Disney Dates – May 2008

The Walt Disney World Resort has so much going on, it really is difficult to keep up. We want to make your vacation planning easier, so along with giving you the best discount Disney tickets, we keep you updated on what’s happening all around the Walt Disney World Resort. Here’s what’s up in May:

Minnie Marathon Weekend is upon us
Disney’s Minnie Marathon Weekend is an endurance racing event that recognizes the strength of women. This year’s marathon has two different events, and both are this coming weekend. Sponsored by Lady Foot Locker, Disney’s Minnie Marathon Weekend “celebrates all things women’s fitness.”

Disney’s Go Red for Women 5K is on Saturday, May 3, and it will benefit the “Go Red for Women” movement of the American Heart Association. Disney’s Women Run the World 15K will take place on Sunday, May 4. It begins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, runs through Disney’s Wide World of Sports and Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club Resort, and finally comes to an end in Epcot. A Disney ticket is not required for participation.

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival rocks into its last month
The Epcot Flower & Garden Festival continues through the month of May with special weekends, Flower Power concerts and more gorgeous gardens that you can shake a stem at.

May 11 is Mother’s Day, and the Epcot Flower Fest is getting in on the celebration with a special Mother’s Day Brunch. (Reservations and an Epcot ticket are required.) Davy Jones will be on hand for a Flower Power concert that will have Mom swooning.

The Epcot Flower & Garden Festival will sprout its final blossom with the Festival Farewell Weekend on May 31 and June 1. This will be your last chance to get your Epcot tickets and see what the fuss is all about.

Disney attraction openings and closing for May
Magic Kingdom

• Cinderella’s Golden Carousel is closed for rehab May 4-22
• Jungle Cruise is closed for rehab May 11-24
• Mickey’s Pirate and Princess Party sails in on May 2, 9, 16, 21, 26, 31

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• The American Film Institute Showcase is closed for rehab May 1

The month of May is a great time to visit Walt Disney World. The weather is still pleasant, and the crowds are not nearly as large as they will be come summer. So, go ahead and plan your Orlando vacation this May, and get all of your Disney tickets today!

Spaceship Earth Renovations

The Walt Disney World Resort is constantly striving to maintain and improve all of their attractions to keep guests happy and coming back for regular visits to Central Florida. Whether it is coming up with different annual themes and celebrations (they are currently in the midst of the Year of a Million Dreams celebration) or just looking for ways to improve upon what they have already perfected, Disney is always thinking one step ahead. Case in point: last year, after the multitude of success of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, Disney shut down the immensely popular ride of the same name at the Magic Kingdom Park to incorporate aspects of the movies into the attraction, including appearances from Captain Jack Sparrow himself. Now, the ride is more popular than ever, drawing in fans who have always loved the ride and even more who are drawn in to the trilogy of movies.

Disney is currently hoping that a fourth renovation of the Spaceship Earth attraction at Epcot will reap many of those same benefits as the Pirates attraction did while re-establishing itself as the true centerpiece and foundation for what Epcot (the experimental prototype community of tomorrow) stands for. Before Spaceship Earth closed on July 9, 2007, this 16 million-pound, 180-foot-tall golf ball look alike that opened right along with Epcot back in October of 1982 housed a 14-minute ride that let guests travel back through time to see how humans learned to communicate and how it has evolved over the years. Now, a new sponsorship of the attraction (Siemens) is going hand-in-hand with the current renovations, which also include the removal of the magic wand and the word “Epcot” which has been fixated to the giant sphere since the new millennium celebration began in late 1999.

In addition to the cosmetic changes being made (landscaping is also being done around the attraction to return it to its early luster), the inside and meat of the attraction is being drastically altered as well. Spaceship Earth will now feature three new scenes involving the evolution of computers, as well as new costumes, lighting and props. A brand new musical score by Bruce Broughton has also been composed, while Academy Award-winning actress Judi Dench is the new narrator of the attraction. And finally, the biggest and most impactful change resides at the end of the attraction – guests will now be able to choose their version of the future via an interactive screen in their time machine vehicle.

While Spaceship Earth does not have its official re-opening until February 19, 2008, guests are currently being treated to a soft opening at the park. If you want to be one of the first to see this major renovation, all you need are tickets to access the theme parks. For the best deals on discounted tickets to Disney, along with Universal Orlando and Sea World Orlando, DWTickets.com is your one-stop shop. To get started on your vacation planning and to purchase your discounted theme park tickets, click here now!

Holidays Around the World at Epcot

Epcot has never been your average amusement park. It combines the fun and excitement of all the great Orlando theme parks with world geography, culture and fine dining. And during the Christmas season, the Holidays Around the World celebration takes the term World Showcase to a whole new level. DWTickets.com takes discount theme park tickets to another level too. We are your best source for cheap park tickets during the holiday season and through the rest of the year! So get your Epcot park admission tickets here and then head over to enjoy the holidays from a global perspective.

The holiday season is brought to life all over Epcot with beautiful decorations and spectacular seasonal shows. Kids will love to visit the traditional Santa Claus who makes daily appearances at the American Adventure Pavilion. But in the spirit of Epcot’s global environment, holiday icons from around the world share their own special stories and customs throughout the park. France’s Père Noël tells tales of his French history, and La Befana, as he is know in Italy, describes that country’s holiday folklore to the delight and enlightenment of both children and adults. Each country around the World Showcase has something unique and interesting to contribute to this seasonal celebration, and presentations of Hanukah and Kwanzaa can also be enjoyed around the World.

Each night, guests can watch and participate in “Mickey’s Tree Lighting Treat” in the World Showcase Plaza for even more great storytelling, holiday singing and, of course, the lighting of the fabulously worldly Christmas tree. “The Lights of Winter” enliven the World Showcase breezeway bridge and guests are amazed as they wander under this glittering canopy of dancing lights and music. The ever-popular Candlelight Processional has shows nightly with celebrity narrators, a mass choir and a full orchestra revealing the traditional Christmas nativity story to guests at the America Gardens Theater. To complete each holiday night at Epcot, visitors are treated to a super special holiday finale of “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.”

The holiday happenings are going on at Epcot and all across the Walt Disney World Resort through the end of December, and some even into the new year. Also available this holiday are the best prices on theme park tickets for the holidays and all year at DWTickets.com! We are always your first and best choice for cheap theme park tickets, so get them now and start your holiday celebration today!

New at Epcot!

Epcot's American Adventure has recently undergone some changes. The patriotic display of American accomplishments and culture has added some elements of the 21st century to its displays. Michelle Kwan, Tiger Woods, and the firefighters who raised the flag at ground zero after 9-11 are just a few of the new images displayed in the new show. The last 14 years of American life have been incorporated into the video that has not been updated since 1982.

The theme of the new show is the American spirit starting with the pilgrims and ending with the new millennium. Some of the new scenes depicted include images of former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton working side by side on tsunami relief and scenes from the destroyed world trade center. Despite the many touching and grave images, the message the video sends is one of the strong American spirit and how it prevails in tough times.

The new video is 30 minutes long and can be viewed several times a day at American Adventure in Epcot's World Showcase. Buy your discount Diseny tickets at DWTickets.com now and get front row seats!

EPCOT turns 25 Years Old

On October 1, 2007; EPCOT at the Walt Disney World resort will be celebrating its Silver Anniversary. Twenty-five years ago EPCOT was born. "EPCOT" stands for Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow, and was a vision of Walt Disney before he passed away. This "community of the future" opened in 1982 and featured a "future world" with innovative approaches to theme park ride technology. It took Disney World Co. three years to build EPCOT, starting in 1979, and the total cost was $1.4 billion.

EPCOT is now called Epcot park and hosts many events such as the Annual Food and Wine Festival as well as the Flower and Garden Festival. The World Showcase at Epcot features countries from all over the world with rides, attractions, shops, and restaurants. Future World is home of Spaceship Earth, the gigantic silver geosphere that is the trademark icon of the park. Epcot is also home to SOARIN', Mission Space, and Test Track. Come to the Walt Disney World resort and help celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Epcot Park, and have a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend!

Mission Space at EPCOT

I recently went to EPCOT for something other than eating and drinking - rides! Usually EPCOT has so much going on with the Food and Wine Festival, Flower and Garden Month, and everything else under the sun. So last weekend I actually went there to go on some rides (although the Flower and Garden Festival is still going on through June). Besides the usual SpaceShip Earth, Test Track, and Soarin', I went on a ride that has been much talked about over recent months : Mission Space.

Mission Space launches you into outer space in a simulated shuttle vehicle as you feel the thrust of blasting off into orbit as well as actual weightlessness once into space. The intensity of this ride cannot be descibed in words, other than "WOW!" You will feel like an astronaut and know what it is like to be in a rocket. The video screens feel like you're actually looking out a window into outer space as you see Planet Earth become smaller and the sky changes from blue to black. Mission Space is one of the coolest rides I've been on anywhere, and I just wanted to give kudos to EPCOT for creating such an awesome ride and experience. To buy discount tickets to Disney World, CLICK HERE! See you at Epcot and don't forget to buckle up and blast off at Mission Space!

The World Showcase at EPCOT CENTER

The World Showcase at EPCOT has over 20 pavilions with countries from all over the world. Some of the country pavilions have rides, like Norway or Mexico. Other country pavilions have amazing restaurants like at Italy, Japan, and Mexico. The World Showcase at Epcot is a beautiful circle of attractions with inspirational buildings and colorful scenery. People describe the World Showcase at EPCOT as breathtaking and fascinating.

EPCOT's World Showcase is a melting pot of different countries, cultures, and cuisines - and will teach you a little bit about the origins of these far away lands. There is also great shopping at the different country pavilions where you can buy some really interesting and unique apparel. EPCOT is a theme park that usually takes a day or two to complete, so a Park Hopper ticket is usually a good idea. To buy discount Park Hopper passes, CLICK HERE!

Disney's Year of A Million Dreams - UPDATE !

This is the Official DW Tickets Blog Man - reporting live from Orlando, FL. Spring time is among us, and the Walt Disney World resort is booming with visitors from all over the world. With Spring Break around the corner and the kids taking a break from school, what better time to take your family down to Disney World than now ?? If you were thinking about going somewhere other than Disney World for your Spring Break - think again ! This year - during Disney's Year of A Million Dreams, you can win amazing prizes such as a 1 night stay in a suite inside Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom. During the Year of A Million Dreams - there are thousands of prizes given away everyday, from free popcorn and soda, to gift certificates for Disney merchandise, to weeklong cruises. In 2007 - the Year of A Million Dreams at Walt Disney World is here to make your dreams come true.. so take advantage of this amazing opportunity, and buy your tickets at DWtickets.com.

Water Park Fun .... AND MORE !

It looks like Florida's one month season known as "Winter" is wrapping up, and the temperatures are climbing back to the 70's and 80's. Spring Break is around the corner, the skies are blue and sunny, and there is a buzz in the air all over Central Florida! Sweaters and jackets are being swapped for tank tops and board shorts, and the water parks around town are cranking up into high gear.

For the next 6 months, your visit to Walt Disney World cannot just be about theme parks - it's time to take advantage of this beautiful weather and cool off in the H2O. There is nothing that gets me more excited than knowing I have the option to leave my Walt Disney Resort theme park in the afternoon, cruise over to Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, or my hotel pool - and get in the water ! Obviously the hotel pool is a nice place to kick back and relax, but this is Walt Disney World, and I want some action. The Disney Water Park Fun & More ticket is truly a stoke of genius. Water Park Fun & More passes allow me to start my day at any one of my favorite Disney theme parks such as : Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM Studios, or Animal Kingdom.... and then go to Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, DisneyQuest, Pleasure Island (at night) or the Wide World of Sports Complex. I can add more attractions, days, and value to my ticket for just a tiny increase in price. The flexibility makes me feel like I own the place, and I can see pretty much everything I want.
To buy Water Park Fun & More tickets, click here!

Last night, after coming back from dinner at Epcot, I used my Water Park Fun & More ticket to get into Pleasure Island, and the nightclub scene was pretty intense. I felt like I was in South Beach or L.A. and the variety of music inside the clubs was fantastic. I'm going to save some energy though, because next weekend I'll be at Disney's ESPN : The Weekend at MGM Studios, and if you read my last blog -you'll know just how amazing of a time it will be. Until next time, this is the Official DW Tickets Blog man signing off. Have a great weekend!