Walt Disney World Trip Planning and Disney Information

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

A true slice of Ireland is on tap at Walt Disney World Resort…

WALT DISNEY WORLD NEWS - Authentic Irish food, music and dance performances set the scene for a three-day St. Patrick’s Day celebration and the “wearin’ of the green” March 15-17 in and around the Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant at Downtown Disney Pleasure Island. Raglan Road features the very best of fresh, bistro-style Irish food, fine Irish beers and whiskies and live musical entertainment, all in an authentic and lively atmosphere.

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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Sorcerer Mickey Topiary, Haiti Garden, HGTV Star Designers Headline 19th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 7-May 20

Haiti Garden Lights Up Night; HGTV Designers Appear Every Weekend

WALT DISNEY WORLD NEWS - The largest-ever Disney front-entrance topiary, an illuminated Haiti produce garden with marketplace and a stellar cast of HGTV design celebrities boost the flower power at the 19th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV March 7-May 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. Here’s a sneak peek of this year’s festival news:

Disney’s gardening magic goes a long way when an eight-foot-tall floral Sorcerer Mickey topiary holds court in front of the park’s iconic Spaceship Earth. Standing atop a 12-foot-tall floral mountain cliff, Sorcerer Mickey directs a riot of color in the manicured shapes of dancing broomsticks, buckets, mushrooms, hippos, alligators and elephants straight from the classic Disney film, “Fantasia.” The scene pops with pink geraniums, white poppies, violet petunias, blue delphiniums and pansies.
In the World Showcase, the new Haiti: Garden of Many Colors next to the Germany showcase is the first illuminated garden in the festival’s history. Guests can explore the rich heritage of Haitian art, culture and refreshments in this produce garden and marketplace presented by Haiti Originale, LLC, an organization formed to support sustainable Haitian economic and social development.
Twice daily each Friday through Sunday of the festival, HGTV designers and hosts share their insights on landscapes and design with Festival Center audiences.
Music fills each festival weekend when pop music hitmakers of the 1960s and ’70s rule the America Gardens Theatre stage with performances of their greatest songs. Three new festival acts are in store: Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night (April 27-29) and The Orchestra featuring former members of ELO and ELO Part II (May 4-6); and “The Monkees’”Micky Dolenz (May 18-20).

Thirty million blooms, 240 floating mini-gardens on two ponds, 700 container gardens of flowers, herbs, plants and vegetables, dozens of Disney character topiaries, 30 “flower towers” of impatiens and sweeping beds of original floral designs create a new tapestry of brilliant color across the 260-acre Epcot landscape. It takes more than one year and 400 WDW horticulturists to plan and prepare for the 75-day festival.

Halfway through the festival, Disney gardeners remove the cold-hardy blossoms that thrive in March and early April to plant a new crop of flowers that flourish in spring’s warmer temperatures. And throughout the event, dozens of gardening experts meet guests daily with fresh landscape ideas for 2012. Daily workshops at the Festival Center let guests dig into projects they can take home at the end of the day.

Don’t Miss!

The Festival Center- Guests can shop for festival merchandise, attend demonstrations and get ideas and tips from master gardeners. In Future World between Universe of Energy and Mission:SPACE.
Disney Gardening at Home presentations - Disney horticulturists and local experts like Robert Bowden of Harry P. Leu Gardens will share gardening tips and lead guests in a hands-on, take-home activity at the Festival Center.
Special Festival Weekend Celebrations - An Art in the Garden celebration of plein air artists is scheduled March 23-25; a Disney’s Animal Kingdom Specialists weekend presents indigenous insects that are part of our world; a Florida Federation of Garden Clubs gathering will be April 27-29; and a Fresh from Florida Farmer’s Market salute is slated for May 4-6.
Bambi’s Butterfly House, three times the size of the festival’s original, is a-flutter with multiple species of brilliant butterflies. At Imagination Walkway by Innoventions West.
Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden - Fabulous Disney fairy topiaries alight to greet young fans who enter this whimsical garden designed with play structures for children ages 2-5. At the Test Track Walkway.
The HGTV Designers’ Stage presents HGTV celebrities each Friday through Sunday and nationally recognized garden personalities Monday through Thursday. At the Festival Center.
Flower Power concert series welcomes back 20th century pop favorites this year when Chubby Checker and The Wildcats, Paul Revere & The Raiders, and nine other bands rock the America Gardens Theatre with their timeless tunes. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Performers and appearance dates subject to change.

More information about the 19th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com/flower. The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

A World View - Enjoying Walt Disney World is your Disney destination information and vacation website. CLICK to add A World View to your "Favorites" menu and check back here regularly; or "Like" our A World View Facebook Page

Friday, March 9, 2012

A New Chapter Unfolds As Disney’s Story Rooms Invite Walt Disney World Resort Guests to Magical Worlds of Film and Fantasy

WALT DISNEY WORLD NEWS — Heartwarming and humorous tales from cherished Disney motion picture classics will leap from the big screen and storybook pages in enchanting accommodations opening at Walt Disney World Resort this week.

The Royal Guest Rooms, re-imagined accommodations fit for a prince or princess, open at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside in early March. This hidden jewel features 512 themed rooms where ornate beds are trimmed with dazzling crystals and gold accents, and “magical fireworks” swirl about.

The new Royal Guest Rooms immerse families in favorite Disney fairytales with fun and engaging features. Families will delight that Princess Tiana has hosted her royal friends from around the world in these elegant rooms and each special guest has left behind a cherished memento to mark the visit. Guests will discover a treasure trove in the immersive room décor, from stars of favorite animated films such as “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “The Princess and the Frog.”

The themed accommodations showcase playful artwork and majestic banners. Regal crowns from favorite Disney princesses are woven in the bedspread design. Dazzling fiber-optic effects create a magical surprise on the headboard. The bathroom sink design incorporates Genie’s magic lamp from Disney’s Aladdin as the faucet. Characters from beloved Disney*Pixar films can be spotted in the wallpaper border, plus richly appointed décor, drapery and custom linens fit for royalty, yet the rooms are moderately priced from $189 per night. Rooms sleep four. Call 407-W/DISNEY for booking.

The new Royal Rooms join the ever-popular Pirate Rooms, the first of “Disney Story Rooms” that debuted at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort in 2009. The 384 themed rooms offer pirate ship beds, buccaneer accessories and swashbuckling décor.

“We are excited to build off the highly popular ‘story room’ concept by offering another very immersive and richly themed accommodation for our guests,” said Kevin Myers, Vice President Resorts, Walt Disney World Resort. “Storytelling is what Disney does, and these new room offerings clearly provide a great new Disney Resort option for our guests.”
And to kick off the summer vacation season, Walt Disney World Resort will open the doors to its first resort hotel in a decade with Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, a family suites value property that immerses guests into the magical worlds of favorite Disney*Pixar films. Themes include Finding Nemo, Cars and The Lion King. Standard rooms will be offered at The Little Mermaid courtyard.

Situated adjacent to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, this new resort will open in phases beginning May 2012 with family suite rates from $248 per night. The 1,120 family suites include two bathrooms, kitchenette and three separate sleeping areas that can sleep up to six. Some 864 standard rooms sleep up to four with rates starting at $94.

Weekend Flash Giveaway - Rachael Ray 365 (031112)

Welcome to our Weekend Flash Giveaway!

This week’s prize is:
Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats Cookbook Giveaway
A Year Of Deliciously Different Dinners

This cookbook has a whole year’s worth of delicious dinners that you and your family will love! Use the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on Sunday night.

Good luck and have a great weekend!

Royal Rooms Make Debut at Port Orleans Riverside

WALT DISNEY WORLD NEWS – An enchanting new hotel offering fit for a prince or princess opens its regal doors at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside in spring 2012. Behind a special door is a hidden jewel, The Royal Guest Room, with 512 themed rooms where beds are trimmed with dazzling crystals and gold accents and “magical fireworks” swirl about. The new Royal Rooms immerse families in favorite Disney fairytales with fun and engaging features, playful artwork, plus richly appointed drapery and custom linens. Rooms sleep four with rates starting at $198. Call 407-W/DISNEY for reservations.

A World View - Enjoying Walt Disney World is your Disney destination information and vacation website. CLICK to add A World View to your "Favorites" menu and check back here regularly; or "Like" our A World View Facebook Page

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Best Fans Ever Keurig Giveaway

WELCOME to the Best Fans Ever Keurig Giveaway hosted by Acadiana's Thrifty Mom! We have teamed up with a group of awesome bloggers (including "A World View") to offer one lucky winner a Keurig coffee brewer ♥ All you have to do is like a few Facebook pages and you're done! There are a couple more entries that are not mandatory if you want extra entries. One winner will be chosen. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. You must be 18 years old to win. The prize will be shipped within the United States only. GOOD LUCK!

[IF YOU DON'T SEE THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY, CLICK READ MORE BELOW.]

The Flower Power concert series returns to Epcot March 9-19 at Int'l Flower & Garden Festival

WALT DISNEY WORLD NEWS – Among millions of beautiful blooms, gorgeous garden walks and dozens of whimsical topiaries, you may just hear the sounds of some of the greatest pop, rock and R&B hits from the grooviest decades. During the 19th Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival which runs from March 7 to May 20, guests will have the chance to hear music from artists such as Jose Feliciano at the Flower Power concert series.

The Orchestra Featuring Former Members of ELO and ELO Part II -- The Orchestra featuring former members of ELO and ELO Part II - The Orchestra featuring former members of ELO and ELO Part II will perform May 4-6 for the band's first "Flower Power" concert series at the 19th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Guests will also have the chance to hear music from other artists such as Jose Feliciano at the Flower Power concert series.

With a different artist every weekend during the festival, this unforgettable live music show will take you back in time with tunes from the 1960s and 70s. Don’t miss two new acts—Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night and The Orchestra featuring former members of ELO and ELO Part II—perform some of their greatest songs.

Performances are at America Gardens Theatre and are included with Epcot admission. Show times are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 5:15p.m., 6:30p.m. and 7:45p.m.

Here’s the complete Flower Power concert series lineup:

March 9-11 Jose Feliciano “Light My Fire”
March 16-18 Starship starring Mickey Thomas “We Built This City”
March 23-25 The Guess Who “American Woman”
March 30-April 1 The Spinners “Cupid”
April 6-8 Chubby Checker & The Wildcats “The Twist”
April 13-15 Paul Revere & The Raiders “Good Thing”
April 22-24 The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie “Happy Together”
April 27-29 NEW! Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night “Joy to the World”
May 4-6 NEW! Former members of ELO and ELO Part II “Don’t Bring Me Down”
May 11-13 Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone “I’m Henry the VIII, I Am”
May 18-20 TBD

Entertainment subject to change. For more information about the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, please visit www.disneyworld.com/flower.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Monday Magic: Matt's 60 Second Walt Disney World Tips

Great Idea; thank you Matt!
I was searching around You Tube for a Monday Magic feature and came across a brief video posted by Matt Hochberg of StudiosCentral.Com and WDW Today. It was a 60-second tip for Walt Disney World visitors. Then I saw another, and another. So I checked out the Studios Central You Tube Channel and had this great idea of posting these videos on A World View.

So I wrote a quick note to Matt asking if he wouldn't mind my using his videos on my site and he said, "Sure". Tonight I'll post five of his One Minute Tips below, and in the upper right hand corner you'll find another video which I'll update regularly with new You Tube posts by Matt.

Looking to beat the crowd out of an attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios? Matt shares how you can exit Beauty & The Beast - Live On Stage! and Fantasmic! a little early and avoid the rush out of those theaters. http://www.studioscentral.com

Looking to book a table at your favorite Walt Disney World restaurant but nothing available? Matt shares one way you might be able to still get a reservation. http://www.studioscentral.com

Want to know the best Walt Disney World tip you can use? I share, above all else, the tip I think is the most important. http://www.studioscentral.com

Want to beat the crowds in the morning at Walt Disney World AND enjoy a meal? Check out this tip for getting ahead and fed. http://www.studioscentral.com

Trying to decide which All Star resort at Walt Disney World to stay at? Matt tells you which resort has a slight edge if you're planning on using the Walt Disney World transportation. http://www.studioscentral.com

As most of you know, Matt is the author of THE web site about Disney Hollywood Studios, which is StudiosCentral.Com. He is also the host of one of my favorite Disney Podcasts, WDW Today which also features Mike Newell, Mike Scopa, Len Testa and the fabulous Annette Owens. So if anyone can provide the rest of us quick tips to increase our enjoyment of the "World", Matt's the guy! Thank you Matt!

A World View - Enjoying Walt Disney World is your Disney destination information and vacation website. CLICK to add A World View to your "Favorites" menu and check back here regularly; or "Like" our A World View Facebook Page