Disney Facts: 18th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival by the numbers

The 18th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival taking place next month in Disney World is now at 46 days in length. When it first began in 1996 it was only 30 days long.

Disney publicity photo

The festival will contain cuisine from six continents as well as wine, beer and cocktails. Plus a nightly Eat to the Beat! concerts with entertainment ranging from rock and soul to funk and blues, according to a Disney World press release.

Here's a look at the upcoming festival, by the numbers, according to Disney:

910,000: Cranberries are expected to be used in the Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog.

360,000: Beer servings expected, enough to fill the aquariums five times over at Rainforest Café at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

300,000: Wine servings expected, if laid end-to-end the number of wine glasses used would reach from Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista to the Disney Cruise Line terminal at Port Canaveral, Fla.

100,000: Dessert servings expected, including the dessert trio of Cherry Pistachio Mousse, Orange Cupcake and Hazelnut Cheesecake.

1,200: Fireworks exploding each night over World Showcase Lagoon in “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.”

500: Pounds of watermelon is expected to be tasted at the “3D” Disney’s Dessert Discovery parties.

300: National and international wines will be available.

260: Celebrity and Walt Disney World chefs will participate.

220: Food-and-beverage menu items will be available.

138: Eat to the Beat! concerts to be performed.

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The original 'The Muppets' soundtrack is going digital

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of  "The Muppet Movie" Walt Disney Records is re-releasing the soundtrack album for the first time in digital format.

The Grammy winning soundtrack, originally produced by Paul Williams and executive produced by late Muppet creator Jim Henson, will be available Aug. 13 and coincide with the the Blu-ray release of the movie, according to a press release from Disney.

The album features 11 songs by Williams and Kenny Ascher, including Kermit the frog singing "The Rainbow Connection."

Williams writes in his liner notes that Henson set out to not make a children's film but rather one "for the child in all of us."

According to Disney, "the film takes Kermit on the ultimate road trip, as he travels from his home in the swamp to Hollywood in search of his dream to entertain. Along the way he makes new friends, from Fozzie Bear and Gonzo to the sultry femme fatale, Miss Piggy. Unfortunately the evil frogs-leg restaurant magnate Doc Hopper (played by the late Charles Durning) keeps trying to kidnap and fricassee Kermit's legs at every turn. All's well that ends well, when the gang finally makes it to Hollywood, where a studio chief (played by a glowering Orson Welles) issues them the standard rich and famous contract."

The soundtrack includes the following songs:

"Rainbow Connection:" Performed in the opening scene by Kermit, alone in the swamp, and reprised at the end by the entire cast.

"Movin' Right Along:"  Kermit and Fozzie leave behind the treacherous El Sleezo Cafe, hop in the Studebaker and sing this upbeat song while criss-crossing America. 

"Never Before, Never Again:" Miss Piggy sings this romantic torch ballad just after being named Miss Bogen County and spying the love of her life, Kermit, from across a crowded fairground. 

 
"Never Before, Never Again:" An instrumental version. 

 
"I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along:" Kermit and Rowlf the Dog sing this wistful lounge ballad after Miss Piggy dumps her "short, green and handsome" beau. 

 
"Can You Picture That?:" Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem rock out this fun rocker as they turn Fozzie's drab Studebaker into a Haight-Ashbury love bug. 

"I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along:" An instrumental version. 

  

"I'm Going to Go Back There Someday:" Gonzo sings this hopeful tune sitting around a campfire with the Muppets gang, as their Hollywood dreams seem lost for good. 

 
"America:" Fozzie's feeling patriotic as he sings the hymn while driving past Mount Rushmore, Yosemite Valley and the Grand Canyon. 

 
"Animal...Come Back:"  Animal, carries the day after downing Insta-Grow pills, rising 50 feet and dispersing the bad guys for good. 

 
"Finale: The Magic Store:" The Muppets sing their memorable finale on an empty Hollywood sound stage, decorating it with movie magic, and then singing the unforgettable lyric: "Life's like a movie, write your own ending."

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Smile of The Day: Spaceship Earth trees

The iconic centerpiece of Epcot in Disney World is a favorite subject for photos for all. Here's a recent photo with palm trees in the foreground. Share some of your favorite Spaceship Earth photos.

© Steven Liebman

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Smile of The Day: Tangled rest area

The new Tangled rest area at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World features this great tower.

© Steven Liebman

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Characters from upcoming 'Frozen' movie could be at Disney World in September

Disney could be unveiling two new characters from the upcoming movie "Frozen" in the next month for meet-and-greets around Disney World.

From disneyauditions.com

Disney Creative Entertainment has put out a casting call in Florida for female character look-alike performers to portray Elsa and Anna from the movie to be released in theaters Nov. 27, 2013.

According to Disney Auditions, the theme park is looking for two women between 5-feet 3-inches and 5-feet 7 inches who are "slender, youthful yet regal and confident for Elsa and a woman the same height but "slender, a youthful and outgoing free-spirit," for the positions.

Those trying out should be local to Central Florida and "be available to begin work within the next four weeks."

In the movie, according to Walt Disney Pictures, "fearless optimist Anna (voice of 'Kristen Bell' ) teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (voice of 'Jonathan Groff' ) and his loyal reindeer Sven in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna's sister Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel), whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom."

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Heroes and villains Mickey Mouse ears is next Limited Time Magic

A reversible Mickey Mouse ear hat is the next Limited Time Magic at Disneyland and Disney World on Aug. 5.

Disney photo

According to Disney's Limited Time Magic website, each side of the hat features heroes or villains from classic Disney movies.

At Disneyland the hat is available for sale, while supplies last, at the Fantasyland Mad Hatter in Disneyland.

At Disney World, the hat is available at the Chapeau Hat Shoppe at the Magic Kingdom on Main Street U.S.A.

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Smile of The Day: Cinderella statue

Behind the Cinderella castle in the Magic Kingdom in Disney World is the Cinderella statue in a fountain.

Now take a look at the crown painted behind her head. If you kneel down to drink from a nearby water fountain it looks as through the crown is on Cinderella's head.

© Steven Liebman

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