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Disney World Quick Tips – Please Take Your Time, It’s Not Going Anywhere

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Disney World Quick Tips - Please Take Your Time, It's Not Going Anywhere

Considering that Toontown did just go away, I almost regretted the title but when I thought about what I was attempting to convey to everyone it still seems very appropriate. We all know too well that a Walt Disney World vacation can be enormously expensive. We all want to try to squeeze in as much as possible each time we are there and that leads to a number of things:

  • Exhaustion – We hurry through our days and spend so much time rushing from attraction to attraction and so many hours in the parks, it’s no wonder when we get home we need a vacation to recover from our vacation.
  • Meltdowns – For those traveling with kids, this is almost unavoidable considering how much we try to do in such a short period of time.
  • We Miss Things – Take a look at the picture above. How many of us have taken the time to just stop and marvel at just how beautiful so many things at Walt Disney World are? If you take the time to actually stop and look around you will begin to see the detail and beauty in everything the Imagineers have done.
  • We Miss Opportunities – Some of the most rewarding things you can experience on a Walt Disney World vacation are those spontaneous moments that can only be had when you relax in the parks. You never know who or what you might see or how your fellow travelers will react when something pleasant happens unexpectedly.

Do yourself and your family a big favor and spend at least some of your time at Walt Disney World just strolling rather than “touring”. We do a lot of planning before we visit and many times the unplanned produces some of our most wonderful memories. Take a break from the parks during the day and come back later rather than just going commando from open to close. The same things you see during the day are vastly different at night. Just as an example, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a completely different attraction after dark – try it, you’ll like it. If you take that midday break you will not be too tired to notice the differences.

All I wanted to do was encourage you to take your time while in the parks. Walt Disney World has been here for four decades and will be around for many, many more. Besides, taking your time gives you an excuse to come back and do what you missed last time – good idea, huh!!! As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

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Disney World Quick Tips - Please Take Your Time, It's Not Going Anywhere

Dining Strategies And Your Walt Disney World Visit

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Dining Strategies And Your Walt Disney World Visit

Dining at Walt Disney World can be a wonderful experience. There are dozens of outstanding table service restaurants and many more counter service venues many of which are also quite good. I’m not going to talk about particular restaurants or even the Disney Dining Plans, I’ll leave that to your judgment. What I am going to talk about are the different approaches to dining that we have tried in the past and give a very basic opinion of each.

  • Table Service/Signature Emphasis – At times we have loaded our vacation with ADR’s at the Table Service and Signature Restaurants. If you truly love good food and excellent service, this is a very rewarding approach. There are some drawbacks though. Table service ADR’s are not only very expensive but they are also ‘time hogs”. If you are traveling with kids, getting the young ones to sit still for a table service meal can be a challenge depending on ages and degrees of exhaustion.
  • Counter Service Only – There are definite benefits to this approach. Costs are absolutely much lower and you can eat in a sort of “on the run” mode so the heavy time constraints of table service restaurants are eliminated. Another plus is, you are not required to be in a certain place at a certain time because counter service restaurants do not use the ADR system. The MAJOR drawback with this plan – although many of these venues are quite good, overall they are uninspiring. Variety, by necessity, is somewhat limited and a relaxing meal is pretty much impossible.
  • Combining Counter (daytime) and Table Service (evening) – Like most things, variety maximizes your experience. I absolutely believe that at least one table service meal per day is essential. It gives you the time and place to relax and reconnect with everyone in the traveling party. Let’s face it, when you are in the parks it’s go-go-go all day long and an evening table service meal gives you a chance to take a breather. You don’t have to limit yourself to one table service/day, and we don’t, the one per day is a minimum. Costs are higher than with the counter service strategy but can be managed.

I hope this gives you some ideas on how to approach dining on your vacation. Make your choices and no matter which approach  you choose enjoy your food. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

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Dining Strategies And Your Walt Disney World Visit

Princess Half Marathon – Are You Running?

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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princess half marathon

With just over a week until Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend, there is officially no more room for the half marathon.  In the past week, the Half Marathon reached capacity, but there still limited space (approximately 5%) for Beauty and the Beast’s Royal Family 5k and the Royal Family Kids’ Races.

Although the weekend is primarily focused on women, including the expo, men are more than welcome to run and join co-ed race teams.  Unlike the Donald medal for January’s Marathon weekend, runners for this half marathon receive a Princess Half Marathon Tiara Finisher Medal.

If you are participating in the Half Marathon, make sure to get your specially priced theme park tickets for after the race!  Good luck to all runners and walkers participating in these events!

*Photo courtesy of runDisney*

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  • Changes to 2011 Food and Wine Half Marathon Weekend (chipandco.com)
  • Record Field Expected for 3rd Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Feb. 25-27 (chipandco.com)
Princess Half Marathon - Are You Running?

Disney Confidential – The Enchanted Tiki Room rumored to fire ‘Under New Management’

By
Anonymouse
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Disney Confidential – The Enchanted Tiki Room rumored to fire ‘Under New Management’

Hey, there, Mouse fans. It’s Anonymouse again, keeping my Ears to to the ground for the latest rumors.

Ever since Magic Kingdom’s The Enchanted Tiki Room caught fire on Jan. 12, Disney fans have been hopeful that the unexpected refurbishment meant that Walt Disney World might consider returning the attraction to its former glory.

That fire, which started in the attic, damaged the Audio-Animatronics Iago1 (the first of two Iagos) and Zazu. They were the added stars of “Under New Management,” the show update that placed ironic storyline over the classic attraction. Many fans wanted to torch the additions long before the Tiki Room accident.

Jokes quickly spread – dare I say like wildfire? – throughout the Disney community that the fire was a sign that the Tiki gods finally had enough of Iago driving away guests from the attraction.

Well, rumors are heating up that the fire sparked the demise of “Under New Management.”

Some Disney fan sites previously reported The Enchanted Tiki Room was scheduled to re-open March 27, 2011. Now that re-opening date is set for June 1, a down time of 5 ½ months. Mistake in posting the March date or Disney’s decision to undertake a more extensive refurbishment?

So far, changes to the Tiki Room include the removal of pre-show elements added during the “Under New Management” update, such as the toucans William and Morris. Combined with the later re-opening date and these changes have sent speculations flying.

Disney bird-watchers are hoping for one of two outcomes. One, the Tiki room will return to the original concept – with less snark and more heart – and Tropical Serenade days. Two, Tiki Room refurb will offers something new, providing Adventureland with a little something to balance the focus on the Fantasyland expansion.

No one seems to want The Enchanted Tiki Room – Under New Management to return. Aside from perhaps Disney management, in a classic case of over-identification, and they’re not squawking.

One last tasty morsel: I hear burned Audio-Animatronics taste a bit like Cajun chicken. (Just kidding, I’m a vegetarian. For those kinds of tidbits, you’ll have to ask Chip.)

Got any good rumors?  Please email me at [email protected].  You can also follow me on  Twitter at http://twitter.com/AnonymouseOne and on Facebook here

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Disney Confidential – The Enchanted Tiki Room rumored to fire ‘Under New Management’

Gumbo Breadbowls are Delightful

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Gumbo Breadbowls are Delightful

If you like gumbo, good. If you like sourdough bread, good! Now, put them together. Deliciousness.

I love eating steak gumbo at Disneyland. The fact that it’s served in that bread bowl makes it even better. I get to eat the gumbo AND the “dish” it’s served in! Yay!

I’m one of those weird people that actually eats as much of the bowl as I can. It’s sooo good. And then I take home whatever parts of the bowl I couldn’t eat during that sitting, and munch on it later. Why throw it away? I see so many people toss it out and it kills me!

You can order these at that little place next to Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans Square — right under the Dream Suite. What that little place is called, I can ever remember.

I’m a total cheap-o, so I don’t order these all the time. They’re about $9, so that leaves quite the dent in my wallet if I order them frequently. Every time I do get to eat one, its a treat!

Gumbo Breadbowls are Delightful

Family Fun Weekend Recap: Lunar New Year

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Family Fun Weekend Recap: Lunar New Year

I had a great time at the Lunar New Year Family Fun Weekend. Not only were there great performances, but the characters were dressed in red, the color for luck. This was also the first time I have ever seen Mulan and Mushu.

What’s great about this Family Fun Weekend was that it actually lasted TWO weekends, giving more people a chance to experience the magic. These next three weekends are Mardi Gras weekends! Be on the lookout for photos of that later.

Here are some photos from Lunar New Year!

Family Fun Weekend Recap: Lunar New Year

Family Fun Weekend Recap: Lunar New Year

Family Fun Weekend Recap: Lunar New Year

Family Fun Weekend Recap: Lunar New Year

Family Fun Weekend Recap: Lunar New Year

Family Fun Weekend Recap: Lunar New Year

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  • Happy Lunar New Year Festival at Disneyland Park, Feb. 4-6 and 11-13 (chipandco.com)
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Family Fun Weekend Recap: Lunar New Year

Monorail Mania Meal

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Monorail Mania Meal

In one of my previous blogs, I talked about how we must adjust our Walt Disney World touring plans as our kids get older. I believe that the things they love about WDW change in direct proportion to the increases in their heights. Each year, I try to incorporate new activities into our trips to replace the special things we did when they were younger.

One of the family favorites I began doing a few years ago is the “Monorail Mania Meal.” Being from an Italian family, much of our quality time has been shared around the kitchen table, so I guess it is no stretch of the imagination that I began this tradition in the same way. We have incorporated our Monorail Mania Meals into our “budget” trips but have not done it for the past couple of visits due to the free dining promotion as using all of our credits for the day at one long meal would not be the best use of them. Since we have been very blessed to be able to take advantage of free dining for two years in a row, I will assume that our upcoming trip in December will not include this offer. So, I am looking forward to doing our MMM again this year.

When I developed our Monorail Mania Meal, I decided to start with drinks at the Grand Floridian then monorail over to the Polynesian Resort for dinner and then to the Contemporary Resort for dessert. We liked it just that way the first time, so we continued it that way for future trips. We do this during the evening and into late night, but a family with young children could easily do it at any time of the day. This could even serve as a great rainy day activity.

Here is the way we do it:

We take the bus from whichever park we are enjoying to the Grand Floridian. No, you do not have to be a guest of the resort to take the bus from the park. Once at the GF, we head to the Beach Pool Bar. My husband and I usually get the Orange Creamsicle blended drink and the kids usually have either the Sour Apple Freeze or the Lava Smoothie (non-alcoholic specialties). They also have sodas, beer, wine and bottled water. Then we head over to the lounge chairs on the beach, veg out and enjoy the view. We talk about what has been best about the trip so far and what we are most looking forward to during the rest of the trip. When our drinks are gone, we head back to the monorail to go to the Polynesian Resort. You can also walk along the beach to the Polynesian. We like riding the monorail because it has to travel all the way around to get back to the Poly so we enjoy the ride and the view.

Once we arrive at the Polynesian, we proceed to Captain Cook’s (as I said this is during our budget trip so we try to keep the cost down somewhat). We usually order a combination of Caesar Salads, pizzas and burgers. We get our food and drinks and then head outside to sit at a table overlooking the lagoon and pool area. If you can’t tell yet, we love being outside and since we visit in the Fall it is usually comfortable outside. We enjoy our dinner and then take a stroll around the grounds, as they are so beautiful, before heading back to the monorail station on our way to the Contemporary Resort.

Once we arrive at the Contemporary Resort, we usually have about 45 minutes to spare before the Electrical Water Pageant begins. We head to the Contempo Café and order our choice of dessert, and there are many choices whether you are a chocoholic like me or not; then we grab a coffee, milk, juice, etc. and either eat there before the EWP begins or head on out to the marina to enjoy our dessert outdoors and await the pageantry. The EWP doesn’t usually begin at the Contemporary until around 10:10 pm so this has been a great thing to do with older kids. After the EWP, we usually walk to our resort bus at the Magic Kingdom, or grab a bus to the park open latest and then board the one for our resort.

If you have young children and prefer trying this idea earlier in the day, there are other things to enjoy during that time, such as poolside games in early afternoon and evening outdoor movies at around 7:30 pm. You do not have to be a guest of the resort to enjoy these activities; they are open to all Walt Disney World Resort guests.

There are so many fun activities you can tailor around your family; this is just one idea. There are even numerous versions one could come up with for the Monorail Mania Meal, being that each of these resorts has several location choices for drinks, meals and desserts. Tailor it to fit your needs. Practically any idea can be personalized for your family – it just takes a little planning. Have fun with it!

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Monorail Mania Meal

Affordable Disney Vacations: The Kim Possible Adventure at Epcot

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Affordable Disney Vacations: The Kim Possible Adventure at EpcotAlways on the look-out for free fun at Walt Disney World, we discovered something very cool at Epcot’s World Showcase, on our recent trip: the Kim Possible Adventure. Did you know that by reading and following directions, looking for….and finding….clues, you can “save the world”? No? Well don’t feel bad, neither did we until we stumbled upon this fun, interactive activity. Don’t tell your kids, but it’s educational too…but they don’t need to know that part. What you do want to tell them…and all the grown-ups in your group too….is that this is a GREAT way to spend some time in World Showcase, and that they WILL have a blast!

So if saving the world (or at least a small part of it) sounds like something you want to put on your “must-do” list for your next Disney vacation, here is what you need to know.

Start off by registering with a Kim Possible agent at one of the designated locations in World Showcase. There, they will scan your park ticket and give you a special Fast Pass to report to a specific location at a specific time. When you are there, you will receive your mission….and your “Kimmunicator” which is a GPS cell phone you use to receive your instructions throughout the mission.

The area we had to report to was Germany, so we followed the instructions given on the Kimmunicator to start at a certain spot and listen for what to do next. Throughout the mission then, we were given more clues and instructions, about looking for different objects, going to specific locations, and figuring out information that was needed to move forward to the next stop…and ultimately to thwart those nasty evil-doers from achieving their dastardly plans.

And this is, in my opinion, the true beauty of this experience. You are LEARNING things as you go along! You have to actually read some of the signs, and look for the details that are all over World Showcase that nobody ever stops to see because everyone is so busy trying to get on Soarin’. Here we stopped, we read, we did what Kim Possible told us to do, and we were rewarded with some cool special effects (not giving them away though, you’ll have to find out yourself!), and a lot of fun. And yup, we learned a few things along the way.

Oh, and did I mention that it’s FREE?? 🙂

Now the thing is, many probably think this is an activity for little kids, but honestly, we were 3 adults and we had a blast. In fact, it is probably most suited to older kids who have the patience to go through all the clues and get to the end. And it would be fun for groups or individuals to do.

Once you finish (it takes about 30-40 minutes), if you liked saving the world once, you can do it again….in fact, 7 different countries in World Showcase offer this activity, and each one is different. How did we do? Well on the day that we tried it, we actually saved the world 4 times!

There should be some kid of award for that, don’t you think?

Want more information? Check out the Kim Possible Adventure page on Disneyworld.com.

Nancy, her husband and college-age daughter live in the Baltimore MD area, but consider Walt Disney World their second “home”. She started her site The Affordable Mouse, as a way to share ideas about how to plan affordable Disney vacations. Her favorite things at Disney World (in no particular order) are Soarin’, most of the food in World Showcase, Illuminations…and that special brand of Disney magic that you can’t find anywhere else.

Oldies But Goodies – Six Important Reasons For Seniors To Stay Onsite

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Oldies But Goodies - Six Important Reasons For Seniors To Stay Onsite

The choice to stay on or off site is an important one and can be particularly important for us, the Oldies. There are tons of reasons for staying on site that become apparent when you compare the experience to staying off. I guess you can compare them if you stay off site first like we did – ONCE, either that or you can take my word for it. Let’s address what I feel are the six most important reasons for Seniors to vacation on Disney property.

  1. Safety – As we get older, particularly when people get into their mid seventies and beyond, we become less inclined to venture out on an evening stroll or other night time activity because of fear for our personal safety. Walt Disney World is perhaps one of the most violent crime free places in the United States. People of any age can be secure in going from place to place knowing that they will not be robbed, assaulted, or harassed.
  2. Transportation – You can get from anywhere to anywhere using Disney transportation. It’s free, easy, and convenient; it transports you virtually door to door. You may have to do a bit of pre planning but if you are having issues figuring out the best way to go from here to there just ask a Disney Cast Member, they can and will help you.
  3. Variety of Restaurants – You can dine in the theme parks but many of Walt Disney World’s finest restaurants are in the resort hotels. Using the transportation mentioned in #2 you have a choice of 200+ places to eat no matter what your taste. If you are staying off site you have to look for a restaurant in the phone book, figure out where it is, and drive through traffic to get there and back. Disney restaurants are particularly important to you if you have special dietary needs as many Seniors do. They can and will take care of virtually any dietary need you have, all you have to do is follow the instructions located on this website.
  4. Shopping (with benefits) – You can find virtually any type of Disney merchandise in existence by shopping on site at the parks, resorts, or Downtown Disney. When you make your purchase, just let the cashier know you want the item delivered to your resort before they ring it up and it’s done! (For free by the way) It will be delivered to your resort gift shop, normally within 24 hours but always allow 48 hours just in case.
  5. End of Day Convenience – This is a huge one for us. After you spend a long day walking, shopping, and riding attractions do you want to go to the parking lot, find your car, fight the exiting traffic, and drive to your off site hotel or would you rather let Disney do the driving and drop you off- enough said!!!
  6. The Magic – This one is hard to quantify but suffice it to say, you will know it when you feel it. You are surrounded by The Magic 24 hours a day and it does not become intrusive. The Magic is one of the reasons we all love Disney and having it in every moment of your experience is a real positive.

These are the top six reasons that I feel make it important for Seniors to stay on site at Walt Disney World. What are some of yours? Feel free to share them in the comments section. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

Photo By Disney

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Oldies But Goodies - Six Important Reasons For Seniors To Stay Onsite

HGTV Design Celebrities and Disney Character Heroes Headline Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 2-May 15

By
Chip
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HGTV Design Celebrities and Disney Character Heroes Headline Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 2-May 15

While Woody and Buzz battle the latest toy villain, HGTV’s design gurus just might give their toy box a stylish makeover. As the lead toys of the Disney(Pixar film “Toy Story 3″ take the art of Disney topiary “to infinity and beyond” for the 18th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 2-May 15, HGTV adds star power to the festival lineup.

Genevieve Gorder, Vern Yip and a constellation of HGTV stars bring their flair for design to the festival with weekend appearances covering a variety of design and landscaping topics. Meanwhile, the floral facsimiles of Buzz Lightyear, Woody and their nemesis Lotso the strawberry-scented teddy bear will welcome guests at the Epcot World Showcase front entrance garden.

As part of the HGTV sponsorship, the Festival Center will open daily with entertaining presentations and Disney gardening workshops. And Bambi’s Butterfly Garden expands to accommodate more butterflies, plants and  guests in celebration of the upcoming release of “Bambi” Diamond Edition on Blu-ray Hi-Def.

Also new at the festival:

  • At Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden, favorite Disney Fairies will pose for photos and sign autographs throughout the day. Young fans who enter this whimsical garden also discover play structures for children ages 2-5.
  • Sleek floral topiaries of “Cars 2” stars Mater and Lightning McQueen will shine at the World Showcase Plaza in anticipation of the June 24 release of the original film’s sequel.
  • A Hundred Acre Wood wildflower display sets the scene for topiaries of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and pals, set to appear in the “Winnie the Pooh Movie” this summer.

More information about the 18th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com/flower. The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

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Festival Abuzz with Garden and Design Discussions, Demos Daily during 18th Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Presented by HGTV

By
Chip
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Festival Abuzz with Garden and Design Discussions, Demos Daily during 18th Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Presented by HGTV

The Festival Center at the 18th annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival presented by HGTV will be alive with expert-led seminars, demonstrations, discussions and Q&A sessions daily throughout the 75-day event that begins March 2 at Walt Disney World Resort.

Located next to Mission: Space in Future World at Epcot, the Festival Center showcases HGTV and HGTV.com celebrities on weekends and other experts — including “Master Gardeners” from University of Florida, Walt Disney World Horticulturists and a mix of national and regional TV/radio personalities, authors and educators — seven days a week. Here’s what’s happening during March and April:

HGTV Designers’ Stage
Presentations daily at noon and 3 p.m.
(HGTV/HGTV.com celebrity distinctions are noted in parentheses)

March 2-3: “Butterflies & Beyond” — Jaret C. Daniels
March 4-6: “The Art of Sculpting Space” — Genevieve Gorder (HGTV Design Star and Dear Genevieve)
March 7-10: “Passalong Plants” — Felder Rushing
March 11-13: “Design It Yourself: Easy-to-follow Tips for Designing Your Favorite Rooms” — Lisa LaPorta (Designed to Sell)
March 14-17: “Grow Great Grub” — Gayla Trail
March 18-20: “The 5 DIY Secrets That Can Transform Any Space” — Kim Myles (Myles of Style)
March 21-24: “10 Heirloom Plants You Should Be Growing” / “New & Exciting Plants for Every Garden” — Danielle Sherry
March 25-27: “Mobile Gardens” — Brian Patrick Flynn (Design Happens, HGTV.com)
March 28-31: “Secrets of the Garden Revealed & More Plants For Free” — Ken Druse
April 1-3: “Adding Value to Your Home without Breaking the Bank” — Taniya Nayak (Designed to Sell and Destination Design)
April 4-7: “Four Season Garden & Proven Combinations” — Erica Glasener
April 8-10: “Life, Love and Landscaping” — Ahmed Hassan (Yard Crashers)
April 11-14: “Container Gardening: From Dirt to Design & The Secret to Combining Plants” — Steve Aitken
April 15-17: “Gardening with Kids: Fun Seed Starting Projects” — Patti Moreno (Garden Girl, HGTV.com)
April 18-21: “Year-round Garden-tainment” — Melinda Myers
April 22-24: “Creative, Back-to-Basics Style for All Things Natural and Decorative” — Michele Beschen (B. Original)
April 25-28: “Herbal Blends from Around the World” — Susan Belsinger & Tina Marie Wilcox
April 29-May 1: “The Design Process: Curb Appeal Projects from Concept to Construction” — John Gidding (Curb Appeal: The Block)

Greenhouse Stage
Presentations daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

March 4-6: “Groceries from the Garden” — Robert Bowden
March 10-13: “Gardening for all Generations” — Brenda Sandberg & Scott Hulett
March 17-20: “Gardening in Miniature” — Joseph Rainey
March 24-27: “Helpful Mower & Small Equipment Tips” — Scott Franklin
March 31-April 3: “Tropical Edibles” — Jarrod Stewart
April 7-10: “Fun Holiday Projects” — Doug Benedict
April 15-17: “Gardening Challenges” — Tom MacCubbin
April 21-24: “Seed, Sow & Grow” — Ed Buhler
April 28-May 1: “Inspiring Patio Designs” — Allison Brooks

The Greenhouse Stage sessions include interactive hands-on activities during which guests make something to take home. Guests can visit the Festival Center to learn about the topics on dates not noted above.

In addition, experts from University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) present Planting Pointers — gardening ideas for everyone — daily at 1 and 4 p.m. at the Festival Center. Guests also can Ask an Expert — a UF/IFAS “Master Gardener” — their gardening questions from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

The presentations are included with Epcot admission, but seating is limited and on a first-come basis. Speakers, presentations and guests are subject to change without notice. For more Epcot International Flower & Garden information, visit disneyworld.com/flower.

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Fredi Gonzalez Debuts as Atlanta Braves’ Manager during ‘Grapefruit League’ Schedule at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

By
Chip
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Fredi Gonzalez Debuts as Atlanta Braves' Manager during 'Grapefruit League' Schedule at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

They’ll probably be making snowballs some places in March, but at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida the only white spheres being thrown will be accompanied by the siren song of spring: “Play Ball!”

Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves launch into an 18-game “Grapefruit League” home schedule at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex that includes a collection of top clubs, with the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals visiting Champion Stadium.

Spring training 2011 also marks the debut of Fredi Gonzalez as Braves Manager following the retirement of Bobby Cox. The Florida Marlins, Gonzalez’s former team, comes to Disney on March 23. Here’s the complete schedule:

Feb. 27 — New York Mets (1:05 p.m.)
Feb. 28 — Houston Astros (1:05 p.m.)
March 3 — Detroit Tigers (1:05 p.m.)
March 4 — Toronto Blue Jays (1:05 p.m.)
March 5 — New York Mets (1:05 p.m.)
March 8 — New York Yankees (1:05 p.m.)
March 9 — St. Louis Cardinals (1:05 p.m.)
March 10 — St. Louis Cardinals (1:05 p.m.)
March 12 — New York Mets (1:05 p.m.)
March 13 — Houston Astros (1:05 p.m.)
March 16 — Boston Red Sox (1:05 p.m.)
March 17 — Washington Nationals (6:05 p.m.)
March 19 — New York Mets (1:05 p.m.)
March 20 — Houston Astros (1:05 p.m.)
March 23 — Florida Marlins (1:05 p.m.)
March 25 — Detroit Tigers (6:05 p.m.)
March 27 — Philadelphia Phillies (1:05 p.m.)
March 28 — Washington Nationals (6:05 p.m.)

Individual game tickets for the Braves’ home spring training season are available through Ticketmaster (800/745-3000 and ticketmaster.com) and at the sports complex box office. Information on the Braves’ spring training season, group tickets and mini-packs is available by calling 407/939-GAME (4263) and online at espnwwos.com/atlantabraves.

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Fredi Gonzalez Debuts as Atlanta Braves' Manager during 'Grapefruit League' Schedule at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
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