NewsBriefs: Nuggets from Around Our World  

Canadian Holiday Voyageurs Join Holidays Around the World at Epcot

Holidays Around the World returns for another festive season at Epcot Nov. 29 – Dec. 30, 2013 with a new addition in the Canada pavilion, the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs. The group, featuring members of the popular Celtic rock band Off Kilter, takes guests on a musical journey across the Great White North, exploring unique holiday traditions from the various regions of Canada. Daily performances include spirited renditions of holiday favorite “The Christmas Jig,” a traditional mummer’s carol, a medley in celebration of the feast of Le Reveillon, and more.

Dec. 23, 2013 marks the 15th anniversary of La Nouba, the Cirque du Soleil spectacular at Downtown Disney West Side. Since its opening, La Nouba has been dazzling audiences with daring acrobatics, amazing choreography, vibrant music and whimsical characters. Housed in the first permanent “Big Top” Cirque du Soleil ever built, the show has entertained more than 9 million guests in its 15 years. Of its 65 international performers, La Nouba still features more than 20 per cent of the original cast – including an artist who has not missed a show in 15 years.  La Nouba features two performances nightly, Tuesdays through Saturdays. Showtimes at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. For reservations: 407 939-7600.

A new merchandise location, the Marketplace Co Op,  is coming to Downtown Disney Marketplace in spring 2014. The shop with shops within it will showcase new and innovative Disney retail concepts from women’s accessories to electronics, home design accents to salon products. When it launches, the Marketplace Co Op’s six new spaces will be Beautifully Disney, Cherry Tree Lane, D-Tech on Demand, The Trophy Room, Centerpiece and Zoey and Pickles. Part of the multi-year transformation of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs, the Co Op will occupy the space that is currently Team Mickey. Downtown Disney is an open air shopping/dining/entertainment destination located at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Running enthusiasts – whether occasional dabblers or marathon-tested – will find the new Fit2Run store the perfect place to stop and shop at Downtown Disney West Side. Imagine taking the guesswork out of the perfect shoe for your foot. Fit2Run’s complimentary video-taped gait analysis and iStep barometric scanning will get runners to that perfect fit. Guests also can test the footwear on Fit2Run’s indoor track. The store also features runner’s apparel, performance sunglasses and more. And this outlet offers first releases on many shoes, with special products available only at this location, as well as clinics and other special events. Now open, Fit2Run is located next to Curl and across from House of Blues. Runners can get more information from www.Fit2Run.com

A new patio lounge at The Hollywood Brown Derby offers Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests a relaxing place beneath shade umbrellas where they can sip wine, beer and cocktails and enjoy small bites such as artisanal cheeses, duck confit tacos, Derby sliders and more. The new lounge, which opened October 2013, also features a delightful dessert menu with Chocolate Three Ways, a banana-white chocolate toffee tower on a cocoa-almond cookie, bananas Foster and strawberry Champagne cheesecake. Seating is first-come, first-served.

Epcot guests can now sample seven new Coca-Cola flavors from around the world at Club Cool. New flavors include Fanta, which debuted in Europe in the 1940s; VegitaBeta, a Japanese beverage with apricot and passion fruit flavors; Fanta (Melon Frosty), a melon-flavored soda from Thailand; Bibo, a fruit-flavored drink from South Africa; Sparberry, a raspberry flavored cream soda from Africa; Guarana Kuat, a popular drink in Brazil flavored after the guarana berry; and Inca Kola, a Peruvian favorite with a sweet, bubblegum-like taste. The soda fountains also include a previous beverage, Beverly, a common aperitif found in Italy. The new flavors debuted Oct. 30, 2013 at Walt Disney World Resort.

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) recently announced recipients of its annual Thea Awards, and Enchanted Tales With Belle, the fun-filled storytelling adventure in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom, received an Outstanding Achievement award. “What might have been a basic character meet-and-greet has been elevated to a charming, imaginative and immersive experience,” TEA judges said about the attraction. The Buzz Price Thea Award, a lifetime achievement designation, went to Garner Holt of Garner Holt Productions. While Holt is neither a cast member nor Imagineer, he has had a hand in many Disney Audio-Animatronic presentations, including Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid at Magic Kingdom.