Go See The Princess and the Frog!

If you are looking for something to do indoors this holiday season but don’t want to go to the mall and can’t make it to the Disney theme parks, we highly recommend you head to the movies. We know there’s a lot of buzz about James Cameron’s Avatar, but you can’t call yourself a true Disney fan unless you head out and see The Princess and the Frog. We finally got a chance to go see the movie and we have to agree it was a fantastic feeling to see the work of Disney animators back on the screen again. After years of Pixar flicks like Up! and Toy Story we finally get to see the magic of hand-drawn animation back on the big screen with this lovely tale set in New Orleans.

Like other Disney films that borrow from classic stories (The Little Mermaid, Snow White) The Princess and the Frog is an interpretation of the old story where, instead of the frog becoming a prince after a princess’s kiss, a hard-working New Orleans girl becomes a frog after kissing a frog (formerly a prince!) The movie’s twist is sure to be a hit with the kids as Tiana and Naveen head off on an adventure through the Bayou in their frog forms. They meet Louis, an alligator that wants to play in a jazz band with humans, and Ray, a Cajun firefly in love with a star he calls Evangeline.

When the crew meets Mama Odie, the good Voodoo priestess, we get to hear one of the best, if not the best song of the movie “Dig a Little Deeper” which is catchy and full of gospel influence. The song, along with the rest of the movie’s plot, teaches you that what is most important is who you are inside! Unlike the classic Disney films, Tiana isn’t waiting on her prince to achieve her dreams. She saves up money to open up her own restaurant by working hard. While in the end love conquers all, the viewer will be delighted with the beautiful animation and wonderful story that is a trademark of the Disney name. We only hope The Princess and the Frog is only the beginning of Disney’s return to hand-drawn animation!

Lines at Disney a Thing of the Past?

Going to the Disney theme parks is always fun no matter what time of year you go. There are so many great activities, parades, fireworks shows and special attractions during holidays like Christmas and Halloween. The Magic Kingdom is one of the most popular parks in the Walt Disney World Resort and there are always changes being made to improve the park for guests year after year.

You might have heard about the enormous Fantasyland expansion coming in 2011 and 2012 over at the Magic Kingdom. Fans of the Disney princesses will love all of the new features. You’ll be able to help plan Sleeping Beauty’s birthday party, learn to ballroom dance with Cinderella, read a story with Belle and even enjoy a ride through the journey of Ariel. For fans of Pixie Hollow, a giant sized replica of the fairy land will be built to make you feel like you’re Tinkerbell’s size yourself.

For fans of Dumbo there will be a new circus-themed area that will do away with the concept of lines. Yes, that’s right. Instead of waiting in line you will be able to play various games to keep yourself entertained in the meantime. It’s all part of Disney’s plan to make your experience at the parks better for you, and they’ve already begun to test it out!

Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios you can enjoy a musical roller coaster adventure like no other with Aerosmith’s Rock N Roller Coaster ride. Recently, the coaster has begun to test a “deli style” waiting system, where you are given a ticket and made part of a group. For example, if you’re group A, you’ll be told to return in 5 minutes and other groups at other times. Disney has set up games like Guitar Hero, benches, even DJ’s and other forms of entertainment outside of the ride for the various groups waiting to come back for their turn on the ride to enjoy (much like Dumbo will be doing). This “queue-less” system is receiving mixed reviews but it’s still in its very early testing stages. Once Disney fine tunes it, a queue-less ride seems like a great addition to the parks and much more fun than standing in a long line for hours and hours! We can’t wait to see what the parks work out.

VoluntEars Spread Holiday Cheer

The Walt Disney Company has always been one to participate in charities and help those that are less fortunate. When you’re visiting the Orlando theme parks you see the smiling faces of cast members and realize Walt Disney World really is the happiest place on Earth. There are a lot of fortunate people that get to go to the Disney theme parks throughout the year, but there are people that never get to travel, let alone have a safe place they can call their own.

Homelessness is affecting the United States like never before, especially with the economic recession that we have been undergoing. People have lost their jobs and even their homes because of layoffs and other reasons—but the Walt Disney Company would never ignore the less fortunate. Over Thanksgiving, chefs from various Disney resorts came together with the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida to prepare meals for over 600 people. These people, which includes families, women, children and men, were all fed a traditional Thanksgiving dinner prepared by Disney chefs. Chef Tony Marotta oversaw the entire project.

Monthly, the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida prepares about 750 meals for the homeless in the area, but for the special Thanksgiving day feast, the chefs had to start two days in advance. It was a lot of hard work, but important work, as Disney firmly believes in the idea of VoluntEars and helping the community.

“When you see homelessness in the media, you are moved to humility and compassion, but when you see homelessness in person, you are moved to action,” said Trevor Larsen, WDW vice president of engineering services and manufacturing, who serves on the Coalition board. “There are plenty of ways people can help. Come meet these adults and children in need and get involved.”

If you want to get into the giving spirit, you can always volunteer at a homeless shelter or other charity foundation yourself. Don’t forget Disney is doing the Give a Day Get a Day program! If you volunteer and sign up on the website, all you need is proof of your day of service to get a free admission into the Magic Kingdom or any other Disney theme park!

A Tomorrowland Christmas

The holidays are almost here! There is no doubt you have probably heard some holiday songs in the stores and started to see the various holiday commercials appearing on the television. Hopefully, you’ve purchased your discount Disney tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and you’re ready to go, because this is going to be a beautiful event Disney and holiday fans of all ages will enjoy! The holiday decorations are already up at the Magic Kingdom. Wreathes and beautiful nutcracker statues decorate the trees and line the streets of the Magic Kingdom. You will find special statues spiced up for the holidays and see snow-themed Mickey balloons, tons of Christmas decorations, and great Christmas-themed Mickey and Minnie Ears. If you like the holidays and you’re a Disney fanatic, this is heaven on Earth!

Tomorrowland will have a brand new look and a brand new show once you get to Walt Disney World. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority was fully refurbished and just re-opened. They even fixed up the bathrooms near Space Mountain for a brand new look. Oh! About Space Mountain, the official re-opening date is November 22nd 2009, but Disney is expected to have a “soft opening,” meaning Disney will let cast members and a few guests test out the ride, as early as this week!

Along with Space Mountain and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, the Magic Kingdom will have a brand new Christmas show that is sure to rock the house and get the little ones into the holiday spirit! A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas will be the newest stage show in the holiday event and it will replace Mickey’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. With a modern take on the holidays featuring Radio Disney hits, holiday songs and your favorite Tomorrowland characters like Buzz Lightyear, Stitch, Mike Wazowski and other holiday favorites, everyone will enjoy this show!

If you’re planning to come to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party, which we hope you are, you will enjoy all of the special features of the holiday invent including the parade, unique fireworks, A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas and, of course, a brand new Space Mountain. The holidays at the Magic Kingdom are going to be fantastic.

Tinkerbells Latest Adventure

Tinkerbell is one of the most popular Disney characters of all time. You can find tons of adorable merchandise in the Disney theme parks from pens to t-shirts and high-quality figurines. The sassy sprite first appeared in 1953’s Peter Pan, where she joined Wendy Darling and Peter Pan on an adventure to Neverland to fight off the evil Captain Hook. It wasn’t until later that the Tinkerbell craze caught on, but it’s hard not to love the blonde pixie with her adorable outfit and her funny crush on Peter Pan. She appeared once more in the 2008 movie Return to Neverland as the Tinkerbell merchandise mania continued to grow.

Finally, Tinkerbell got her own animated movie where she was the star of the show in a 3D animated feature that told Tinkerbell’s origin. We got to learn that all of the fairies live in Pixie Hollow and they are born whenever a child in the world laughs. Once the fairy is born he or she gets to choose her profession. Will she be a fairy of the elements or a tinker fairy? Tinker fairies create the little items used in Pixie Hollow every day. We’re sure you can figure out what kind of fairy Tinkerbell is after that explanation. So, based off of the success of her first solo feature, Disney is releasing a sequel called Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure.

New fairies were introduced into the Tinkerbell world and in this sequel they will be voiced by famous celebrities. Silvermist will be voiced by Lucy Liu, Iridessa by Raven Symone, Fawn by America Ferrera, Rosetta by Kristen Chenoweth and Mae Whitman voices Tinkerbell. Along with her fairy friends Disney gave Tinkerbell a male companion in Terrence, who is voiced by Jesse McCartney. Disney is hoping Terrence will help draw some boys into Tinkerbell’s world, which is important considering the Magic Kingdom will be getting its own Pixie Hollow as part of the huge Fantasyland expansion.

Although Fantasyland’s Pixie Hollow won’t be open until 2013, you can still find Peter Pan, Wendy, Tinkerbell, Terrence and the rest of the Pixie Hollow crew at the Magic Kingdom. It’s a great time to be a Tinkerbell fan!

Tiana Madness!

You’re either sick of hearing about it or totally loving it, but the news about The Princess and the Frog just keeps on coming out of the Disney camp. Promotions are happening left and right. Whether it be special featurettes included on Disney’s latest Blu-ray releases or special events at the Disney theme parks, there is no stopping the excitement people have over Disney’s first Black princess and the first Disney princess in a very long time! It’s been quite awhile since we’ve seen a great princess story in the beautiful hand-drawn animation style that made Walt Disney famous. The wait will finally be over this December when the movie is released nationwide just in time for the holiday season.

If you find yourself in one of the Disney stores you might run into a great deal of Tiana merchandise. Just in time for Halloween, Disney has released a gorgeous Tiana costume for your own beautiful little princess. The dress is a shining, delicate green with beautiful flowers on a petal-shaped skirt. Add in the adorable pale green shoes and the tiara and your little girl will be princess perfect. Since Christmas is right around the corner, you will also find The Princess and the Frog Christmas ornaments to hang on your tree. For the kids the Tiana dolls have been out for awhile but we’re just starting to see her prince, Prince Naveen, appear in toy form as well.

You might have read our article about Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee! This jazz-infused, Mardi Gras style parade will wind its way down to the riverboats at both Disney parks where fans will be able to meet up with Tiana and Prince Naveen as the parade cast performs songs from the upcoming movie. Well that parade is almost ready to debut. Speaking of debuts, Walt Disney World surprised guests by having Princess Tiana debut and come out to meet guests early. Anyone visiting the Magic Kingdom will now have a chance to meet Princess Tiana and get a picture (and her autograph) with the brand new princess. Disney is really pushing for this movie to be great, and based on what we’ve seen from it—we know it will be another classic!

Let Verizon Wireless Guide You Through the Parks

Remember PAL Mickey? The cute little plush toy gave owners tips and tidbits about the Disney theme parks as you walked around certain spots in places like the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom? Well now in an Orlando theme park first, Disney is teaming up with Verizon Wireless to bring you a unique wireless experience.

This new tech trek will work like PAL Mickey but through your Verizon Wireless cellphone. Disney is already using this technology in Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, an interactive adventure both kids and adults love. At the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, fans can use their Verizon Wireless cellphones as their “Kimmunicators” to receive clues from Kim Possible herself. Help Kim find and defeat evildoers throughout the Epcot World Showcase with other Kim Possible fans.

But that’s not all Verizon customers will be able to do. At both Walt Disney World and Disneyland you will be able to receive ride information. If a ride is shut down or the wait times are long, you can get that information on your phone. Want to know where Mickey is? Or are you in search of Alice and The Mad Hatter? Disney updates will be sent to your phone to let you know where all of your favorite characters are. Dining locations and showtime info will also be available. This is great for when you’re on one side of the park and wondering if you can make it to your favorite show on the other side without being late!

To further your wireless mobile experience, Disneylink, a desktop application, will let you share any Disney info and pictures saved on your phone with other Verizon Disney fans at home. This is all part of Disney’s efforts to bring their fans together and keep things modern and moving at the parks.

“With more than 90 percent of families bringing a mobile phone into our parks, our objective was to enhance the magical Disney experience through innovative wireless technology,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “Imagine receiving up to the minute tips on special park activities with just the touch of a button or receiving a call from Buzz Lightyear welcoming you to Magic Kingdom.”

Little kids are sure to love receiving a “call” from Mickey Mouse and Buzz Lightyear. If you’re a Verizon Wireless customer, this new innovation is sure to make your time at the Walt Disney World Resort even more fun!

A True Princess at Downtown Disney

Orlando theme parks often get the most attention when thinking about the famous Florida city. But there are many Orlando destinations worth checking out and Downtown Disney at the Walt Disney World Resort is a crowd favorite. Downtown Disney is a complex of dining, shopping and entertainment options keeping the family-friendly Disney theme in mind. Downtown Disney is always adding new restaurants and entertainment options for its visitors, the latest being “DIANA- The People’s Princess," located in the building that formerly housed the Virgin Megastore, right near Disney Quest.

“DIANA-The People’s Princess" is an exhibit highlighting the life and achievements of Princess Diana of Wales. Inside the building’s 17,500 square foot setting, visitors can get a first-hand look at many Diana artifacts including hand written notes and the dresses Diana became famous for wearing. This exhibit, put on by the People’s Princess Charitable Foundation, Inc. (PPCF), will run until late November and is open to the public and all money collected from admission costs and gift shop purchases will be donated to the PPCF.

Adults and children over the age of 10 are welcome at the exhibit. Fans of the late Princess Diana will be delighted to view some of the artifacts the travelling exhibit will feature in Downtown Disney. Handwritten notes are some of the more popular artifacts the exhibit has to offer. Visitors can read notes Diana sent to people from all walks of life, including royalty and some of her celebrity friends.

Diana became a fashion icon during her time as princess. Celebrity designers clamored to design for the princess, who became an icon with her extravagant wedding dress during her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles. Amongst the 800-900 artifacts available for public viewing are a number of the dresses Diana donated to charity, five of which have been rarely seen by the public. The Princess was well known for her humanitarian efforts, especially with campaigns against landmines and campaigns highlighting the suffering of AIDS and leprosy victims.

Royal items from Diana’s engagement and historical wedding are also on display inside the complex as is the commemorative doll the Great American Doll Company created in her honor in 1998. The Downtown Disney stop marks the first time many Americans will be able to see the princess’ belongings. “DIANA-The People’s Princess” was previously only available for viewing in England.

Obama - The New President in “The Hall”

This July 4th weekend, Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom celebrated the re-opening of the Hall of Presidents with the “inauguration” of our 44th president, Barack Obama, into the attraction. The concept of change, popular during our president’s campaign, was not one ignored by Disney Imagineers. After closing last October to begin renovations and the add President Obama to the historical lineup, guests of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom will now be treated to a brand new technologically-advanced experience.

Working with brand new audio-visual and “Audio-Animatronic” technology, the Imagineers revamped the 23 minute long attraction to represent a new era in American history. The Hall of Presidents, which educates visitors about the good and bad times of our country’s past through an educational video and narrations by animatronic figures of past presidents, features a new video presentation narrated by actor Morgan Freeman. Along with the figure of the first black president, Barack Obama, The Hall of Presidents now includes a speech by our nation’s first president, George Washington.

President Obama was actively involved in his participation with the Hall of Presidents team. Videos of Obama recording his voice-over work from the White House can be found on various internet sites and the president’s thoughts on the American dream, as well as the audio of his presidential oath, will be featured in the updated presentation.

The realism of the Obama figure is thanks to the director of sculpting at Disney Imagineering, Valerie Edwards. The 21 year veteran is the apprentice of Disney legend Blaine Gibson, the man responsible for sculpting most of the figures in the Hall of Presidents. Edwards studied hundreds of photos and hours of video in order to capture ever physical attribute and nuance of our president’s look and personality.

If you would like to see the “re-Imagineered” Hall of Presidents, you’re going to need tickets to the Magic Kindgom, and what better place to purchase them than with DWTickets.com? Discount Disney tickets and tickets to other Orlando theme parks can be purchased directly online or by calling us at our toll-free number!

“Star”board Sailing with Disney Cruise Lines!

Are you a Disney Channel fanatic? Have you watched High School Musical one too many times? Would you’re dream be to meet the stars of the Disney Channel? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then we have the experience of a lifetime for you! This summer, Disney Cruise Lines will be launching their first-ever Disney Channel Summer at Sea Cruises, where you can cruise and party along with your favorite Disney Channel superstars!

That’s right! The Disney Channel Summer at Sea Cruises will give fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and mingle with their favorite celebrities, while basking in the beautiful Caribbean sun. Cruising on select dates from July 9th to August 2nd, the Disney Channel Summer at Seas Cruises will feature 3-night and 4-night Bahamas Cruises. Each cruise will be different, with new celebrities among the traveling passengers on the ship. Celebrities from numerous Disney Channel shows and films including Sonny With a Chance, Hannah Montana, JONAS, High School Musical, Wizards of Waverly Place, The Suite Life on Deck, Hatching Pete, and Camp Rock will all be in attendance on-board!

While on-board these special cruises, guests can take part in numerous types of meet-and-greets and activities with the celebrities. Attend star autograph and photo sessions, where you will have the opportunity to get your picture taken with top Disney Channel shows and movies. Take part in star question and answer sessions and special Disney Channel sneak peeks, for what is in-store for your favorite and up-and-coming shows. Rock late into the night with an onboard party with the stars, where your favorite cruise stars will come out for a rockin’ party of high-energy shows and special music performances.

Aside from the celebrity appearances, meet-and-greets, and more, you will get to take advantage of the beautiful Disney Wonder cruise ship. Enjoy a full-sail adventure to stunning Nassau and the fun-loving Disney secluded island of Castaway Cay. Along the way, onboard the ship you can enjoy uniquely themed restaurants, top-of-the-line entertainment, and the utmost in Disney service. Along with these ports, you will stop and sail out of Port Canaveral, where you can venture to nearby Walt Disney World for a day at the Disney theme parks!

Some of the stars who have their bags packed and are ready to cruise with you include Corbin Bleu, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle (Camp Rock), Jason Earles (Hannah Montana), Chelsea Staub (JONAS), and much, much more! So, pack your bags and get ready to set-sail on the ride of a life time, where sailing will always be on the “star”board side!

Disney Secrets, Now Just an iTouch Away

With the recent phenomenon of Apps, created by Apple for the iPhone and iPod Touch, there is now something for everyone. Disney lovers and theme park gurus have jumped on the App bandwagon to create Apps to help enjoy their favorite pastime…a day in a Disney theme park!

With a 4 out of 5 Mice rating by Macworld and being rated in the Top 25 paid Travel Apps, the “Walt Disney World Secrets” iPhone App has become one of the most popular new accessories on phones and travelers alike while in the Walt Disney World Theme Parks. The App features advice on where, when, and how to experience all of the hidden gems of the Disney parks. With just a couple of touches, owners of the App can find magical surprises around every corner of Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

This innovative guidebook is the perfect application for anyone with an iPhone visiting the Disney Theme Parks! There are over 180 fun and magical secrets about the Walt Disney World Resort on the App, and there is also an additional section that gives Hidden Mickey tours! Discover over 80 Hidden Mickey’s that you may have never seen with the naked eye. Plus, get over 200 fun-filled facts about the “Happiest Place on Earth!”

“To our knowledge, this is the first Walt Disney World App reviewed and rated by Macworld, so we are very pleased,” says Mike Westby of TimeStream Software, creator of the App. “It’s a notable reflection on the quality of content within the App, as well as the hard work put into its development.”

If you can’t get enough of the Disney fun with this App, there are also Apps available for purchase for your iPhone, iPod touch, iPod Classic, and iPod nano, including “Walt Disney World Guide,” “Disney’s Animal Kingdom Hidden Mickey’s,” and MORE! Apps can be purchased for as low as 99 cents on Notescasts.com! And, to keep with the low prices of Disney fun, you can get into the Disney theme parks with discount Disney tickets on DWTickets.com. With a full-out guided tour of the parks, via your iPhone or iPod, and discount Disney tickets, you can have a fun, and educated, experience at Walt Disney World!

Disney World Lovers Will Love the New Disney Netpal Laptop

Perfectly in time for the upcoming holiday season, Disney has teamed up with computer company Asus to create a compact laptop just for kids – the Disney Netpal. Perfect for Walt Disney World lovers and those looking for a unique spin on the traditional children’s laptop, the Disney Netpal will provide an all-Disney interface which children and parents will both love!

Disney characters and parental control galore, these laptops will be a hit for young children to tweens. The all-Disney interface will feature the Windows XP Home addition with added Disney features. For example, Tinkerbell will swoop down to let you know you have e-mail, Mickey and Minnie will speak any error or computer system reminders, and a 2D “gadget tray” that will display all of the applications for the computer as the young Little Mermaid Ariel displays her gismos and gadgets in the classic movie (think, a Little Mermaid-esque Windows Start menu). On top of that, the computer will have plenty of Disney-developed applications, including a Disney Mix where you can listen to music and Disney Pix where you can store and upload photos. Disney Pix will not only allow you to do simple photo tasks, such as re-coloring and resizing, but there will be a cool feature where users can insert their faces onto bobbleheads that can dance, move, and more! Plus, not to mention, the streaming real-time music of Disney Radio that will be available for kids to listen to, play games with, and even request songs to be played!

Parents will love these laptops that have been created for mainly the age 6-12 demographic. The laptops come in two colors, Princess Pink and Magic Blue. The desktops of the laptops can be customized to feature your children’s favorite Disney stars, characters, singers, and more. But, parents will go crazy for the control and safety features available on the laptops. Parents have full control with over 40 content regulation options, including safe web-browsing and email correspondence features. The laptops have also been designed with liquid-proof keyboards and a ShockShield, for any falling and dropping accidents that are likely to occur with children.

The Disney Netpal MK90 will be sold exclusively at Toys “R” US and the Disney Netpal MK90H will be released through other computer selling portals. With 1GB of memory, an Intel ATOM N270 processor, built in Wi-Fi, and three USB terminals…I think we know what some lucky 6-12 year olds will be getting for the holidays this winter! Maybe if parents are lucky, their children will let them use these cool laptops to search the web for their annual trip to Walt Disney World with discount Disney tickets from DWTickets.com.

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.

Disney World for the Sports Lover

With the NBA Finals currently playing out at Orlando’s own Amway Arena, we can’t think of a better time to address all the sports lovers thinking about an Orlando getaway. If you’ve been hankering for a great vacation, few places are better than Orlando, which has something for the sports fanatic every step of the way. Whether there’s a major championship in town or not, you can have a blast at Walt Disney World with sports-themed hotels, restaurants, and attractions, including Disney’s very own sports complex, Disney's Wide World of Sports.

First, if you love sports and love the idea of surrounding yourself with them, the place to stay is Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort. A 1,920-room Disney Value hotel, it features five pairs of 3-story buildings whimsically themed after a different sport; there’s the Home Run Hotel, Hoops Hotel, Touchdown!, Surfs Up!, and Center Court. And with two swimming pools, a 1.5 mile walking/jogging trail, arcade, playground, and shopping, there’s plenty to keep the active sports-fiend busy. Rates start at $82 a night.

When it comes time to chow down, sports fans can satiate their hunger and catch a game at the ESPN Club, located on Disney’s BoardWalk on the edge of Crescent Lake. You won’t miss a second of the action at this sports hub, filled with 100 video monitors hooked up to satellite feeds. There are even TVs in the bathrooms! The atmosphere is especially fun on a big game day, when fans pack the seats from wall to wall. And the food is great, too – the restaurant serves American fast food, hamburgers, and deli sandwiches with big pitchers of beer and specialty drinks.

Once your belly’s full and you’re ready for some outdoor fun, check out the events at Disney’s Wide World of Sports (WWoS) complex. A 220-acre sports facility inside Walt Disney World, the WWoS hosts nearly 200 amateur and professional sporting events in a year. It can accommodate more than 50 sports, from aerobics to wrestling, in nine venues and is even the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves. With so much space dedicated to pure sports, chances are there’ll be something fun going on there during your trip. Just check out the schedule online, then head on over.

And of course, no trip to Orlando is complete without catching an Orlando Magic game. The team is in the finals now and tickets are hard to come by, of course, but when the regular season starts up again, you can expect to score tickets right here at DWTickets.com.

So let it never be said that Walt Disney World is just for kids – it’s just as much for sports lovers and other fun-seekers, too. Start planning your sports-tastic vacation by taking a look at the discount Disney tickets here at 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.

American Idol Comes to Disney World This Week

Kris Allen just won season 8 of American Idol, and what is he going to do next? Why, visit Walt Disney World, of course!

Just jmoments after he won, the adorable and sweet-voiced Allen promised he'd be visiting the Mouse House in celebration as part of the iconic Disney commerical that aired just a few hours later. And he's wasting no time in keeping that promise; Allen will be making a visit to Disney's Hollywood Studios this Friday, May 29. Sources say he'll be starring in the 10 am motorcade, and he'll most likely follow that with a visit to the American Idol Experience. While he's there, he'll probably shoot some film spots for the attraction, which features cameos by several past American Idols and finalists, in addition to the current American Idol.

Allen is just the second singer in history to participate in the "I'm Going to Disney World" campaign, joining David Cook and a league of football heroes, Olympic superstars, and other athletes and celebrities. The very first star to utter the famous phrase, "I'm going to Disney World!" was New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms in 1987, right after Super Bowl XXI.

In the latest Disney commercial, Allen sings the classic song "When You Wish Upon a Star" in the background while scenes from his childhood and his first American Idol audition flash across the screen. The commercial concludes with Allen saying that famous line and enthusiastically following it with a "WOO!"

Disney camera crews captured the celebratory declaration on the Nokia Theatre stage a short while after American Idol host Ryan Seacrest announced Allen's win to the millions of viewers watching worldwide. Within hours, the iconic commercial was already on air.

Allen's role in the commercial is inteded to draw attention to Hollywood Studios' American Idol Experience, which opened this past February. The best way to experience American Idol short of actually witnessing a show in Los Angeles, the Experience gives park guests the chance to show their singing chops on stage in front of a live audience of fellow park guests. Complete with a trio of quirky judges and some surprise guests, the Experience awards on talented guest each day with a Dream Ticket - a pass to a front-of-the-line audition at an actual American Idol regional audition.

"The American Idol Experience really will blow your mind. If you've never been to the show, you pretty much have been to the show after you've been there," said Jason Castro, season 7 finalist, on the red carpet of the American Idol finale.

"Go in there, give it your all," added season 2 winner Ruben Studdard, "because you may be where I am right now."

If you want to see Kris Allen in person and try your hand at the American Idol Experience, check out Walt Disney World tickets on DWTickets.com and visit the park this Friday! You just might be able to get some singing tips from Allen and take your first step to becoming the next American Idol.

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.

Out of this World Fun at Disney's Star Wars Weekends

If you're an avid Star Wars fan, then follow the trail of the Force - to Walt Disney World this May and June! It's time once again for Star Wars Weekends, a sci-fi fan-fest like no other that pays tribute to one of the world's greatest film sagas. Galactic characters, unique events and attractions, and one-of-a-kind meet and greet session are just some of the highlights of these fun-filled weekends, which are a must for any Jedi or Wookiee at heart.

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from May 22 through June 14, Star Wars Weekends will fill Disney's Hollywood Studios with the power of the Force - and more Star Wars characters than you've ever seen in your life! Sith, droids, Jedi, Ewoks, bounty hunters, Rodians, and yes, even Wookies - they'll all flock to the park where guests will be able to pose and chat with them in meet and greet encounters throughout Hollywood Studios. There'll even be well-known figures from the saga, including Darth Vader, Yoda, and Princess Leia, and fans will be able to spot them all during "Legends of the Force," a Star Wars motorcade.

That's not all - guests will be able to participate in Star Wars trivia contests, ride the famed Star Tours attraction, purchase one-of-a-kind memorabilia, and more. There'll be autograph sessions and star conversations with famous Star Wars actors and creative geniuses every weekend, and special shows, presentations, and interactive experiences each day of each Star Wars Weekend.

This year, the Weekends will be hosted by Jay Laga'aia ("Captain Typho") with special guest Ashley Eckstein ("Ahsoka Tano"). During the weekend, Laga'aia will host "Stars of the Saga," a Star Wars talk show and Q&A, and Eckstein will host "Clone Wars: Behind the Force," a behind-the-scenes show that explores the TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Both stars, along with other big names in the saga, will also have autograph sessions with fans.

Another highlight of the Weekends will be the Jedi Training Academy, where each young Anakin who is chosen will be readied to face the dark side. Taking place throughout the day on the event's main stage, young guests will learn a lightsaber combination from a Jedi Master before testing their skills in a battle with Darth Vader.

Kids under 12 will also be able to test their wits befor the Jedi Council in a Padawan Mind Challenge. And of course, no Star Wars Weekend is complete without blasting your starspeeder through the galaxy on the Star Tours attraction or shopping a galaxy of Star Wars themed and limited edition merchandise in Wicket's Warehouse.

At the end of each Weekend day, Star Wars characters and guests will gather for the Hyperspace Hoopla! Show, an entertaining conclusion to the day where the saga favorites let loose with music, comedy, dancing, and more. The Star Wars Weekends dates are May 22-24, May 29-31, June 5-7, and June 12-14.

The Star Wars Weekends are free with regular admission to Hollywood Studios, so all you need are Walt Disney World tickets, which you cna get right here on DWTickets.com. Get yours and strap in for a wild space ride of a weekend with more Star Wars fun than you can handle!

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.

All Ears is the Fashion at Walt Disney World

If you love Walt Disney World, chances are you have a pair of Mickey Mouse ears stashed away in a closet in your home somewhere. The ultimate souvenir of any Disney vacation, Mouse ears have been a way to show camaraderie with Mickey since their creation in the 1950s. Originally, the ears were rather simple, made of black felt covering large plastic ears. But today, Disney lovers can show their personality through Mickey ears in a wide range of styles. There’s a pair for everyone, and it’s even easier to find them now at a new boutique at Downtown Disney.

Guests can find the perfect set of ears at a new Create Your Own Ears Hat boutique, located inside Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories at Downtown Disney Marketplace. There, Mickey fans can design their own ear keepsakes to reflect their particular style and personality using a wide variety of hat bases and ear adornments.

“For the first time, guests can take our traditional, iconic Mickey Mouse Ears – made famous in the 1950s with the Mickey Mouse Club - and customize them,” said Dara Trujillo, merchandise manager at Walt Disney World Resort. “Not only is this a unique product offering, but every set will be different, just like our guests.”

Hat bases come in 19 colors, including purple satin, blue velvet, and glow-in-the-dark green (perfect for standing out during dark Disney attractions). Guests can also choose from 19 additional varieties of snap-on ears, adorned with everything from metallic accents to rhinestones to fur. Hats can even have two completely different-looking kinds of ears for a really unique look. Finally, ear designers can add the finishing touch with character patches, letters, stickers, and embroidery, perhaps representing a favorite Disney character, Disney princess, or Disney Channel show.

Interestingly, Mouse ears were first created by Roy Williams, an adult Mouseketeer on the original Mickey Mouse Club. He was inspired by the 1929 short The Karnival Kid, which features a scene where Mickey tips his ears to Minnie. Today, Mouse ears come in all shapes and sizes and can even be tailored for special occasions - such as bride and groom Mouse ears! With so many base, ear, and decoration combinations possible, everyone can find a pair perfectly suited to their own personal style.

The new Create Your Own Ears boutique joins its sister shop that opened last summer at Magic Kingdom. Prices vary based on the add-ons, but a basic hat (consisting of a base, two ears, and a chin strip) starts at $7.50. Hats are one-size-fits-all but can be adjusted to fit smaller guests using the chin strap.

To get your own special set of Mouse ears, be sure to visit the new boutique at Downtown Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories. And don’t forget to rock them the next time you visit Walt Disney World for a stylish day at the parks. Get your Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com to begin your Mickey ear-adorned adventure.

End the Day with Your Favorite Characters at Animal Kingdom

With so many birds and beasts at Animal Kingdom, from the cotton top tamarins to the Komodo dragons, it can be easy to forgo one little mouse - even though he’s the mouse that started it all - in favor of exciting attractions and rides like Everest. Keeping that in mind, Disney has now created a way for guests to get their dose of character fun right before they leave the park for the day, so they won’t have to miss out on a bit of playtime with their two favorite mice.

“When guests come out of the park, they are absolutely determined to see our characters,” said Chris Ambrose, general manager of entertainment at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. That led Disney to launch Adventurers’ Celebration Gathering, a new interactive experience near Animal Kingdom’s entrance each night during park closing.

The Gathering features Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy wearing their khaki best and sending off guests in a music-filled celebration. Cast members shake their pom poms and urge guests to join in a street-party atmosphere by dancing to the music and forming a conga line, while Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy shake a tail feather atop their safari vehicle.

“We’ve created a way for our guests to experience our characters…and it’s a way for us to have a fun, exciting way to end the day at Animal Kingdom,” Ambrose said.

The Adventurers’ Celebration Gathering happens at park close (which varies from day to day but is usually 6, 7, or 8 pm) and lasts about fifteen minutes.

If you want to leave the park before closing, though, the Adventurers’ Celebration Gathering is only one of several character experiences throughout the day at Animal Kingdom. One of the best times to see all your Disney friends is during Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade, which takes place mid-day and features popular characters paying tribute to their animal friends. This fifteen-minute long procession loops through the various areas of Animal Kingdom and is led by Rafiki of The Lion King, who rides a brightly painted Adventure Rover in front of Minnie, Donald Duck, and Goofy, who each ride in customized Jeeps.

Guests can also generally find Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Timon, and other friends along the Camp Minnie-Mickey Greeting Trails, which has a trail for each Disney character. Character greetings also take place at random spots throughout the park – you never know who you’ll find waiting to meet you at Animal Kingdom!

So next time you visit this fun and wild Disney theme park, make sure you stay late for the best part - a little fun with the Disney characters you grew up with. They’re waiting to party with you now, so check out Walt Disney World tickets on DWTickets.com to hang out with the creatures – of all kinds – at Animal Kingdom.

Get Eco-Friendly with Disney's EARTH

Usually, making an effort to help the environment requires getting out in a park and picking up trash, chaining yourself to a tree, or some other kind of active endeavor. But now, Disney is offering those who want to be environmentally friendlier a fun and easy way to make a difference. For every person who sees the new EARTH film during its opening week, Disney will plant a tree in their honor. EARTH premieres nationally on April 22 and is the first film by Disneynature, the first new film label to be introduced by Disney in 60 years.

“EARTH is a spectacular film from the world’s most acclaimed nature filmmakers, and we couldn’t think of a better way to launch the new Disneynature banner, and to celebrate the spirit of the film and Earth Day at the same time,” said Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. “The film gives moviegoers an entertaining and unprecedented view of our planet, with some of the most astonishing imagery and exciting natural drama ever presented on the big screen.”

Many may not realize that one of Walt Disney’s dreams was to create nature documentaries. From 1948 to 1960, his True Life Adventure series won eight Academy Awards by chronicling the antics of real animals.

EARTH now seeks to revitalize Disney’s dream by telling the remarkable story of three animal families (polar bears, elephants in the tropics, and humpback whales) and their amazing journeys across the planet. Narrated by James Earl Jones, the film features rare action, unimaginable scale, and impossible locations to combine Disney storytelling with nature documentary.

People can learn more about EARTH at Epcot, where the International Flower & Garden Festival features a display about the movie inside Garden Town. Outside, there’s also an impressive sand sculpture dedicated to the film.

Once the movie has completed its opening week, Disney will tally up the number of moviegoers and plant one tree for every one of them in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, which is considered the most endangered rain forest in the world. A hot spot of biodiversity, the Atlantic Forest is struggling for survival with only seven percent of it remaining.

So if you’d like to make an easy contribution to the environment and see a great film at the same time, be sure to check out EARTH when it opens on Earth Day, April 22. The film will be playing at Downtown Disney, of course, at the AMC 24 Theatres Complex on Pleasure Island. We especially recommend enjoying the film there in the luxury of loveseat-style stadium seating with the awesome quality of THX Surround Sound and Sony Dynamic Digital Sound.

And if you haven’t already, be sure to visit Epcot, where you can learn new ways to be ‘green’ in your garden at home and see cool photographs of Disneynature’s EARTH before the movie comes out. As always, save on your Disney adventures with Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com.

Up, Up, and Away with Disney's Characters in Flight

Imagine being able to see all of Walt Disney World and beyond from high up in the sky, and you don’t even have to climb to the top of Cinderella’s Castle. That’s the experience now being offered with Characters in Flight at Downtown Disney, a new attraction that gives guests a bird’s eye view of Disney by taking them up in a giant tethered balloon. Guests will soar to new heights on this flight, which began taking riders up on Wednesday, April 1.

The giant yellow balloon, which is operated by Aerophile, reaches heights of 300 feet every ten minutes, depending on the weather. Decorated with airborne Disney characters such as Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and company, Dumbo, and Aladdin, it offers sweeping, 360-degree 10-mile panoramas of Lake Buena Vista and the surrounding environments, and it can even be seen from as far away as SeaWorld’s Sky Tower.

The balloon begins its ascent from the Downtown Disney West Side waterfront, carrying up to 30 guests at a time. Flights last six minutes long and can take place by day or night. At nighttime, the balloon lights up internally, a bright glowing orb as it hovers over Downtown Disney.

Adults can take the flight for $16, while kids ages 3 to 9 pay only $10, tax included. Tickets can be purchased at the new Characters in Flight Booth, formerly an Information Booth located near DisneyQuest.

Here are a few fun facts about the balloon – developed by Aerophile, the world leader in captive balloons, the Character in Flight orb is the newest and largest of the company’s models. It boasts a volume of 210,000 cubic feet, a 72-foot diameter, a circumference of 240 feet, and a height of 105 feet, and it lands on a platform designed especially for Downtown Disney.

A unique opportunity to experience some thrills and ascend to the skies over Walt Disney World, Characters in Flight is great fun for the whole family and a new way to make a day at Downtown Disney special. And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out the other new additions to the area, including TrenD, Disney Design-a-Tee, and T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure. And since it’s an excellent way to cap off an evening after visiting the other Disney parks, be sure to stop by Downtown Disney after enjoying Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You’ll have more money to spend on fun at Downtown Disney, too, when you save on Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Disney Dollars Are Worth Celebrating

Walt Disney World has no shortage of incredible souvenirs. From Mickey ears that you can customize with your own signature color and decorations to an extensive variety of pins that you could spend your whole life collecting, the parks have been known for developing some of the coolest collectibles that make park-going even more fun. And in continuation of a tradition that’s endured at the parks for more than twenty years, Disney is debuting its 2009 series of Disney Dollars, the “official currency” of Walt Disney World Resort.

These colorful bills are released every year with a new design, and the 2009 series, which has just been issued, is perfectly matched to go with one of Walt Disney World’s newest promotions, "What Will You Celebrate?" "What Will You Celebrate?" encourages people to head to the parks to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, graduations, and other life triumphs.

The bills, which come in $1, $5, and $10 denominations, all call attention to celebrating with their new designs. On the $1, Mickey Mouse and Pluto are seen celebrating with a cake, while Daisy Duck and Minnie Mouse grace the $5 in party hats. And on the $10, Goofy is joined by Donald Duck and Mickey as he blows out the candles on a cake, causing all its frosting to land on Mickey’s face. The reverse of each bill features Cinderella Castle in the clouds with the phrase, “There’s so Much in Life Worth Celebrating.”

Disney Dollars debuted in 1987 as a fun souvenir especially created for Disney-loving collectors. A man named Harry Brice, a silhouette cutter on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland, had the idea for the bills after going to a Disneyana show and seeing how much people loved Disney collectibles. Two series were created at first, one for Disneyland, and one for Walt Disney World, but additional series were added over the years for special celebrations, Disney stores, and other themes like Pirates of the Caribbean. Since their creation, new dollars have been produced every year except in 1992 and 2004.

Money can be exchanged for Disney Dollars at Guest Relations in any of the four parks, as well as at resort front desks. They can also be found at the Guest Relations at Downtown Disney Marketplace and at the information desk at the World of Disney shop. A fun way to teach kids the value of money while at the parks, Disney Dollars never expire and can be used for purchases throughout Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot, as well as on Disney’s Cruise Line, at the Disney stores, and more. However, whatever bills you don’t use can be kept as a unique collectible; like a real dollar, each bill is individually numbered.

Next time you hit the parks and are searching for a unique memento to remember your visit by, check out Disney Dollars. Better than a gift card, you’ll have fun spending or holding on to these little Disney treasures. And be sure to get your Walt Disney World tickets at DWTickets.com, so you’ll have more money left over to convert into Disney Dollars.

Muppet History at the Orange County History Center

Do you love Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? We do – the goofy 3-D attraction featuring Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the gang was always one of our favorite attractions. It never ceases to amaze one how Jim Henson was able to create so many wonderful and funny characters. Don’t forget – Henson was also the mind behind Sesame Street icons like Bert and Ernie. If you’re a fan of these and other similar fun and wacky Henson characters, you may want to check out a new exhibit exploring the mind behind the Muppets at the Orange County Regional History Center in downtown Orlando.

A great attraction to explore during a break from Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, the History Center debuted a new exhibit early this month, Jim Henson’s Fantastic World. Until May 3, visitors can relish in the creative genius of the multitalented creator of The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock, and the leading force behind Sesame Street.

Henson, who was born in 1936, was a celebrated artist, puppeteer, film director, and producer who created entire worlds with unique characters, objects, environments, and even languages and cultures. Visitors to the exhibit will get to peek inside those worlds by viewing more than 100 works of art, photographs, documents, movie props, and yes, puppets, as well as original video productions and excerpts from Henson’s early career.

Particularly fascinating are the Fantastic World’s sketches, which Henson’s daughter Heather Henson (a resident of Orlando) refers to as the “blueprint” of many characters and productions. And seeing so many Muppets on display is heartwarming to anyone who grew up watching Jim Henson productions on TV; there’s even those memorable “Mah Na Mah Na” guys in a case.

Many people may not know that Henson, who is now survived by his three daughters, Lisa, Cheryl, and Heather, and son Brian, purchased a house in Orange County, Florida, in the 1980s.

“He loved what was going on in the [theme] parks and Walt Disney World,” Heather Henson told reporters. “He wanted to find a home to have his Muppet characters to continue to grow and flourish. He wanted his family of characters to go into the Walt Disney Co.”

Unfortunately, before those plans could be finalized, Henson died of Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome in 1990, not long after developing Muppet Vision 3D at Hollywood Studios. In 2004, however, Henson’s wish was finally realized as his sons and daughters sold the Muppets to Disney, along with the Big Bear in the Blue House properties. The Henson family still possesses all Jim’s other creations, including the world famous Jim Henson Creature Shop, which continues to supply Hollywood with creative and technologically advanced film creatures.

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World will make tour stops across the country. And on Saturdays and Sundays from March 7 through April 5, the exhibit will also host screenings of Henson’s rare and popular films, TV footage, and experimental work, along with documentaries and guest speakers like Heather Henson.

For a truly fascinating look into the mind behind some of TV and films most beloved creatures and characters, don’t miss Jim Henson’s Fantastic World exhibit at the Orange County Regional History Center. It’ll give you a whole new appreciation for Henson’s legacy, not to mention one of the most entertaining attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.