TouringPlans Travel Beat 8-3-2024

At Travel Beat we have all the “other” news from the last week or so—the stuff that wasn’t big enough to stop the presses for. What did the newsroom bring us this week? (Hint: it was sloooow … the calm before the storm of D23?) Bullets are just ahead if you’re in a hurry, and more details follow below. Don’t forget to check out the Headline News Recap, in case there was something you missed!

• Mickey’s Not So Scary Food Announced
• Earl of Sandwich Pop-up open at Downtown Disney
• Doofenshmirtz to Appear at Oogie Boogie Bash?
• Seasonal Halloween Treats at Disney World 8/9 – 10/31
• Headline News Recap

Can you guess which story inspired this week’s cover image? Leave your guesses in the comments!

Mickey’s Not So Scary Food Announced

This Friday will officially kick off the Halloween Party Season at Disney World, and you’ll find specialty party food throughout the park. The full list (plus some of the eye candy from Disney’s announcement) is below, but here’s what’s notable if you don’t want to scrutinize and just want to scroll:

• Most items are available only during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party; exceptions are the Plaza Restaurant and Cosmic Rays where all or more of the menu is also available during regular hours. (Some items at other locations are available during regular park hours).
• If you want to book a sit-down meal full of party-only food, Be Our Guest is your ticket. Whether this is a good way to spend your ticket or not? That’s up to you.
• “You could eat this for dinner” party food that’s not just sugary treats is available at the following Quick Service locations, with Mobile order available at all
  • Casey’s Corner
  • Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café
  • Pinocchio Village Haus
  • Sleepy Hollow Refreshments
  • The Friar’s Nook
  • Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café

• Main Street Bakery
  • Minnie Witch Hat: Chocolate cookie topped with peanut butter mousse, milk chocolate ganache, and buttercream Minnie-shaped Cinnamon Roll with green and purple icing and an orange bow (Also available during regular park hours)
• Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
  • Cinnamon-Apple Sundae: Dulce de leche ice cream topped with caramel sauce, apple pie filling, cinnamon candies, and whipped cream
  • Graveyard Milk Shake: Chocolate milk shake with a dipped graveyard jelly doughnut, white chocolate tombstone, gummy candy, and a Haunted Mansion straw
  • Ice Cream Chocolate Cookie Sandwich: Halloween cookies with M&M’S Ghoul’s Mix Chocolate Candies and your choice of ice cream (Also available during regular park hours)
• The Plaza Restaurant (All items also available during regular park hours)
  • Ghoulishly Gourmet Burger: Two all-beef patties with pepper jack and Swiss cheese, candied bacon, balsamic-glazed mushrooms, onion ring, and truffle-buffalo aïoli served on a black bun
  • Halloween Turkey Club: Turkey club with bacon on black sandwich bread
  • Graveyard Milk Shake: Chocolate milk shake with a dipped graveyard jelly doughnut, white chocolate tombstone, gummy candy, and a Haunted Mansion straw
  • Layered Pumpkin Cake with cream cheese mousse

• Casey’s Corner (Most items also available during regular park hours, Mobile order available)
  • Chipotle Barbecue Pork and Street Corn French Fries: French fries topped with fire-roasted corn, queso fresco, and cilantro
  • Chipotle Barbecue Pork and Street Corn Hot Dog: All-beef hot dog with fire-roasted corn, queso fresco, and cilantro
  • Chipotle Barbeque Pork and Street Corn Mini Corn Dogs: Mini corn dogs topped with fire-roasted corn, queso fresco, and cilantro
  • Mickey-shaped Cheesecake: Pumpkin cheesecake with graham cracker crust and white chocolate-whipped ganache (Available during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party only)
• Outdoor Vending Near Cinderella Castle
  • Oogie Boogie Cupcake: Chocolate cupcake with marshmallow buttercream, cookies and cream buttercream, gummy candy, and an Oogie Boogie chocolate piece
• Churro Cart near Cinderella Castle
  • Worms ‘n Dirt Churro: Churro rolled in cookies and cream dust and topped with marshmallow and sour gummy candy (Also available during regular park hours)
• Aloha Isle Refreshments
  • DOLE Whip Mango and Chamoy Float: DOLE Whip Mango, pineapple juice, chamoy, and chili-lime seasoning (Also available during regular park hours)
• Golden Oak Outpost
  • Chocolate-Caramel Tart: Chocolate tart shell filled with chocolate ganache, caramel sauce, and caramel cream topped with TWIX Cookie Bar Pieces and a chocolate piece
  • Sweet-and-Spicy Beignets: Berry and cayenne-dusted beignets with chicory coffee-chocolate sauce

• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café (Mobile order available)
  • Grilled Masa Flatbread: Grilled corn cake topped with butternut squash purée, braised chicken, cilantro-pumpkin seed sauce, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, and queso fresco
  • Cajun Burger: Cajun-spiced all-beef patty topped with fried green tomato, Cajun andouille dip, and Creole rémoulade on a black bun
  • Spiced Chocolate Mousse Bar: Spiced chocolate mousse, dulce de leche, orange glaze, and a sugar candy
  • Guava Lemonade Slushy with cheesecake foam, Halloween sprinkles, and sugar candy (Non-alcoholic)

• Sleepy Hollow Refreshments (Mobile order available)
  • Hand-dipped Corn Dog with spicy violet mustard and spicy cheese-flavored snacks \
  • Char Siu Chicken Wings: Glazed whole chicken wings topped with chili threads and garlic
  • Madame Leota Séance Candle: Red velvet cake and cookies and cream mousse
  • Dulce de Leche, Peanut Butter, and Chocolate Sauce Funnel Cake: Topped with dulce de leche ice cream, SNICKERS Bar Pieces, and whipped cream
• Liberty Square Market
  • Jack Pop: Chocolate fudge brownie with marshmallow filling topped with a chocolate piece
  • Sally Pop: Yellow cake with raspberry filling topped with a chocolate piece
  • Skull Blondie: Maple blondie with caramel sauce
• Outdoor Vending Location Near The Haunted Mansion
  • Tombstone Tart: Sugar dough filled with cookies and cream cheese mousse and Halloween décor

• Pinocchio Village Haus (Mobile order available)
  • Creepy Clam Flatbread with bacon, black ink pesto, Romano, and Calabrian chile aïoli
  • Spicy Meatball Arrabbiata Flatbread: Meatballs, spicy tomato sauce, provolone, Calabrian chiles, and basil pesto
  • Sweet and Spicy Chicken Strips tossed in Korean barbecue sauce and topped with black sesame seeds, fried garlic, and green onions
  • Swinging Wake Cake: Vanilla cake with fruity cereal mousse
  • Boo Raspberry Slushy: Blue raspberry slushy with marshmallow foam and a marshmallow ghost (Non-alcoholic)
• Be Our Guest Restaurant
  • Pumpkin Crème Caramel with sour cherry jam and pumpkin seed brittle
  • Roasted Beef Marrow Bone: Pinot noir-beef marmalade, toasted baguette, and pickled mustard seeds
  • Beef Short Rib and Purple Potatoes braised with red wine, figs, peppers, and a touch of dark chocolate
  • Cast Iron Trout: Charred calamari, squid ink breadcrumbs, black garlic, and saffron aïoli
  • Roasted Poulet Rouge Chicken: Caramelized pumpkin, pomegranate, and pumpkin seed sauce
  • The Handsome Brute: Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Chambord Liqueur, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice garnished with a sugared rim and raspberries

• Cinderella’s Royal Table
  • Stepsisters Dessert: Pistachio and cherry-filled cream puffs, blackberry and raspberry ganache, strawberry meringue, and a chocolate piece
• The Friar’s Nook (Mobile order available)
  • Spicy Pork Spring Roll with charred pineapple and scallion dust
  • Bowl of Bones: Bone-In piggy wings fried with fresh jalapeños and tossed in Coca-Cola Cherry barbecue sauce
  • Buffalo Chicken Hand Pie: Buffalo chicken and mozzarella wrapped in a flaky dough and topped with blue cheese crumbles and buffalo-ranch
  • S’mores Cup: Layers of graham cracker crumbles, chocolate ganache, chocolate popping candies, milk chocolate panna cotta, and marshmallow cream (Also available during regular park hours)

• Storybook Treats
  • Anastasia Cone: DOLE Whip Strawberry with lemon curd and strawberry popping candies with a chocolate piece
  • Drizella Cone: Blueberry soft-serve with vanilla crispy pearls and a chocolate piece
• Cheshire Café
  • Queen of Hearts Slushy: Frozen cherry slushy drizzled with black cherry purée and topped with whipped cream and a crown-shaped chocolate piece (Available during regular park hours at Chesire Café only)
• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café (Mobile order available)
  • Halloween Pot Roast Sandwich with cheddar and horseradish mayonnaise served on a black bun
  • Terrifyin’ Twice-spiced Chicken Sandwich: Spicy fried chicken breast dipped in hot honey topped with pepper jack cheese, jalapeño poppers, and bacon
  • Sinister Satay Burger: Cocoa-rubbed all-beef patty with bacon, lime pickles, and Thai peanut sauce
  • Witches Fingers: Purple cookie fingers with sour apple mousse and green apple boba pearls
  • Ube Green Tea Slushy with cherry whipped cream, cinnamon candies, and chocolate piece (Non-alcoholic)

• Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
  • Candy Corn Soft-serve Sundae: Sweet corn soft-serve with butterscotch shell and candy corn (Also available during regular park hours)
  • Sweet Corn Soft-serve (Also available during regular park hours)
  • Witches Cold Brew: Joffrey’s Coffee Cold Brew with pumpkin-spiced foam and sprinkles (Non-alcoholic)
• The Lunching Pad (Mobile order available)
  • Jalapeño Popper Dog: All-beef hot dog topped with sriracha cream cheese, crispy onions, bacon, and hades relish (Also available during regular park hours)
  • Queen of Hearts Slushy: Frozen cherry slushy drizzled with black cherry purée and topped with whipped cream and a crown-shaped chocolate piece.

Earl of Sandwich Pop-up open at Downtown Disney

Earl of Sandwich has been popping around various locations to stay out of the way of construction at Downtown Disney. This week it parked in it’s latest spot: a pop-up near the Star Wars Trading Post.

Doofenshmirtz to Appear at Oogie Boogie Bash?

The first Mickey’s Not So Scary is just a few days away, but Oogie Boogie Bash Halloween parties at Disneyland don’t begin until the end of the month. That hasn’t stopped Disney from teasing the character lineup, including an Instagram post this week that suggested the appearance of Dr. Doofenshmirtz at this year’s Festivities.

Seasonal Halloween Treats at Disney World 8/9 – 10/31

Halloween specials are coming to menus around the Disney World resorts. If you’re staying on-site, or just visiting for a bite, check out the offerings. Available from August 8 through October 31 except where noted.

• Monster Cupcake: Chocolate cupcake with a ghoulish swirl of vanilla “buttercream” (Plant-based)
  • World Premiere Food Court | Intermission Food Court | End Zone Food Court | Landscape of Flavors | Centertown Market | Spyglass Grille | Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory | Riverside Mill Food Court
• Chicken Adobo Nachos: Blue corn tortilla chips with grilled chicken adobo, toasted pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, roasted corn pico, and a zesty pumpkin-cheese sauce finished with a cilantro-lime crema and yellow corn tortilla strips
  • Intermission Food Court | End Zone Food Court | Landscape of Flavors
• The Whoopie Monster: Apple and caramel whoopie pie with marshmallow buttercream
  • Landscape of Flavors
• Captain Hook Cookie: Vanilla sablé with strawberry jam, peanut butter ganache, buttercream, and chocolate décor
  • Beach Club Marketplace | The Market at Ale & Compass
• Mickey Cinnamon Roll
  • BoardWalk Deli | Carousel Coffee
• Halloween Mummy Cupcake: Spiced vanilla cupcake with apple compote and milk chocolate mousse
  • BoardWalk Deli | Contempo Cafe | Gasparilla Island Grill | Capt. Cook’s | Roaring Fork
• Halloween Macaron Trio: Pumpkin-spiced Milk Chocolate, Green Apple-Caramélia Chocolate, Blood Orange-Dark Chocolate
  • Carousel Coffee | Le Petit Café
• Pumpkin Sugar Cookie: Tie-dyed Halloween sugar cookie with buttercream
  • Carousel Coffee | Trail’s End
• Haunted Forest Apple Mousse: Green cake with cookies and cream mousse and sour apple mousse
  • Contempo Cafe | Gasparilla Island Grill | Capt. Cook’s | Roaring Fork
• Pumpkin-Cranberry Muffin (Sept. 1 through Oct. 31)
• Vampire Stitch Cake: Chocolate cake with ‘raspberry ice cream cone’ buttercream
  • Kona Island
• Mickey Pumpkin Soft-Serve: Pumpkin-spiced flavored soft-serve and coconut haupia with caramel drizzle, graham cracker crumbs, and a white chocolate Mickey-shaped pumpkin
  • Pineapple Lanai

• Ghoulish Beignets: Mickey-shaped beignets dusted with cookies and cream powdered sugar and a ghoulish marshmallow crème drizzle
  • Everything POP Shopping & Dining | Scat Cat’s Club
• The Whoopie Monster: Apple and caramel whoopie pie with marshmallow buttercream
  • Everything POP Shopping & Dining
• Spooky Mini Cookies and Dipping Cream: Halloween sugar cookies with dipping icing
  • The Market at Ale & Compass | Trail’s End

Drinks at various lounges and bars around the resort:

• Seawitch Brew: Lunazul Reposado Tequila, blackberry purée, and sour mix topped with fresh blackberries (New)
• Doom-ela Margarita: Patrón Silver Tequila, Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon, Cointreau Liqueur, triple sec liqueur, sour mix, lime juice, black Cyprus salt, and lime

Headline News Recap

We were deluged with Destiny news this week: everything you need to know about the ship, the shows, the dining, the lounges, the maiden voyage, home port, and more.

• Disney Cruise Line Enters a Hero (and Villain) Era with The Destiny
• DCL Announces MORE News About the New Destiny Ship
• EVEN MORE Disney Destiny Details Announced

Not to be outdone, Universal finished off its Epic Universe portal reveals with one that many guests were waiting for – the Harry Potter-themed land. Epic Universe’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic Revealed

That’s it for this week’s Travel Beat. What news are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!