The 2nd Annual Epcot International Festival of the Arts kicks off this weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL. This fledgling festival combines visual, culinary and performing arts all week long, January 12 through February 19, 2018. Our regular readers know that we here at Walt Disney World for Grown-ups love a good food crawl, and the Festival promises a colorful array of culinary delights.

Hey! It's been a while since we've had a news round-up around here, so let's take on the flurry information that has been swirling the internet about what's going on down at the Walt Disney World Resort. We've got notes on refurbishments and new resort systems being tested, the winner of the Walt Disney World Marathon, a brand new runDisney event, and the introduction of the 2018 Disney Moms Panel. So keep on reading to discover all that's happening!

Monday, January 22nd 2018 is National Polka Dot Day! I know all my girls love to Rock The Dots right along side the sweetest, most playful, flirtatious fashionista of them all, Minnie Mouse. Since 1928 Mickey's sweetheart has been making dots and bows a fun fashion must " especially for Disney fans! Check out these shopDisney finds to incorporate the iconic Minnie look with every day wear-ability for you to celebrate National Polka Dot Day.

Riding the wave of excitement from the past weeks openings of Pizza Ponte and The Edison, the next new addition to Disney Springs comes in the form of Maria & Enzo's Ristorante.

Coming June 30th, 2018 , Disney's Hollywood Studios will welcome the first of the much anticipated expansions that are currently under construction. The joyful, toy-full adventure will give guests a toys eye view of the universe within Andy's backyard. Toy Story Land will let fans get a new perspective on the lives of Woody, Buzz, and all the toy box gang in a unique environment that uses familiar toys as the building blocks. What can we expect in this fun new land? Let's take a peek at what we know so far!

Packing your bags is one of the most exciting pre-vacation moments; it's an act that marks the end of your countdown and the start of your trip. But - if you don't put some care and thought into the act of packing your bags, you can end up disorganized, unprepared, and even out of money. Here are 5 tricks savvy air travelers use to pack their bags for a successful trip!

This week more than twenty thousand runners will be stepping off on their own personal journeys to greatness as they try and conquer the runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon presented by Cigna. For 25 years this annual event has taken runners along the 26.2-mile course through Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom and Epcot. The only runDisney course that goes through all four parks, this is the race that started it all.

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2018! Are you ready for another great year of everything Walt Disney World? Today we're looking forward all the exciting things this 2018 is said to have in store at Walt Disney World. There's so much to look forward to it's hard to contain my excitement!

New Year's Eve is fast approaching one of my favorite parts of a Disney Holiday is they way they light up the night with dazzling fireworks displays. I'm a sucker for things sparkling in the sky with glorious color and you can be sure that if you'll be spending your first night with Disney you'll be treated to just such a show. Three different Walt Disney World Parks will be ringing in 2018 with fireworks, and thanks to #DisneyParksLIVE there's even a chance to watch from home.

New Year's Eve is always an optimistic time for people to look forward to the future, while keeping in mind the joys of the past. The uniquely themed areas of Walt Disney World make for an especially fun ways to welcome the New Year like nowhere else. This year the place to be on first night is the brand new restaurant, bar and nighttime destination at Disney Springs - The Edison.