Jan 19 2015

Epcot Garden Rocks Concert Series Bands Announced

If you plan to visit Disney World this spring during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, here is some exciting news! Disney has just released the information about which bands will be appearing in the Garden Rocks Concert Series that runs during the festival from March 4 – May 17, 2015. Here’s the current lineup (subject to change without notice):

March 6-8: Gin Blossoms “Hey Jealousy”
March 13-15: Pablo Cruise “Love Will Find a Way”
March 20-22: En Vogue “Free Your Mind”
March 27-29: Starship “We Built This City”
April 3-5: The Orchestra starring former members of ELO “Evil Woman”
April 10-12: Village People “Y.M.C.A.”
April 17-19: Jon Secada “Just Another Day”
April 24-26: The Guess Who “These Eyes”
May 1-3: Taylor Dayne “Tell It to My Heart”
May 8-10: Little River Band “Lady”
May 15-17: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone “I’m Henry the VIII, I Am”

Performances will be at America Gardens Theatre at 5:30pm, 6:45pm and 8:00pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the festival, and are included with Epcot admission.

Looking for more information about the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival? Please check out this article that includes lots of details about what is planned!

Need more help with your visit to Epcot?

Be sure to check out these articles to make the most of your time in Epcot:

Best Disney World Cocktails
Best Disney World Frozen Drinks
Best Disney World Rides For Babies And Toddlers
Best Disney World Shopping Spot – Mouse Gear
Best Disney World Snacks
Best Epcot Future World Attractions
Best Epcot World Showcase Attractions
Best Family Photo Spot In Epcot
Best Ways To Tour Epcot’s World Showcase With Kids
Disney World Scheduled Refurbishments 2015

Dreaming about a vacation to Disney World?

If you are beginning to plan a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out the following resources to help you save money:

View the latest Disney World discounts.
Guarantee the best package price by getting a FREE quote from Destinations in Florida!

Have you attended a Garden Rocks Concert before? Are you going this year?
Who are you most excited to see? Please leave a comment!

Jan 12 2015

2015 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

After weeks of cold and snow here in Colorado, I’m definitely having spring fever. In just a few short weeks it will be time for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival to begin. Because of my kids’ school schedule and wanting to avoid a Disney World vacation during the busy spring break travel season, I haven’t been to this event since 2013. However, this year I’m going to be taking a short research trip for my next book during the festival. I am beyond excited and of course, I am already counting down the days. Disney has lots of exciting things planned including past favorites as well as some new offerings. Here are details and photos courtesy of Disney:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Spring 2015 will bloom with a fresh take on lush gardens, inspired flavors and lively entertainment during the 75-day Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 4-May 17 at Walt Disney World Resort. New Disney character topiaries, including a nod to the blockbuster animated film, “Frozen,” will offer colorful selfie and family photo ops. Outdoor Kitchens will serve a fresh take on sweet and savory noshes. And guests can get “hands-on” with festival fun during Disney-led gardening seminars.

“Frozen” will melt hearts in the park’s World Showcase: Disney’s first Anna and Elsa topiaries will appear in a scene from the Oscar-winning film’s finale. Other brand-new Disney character topiaries will be Chip and Dale taking a star turn in two whimsical front-entrance “Goofy About Spring” floral vignettes. Topiary Goofy and friends will be in on the fun.

Fresh new menu items will debut at the festival’s Outdoor Kitchens where, for the third festival year running, guests can taste garden- and spring-inspired tapas-sized food and beverages and have their complimentary Garden Passports stamped as they stroll the World Showcase promenade.

A Southwest desert garden will premiere as a thriving ecosystem.

Ten new mini-gardens will surprise guests around every corner. Guests will discover a new “health garden,” a pepper garden, a dinosaur-plant garden and a Shakespeare garden, among others, each designed with a storytelling element.

Guests can discover the story of the Monarch butterfly’s epic journey across the continent and see butterflies emerge from their chrysalises at Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House.

A weekend concert series will rock audiences every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Performers will include Gin Blossoms, Pablo Cruise, Village People and a lineup of top bands representing four decades of pop music.

Disney gardeners will lead weekend how-to Gardening Seminars at the Festival Center, where guests also can pick up signature festival merchandise.

When the sun sets, illuminated topiary and play gardens will glow brightly for an after-dark festival experience.

“This is one of our most ambitious festivals ever,” says Eric Darden, festival horticulture manager. “We’re telling stories we’ve never told before. You’ll get a fresh taste of spring — it’ll be like the first spring farmer’s market for America.”

As park guests nibble on inspired Outdoor Kitchen goodies, they can wander among multiple themed gardens and children’s play areas. Nearly 100 expertly crafted topiary characters, including Snow White, Bambi, Mickey Mouse, Simba and Peter Pan, will animate the landscape when Epcot transforms to a vibrant wonderland of sweeping garden beds and exhibits.

The “Frozen” topiary vignette at World Showcase Plaza will pop with color as Anna’s and Elsa’s icy world, illustrated with white and silver blooms of delphinium, alyssum and other floral varieties, transforms to a brilliant spring palette featuring Gerbera daisies, petunias, Sweet William and other flora.

A Health Garden near The Land pavilion in Future World will display ancient medicinal plants including garlic, aloe, chamomile, fennel, mint and others. Plants used to develop modern prescriptions will be papaya, periwinkle, turmeric, yew, thyme and valerian. And the new Shakespeare Garden at the United Kingdom pavilion will feature roses to represent Romeo and Juliet: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Also in the garden: rosemary from Hamlet, lavender from The Winter’s Tale, plus representations featuring poppy, lily, honeysuckle and willow.

Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House will return with hundreds of winged beauties fluttering above and lighting upon their favorite nectar-producing plants. Dozens of Disney-crafted “flower towers” and beds of multi-colored blooms will add to the floral splendor of the park’s landscape. At least 70,000 bedding plants will surround the Future World east and west lakes alone; on the water, 220 mini-gardens will be set afloat.

Several special weekend happenings will include Art in the Garden Weekend (March 27-29); Florida Fresh Weekend (April 24-26); and Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. Weekend (May 8-10). The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

For the most updated 2015 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival information including food offerings, concert information, schedules and more, please check out this article!

Have you attended the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival before?
What did you like the most? Are you going this year? Please leave a comment!

Happy Early Spring!

Need more help planning your visit to Epcot? Please check out these articles:

Jan 8 2015

IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party Returns

Exciting news – The IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party has returned to Epcot! This fun and delectable event is being held on select Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings during January and February at Epcot’s Showcase Plaza from 7:45pm – 9:20pm. Guests will enjoy delicious desserts and wines in a beautiful setting with a perfect view of the World Showcase Lagoon during the nighttime spectacular Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.

The scrumptious sweets and beverages being served include:

Traditional baklava from Morocco
Tiramisu from Italy
Chocolate ganache tarts from France
Crisped rice puffs inspired by Asian cuisine
Cinnamon sugar churros with caramel and chocolate sauces from Mexico
Seasonal berry cobbler from the United States
Apple dried fruit crumbles from the United Kingdom
Sparkling blue velvet cupcakes
Chocolate chip cookies
No-sugar-added lemon cookies
Assorted beverages and sparkling wines

Important Reminders

The food and beverage selections are subject to change without prior notice.
Epcot admission is also required and is not included in the price of the IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party.
There is no seating available at the IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party venue.
The IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party venue is uncovered.
In the event of inclement weather, the dessert portion of the party will take place at an alternate indoor location.
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth may be canceled without prior notice due to inclement weather.

Admission to the IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party
costs $49 for adults and $29 for children ages 3 to 9 (tax and gratuity included).
Please click this link or call 407-WDW-DINE to book now – space is limited!

Dec 16 2014

Disney World News – Holiday Videos From Around Disney World

The holiday season is by far one of the most magical times of year to visit Walt Disney World. Unfortunately, a lot of us have other commitments that prevent us from being able to travel during these months. So for all of you out there like me that would love to be in Disney World experiencing the holiday festivities, here’s a few videos to make you feel like you’re almost there. Enjoy!

Epcot’s Mariachi Cobre Plays “Silent Night”

Animal Kingdom’s Chakranadi Performs “Carol of the Bells”

“A Frozen Holiday Wish” At Magic Kingdom

Highlights From Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade

Behind The Scenes Tour Of Osborne Family Spectacle Of Lights

Looking for more Disney World holiday fun? Be sure to check out these posts, too!

Disney World Decorates For The Holidays
Frozen Gingerbread Castle At Contemporary
A Frozen Holiday Wish Now Appearing At Magic Kingdom
Jungle Cruise Transformed To Jingle Cruise
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2014
Holiday Treats At Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Holidays Around The World At Epcot
Holiday Happenings At Hollywood Studios
The Osborne Family Spectacle Of Dancing Lights Returns
Holiday Happenings At Downtown Disney
Disney’s Christmas Cookie Cocktail
Celebrating New Year’s At Disney World

(all photos & videos courtesy of Disney Parks Blog)
Happy Holidays!

Nov 17 2014

Disney World News – Holidays Around The World At Epcot

Every year at Epcot, the holiday season is celebrated with a special event called Holidays Around The World. This year the festive happening will be held from November 28 through December 30. It is filled with yummy food, joyful music and wonderful traditions from countries around the globe. Here’s the scoop from Disney Parks Blog:

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Holidays Around the World at Epcot where the World Showcase countries reflect the seasonal traditions – including tastes of homelands far, far away. Starting our stroll at Promenade Refreshments, try the Turkey Waffle – a filling sweet potato waffle with roast turkey and green bean casserole (all-in-one holiday dinner). Then head to Canada for pecan-maple bark, a nod to our Northern neighbor’s bounteous maple sugar production. Next door in the United Kingdom, it’s hot applejack cider with whiskey and a blend of seasonal spices – sip while you listen to stories of Father Christmas. France sweetly celebrates with the classic bûche de noël au chocolate (chocolate cake shaped like a log) at Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie, and glace au apin d’epices (gingerbread ice cream) at L’Artisan des Glaces. Japan adds teriyaki chicken karaage, a Japanese version of crispy fried chicken bites with teriyaki sauce, at Kabuki Cafe, and you can hear the story of the hollow-round Daruma doll and the Japanese customs of the New Year. Up next, American Adventure, with freshly baked gingerbread men, chocolate chunk cookies and sugar cookies, hot chocolate, hot apple cider and peppermint bark at the Sugar and Spice Holiday Bakery (perfect snacks for the Candlelight Processional). Look for Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebrations throughout the holidays, plus our favorite Voices of Liberty Dickens Carolers. At Italy you can meet La Befana, the kind-hearted witch who arrives on the eve of the Epiphany to grant gifts to good children – like panettone, the sweet bread loaf served at the Gelato kiosk, along with sweet moscato wine and ciocolata calda (hot chocolate). In Germany, listen as Helga tells the story of the first Christmas tree as you nibble on stollen fruit cake and sip glühwein (hot spiced wine). Learn about the Christmas gnome in Norway and indulge in the traditional rice cream at Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe (so popular they leave it on the menu year-round).