Celebrity Chef Cat Cora Will Open New Disney Restaurant

Even though Spoodles within Disney’s BoardWalk Inn a beloved favorite among Disney guests, it’s time to bid the restaurant goodbye – and then wave hello to a new, even better restaurant that will be taking its place. Disney has announced that celebrity chef Cat Cora will be partnering with Walt Disney World to open a new family dining restaurant at the BoardWalk resort. Kouzzina by Cat Cora will feature a menu of Mediterranean-style cuisine and is the most highly anticipated restaurant to come to Disney for quite some time.

“I am pleased to welcome Cat Cora and her engaging new concept for Kouzzina to the Walt Disney World Resort,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “This collaboration between Cat and Disney represents a significant step in our ongoing commitment to offer unique culinary experiences and choices for our guests."

Paying homage to the chef’s Greek roots, Kouzzina will showcase Mediterranean cuisine while staying true to Chef Cora’s philosophy of simple yet sensational meals. A Mississippi native born to a family of Greek restaurateurs, Cora grew up immersed in two different and flavorful cultures and has taken from that unique background her know-how around the kitchen. Appropriately, Kouzzina (pronounced “koo-zee-nah”) is Greek for “kitchen.”

Cora said that the new restaurant will feature “time-honored recipes passed down from my ancestors, as well as my favorite Greek and Mediterranean dishes that my family loves.”

The first and only female Iron Chef on Food Network’s hit show Iron Chef America, Cora is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York and the Executive Chef for Bon Appétit magazine. This won’t be Cora’s first venture with Disney, either; she’s been a featured chef at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and at Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival at Disneyland Resort. Cora also began working with Disney in 2008 by creating a Disney Video on Demand series to showcase ways to help families develop more healthy eating habits.

“I’m extremely excited about this latest extension of my relationship with Disney,” Cora added. “Together, we’re going to develop a truly amazing contemporary Mediterranean restaurant.”
Kouzzina will be one of a just a few celebrity chef-helmed restaurants at Walt Disney World, joining Todd English’s bluezoo at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, and the Wolfgang Puck Café in Downtown Disney. And though the opening is still a long way off (Fall 2009), Disney diners are already eagerly awaiting this new addition to Disney’s BoardWalk. In the meantime, be sure to check out Spoodles while it’s still open, and while you’re at it, take a walk over to Epcot, which is conveniently close by. As always, you can save extra on Walt Disney World tickets by getting them here at DWTickets.com.

A Brighter Aquatica Kicks Off the Spring

There’s only one place in Orlando, Florida, where you can take a plunge with dolphins, bask in the sun on a serene beach, hear the laugh of a kookaburra, and zip down a rapid – all in one day. That’s SeaWorld’s Aquatica, and this wild water park is ready for the season after undergoing a recent refurbishment.

Though Aquatica has only been open for a year, park operators still wanted to maintain things fresh, which is why they closed it for ten days earlier this year to do some spring cleaning and touch things up.

“We did a lot of painting, a lot of refreshing,” said Rick Beddow, vice president of Aquatica. “It's not even a year old, and there we are painting and repainting things because we like bright. We want colors to pop.”

The colors won’t pop as bright for guests who are wearing shades, but the park is hoping those won’t be as necessary now thanks to added shade throughout the park. Guests will find more landscaping now, more small umbrellas, and the park is in the process of adding twelve 25-foot umbrellas as well. Also helping in the staying cool department will be more misters that have been added to the park’s walkways.

Those who like to lounge will be happy to learn Aquatica has added 1,000 new beach chairs. Directional signs to guide guests to their favorite attractions were also added, along with a nifty wristband program that will help children and their parents know what rides are appropriate. Color-coded, the wristbands are distributed by an Aquatica employee who measures the little ones, so that kids need only match the color of their wristband to certain rides.

And guests visiting the park these days might notice some construction underway by the entrance; the park is adding a new ticket booth at the front gate, as well as expanding the walkway and adding in a new one for the bus-drop off – all to allow guests to get in and have fun quicker and easier.

Though no new rides or slides have been added, all the old favorites are there and ready for gleeful guests, including the racing rides, glistening lagoons, and winding rivers, all kept at a comfortable 84 degrees. There’s Cutback Cove and Big Surf Shores, producing crashing waves and gently-rolling surf; Dolphin Plunge, which takes riders down 250 feet of clear tubes through a beautiful dolphin habitat; Walhalla Wave, a family raft experience splashing guests down six stories of twists and turns; the Taumata Racer, an eight-lane racing slide speeding riders down 300 feet in and out of tunnels; and so much more.

Plus, there are all the animal encounters that make Aquatica such a unique water park. Guests can get up close and personal with Commerson’s dolphins, beautiful macaws, giant anteaters, the sulcata tortoise, roseate spoonbill, and of course, the laughing kookaburra.

So don’t wait until the summer arrives and this amazing park fills to capacity – get your discount Aquatica tickets now and experience the bright and fresh Aquatica for yourself. We can’t think of a better way to welcome the warm weather.

Epcot Festival Has Flowery Fun for Kids

It’s well known that at Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom is the ideal park for little ones, while parks like Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom appeal to all ages and the educational Epcot generally suits the older crowd best. But you might want to cast this philosophy aside this spring, at least momentarily, as the 16th annual International Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot has plenty of fun for the little gardener in your home. With so many beautiful and colorful blooms, mysterious gardens to discover, and hands-on activities for kids, the festival will fire up the imagination of any child.

From now through May 31, Epcot has been transformed from a land of futuristic wonder and discovery to an earthy land of gardens and playgrounds, adorned with 30 million blooms in sweeping floral beds and exhibits.

One of the highlights of the festival is seeing all the wonderful topiaries that have been expertly handcrafted into loveable Disney characters. Kids will love spotting flowery figures from their favorite movies, such as The Lion King, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, Cinderella, Aladdin, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, and more. And families can even make a game out of it with the Character Topiary Scavenger Hunt behind Spaceship Earth, a challenge to locate certain Disney character topiaries throughout the park.

But the festival is far from being a museum for vegetation – kids can have a blast climbing and exploring in the Let’s Get Moving area, a special garden-themed playground featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, and Goofy. Little ones can also romp with other miniature pirates in a themed adventure area featuring Peter Pan and Captain Hook or play with Tinkerbell in a Pixie Hollow-themed area. There’s even a Fairy & Princess Processional every day at the Pixie Hollow garden at 2 pm where kids can come dressed up and show off their costumes or get their face painted with their favorite flower, fairy, or insect.

Kids will also be fascinated by Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden, filled with hundreds of free-flying butterflies, and the Green Garden exhibit, where guests can learn how to create their own environmentally safe garden. And be sure to bring young ones by the Earth Station, adjacent to the butterfly garden, where kids can discover fun activities and how they can positively impact Earth.

There’s no extra cost to experience the International Flower & Garden Festival, just regular admission to the park is needed. So if your kids are feeling restless this spring, take them down to Epcot, where there are plenty of sights to see and lots of fun to be had. Get your Walt Disney World tickets at DWTickets.com now to begin your family’s flowery adventure.

Escape to Africa at Disney's Kidani Village

One of the great things about Walt Disney World is the way it can transport you to exotic and international destinations. And soon, guests will be able to experience a whole new world of international fun at Animal Kingdom. Select rooms at Jambo House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge have been converted into vacation villas, and by the end of spring, those villas will make their debut as Kidani Village – a fresh and unique new option for lodging that will make guests feel as though they’ve been whisked away to Africa.

Kidani Village is the first of four new Disney Vacation Club properties opening in 2009, and these villas are sure to stand out with their intricate African-inspired details. Kidani means necklace, and this Animal Kingdom villa-village is appropriately shaped like a piece of native African jewelry with villas forming the beads, garden-like walkways creating the knots in between, and the lobby representing the jewel at its center.

With Disney’s penchant for storytelling, Kidani Village will make guests feel like intrepid 19th century explorers on an African expedition. The Disney Imagineers designed the new Kidani Village to feel at home in its wild savannah surroundings; each villa features a thatched-roof, hewn-timber structure that seems to emerge organically from the land beneath it, and most villas offer sweeping views of the savannah, inhabited by a variety of African animals.

In fact, the Village will offer views of two savannahs – the Sunset Savannah and the new Pember Savannah – with up-close glimpses of exotic creatures. Guests can see them from special viewing areas throughout the resort, but select room balconies will also yield views of zebras, giraffes, elands, impalas, gazelles, wildebeests, storks, flamingos, waterbucks, and much more.

And though the exterior of the villas are authentically wild and African, guests will find no shortage of comfort in the interior with plenty of home-like amenities like a kitchenette/kitchen. Scheduled for opening on May 1, Kidani Village will offer 340 two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas.

Kidani Village is set to open in phases through the spring and fall, but first to open will be a brand new table-service eatery called Sanaa. Perfect for families, Sanaa will serve up savannah views and tasty foods from tandoor ovens, along with slow-cooked African specialties. The Village will also eventually include Samawati Springs, a themed pool area; Uwanja Camp, a themed water-play area; Survival of the Fittest, a fitness center; Johari Treasures, a merchandise shop, and more.

So if you’ve been toying with the idea of an exotic vacation adventure but wasn’t sure where to go, head to Walt Disney World this spring and check out the new Kidani Village. These timeshare villas are definitely a step above and beyond your average hotel room, and they’re more affordable than you think when you consider the savings you’ll get with Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com. And they’re definitely much more affordable than a trip to Africa!

Downtown Disney Gets Tren-D

Downtown Disney, one of Orlando’s best places for shopping and entertainment, has just gotten a bit more fun – the complex has unveiled a new addition this week where shoppers can get edgy and up-to-date Disney fashions and accessories, including exclusive merchandise from cutting edge designers. Tren-D recently opened on March 19, and the 2,500-square-foot shop near Pin Traders and Once Upon A Toy is already attracting a crowd with its fun designs and unique style.

An eclectic new women’s boutique, Tren-D features a mix of vintage and hip designs with whimsical Disney characters thrown in, all in a trendy fashion salon setting that’s fun to browse through even if you don’t plan on buying a thing. Located in Downtown Disney Marketplace, the boutique showcases the artistry of favorite designers like Tarina Tarantino, Roxy, and Kidada Jones. And much of it, which is blended with Disney-inspired creations, won’t be available anywhere else in Downtown Disney.

“This unique environment, filled with textured fabrics, new silhouettes, and whimsical art and design allows us the opportunity to push the creative envelope as it relates to fashion and our characters,” said Mark Perrotta, Disney’s director of Product Development and Design. “Our guests continue to respond to trend merchandise and novel products that they can’t purchase at home. Tren-D speaks to what is happening today with a blend of vintage and hip with stylized Disney influences.”

Some of the store’s offerings include organic loungewear, embroidered handbags, jeweled sunglasses, and other trendy accessories. And when you go inside, be sure to take a good look around – the store is intricately designed with a lot of fun details, from the many pastel-colored and jeweled chandeliers hanging from the ceiling to the modernly-attired Minnie’s painted on the interior columns. There’s also lots of fun Disney portraits and art on the walls.

“With its exclusive product lines and new environment, we think Tren-D will complement the existing merchandise offerings at Downtown Disney,” said Perrotta.

So next time you’re visiting Walt Disney World, be sure to stop by the urban and hip Tren-D for a fun and different kind of Disney merchandise. And keep an eye out for other upcoming changes to Downtown Disney – for example, the Virgin Megastore will sadly close this summer, so you’ll definitely want to pay a visit before its last day, May 31. Word has it that Disney is looking to fill that space with an ESPN Zone.

And in the Pleasure Island area, a new E-Brands restaurant will be opening in the coming months called Paradiso 37. The menu will represent the 37 countries of North, Central, and South America, and you can look for that to debut sometime this spring.

As always, stay tuned to our blog for news about your favorite Disney parks, and remember to save on your Walt Disney World tickets with DWTickets.com.

Guiding Light at Universal Studios This Week

If you love daytime soaps, yearn to be part of some Hollywood magic, or simply need an excuse to go to an Orlando theme park, you’ll be interested to know that CBS daytime drama Guiding Light will be filming at Universal Orlando all week long. Our fair city is no stranger to the spotlights of TV – SeaWorld Orlando recently played host to tapings of Wheel of Fortune – and the Universal parks will join the queue of parks that have held tapings this year with TV shoots running through Friday, March 20.

Guiding Light, which is the longest-running drama on television with an eight-decade run, will be shooting at various spots at Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Universal CityWalk, and other spots within the park. Fans will be able to see the footage in multiple episodes airing from April 24 through May 4, but they’ll also be able to watch from behind the set at Universal while shooting is underway this week. Crew members, of course, will prevent anyone from getting too close, but park guests will be seen in the background of various shots. So if you’re well-placed and oblivious enough, you could be on the show!

The taping begins each day before the park opens, and shooting is fast-paced, with the cast and crew moving from location to location quite a few times in one day. Many residents of Orlando were cast as extras for the episodes in an open casting call that took place earlier in the month at CityWalk’s Groove nightclub.

Universal Orlando stars as itself in the episodes’ scripts, which mainly involve Bill (played by Daniel Cosgrove) whisking Lizzie (played by Marcy Rylan) away to the park to rekindle their love. Bill wants to give Lizzie the childhood she never had as a Spaulding, but Lizzie’s family and friends are never far behind.

If you can’t stop by Universal this week to watch the shoots, don’t fret – when filming wraps on Friday, the cast of Guiding Light will continue to stick around for Mardi Gras and a day of autograph sessions with fans in front of Fear Factor Live. On Saturday, March 21, the cast will be signing autographs from 10 am to 5 pm, starting with a full cast session and Q&A exclusive to annual passholders from 10 am to 11 am and followed by one hour sessions with select cast members through the rest of the day.

Then at Mardi Gras on Saturday night, the entire cast will appear in the evening’s parade at 8 pm. Several actors will be throwing beads to fans, and Kim Zimmer and Robert Newman (who play Reva and Josh, respectively), will be the king and queen of the parade.

There’s no extra cost to watch the filming, attend a signing, or catch the Mardi Gras fun at Universal; only regular admission is needed. So if you’re an avid fan of the show, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to meet the cast and watch them in action. Score your Universal Orlando tickets here at DWTickets.com and you’ll be ready for your close-up with Guiding Light.

Dolphins Make Amazing Bubble Art at SeaWorld

It’s common knowledge that dolphins are some of the most intelligent animals in the world; they can be trained to perform amazing tricks and tasks, and if size is any indicator, the simple fact that the adult bottlenose dolphin’s brain is 25% heavier than a human brain says a lot about how smart they are.

Since research on the dolphin mind is limited, though, scientists have never been able to make any conclusive claims about whether the animals are truly intelligent or not. However, the happy-go-lucky residents at SeaWorld Orlando are proving just how brainy they are with a new skill that they learned all on their own.

It’s been known for some time that dolphins are able to communicate with one another. However, what’s less commonly known is the fact that dolphins can apparently learn from one another; several of the dolphins at SeaWorld Orlando have demonstrated this ability by the fact that they now know how to blow beautiful underwater bubbles using their blowholes. And not only can they blow bubbles, but they can also manipulate and play with them. It’s an amazing and breathtaking thing to see, and the skill is getting a lot of attention from trainers, spectators, and media outlets alike.

“If you had a balloon at home and you flex and play with the end of it to make different sounds – [the dolphins] can do that with their blowhole…They angle their heads so that it comes up perfectly straight to create a ring,” said SeaWorld’s dolphin trainers.

What makes it all even more amazing is that a few years ago, only one dolphin had this bubble-making capability; apparently, however, that dolphin taught the others. Three months ago, the trainers noticed that many more of the animals had picked up the skill, and today, they can be seen blowing bubbles, elongating them or making them smaller, and even spinning them and swimming through them.

“It’s like a little halo at first and then they just push it and it gets smaller,” said a trainer. “They either take their rostrum or head and move it in a circle to make [the bubble] bigger.”

The dolphins even try to “steal” bubbles from one another, and one dolphin will pop his bubble creation if another dolphin tries to take it away – as if to say, “No, that’s my toy, you can’t take it.”

This amazing story has been featured on ABC News, and in response to the interest, SeaWorld even put out a new blog to keep up with dolphin news. But park fans and dolphin lovers can go in person and see the animals’ amazing talent for themselves at SeaWorld. There, in Dolphin Cove, the animals can be seen frolicking, blowing bubbles, and playing with them in the underwater viewing area.

So if you haven’t been to SeaWorld in a while, you’ll want to get your SeaWorld tickets from DWTickets.com in order to see this amazing dolphin skill. It’s an incredible sight to see, and who knows? You might even discover the secret of how they do it!

Have It Your Way at Universal CityWalk

The King has come to Orlando. No, we’re not talking about the King of Sweden or Saudi Arabia or even Elvis; we mean the Burger King, which has brought its Whopper goodness to Universal Orlando CityWalk in a new restaurant that’s the first of its kind anywhere. This week saw the opening of three new restaurants in the Universal Studios entertainment district, giving guests new options for great dining and casual fun.

Panda Express, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and the world’s first Burger King Whopper Bar are the new additions, housed together in one connected dining area on the second level of CityWalk. Open for lunch and dinner, each of the three new restaurants offers guests delicious food prepared right before your eyes. After placing and picking up their order, guests can then make their way into a new modern and trendy dining room outfitted with posh booths and tables.

Part of the family-owned national chain, Panda Express will serve up fresh, high quality Chinese food served hot; Panda’s highly-skilled chefs use the ancient Chinese art of wok cooking to prepare crisp and tangy favorites like Orange Chicken and Beijing Beef. Moe’s Southwestern Grill, meanwhile, will serve fresh, made-to-order southwest flare, with signature items such as the Homewrecker Burrito and Joe Coctostan Quesadilla. Complimentary chips and salsa come with every meal, as well as warm, exceptional service.

The Whopper Bar, however, will really make a unique mark on CityWalk’s dining with a new restaurant concept that takes Burger King’s “Have It Your Way” philosophy to new heights. There, guests will be able to enjoy premium and customizable selections off a new Whopper-based menu with interesting variations of the original Whopper. And when they say “have it your way,” they mean any way – guests will be able to dress their burger with unique toppings like jalapenos, Parmesan peppercorn sauce, sautéed mushrooms, and onion rings. They’ll even be able to opt for “extra thick” burgers.

Though the restaurant’s name may suggest otherwise, there’s no alcohol served at the Whopper Bar – just juicy whoppers, and in the morning, breakfast items like Croissan’wiches, French toast sticks, and hash browns. The restaurant has a sign indicating that the Orlando location is the world’s first.

A 30-acre complex filled with nightclubs, premier restaurants, and live entertainment, Universal CityWalk is one of Orlando’s hottest nightspots. When it came to dining, however, Universal CityWalk big wigs saw something missing in the area’s offerings.

“We saw a desire for quick, casual meals among our guests,” said Ric Florell, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Resort Revenue Operations. The three new restaurants were their answer to the void.

Great for fueling up in the morning before hitting Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure, Whopper Bar, Panda Express, and Moe’s Southwest Grill are sure to be popular spots at CityWalk. Be sure to check these eateries out next time you pass through Universal Studios, and remember to get your Universal Orlando tickets at DWTickets.com before you go so you’ll have more money left over for noshing.

Monkey Business at Disney's Animal Kingdom

If primates are your favorite animals in the whole world, you might have a new reason to visit Walt Disney World this season. Disney’s Animal Kingdom recently welcomed a black and white colobus monkey – the first of its species born at the park – among its animal ranks. This cute little fella was born February 17 after a six-month gestation and can be now seen along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail with a group of five other colobus monkeys.
Though the weight, size, and gender of the monkey are still unknown, the baby monkey is being well-cared-for by first-time mother Kabibi.

“The baby was born looking healthy and vigorous,” said Rebecca Phillips, a primate manager at Animal Kingdom. “We’re encouraged that the mother and baby seem to be adapting well.”

As we’ve mentioned before, in addition to being a great Orlando theme park, Animal Kingdom is dedicated to animal conservation and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The baby colobus monkey’s mother came to Animal Kingdom in 2008 as part of the AZA Species Survival Plan, which manages genetic diversity among species through detailed records of individual animals. Disney’s Animal Kingdom also participates in AZA Species Survival Plans for several other animals, including elephants, cotton-top tamarins, and okapi.

Here are some more fun colobus monkey facts: at birth, the monkeys are covered in white fur that’s gradually replaced with black hair as they grow older. The monkeys are distinguished by their black body and white shoulders, backs, and beards, and they stand 18 to 27 inches tall, weighing between 12 to 32 pounds. Unlike most primates, the colobus monkey doesn’t have thumbs, but they do have long tails that help them navigate the forest quickly. Currently, about 65 colobus monkeys exist in AZA-accredited facilities around the US.

In addition to the colobus monkeys, the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail is also home to a group of Lowland gorillas, whose DNA is 98% identical to that of humans. There’s also a majestic silverback gorilla and his family, in addition to other animals like hippos, okapi, naked mole rats, meerkats, and many species of exotic birds. And if you didn’t get enough primate sightings there, the Habitat Habit! Trail in Rafiki’s Planet Watch area features some of the most endangered primates in the world, the cotton-top tamarins. Native to South America, these small animals are named for their long, flowing white hair.

With so many animal encounters that you’d have to travel the world to experience otherwise, Animal Kingdom is a must-see theme park in Orlando. So go pay a visit to the adorable baby colobus monkey and check out all the wonders of the animal world; no passport is needed, just a Walt Disney World ticket from DWTickets.com.

Star Gardeners at the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

In addition to a beautiful assembly of fantastic foliage and whimsical topiaries, fun activities for big green thumbs and little ones, the International Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World will feature appearances from an array of gardening professionals. From March 20 to May 31, guests visiting Epcot can take in the sights and scents of spring and learn how they can foster them in their own backyard from the experts themselves as part of the Great American Gardeners series.

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the 16th annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, some of the most respected gardeners and nature experts will reveal tips and share entertaining stories at noon and 3 pm. The presentations are open to all and will kick off from March 20 to March 22 with author Jon Carloftis, who’ll share insightful tips on how to integrate plants and nature in every aspect of life, from interior spaces to urban scapes.

Shirley Bovshow will then take over from March 27 to March 29; the garden designer and TV host will present gorgeous edible gardens that provide food as well as style and function in the garden. Susan Belsinger will then appear from April 3 through April 5, informing about the magic of herbs from garden to kitchen, and renowned horticulturist, NPR host, and author Felder Rushing will share practical tips for maintaining a garden’s beauty all year long using tough shrubs, flowers, herbs, and even “designer” veggies.

Then from April 17 through April 19, author, gardening expert, and famed TV host of PBS’s GardenSMART Joe Lamp’l (otherwise known as Joe Gardener) will talk about some of the best gardening tools and accessories available today. Following Lamp’l will be America’s longest running garden columnist Jeff Lowenfels from April 24 through April 26, who’ll explain organic gardening and some of its practical applications, and TV host Joe Washington from May 1 through May 3, who’ll talk about landscaping and water-smart designs. From May 8 through May 10, guests will be able to hear Florida garden writer Tom MacCubbin discuss growing edible foods and perfume expert Raymond Western speak on the history of fragrance and its relationship with plants.

The Gardener series will wrap up in May with TV host and gardening expert Melinda Myers, who’ll share simple money and energy saving ideas for a beautiful landscape from May 15 through May 17; author and Harry P. Leu Gardens director Robert Bowden, who’ll discuss unusual plants for landscaping from May 22 through May 24; and speaker and plant collector Rita Randolph, who’ll demonstrate eye-opening plant combinations from May 29 through May 31.

The eleven experts will be making their presentations at Garden Town in Future World East next to Universe of Energy. There’s no extra cost to hear these all-stars of gardening speak; regular admission to Epcot is all you need. So nab your Walt Disney World tickets at DWTickets.com today and ensure that your garden will be the most beautiful one on the block this season.

Viva Hispanic Culture with Viva La Musica at SeaWorld

If you’re looking for a festive celebration, you’ll definitely find it this time of year in Orlando; Universal Orlando is kicking up the fun a couple notches with its Mardi Gras celebrations, and SeaWorld and Busch Gardens recently had their own version of the festival with the Bud & BBQ event. But the Worlds of Discovery parks aren’t stopping there; as springtime begins to heat up the Orlando air this month, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens will also be turning the temperature up a few degrees with its Viva La Musica Festival, taking place on Saturdays and Sundays from March 7 through March 29.

A great event celebrating Hispanic culture at its best, Viva La Musica will spice up the usual fare at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens with live performances from a different award-winning Latin artist each day. In addition, guests will be able to enjoy the flavor of the heritage with popular Hispanic food as well as authentic arts and crafts. The fun starts on Saturdays at SeaWorld and Sundays at Busch Gardens, with the festival starting at 11 am and the concert beginning each day at 4 pm.

At SeaWorld, the Viva La Musica Festival will kick off this weekend with a performance from El Gran Combo on March 7, who will thrill the crowds with their legendary Puerto-Rican flavored salsa. On March 14, Tito El Bambino will take the stage with his reggaeton hits. On March 21, the world renowned “Princess of Salsa,” La India, will perform salsa hits from her Grammy-award winning career. And on March 28, the festival will wrap up at SeaWorld with a concert from Fonseca. At Busch Gardens, El Gran Combo will return to launch the concert series on March 8. On March 15, Puerto Rican reggaeton duo and 2008 Viva La Musica Festival performers RKM & Ken-Y will take the stage. On March 22, the popular meringue group Grupomanía will perform. And the festival will conclude on March 29 with Columbian band Guayacan, who’ll perform exhilarating salsa songs.

And to cater to the parks’ Hispanic guests, Busch Gardens and SeaWorld will be offering exclusive Spanish Language tours on the days of Viva La Musica. At SeaWorld, guests will be able to experience the Viva Behind the Scenes Tour, a 90-minute tour of the park that includes animal interactions and a behind the scenes look at animal habitats. Busch Gardens will offer two Spanish tours, the Viva La Musica Serengeti Safari, a 30-minute Serengeti Safari, and the Viva La Musica VIP Experience, a 5-hour group tour hosted by a Spanish-speaking tour guide. The Experience will include reserved seating for the day’s concert, a complimentary Latin lunch, front of the line access to most major rides, and a Serengeti Safari.

The tours cost extra, but admission to the Viva La Musica festival is free with a regular Busch Gardens ticket or SeaWorld ticket. So sign on for an amazing cultural celebration by getting your tickets today at DWTickets.com. Whether you’re Hispanic or not, you’ll be sure to enjoy the fiery beats and tasty Latin fare, along with all the usual rides, attractions, and shows of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.

Sneak Peek at Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

At the beginning of February, the Groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter. Since then, the country has endured its fair share of snowfalls, icy roads, and chilly temperatures, with which even Orlando has had to contend. But March 20, the first day of spring, is finally right around the corner, and Walt Disney World plans to ring in the season with a floral celebration that will make even Mother Nature jealous. Taking place from March 18 to May 31, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will light up the city with colorful tableaus and topiaries, fun exhibits and activities, and groovy concerts all intended to celebrate spring.

Presented by Disneynature, the festival is now in its 16th year, and it looks like this one will be better than ever, starting with the topiary. Every year, one of the staples of the festival is the intricate topiary created by Disney’s imaginative gardeners, and we’ve heard they’ve outdone themselves this time around with an extraordinary display set against the backdrop of Spaceship Earth. The topiary will feature beloved Disney characters like Cinderella and Prince Charming, Show White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, and Belle and the Beast, all made out of a variety of plants, flowers, grasses, and mosses. The display will welcome guests as they head into Epcot, though 70 other topiaries will also be spread throughout the park.

Aside from fresh sights and flowery scenes, there’ll also be lots of spring-themed fun during the festival, from colorful butterfly gardens to gardening presentations. There are so many activities and events that we can’t cover them all, but a few highlights include the Green Garden, which teaches anyone how to make an environmentally friendly garden, the Flower Power concert series featuring popular bands from the 60s, and the Great American Gardeners series, which will include appearances by gardening celebrities and authors from around the country.

Kids will find plenty to keep them entertained with the Pirates Adventure Zone, “Kids Paint Out” celebrations, and the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden, featuring colorful topiaries of Tinker Bell and her friends along with hands on activities for kids.

And be sure to check out all the festival fun around the World Showcase. At the France pavilion, a Fragrance Garden tells the “love story” of plants and perfume; at the United Kingdom’s English Tea Garden, complimentary guided tours explore the art and history of blending tea plants; and at the Japan pavilion, guests can learn about the art of bonsai.

During the festival, those who need to shake off the gloomy winter can lift their spirits with beautiful flora and fauna displays. And with plenty of educational exhibits and presentations, wannabe green thumbs will learn tips from the experts that they can take home and try out on their own gardens. The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is all about spreading springtime fun, so gear up for the season by attending this fun and natural celebration. Admission to the festival is included with regular admission to Epcot, so all you need are Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com.

Princess Half Marathon Weekend at Disney

If you’re secretly convinced that you’re a princess – and it’s simply that no one knows it yet – then Walt Disney World is the place for you. In addition to being known for making dreams come true, Disney is an unofficial meeting hub for princesses, and one such princess meeting is taking place this weekend at the Orlando theme parks. From Friday, March 6, to Sunday, March 8, the Inaugural 2009 Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend will bring all women/princesses together to participate in a magical event designed to prove just how much princesses kick butt.

Disney princesses are the inspiration for the weekend’s events, which will focus on the attributes every princess possesses: commitment, courage, determination, fantasy, perseverance, and strength. And we can’t imagine a better or more fun way to test those attributes (especially determination and strength) than the 13.1-mile Disney’s Princess Half Marathon.

A challenge not for the weak-hearted damsel in distress, the marathon begins at Spaceship Earth at Epcot, heads west to World Drive and Floridian Way toward Magic Kingdom, through Cinderella’s Castle, and past Disney’s Contemporary Resort, then back down past Disney’s Polynesian Resort and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge to Epcot again. The course will include plenty of water stops, on-course Disney entertainment, and post-race refreshments, as well as a family reunion area with live entertainment and characters. All finishers will receive a Princess Tiara medal.

The weekend also includes the Royal Family 5K, which takes runners on a course around the World Showcase and ending at Spaceship Earth at Epcot, and the Princess Kids’ Races, which gives kids ages 1 to 11 the opportunity to race at Epcot’s Imagine Lot. Even crawling little ones under the age of 1 will be able to participate in a unique ‘Diaper Dash.’

And in an effort to encourage princess health, the weekend will also feature the Fit for a Princess Expo, a two-day celebration of women, health, and fitness. The Expo will be located at the brand new Jostens Center at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. There’ll be appearances by characters and celebrity runners, as well as seminars on training, racing, and nutrition with the opportunity to experience the latest in running and fitness equipment.

More than 10,000 runners are expected to participate in the Princess Half Marathon, making it one of the country’s largest road races geared toward women. Spectators will be able to catch the action from special areas along the route detailed in the Princess Handbook, which can be picked up at the Expo.

So if you’re a princess, meet up with some other royals like yourself at this unique Disney event. Or, if you’re a non-active princess, drop by the parks to watch the fun or visit your castle (you wish). You’re always a princess at Disney, and with Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com, feeling like one is just a mouse click (or magic wand?) away.

Behind the Scenes at Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World is without a doubt one of the most mysterious and magical places in the world. The four parks manage to create so many dream experiences and fun adventures that fans have often sought to uncover the science behind the magic. And though all the secrets can’t be revealed, there is a way that Disney fans can learn a bit more about how their favorite parks operate – through special Disney-offered tours.

For example, guests can opt to go on a Backstage Magic tour, a 7-hour adventure across Disney World that provides a detailed look at the workings of Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom. This fascinating tour provides an in-depth look at the parks’ creative and technical operations that bring to life your favorite special effects and attractions. You’ll get to see Disney’s massive Florist facilities (all those flowers didn’t just pop out of nowhere, you know) along with the incredibly designed North Service area. By the end of the tour, guests will have a better idea of just how much magic it takes to make the parks work.

And if you love Animal Kingdom, there’s a tour for you too – the Backstage Safari, which provides a 3-hour look at the ways that Disney Cast Members care for the park’s 1,700+ animal residents. On this behind-the-scenes walking tour, guest will get up close to a variety of incredible animals in their backstage habitats and talk to the folks that keep them happy and healthy in the Animal Nutrition Center. They’ll also visit Animal Kingdom’s state-of-the-art veterinary hospital and other facilities and learn interesting facts, like how three tons of food is prepared, distributed, and fed to the critters of Animal Kingdom every day.

Another naturally fabulous tour is Behind the Seeds at Epcot, which takes guests backstage on a one-hour indoor walking tour of the greenhouses seen at the Living with the Land pavilion. An actual working greenhouse, The Land grows delicious produce indoors, and guests will be able to learn all about the advanced and sometimes-experimental techniques it uses. Described as an extended version of the Living with the Land ride, the tour gives guests the chance to go alligator gazing, release ladybugs, and see the future of agriculture.

Around the World at Epcot is another great tour if you love the futuristic park and want to see all it has to offer without all the walking. This fun tour takes guests around the World Showcase while riding board a 2-wheel Segway Personal Transporter. For those who have never ridden one before, the first hour of the 2-hour tour consists of a fun training session so that you don’t fall flat on your face. Once you’re ready, you and your group will head out to the World (Showcase, that is), and visit each of the 11 international pavilions it consists of. Meanwhile, your guide will point out interesting details and facts about the design of each pavilion.

All of the tours can be booked through Disney, and all of them, with the exception of the Backstage Magic Tour, still require separate Disney admission. So if you’re burning to know some of the mystery behind the magic at your favorite Disney theme park, get your Walt Disney World tickets at DWTickets.com and then give Disney a call to schedule a fascinating and one-of-a-kind tour.