Verizon Fans Finally Get Disney Mobile App

Verizon fans already enjoy a number of perks at the Walt Disney World Resort. They get to participate in the Kim Possible mission at EPCOT where you receive text message clues as you travel the World Showcase Pavillion helping Kim and her friends. Now Verizon users will be able to have a fully interactive guide to both Disney World and Disneyland on their mobile phones with great features that will make their theme park experience efficient and fun.

Disney Mobile Magic is fully loaded with important theme park information that is constantly updated. You will have full access to wait times, FASTPASS return times and extensive information on where and when your favorite Disney characters will be appearing next. The application is colorful, bright and easy to use. Because the Disney Mobile Magic app is GPS-enabled, that means you can follow your journey throughout the parks in real time. Your position will be marked by a white circle that shows you which attractions you are passing along with providing you information about them.

This is also great for those of you that want to experience Disney restaurants. The app not only provides pictures and information about the restaurant, but it gives you the phone number you need to call in order to make reservations through the Disney reservation system. This app is a great feature for customers of the Verizon Wireless network, who already experience great perks for being part of this cell phone service provider within both Walt Disney World and Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Like all apps Disney Mobile Magic will be updated with more information as time goes on. If you aren’t a member of the Verizon network you can still receive Walt Disney World info via text message. iPhone users can check out the iTunes store for a variety of apps related to the Disney parks and company.

With everything going digital in this day and age, it’s great to have the option of a wonderful Disney app like Disney Mobile Magic and other cell phone applications. We can only imagine what’s next in the world of Disney.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: Eat to the Beat 2009

It may seem too soon to be talking about the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which is held September 25 – November 8 of this year. But, how can you not talk about it when there is SO much fun to look forward to at this year’s celebration, especially this year’s music line up for the Eat to the Beat concert series!

Showcasing the flavors of the world is just the beginning of this wonderful annual festival. Held at Epcot every fall, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival features marketplaces of food, wine, beer, and other beverages in every country of Epcot’s World Showcase. At the festival you can also take part in classes and demonstrations by world renowned chefs and wine makers.

Though the food and beverages may take the cake (no pun intended) at this event, the music of the Eat to the Beat concert series is the icing on top of that cake! The list of performers was recently released earlier this month. The concert series will be featuring 17 different acts from all over the music scene, so there is sure to be something for everyone in your party. This year, there are several Grammy-winning bands and five newcomers to the festival, as well. Performing nightly at 5:15 pm, 6:30 pm, and 7:45 pm daily:

September 25-27: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
September 28-29: Richard Marx
September 30-October 3: Starship featuring Mickey Thomas
October 4-6: En Vogue
October 7-8: Better Than Ezra
October 9-11: Sister Hazel
October 12-13: Kool & The Gang
October 14-16: Spyro Gyra
October 17-18: Jon Secada
October 19-20: Sister Sledge
October 21-22: Vanessa Carlton
October 23-25: Taylor Dayne
October 26-28: Boyz II Men
October 29-31: John Waite
November 1-2: Night Ranger
November 3-5: Billy Ocean
November 6-8: Los Lobos

You will not want to miss any of these all-star performances at this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival! The International Food and Wine Festival is included with your admission to Epcot. So, to secure your spot for one of these great concerts, make sure you purchase your Disney tickets ahead of time with DWTickets.com.

Music Fills Summer Nights at Epcot

If you need something to jolt you into a summertime state of mind, follow the sound of your favorite hits to Walt Disney World, where a rockin’ and rollin’ concert series will be sure to set you straight. You’ll be swept back to youthful memories of beach trips, backyard cookouts, and long carefree days when the Sounds Like Summer concert series features summertime songs by legendary musical icons at Epcot.

From June 15 through August 9, the Sounds Like Summer concert series will host multiple performances nightly under the stars. An annual event, the series is returning to the America Gardens Theatre this year with a great lineup of popular tribute bands. Seven bands in total will recreate the sounds of legendary artists like the Bee Gees, Eagles, U2, and more, providing a great end to a day at Epcot.

The lineup is subject to change, but so far, the performers for the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series include Stayin’ Alive, a tribute to the Bee Gees performing from June 15 through 21; Hotel California, a tribute to the Eagles performing from June 22 through 28; Slippery When Wet, a tribute to Bon Jovi performing from June 29 through July 8; 52nd Street, a tribute to Billy Joel performing from July 9 through 17; Sounds of The Supremes, a tribute to The Supremes performing from July 18 through 26; and 2U, a tribute to U2 performing from July 27 through August 2. Finally, Petty Theft, a tribute to Tom Petty, closes out the concert series from August 3 through August 9.

Throughout Sounds Like Summer, multiple nightly performances will take place at 5:45 pm, 7 pm, and 8:15 pm except on July 4. On Independence Day, park guests can rock out at 5:15 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:45 pm, and 9 pm before enjoying a great fireworks extravaganza in the sky.

Though other summer concert series and nighttime entertainment are being offered at Busch Gardens and Universal Studios, the Sounds Like Summer concert series at Epcot is the only one offering performances every night. Best yet, the series is also free with regular admission to the park, so all you need to rock out is a Walt Disney World ticket.

And of course, there’s only one place where you can get Walt Disney World tickets and save – DWTickets.com. Check out Magic Your Way passes today and begin planning your trip down a memory lane of summertime fun at Epcot.

Save the Piggy Banks at Epcot

At Epcot, the Innoventions Plaza is where guests of Walt Disney World can step into the future with incredicle exhibits displaying the latest in scientific and technological innovations. But that's not to say that visitors to Innoventions won't discover a few things there that they can use today. At a new exhibit, for example, guests will learn a lesson we can all benefit from these days - the importance of saving and managing money responsibly.

This new interactive exhibit, sponsored by the global investment management organization T. Rowe Price, is called The Great Piggy Bank Adventure, and it will put families to the test when it comes to basic savings and investing with a series of fun and educational games.

"At INNOVENTIONS, our focus is on encouraging guests to imagine, incent, inquire, and inspire while exploring amazing innovations that make our lives better. The Great Piggy Bank Adventure will give our visitors a better insight into what it means to save and invest in an innovative and enagaging manner," said Dan Cockerell, Vice President of Epcot.

"Empowering parents to initiate discussion of the topics of saving and investing with their children is more important than ever before," added Edward C. Bernard, vice chairman of T. Rowe Price Group. "Financial awareness and decision-making is heavily influenced by one's early experiences, making vibrant family discussion a powerful and lifelong educational influence that can help children develop sound financial values and habits. In watching families during play-testing of the exhibit, it has been rewarding to see how The Great Piggy Bank Adventure engages families in a unique way and really does get the conversation started."

In The Great Piggy Bank Adventure, guests will play interactive games where they'll guide large plastic piggy banks through a series of video challenges designed to teach financial lessons. They'll be assisted by a talking piggy bank as they address four key financial themes, which include setting goals, saving and spending smartly, staying ahead of inflation, and diversifying your investments.

When guests head home, they'll even be able to continue the lesson with an online game from T. Rowe that's designed to be paired with the Innoventions exhibit. Planning on the exhibit actually began over three years ago between Epcot Business Development and Walt Disney Imagineers.

We bet you never thought that talking about saving and investing could be fun, but at the Great Piggy Bank Adventure, families will join together to save the piggy bank in a captivating and entertaining way. If you haven't stopped by Innoventions in a while, brush up on the latest developments and be sure to pay a visit to the Great Piggy Bank Adventure. Before you've even begun your financial education at the exhibit, you can already start spending smart by checking out the discount Walt Disney World tickets on DWTickets.com.

Around the World's Gardens at Epcot

Before you know it, the end of May will be here, and with it, the end of the International Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot. If you haven’t seen this colorful compilation of flower fun at Walt Disney World, you definitely should – there’s plenty to see and hear, from the whimsical character topiaries and beautiful gardens to the sounds of the Flower Power concerts. We’ve been covering highlights of the festival throughout its duration, and as its last few weeks approach, we bring you one more – the gardens of the World Showcase.

At the Flower & Garden Festival, one of the most fun activities is spotting your favorite characters and Disney films represented through displays like the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden and the “Cinderellabration” topiary. But Disney has also taken special care to pay tribute to different landscapes around the world, and guests can see this when they visit the 11 pavilions of the World Showcase. There, gardens tell each country’s story in blooms and provide continuity and transition from one nation to the next.

At the Mexico pavilion, for example, landscaping represents the country’s two regions, the jungle and desert. Facing the Mayan temple, guests will see tropical plants and flowers commonly found in the jungle, such as the floss silk tree, often endowed with springtime blossoms and oddly-shaped fruit. Epcot gardeners have been careful to make this garden look “unmaintained” to make it appear more like a genuine jungle.

“We wanted to steer clear of creating a ‘perfect’ landscape and use irregular spots of colorful flowers to give it a more exotic look,” says Eric Darden, Walt Disney World horticulturist.

A similarly natural look has been created in the China pavilion, where the grass isn’t mowed and plants are more haphazardly placed than in Western landscapes, in accordance with Chinese gardening. Water is an essential element in every Chinese garden, and at Epcot, ponds lie still with water lilies blooming atop. Older looking trees, like a weeping mulberry, have also been added to give the garden a mature look, which the Chinese appreciate.

By contrast, the garden at The American Adventure pavilion is much more organized and formal, designed in the style of old colonial architecture and landscapes. A predominant color scheme of red, white, and blue flowers abounds, accompanied by sycamore trees whose branches interlace overhead.

“This pavilion is by far the most formal, with its soldier-like rows of magnolias, boxed hedges and precisely planted annuals,” Darden said.

Meanwhile, at the France pavilion, guests will enjoy light and airy gardens reminiscent of Parisian park. An allee (avenue or pathway) of trees has been created with Natchez crape myrtle, similar to the linden trees they’re originally composed of in France. And in Le Notre Garden, 985 shrubs have been crafted into the shape of a French symbol, the fleur-de-lis.

The international gardens of the World Showcase are maintained by a horticulture staff of more than 50 gardeners and experts. And if you want to see all of them while learning about the process behind their assembly, check out the “Gardens of the World” tour. A three-hour walking tour through the World Showcase for guests 16 and older, it provides an in-depth look at the styles of landscaping in each pavilion.

Be sure to check out the International Flower & Garden Festival soon before it ends on May 31. The festival is open to all guests with regular Epcot admission, so get your Walt Disney World tickets here on DWTickets.com to begin exploring the world’s gardens at Epcot.

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.

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.

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.

Celebrate Chinese New Year at Epcot's China

Even though the New Year is well underway here in America, for our Chinese friends, it hasn’t even yet begun. Soon, however, China’s most important traditional holiday will take place on January 26: the Chinese New Year. A festive holiday filled with lots of color, food, entertainment, and fun, the 2009 Chinese New Year celebrates the Year of the Ox, which according to the Chinese zodiac, symbolizes prosperity, self-assurance, inspiration, and leadership. And we can’t think of a better way to commemorate this major Chinese holiday than by paying a visit to Walt Disney World’s Epcot, where the China pavilion offers a little bit of the Asian country right here in Orlando, Florida.

A cultural area within Epcot where guests can experience the art, architecture, and traditions of China, the China Pavilion is the next best thing to hopping on a plane and flying to the country itself. This dedication one of the world’s oldest civilizations features the Temple of Heaven, serene gardens with tranquil reflecting ponds, and authentic tomb sculptures from Ancient China that date back 2,000 years. There’s even a miniature recreation of the tomb of China’s first emperor. A great way to take in a cultural summary of this Asian country, be sure to kick off your Chinese New Year’s celebrations by simply touring all of the pavilion’s wonders.

No Chinese New Year celebration is complete, however, without catching some traditional Chinese entertainment. Check out the Dragon Legend Acrobats, a 14-minute live show occurring several times throughout the day that features young Chinese acrobats performing gravity-defying feats. From the Pu Yang Academy of Acrobats in China, these young athletes fly through the air, leap through hoops, spin carpets on their feet, and contort their bodies into different shapes and sizes to the sounds of traditional Chinese music.

Next, be transported back to ancient Chinese times when you witness the Si Xian show, filled with harp-like music played on the Chinese zheng, a 2,000-year-old instrument. You’ll hear a gifted zheng musician weave an auditory journey as they evoke soothing natural sounds on this 25-stringed instrument. Si Xian is performed several times throughout the day; the schedule can be found on the Epcot Times Guide.

Also, don’t miss the artistic stylings of Miyuki, the first and only woman to receive training as a candy artist in Japan. Miyuki sculpts candy into elaborate animal shapes, a Japanese art form that goes back hundreds of years. For twenty minutes at various times throughout the day, you can catch her bring pieces of rice dough to life – you can even request an ox candy to keep as a lucky souvenir for the New Year.

Finally, round off your Chinese New Year celebrations by sampling authentic Chinese cuisine at the Nine Dragons Restaurant. Offering inventive Chinese dishes from five provinces, Nine Dragons offers specialties like Moo Goo Gai Pan, Sweet and Sour Pork, and of course, several varieties of Dim Sum. Or, for faster Chinese dining, grab a bite at the Lotus Blossom Café, which serves classic Chinese take-out favorites like egg rolls, fried rice, orange chicken, and beef noodle soup.

Since all the pavilions usually celebrate the major holidays of their country, you might also find a few surprises at the Chinese pavilion on January 26, including special activities for the kids. Ultimately, you’re sure to ring in the Chinese New Year in a forgettable way at Disney’s Epcot. Be sure to visit DWTickets.com for Walt Disney World tickets to start planning your celebration.

Unleash Your Inner Secret Agent at Epcot

In the Emmy-Award winning animated series Kim Possible, Kim is your average teenage girl…unless you count the fact that when she’s not going to school and dealing with typical adolescent problems, Kim is a vigilante/crime fighter battling the evil villains of the world. Along with her sidekick Ron Stoppable and her genius equipment provider Wade, Kim fights evildoers with an array of gadgets and high style butt kicking. And soon, Disney guests will be able to join Kim on adventures at Walt Disney World with the opening of the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure at Disney's Epcot later this January.

Inspired by the Kim Possible series, this new interactive attraction will put Disney guests in the driver’s seat of their own wild crime-fighting adventure throughout seven of the World Showcase pavilions. Guests will become secret agents and team up with members of Team Possible as they save the world from various comical villains and their crazy inventions.

Using the latest Verizon technology, the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure employs official “Kimmunicators,” which are provided to guests at kiosks throughout Epcot. This interactive, handheld device is designed to help secret agents through their mission, allowing them to connect with a variety of Kim Possible characters. Using the devices, guests will be able to uncover clues and control top-secret equipment hidden inside the World Showcase pavilions.

Each pavilion (which includes Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Japan, France, and United Kingdom) will feature a different mission featuring a unique event for secret agents to take part in. Epcot crime fighters will also encounter a different super villain from the series at each pavilion, such as the evil Doctor Drakkan, the comical kung fu megalomaniac Monkey Fist, and the Scottish kilt-wearing golf player, Duff Killigan.

“Disney’s Kim Possible Showcase is an exciting new experience that offers fun and excitement for the entire family,” said Jim MacPhee, Vice President of Epcot. “We are constantly exploring new ways to provide immersive experiences to Epcot guests, and this new offering will add to our dynamic portfolio.”

The Kim Possible Showcase Adventure is unique among Disney attractions in that it’s spread out over Epcot and not located in one place, allowing secret agents to take their time and enjoy saving the “world” as a group; this distinctive design is sure to bring a new level of fun and excitement to a day at Epcot. Make sure you don’t miss out on all the crime fighting action when the Kim Possible Showcase Adventure opens on January 28th. And like any savvy secret agent, get your discount Disney tickets here at DWTickets.com. Just think of us as the Wade to your Kim Possible!

Get Ready for an Explosive New Year’s at Walt Disney World

As the holidays and the end of the year draws nearer, we’ve reached that time in December when everyone starts talking about what their plans are for New Year’s Eve. And we here at DWTickets.com would be remiss if we didn’t keep you informed about all your options for ringing in 2009 at Walt Disney World. This year’s celebrations are bound to be spectacular, with dazzling fireworks shows, live entertainment, and extended park hours throughout Walt Disney World on December 31st.

The parks are especially getting ready to launch an incredible show in the sky, with almost every one hosting its own special nighttime fireworks display. At Disney's Epcot, a special version of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth will be presented just in time for the New Year. This laser-light spectacular features dancing flames, cascading fountains, and incredible fireworks set to an original musical score. New Year’s revelers will be able to see the show at 11:40 pm, and those who want to turn in early can see the show at 7:40 pm. Epcot will be open late for the night’s festivities, from 8 am to 1 am.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the party is going on all day, starting with the Block Party Bash at 3 pm, an interactive parade featuring all your favorite Disney Pixar characters. Then, don’t miss the Fantasmic! Show, a lavish spectacular of water animation, lasers, and fireworks, taking place at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. In the evening, the in-park band “Mulch, Sweat, and Shears” will be giving live performances, and a DJ will be keeping the park grooving at Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat. Then at 11:50 pm, the celebrations will be capped with a special Lights, Camera, Happy New Year fireworks show. Hollywood Studios will be open from 9 am until midnight.

And finally, at Disney's Magic Kingdom, partiers can enjoy parades and fireworks all day in celebration of the New Year. At noon and 3 pm, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade will light up the park streets with holiday cheer, followed by the SpectroMagic parade at 7 pm and 10:30 pm. Then the Holiday Wishes show will light up the sky at 8:30 with the biggest and brightest pyrotechnics display at Disney. And just when you thought Disney had outdone itself, the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks show will provide the grand finale to the evening at 11:50 pm. Magic Kingdom will be open on New Year’s Eve from 8 am to 2 am.

With so much going on at the Disney theme parks on New Year’s Eve, deciding which one to ring in the New Year at will be a tough decision. Hollywood Studios will certainly have a lot of music and fun going on throughout the whole day, but the New Year’s edition of IlluminNations: Reflections of Earth is sure to be breathtaking. Then again, there’s nothing like seeing fireworks light up the sky next to Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom. No matter where you choose to celebrate, New Year’s Eve is sure to be incredible at Walt Disney World. Be sure to arrive at your chosen park early that day, as the parks are a popular place to ring in the New Year and often reach capacity. So get with your friends, start making those plans now, and remember to get your discount Disney tickets at DWTickets.com.

Eat to the Beat at Epcot Food & Wine Festival

The 13th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is just around the corner, and this year’s celebrations of all things yummy to drink and eat promises some great beats to go along with the eats. The Eat to the Beat concert series is always a favorite with Epcot guests, and not just because the live shows are included with your Disney ticket.

Every year, the Eat to the Beat concert series at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival brings in something for every musical taste, and this year is no exception. Seven Grammy award winning artists are just a portion of the 18 popular acts that will hit the America Gardens Theatre stage during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which starts on Sept. 26, and runs through Nov. 9.

Here’s what the lineup looks like:

Epcot Food & Wine Festival Eat to the Beat concerts – September

• Sept. 26-27: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (new this year)
• Sept. 28-30: Sheena Easton

Epcot Food & Wine Festival Eat to the Beat concerts – October

• Oct. 1-4: Starship starring Mickey Thomas
• Oct. 5-7: En Vogue (new this year)
• Oct. 8-9: Jonny Lang (new this year)
• Oct. 10-12: The Smithereens (new this year)
• Oct. 13-14: Sister Hazel (new this year)
• Oct. 15-16: David Sanborn
• Oct. 17-18: Jon Secada
• Oct. 19-21: Spyro Gyra (new this year)
• Oct. 22-23: Otis Day & the Knights
• Oct. 24-26: Exposé
• Oct. 27-28: Kool & The Gang
• Oct. 29-30: Boyz II Men (new this year)
• Oct. 31-Nov. 2: Atlanta Rhythm Section (new this year)

Epcot Food & Wine Festival Eat to the Beat concerts – November

• Nov. 3-5: David Cassidy
• Nov. 6-7: Night Ranger (new this year)
• Nov. 8-9: Los Lobos (new this year)

The Eat to the Beat bands have shows every night as part of the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, and the shows are free as long as you have a Disney ticket for admission to Epcot. The Eat to the Beat concerts take place at the America Gardens Theatre in the America Pavilion at Epcot at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. daily.

Hot Summer Sounds for Your Orlando Summer Vacation

Orlando is famous for theme parks, water parks and the best attractions on the planet. What you might not know is that an Orlando vacation can also mean great live music at some of the most unique concert venues in town. If you’re taking an Orlando vacation this summer, why not add a live music show to your Orlando vacation itinerary.

Epcot presents the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series
Over at Walt Disney World, they have gathered some of the best tribute bands around for a concert series under the summer skies at Epcot. The Sounds Like Summer concert series runs through Aug. 10, and features nightly shows at Epcot’s America Gardens Theatre. Here is the upcoming lineup:

• June 30-July 10: Bjorn Again, ABBA tribute
• July 11-20: Slippery When Wet, Bon Jovi tribute
• July 21-27: 52nd Street, Billy Joel tribute
• July 28-Aug. 3: Captain Fantastic, Elton John tribute
• Aug. 4-10: The Sounds of The Supremes, a Supremes tribute

A Disney ticket is required to see all shows during the Sounds Like Summer concert series at Epcot. All of the Epcot concerts are included with your Disney ticket.

Hard Rock Live at Universal CityWalk Is Jammin’ in July
The Universal Orlando Resort is one of the hottest entertainment spots to hit on your Orlando vacation, and some of this summer’s best shows are at Hard Rock Live in Universal CityWalk. Here is this month’s smashing concert lineup:

• Michael Bolton, July 13 at 7 p.m.
• Lisa Lampanelli, July 19 at 7:30 p.m.
• Zappa Plays Zappa, July 23 at 8 p.m.
• Frank Caliendo, July 25 at 8 p.m.
• Boy George Greatest Hits Tour, July 26 at 8 p.m.

Hard Rock Live is a local favorite when it comes to live concerts in Orlando. It is conveniently located at Universal CityWalk between Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. You don’t need a Universal ticket for live music events at Hard Rock Live, but a separate concert ticket is usually required. Tickets prices vary, depending on the event.

Universal CityWalk Is Hot All Summer Long
The streets at Universal CityWalk are smokin’ hot this summer, and filled with revelers enjoying their Orlando vacation. Whether you want to dance, drink or dine, you will find a place to do it at Universal CityWalk. No Universal ticket is needed to get into Universal CityWalk, however, some of the venues do require admission.

Segway Through Walt Disney World

There are many different ways to see and experience the Walt Disney World Resort. But, no matter how you plan to see the theme parks at Disney, you can see them for less when you buy your tickets here at DWTickets.com. Here at DW Tickets, we offer unbelievable deals on tickets to the Walt Disney World theme parks and other area attractions. Before you head out to the parks, head over to check out these unbeatable prices for yourself!

One of the most unique ways to experience the Walt Disney World Resort is through a personal tour. Through these countless tours, you can see behind the scenes of the parks and even learn all of the top-notch secrets behind your favorite attractions. But one of the many tours that you are probably not aware are the different segway tours that Walt Disney World offers. And in case you are not sure of what a segway is, this is a futuristic motorized vehicle that you stand on that takes you from place to place (much like a motorized scooter that you stand on, only this is an upright vehicle). The Walt Disney World Resort has been using segways for years with their management team, and now these tours are offered to let guests have some fun as well!

Segway tours are now offered at the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds and at Epcot. The Fort Wilderness tour is a new one, and it allows guests to experience the wilderness along the trails of the Fort Wilderness Resort. These tours take place several times throughout the day and begin at 8:30 a.m. It is important to note however that several bus changes may be required if you are a guest at a Disney hotel, so be sure to plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to make your tour (if you are late, you will be unable to attend). Also of note for all of these segway tours – helmets are mandatory for everyone (they are provided) and there is also a 250 lb. weight limit for each segway.

The segway tour at Epcot is a popular one and allows guests to experience this theme park in a whole new way. On this tour, you will visit all of the countries in the World Showcase before this section of the park opens to the public and see other parts of this futuristic theme park. Or, if you simply want to learn how to operate one of these machines, Epcot also offers one-hour instructional classroom experiences for those not yet ready to brave the outdoors in these vehicles.

Whether you are riding through the parks on a segway or seeing them like everyone else, be sure to get your tickets to all of the Walt Disney World theme parks right here at DWTickets.com!

Epcot Flower Power Concert Series Continues in May

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival opened on March 19 for its longest run ever 75 days every one of those days features a live Flower Power Concert that will bring you back to the good old days of rock ‘n’ roll. All you need to enjoy your favorite pop music acts from the 60s, 70s and 80s, is an Epcot ticket.

And you can get all of your Epcot tickets, along with whatever other Disney tickets you need, right here at DWTickets.com, your one-stop Disney ticket shop.

May is the final month of the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival, so this is your last chance to catch a Flower Power Concert. Check out the upcoming schedule, then hurry to get your Epcot tickets and go enjoy the show!

May 1-3: Arlo Guthrie takes the stage at Epcot’s America Gardens Theatre.

May 4-5: The Searchers make their debut appearance at the Epcot Flower Fest.

May 6-10: The Tokens flutter in with their popular hit “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”

May 11-15: Davy Jones stops by just in time to spend Mother’s Day at Epcot.

May 16-17: Jose Feliciano joins Epcot’s Flower Power party.

May 18-20: Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals croon their tune “Good Lovin’” to the Epcot crowd.

May 21-24: Gary Puckett sings another era into the Epcot Concert Series.

May 25-27: The Cowsills hit the Epcot stage for their Flower Power debut.

May 28-June 1: Tony Orlando ties a yellow ribbon on the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival for 2008.

The Flower Power Concert show times are 5:45, 7 and 8:15 pm daily until the last day of the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival on June 1. Best of all, these nostalgic musical journeys are included with your Epcot ticket.

And great live oldies aren’t the only thing you will love about the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. The luscious landscaping on display at Epcot during the annual Flower & Garden Festival is like nothing else in the world – Disney World or otherwise. Disney horticulturists work for months growing and putting together themed gardens, fragrant flower displays and amazing Disney character topiaries that are more than worth the price of a Disney ticket. So get your Epcot ticket today and experience the music and the beauty for yourself.

April Showers Bring Epcot Flowers

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is in full bloom and this Walt Disney World theme park has scheduled 11 different themed weekends to help you enjoy the garden gala even more. The only thing you need is an Epcot ticket. Then choose your weekend and bask in the beauty that surrounds you.

Art in the Garden – April 4-6
This weekend, your Epcot ticket will get you in to see over 25 plein air artists painting at various locales around the World Showcase at Epcot. Plein air is a French term used to describe painters who paint outside. It was made famous by well-known Impressionist painters Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Younger artists will take special delight in “Kids Paint Out” where they can break out their own inn artist and step up to an easel of their own in the Sculpture Garden at Future World East. Paint, brushes and inspiration are all included with your Epcot ticket.

Flower Power Concert Performers:

• Jay Black – “This Magic Moment” (April 4, 5)
• Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone (April 6)

Wellness Weekend – April 11-13
Wellness weekend at Epcot is designed with you in mind. A field day of fun activities are scheduled that will boost your overall well-being, and Jeffrey Restuccio, author of Get Fit Through Gardening, will be on hand guiding you toward gardening for health and long life. Help yourself, get your discount Epcot tickets now and enjoy!

Flower Power Concert Performer:

• The Grass Roots featuring Rob Grill

Green Weekend – April 8-20
The Department of Agriculture will be at Epcot this weekend teaching guests how easy it is to be “green.” You can conserve time and energy now by getting your Epcot ticket today. Then start saving the world.

Flower Power Concert Performers:

• Peter & Gordon – “A World Without Love” (April 18)
• Starship starring Mickey Thomas – “We Built This City” (April 19,20)

I Dig Bugs – April 25-27
Meet beekeepers and taste a bit o’ honey during this buggy weekend at Epcot. Spider specialists from Disney’s Animal Kingdom will show and tell how bugs benefit a healthy garden. Don’t waste time buzzing around. Get your cheap Epcot tickets today and find out ways to use these perfect pests in your yard.

Flower Power Concert Performers:

• The Ventures – “Hawaii Five-O” (April 25, 26)
• B.J. Thomas (April 27)

Weekends Are the Time to Visit Epcot

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival opened with more fun than ever this year. The only thing you have to do is get your Disney tickets. The rest has been taken care of.

Every weekend from March 19 through June 1 special events will be sprouting up all over Epcot. On these special weekends, your Disney ticket brings bouquets of fun. Here are some of the themes and when you can enjoy them:

Characters in Bloom -- March 28-30

• Colorful character topiaries blossom all over Epcot.
• Paul Revere and the Raiders perform March 28 and 29.
• The 5th Dimension sing on March 30.
• Learn how to grow a prehistoric garden as gardener Ellen Zachos presents “Prehistoric Planting” daily at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.
• Peter Pan’s Never Land Garden sprouts shrubs of Peter Pan and Captain Hook.
  Don’t grow up, but get your Disney tickets today.

Art in the Garden Weekend – April 4-6

• Be inspired by painting demonstrations from over 25 plein air artists across Epcot’s World Showcase.
• Jay Black performs April 4 and 5.
• Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone takes the stage on April 6.
• TV host Shirley Bovshow gives artistic gardeners some “out of the box” ideas as part of the Great American Gardner series.
• The Highwaymen Artists will be appearing with their Florida landscape paintings.
• Get your child’s artist on at “Kids Paint Out” in the Sculpture Garden at Future World East.
• There is an artist in everyone. Get your Disney tickets and find yours.

Wellness Weekend – April 11-13

• Take care of yourself and have fun too! Join in the field day activities in the Sculpture Garden.
• The Grass Roots featuring Rob Grill perform April 11-13
• Find out how to get in shape while you garden with presentations by Jeffrey Restuccio, author of “Get Fit Through Gardening” daily at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. in Garden Town.

There is something for every taste during these special themed weekends at Epcot. You can get in on the great gardening tips, the bounty of beautiful blooms and the nightly flower power concerts. Just get your Disney tickets and dig into the gardens at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival 2008!