety of sundaes and additional sweet treats that are a chocolate-lovers dream.

Guests will also be able to watch the preparation of dessert and shake creations– and interact with Penelope and her trusty robot companion Jacques, the proprietors of The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium.

The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen is located near the entrance to Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park. For more information, visit www.universalorlando.com.

Halloween meets the sea every weekend in October during SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular. This family-friendly event immerses guests in an underwater “fantasea” with trick-or-treating, whimsical pumpkin fish, sea-themed arts and crafts, and up-close animal encounters.

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular takes place from 12 p.m. to park close every weekend, October 1-30. Like all special events at SeaWorld, Halloween Spooktacular is included with park admission.

Spooktacular Highlights Include:

• Waves of Trick-or-Treat Fun – Costumed youngsters can trick-or-treat for ghoulish goodies.  Each sea-themed, trick-or-treat station features an assortment of candy favorites including Tootsie Roll and SunRype Fruit To Go, just to name a few.

• Penelope’s Garden Party – This dynamic “underwater” environment comes to life each weekend with a live DJ, animal interactions, a variety of craft opportunities, bubbles floating overhead and whimsical sea-themed characters.

• Sesame Street’s Countdown to Halloween – Celebrate a Spooktacular Halloween at SeaWorld with The Count, Elmo, Abby, and the rest of everyone’s Sesame Street friends!  The Count is feeling lonely this Halloween, and it’s up to you and the loveable monsters from Sesame Street to get him into the Halloween spirit.  Batty bats and spooky skeletons join the fun in a song filled stage show that invites you and your family to dance, play and sing along.

• Spooktacular Dance Party – Children join Princess Penelope and her under-the-sea friends for a Spooktacular Dance Party where they can participate in line-dancing favorites as clouds of bubbles fill the evening air. The party will kick off at the Village Square in the front of the park every event night one hour before park closing.

Spectacular Spooky Add-Ons available at SeaWorldOrlando.com:

• Dine With Shamu Halloween Spooktacular Brunch – Guests can celebrate with an immersive and memorable brunch experience at Dine With Shamu. They will enjoy seasonal items and reserved tables that bring them up close to majestic killer whales.  There also are some Halloween surprises including a family photo in a decorative frame and a free cookie decorating kit. Prices begin at $28 plus tax for adults and $16 plus tax for kids. Pass Members receive a 10% discount.

• Meet and Greet with Cookie Monster at SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular- Meet Cookie Monster from Sesame Street during SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular. For just $19 per person, guests can meet the character at SeaFire Grill and enjoy his favorite treat: a cookie! Plus, every guest receives a printed photo of their meet-and-greet to take home. Pass Members receive a 10% discount.

• Reserved Seating: Sesame Street’s Countdown to Halloween- Enjoy a reserved seat at a showtime of your choice for Sesame Street’s Countdown to Halloween show at SeaWorld Orlando. Priced at $19 per person, guarantee a seat for a showtime of your choice.

Best Way to Play:

The best way for families to experience SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular is with a SeaWorld Annual Pass. Enjoy 12 months of unlimited admission with no blockout dates and free parking starting at $14 a month with EZpay, for details visit www.SeaWorldOrlando.com.

Come along with YouTubers, The Jones Family, as they spend an afternoon at SeaWorld Spooktacular.

SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration:

Just around the corner, waves of holiday spirit splash over the park during SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays November 25 through December 11 and daily December 16 through 31.  Guests can make holiday memories by enjoying live shows, festive shopping and delicious food. Stay tuned for all-new holiday news and returning favorites soon.

Last Chance to see Main Street Electrical Parade at Walt Disney World before it ‘Glows Away’ Oct. 9

An enduring Disney Parks classic, the Main Street Electrical Parade, will take its shimmering farewell trip through Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World in Florida on Oct. 9, 2016.

Since making its Florida premiere in 1977, the parade has become one of the most beloved entertainment spectacles anywhere. Watching the Main Street Electrical Parade has to become a rite of passage with parents and grandparents eager to share the nostalgic experience with their children. Families will have one more chance to see the parade and share this special memory, on select nights, before it departs.

Parade Heads to Disneyland in California For a Limited Engagement Beginning Early 2017

The vibrant parade, a perennial favorite with Disney guests, will next travel cross-country to Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., for a limited engagement beginning early next year.

Brought to light in the early 1970s, the original Main Street Electrical Parade helped establish a Disney Parks reputation for innovative, trend-setting live entertainment. As lights go down along the parade route, the parade brings a variety of beloved Disney animated feature films to life through three-dimensional floats covered with approximately half a million colorful LED twinkling lights. The parade’s iconic musical theme, the electrically synthesized “Baroque Hoedown,” is interwoven with favorite Disney themes. It all adds to the unique upbeat excitement of the procession.

Some of the parade’s most impressive scenes are the 23-foot-tall Clock Tower over Cinderella’s Ball, complete with elegant ballroom dancers in light-covered costumes; the smoke-breathing, tail-wagging Pete’s Dragon; and the 108-foot-long red, white and blue flag finale. Other characters who make appearances include Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and, of course, Mickey Mouse.

The Main Street Electrical parade at Walt Disney World Resort will not appear during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party nights. Walt Disney World guests interested in seeing the parade before it departs on Oct. 9 can check for the latest parade dates and times on WaltDisneyWorld.com or in the My Disney Experience app.

WDW Throwback Tees from The Disney Store Online

Ride back in time with classic Disney Parks moments and attractions with limited release YesterEars vintage collection Disney tees! This collection features Camp Minnie-Mickey, the Walt Disney World Village and The Neverland Club. All of which are extinct places at Walt Disney World.

These tees are only available through Sept 22, so don’t wait to get your order in!

Great news, there’s a special offer too — They are just $24 each when you buy 2 or more. The regular prices is $27.99 each.

Like other limited release tees from The Disney Store, these shirts won’t ship for 3-5 weeks, but they are worth the wait! Click here to order.

21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival by the numbers

Walt Disney World Resort guests are invited to join the fun when the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival presented by Chase turns 21 from Sept. 14-Nov. 14, 2016. The longer-than-ever party will feature global and specialty cuisine, refreshing new beverages and three live concerts nightly.

The 62-day festival at Disney’s Epcot theme park will showcase 30 global marketplaces including four new Future World marketplaces featuring fresh culinary concepts to pair with select wines, beers, cocktails and other beverages. ABC’s Emmy Award-winning lifestyle series, “The Chew,” will broadcast from the festival for the second year and will participate in one of the new Future World festival marketplaces, The Chew Collective. The festival is believed to be the largest food and wine event of its kind in the world.

62 Days of Delicious Fun To Celebrate  21 Festival Years at Walt Disney World Resort

Here are some fun facts about the 21st festival celebration:

• Now 62 days long, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival began in 1996 with a first run of 30 days
• At the 2016 festival, 30 global marketplaces will include new offerings like The Chew Collective in Future World’s Next Eats festival area and Islands of the Caribbean along the World Showcase Promenade
• Producers of ABC’s “The Chew” will tape 5 episodes of the show before 5 festival guest audiences numbering in the hundreds for each show
• The 21st festival will feature 32 new marketplace dishes and 49 (as of right now) new cocktails, beers, wines and ciders
• In 1998, 200 domestic and international wines were poured at the festival. This year, at marketplaces and premium events, more than 300 domestic and international wines will be offered
• More than 50 wineries and more than 35 breweries from around the world, including local craft beer operations, will be represented at festival marketplaces

• The new “The Best of Epcot Festivals 2016” cookbook by Pam Brandon and the Disney Chefs features 75 recipes from the global marketplaces.
• 3 Rockin’ Burger Block Parties and 6 Party for the Senses grand tastings will take place at World Showplace during the festival run. In all, the festival will feature 204 premium events ranging from Signature Dinners and Food & Wine Pairings to Beverage Boot Camps and Festival Events in World Showcase pavilions
• Guest chefs and Disney chefs numbering 250 will present culinary demonstrations and will cook for festival events
• Celebrity chefs and visiting culinarians from 10 countries and 26 U.S. states will participate in the festival at culinary demos, book signings, and special tasting events and dinners.
• Nearly 400 culinary demos, beverage and interactive seminars will take place during the 62-day festival
• During Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak festival scavenger hunt, guests can help Remy scour the park for the ingredients to make his signature dish, ratatouille. Along the way, they’ll find 12 Remy statuettes hidden in each of 11 countries of the World Showcase and at the African Outpost location. Guests can redeem the 12 stickers they’ve collected for one of 6 special pins at Select merchandise locations
• More than 375 hours of scheduled seminars will take place at the Festival Center for the 62 days of the festival.  These include culinary demos and beverage seminars, the new Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It! interactive events, plus more
• 186 Eat to the Beat concerts will be performed; 8 musical acts will appear for the first time at this year’s festival featuring entertainment ranging from rock and soul to funk and blues

• The Festival Passport (previously called the Marketplace Discovery Passport) was introduced in 2010 for the 15^th annual festival; today, the free passport will feature pages with all 30 festival marketplaces
• More than 1,200 fireworks will explode each night over World Showcase Lagoon in IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth nightime spectacular
• Chase is the festival’s presenting sponsor for the 5^th year; its Chase Lounge at the American Adventure Pavilion is open exclusively to Chase cardholders and offers an inviting place to relax and recharge
• More than 225,000,000 festival dishes were served during last year’s 53-day festival
• 100,000-plus desserts, including the Hard Soda Floats at Desserts & Champagne Marketplace, are expected to be served
• In 1997, during the festival’s second year, festival planners introduced the first Grand Tasting culinary extravaganza; in 2002, the event was renamed and moved to World Showplace as Party for the Senses, now featuring up to 50 food and beverage stations and, in 2016, new and different themed entertainment for each event.

The nation’s best Halloween event, Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, is now open at Universal Orlando Resort, with more event nights than ever before. You won’t stand a Chance, as the twisted right-hand woman of Halloween Horror Nights legend Jack the Clown steps into the spotlight as the star of this surreal world of horror.

Nightmares come to life in nine disturbingly-real haunted houses based on some of the most terrifying legends in pop culture. Guests will:

• Become the next doomed residents of Murder House, tortured performers in the disturbing and twisted Freak Show, and victims of the otherworldly, death-dealing Hotel from FX’s groundbreaking anthology “American Horror Story”
• Desperately try to escape Leatherface’s lethal chain saw in “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”
• See, hear, feel – and even smell – every iconic levitating, head-spinning, vomit-wrenching, skin-crawling moment from “The Exorcist”
• Fight to survive the return of masked killer Michael Myers in “Halloween II”
• Fend off packs of flesh-hungry walkers in instantly-recognizable scenes from Seasons 1 through 6 of AMC’s “The Walking Dead”
• Encounter the evil ancient spirit of the dark shadow of Saint Nicholas in “Krampus”
• Step inside the twisted minds behind the nation’s best Halloween event in three haunted houses based on original stories – Lunatics Playground 3D: You Won’t Stand A Chance, Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch, and Tomb of the Ancients

And there’s even more horror lurking in the streets of Universal Studios Florida, with five unique scare zones and two live stage shows.

Beginning Sept. 29, guests can witness a whole new generation of psychological horror with a brand-new, cutting-edge entertainment experience – The Repository. A blend of custom virtual reality technology, real-life characters, incredible immersive storytelling and intensely-themed environments, this exclusive experience will terrify, thrill and amaze like never before. Halloween Horror Nights admission is also required.

For 31 select nights through Oct. 31, guests can experience theme park thrills by day and become victims of their own horror film by night at Halloween Horror Nights.

Halloween Horror Nights is the ultimate Halloween event, spanning both coasts at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.  For more than 20 years, guests from around the world have visited Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando and Hollywood to become victims inside their own horror film as they encounter movie-quality haunted houses, hundreds of menacing “scareactors” and outrageous live shows.

What’s more thrilling than the impressive roller coasters and attractions at Universal Studios Florida? The definitive answer is Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 26. There are no trick-or-treating at this Halloween party. However, you can expect lots of thrills and chills. If your squad it brave enough to take on haunted houses and scare zones themed after such bone-chilling stories like Michael Myers, American Horror Story, The Exorcist, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, then this frightening event is for you. Not only can you get the scare of your life, but also take in the outrageous stage shows and many of your favorite Universal Studios attractions. So, grab a security blanket and your tickets for this terrifying party today as it’s only on select nights this September and October.

Halloween Horror nights runs on select nights from September 16 to October 31.

Written by Michelle Guthrie: Michelle is a wife and mother to 3 young children. She was born and raised in Florida and a long time annual pass holder of Disney World and Universal Studios Florida. When her family isn’t vacationing at Disney or Universal, they’re taking road trips to see the USA. It’s her family’s goal is to catch a game at every MLB ballpark. Michelle is a travel agent with Destinations in Florida, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. She loves helping plan magical vacations that create memories to last a lifetime…all at no cost to you. Contact Michelle to book your next vacation at michelle@destinationsinflorida.com or 813-928-9432. You can also follow her on Facebook here.

Fuel Up For Fear with Halloween Horror Nights Scareactor Dining Experience

Halloween Horror Nights 26 Scareactor Dining Experience is BACK by popular demand. Feast upon this all-you-care-to-eat dinner buffet with a twist.
When the park closes to day guests—and Halloween Horror Nights unleashes the terror from within—Universal Studios’ Classic Monsters Cafe gets infested by bloodcurdling creatures skulking behind every corner.

This is the picture-perfect way to fuel up for the fear, giving you the energy to take on all the menacing souls waiting to terrorize y’all’s neighborhood.
This year’s menu features:

•  Eerie entrees from sliced pork loin and chicken marsala to penne pasta
•  Satisfying sides including mashed potatoes and broccoli
•  Vegetarian options are also available like salads

And we can’t forget about my favorite course, dessert! There’s no shortage of them here from apple and key lime pies to brookies.
This menu seriously features everything but the kitchen sink (and pea soup, for obvious reasons)!
Now food is only half of this experience. If you’re like me, you love a good selfie. And it’s kind of impossible to get one in the streets when you’re busy running for your life from the most terrifying monsters you’ve ever seen.

This is where I am sold on the Scareactor Dining Experience: you can get your picture with some of this year’s most popular scareactors including the one, the only, mistress of mayhem—Chance! (You want to see scary? Imagine face-swapping with her…)

Halloween Horror Nights 26 Scareactor Dining Experience is $49.99 plus tax, per person and includes an all-you-care-to-eat buffet along with a digital download of one photo taken during the experience. Be sure to head on over here to book because there is limited availability for each seating on select event nights. Halloween Horror Nights ticket and Dining Reservations are required and must be valid for the same dayImmersive Paranormal Virtual Reality Experience Coming To Halloween Horror Nights

 

Learn more in this weeks’ video by clicking here.

 

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