Celebrate Soulfully and What’s New at Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Springs

Walt Disney World invited me to attend the Celebrate Soulfully Media Experience! As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

In February 2021, I had the honor of attending the Celebrate Soulfully Media Experience at Walt Disney World Resort, to explore the new music, food, art and more that honors Black culture and heritage to celebrate Black History Month.

We started the day at Disney Springs which is Walt Disney World’s premier shopping, dining, and entertainment district. There are so many new offerings surrounding Celebrate Soulfully including new culinary dishes, musical offerings, and brand new merchandise – many of which I got to experience!

The Music: Jazz-Inspired Performances

Three evenings per week – Motown Mondays, Jazz Thursdays and Smooth Sundays – musicians will perform throughout Disney Springs, playing soulful tunes! We were treated to a live musical performance by the cover band Motown in Motion on the Advent Health Waterside Stage in the Disney Springs Marketplace. They definitely made me want to get up and dance!

The Eats:

Checking out what’s new in the Disney Dining scene is one of my favorite parts about each of our Disney trips! And Celebrate Soulfully didn’t disappoint: I tried SO many amazing new delicacies at Disney Springs. Here are a few of my favorites:

As part of Celebrating Soulfully at Disney Springs, Amorette’s Patisserie debuts two new petite cakes, one celebrating Princess Tiana, and the other featuring Joe Gardner, the African American jazz musician at the heart of the movie “Soul. I traveled with my Disney-loving friend from Disney Homegirl so we each got a different one. They were the perfect jazzy treat!

Next, we headed to House of Blues, Orlando to sample Mardi Gras-inspired dishes and take a look at their impressive showcase of original pieces by artists of color. I sampled the Shrimp and Crawfish Étouffée, the Gumbo, and the Bread pudding (which just so happens to be my favorite dessert!). All were seasoned and and cooked to perfection, and of course, a Disney dining experience isn’t complete unless you unintentionally create your own hidden Mickey!

We also had the honor of meeting and interviewing George Miliotes, Master Sommelier of Wine Bar George. We discovered Maison Noir Wines, a black owned winery that is served at Wine Bar George and we also got to sample some small plates and a frozen Prosecco drink!

We couldn’t miss visiting Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew, one of the newest additions to Disney Springs. It was the perfect place to grab a handmade donut and a refreshing cold-brewed beverage.

The Artistry:

We discovered four new art displays located throughout Disney Springs,
including “Soul” inspired wall art near the Lego Store. There was also a
new “Soul” exhibition at the Art of Disney store and collections of
American Folk Art at House of Blues Restaurant and Bar.

The Shopping:

Disney Springs is my favorite place in Walt Disney World Resort to spend hours shopping and to grab a few souvenirs to take home to the kids!

A brand new M&M’s Store recently opened in Disney Springs and I knew it was the perfect place to grab take-home treats for my candy-loving kiddos. The building houses 10,000 sq. ft. of colorful fun and fully immerses guests in an interactive M&M’S experience and offers exclusive co-branded Disney and M&M’S merchandise including apparel, mugs and more.

There was also a place outside of the store for a fun photo opps!

We had an incredible time exploring Disney Springs checking out the What’s New and Celebrate Soulfully Media Experience. Here’s to hoping that many of these offerings extend beyond February and are here to stay!

Have you ever been to Disney Springs? What’s your favorite thing to do when you are there (eat, shop, play; etc)? I definitely think my favorite part is the food!