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Category Archives: Events
Coming Soon! Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival March 7-May 20
The largest-ever Disney front-entrance topiary and a stellar cast of HGTV design celebrities boost the flower power at the 19th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV March 7-May 20 at Walt Disney World Resort. Here’s a sneak peek of this year’s festival news:
- Disney’s gardening magic goes a long way when an eight-foot-tall floral Sorcerer Mickey topiary holds court in front of the park’s iconic Spaceship Earth. Standing atop a 12-foot-tall floral mountain cliff, Sorcerer Mickey directs a riot of color in the manicured shapes of dancing broomsticks, buckets, mushrooms, hippos, alligators and elephants straight from the classic Disney film, “Fantasia.” The scene pops with pink geraniums, white poppies, violet petunias, blue delphiniums and pansies.
- Twice daily each Friday through Sunday of the festival, HGTV designers and hosts share their insights on landscapes and design with Festival Center audiences. John Gidding of “Curb Appeal: The Block” kicks off the series March 9-11 with curb-appeal design tips for homeowners.
- Music fills each festival weekend when pop music hitmakers of the 1960s and ’70s rule the America Gardens Theatre stage with performances of their greatest songs. Jose Feliciano ignites the Flower Power concert series March 9-11 with his treasure trove of tunes. Two new festival acts are in store: Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night (April 27-29) and The Orchestra featuring former members of ELO and ELO Part II (May 4-6).
The front-entrance floral spectacle will welcome guests to a festival packed with new gardens and displays, featured speakers and hands-on fun for all ages, including daily gardening workshops with take-home projects for all who participate.
Thirty million blooms, 240 floating mini-gardens on two ponds, 700 container gardens of flowers, herbs, plants and vegetables, dozens of Disney character topiaries, 30 “flower towers” of impatiens and sweeping beds of original floral designs create a new tapestry of brilliant color across the 260-acre Epcot landscape. It takes more than one year and 400 Walt Disney World horticulturists to plan and prepare for the 75-day festival.
Halfway through the festival, Disney gardeners remove the cold-hardy blossoms that thrive in March and early April to plant a new crop of flowers that flourish in spring’s warmer temperatures. And throughout the event, dozens of gardening experts meet guests daily with fresh landscape ideas for 2012. Daily workshops at the Festival Center let guests dig into projects they can take home at the end of the day.
Don’t Miss!
- The Festival Center- Guests can shop for festival merchandise, attend demonstrations and get ideas and tips from master gardeners. In Future World between Universe of Energy and Mission:SPACE.
- Disney Gardening at Home presentations - Disney horticulturists and local experts like Robert Bowden of Harry P. Leu Gardens will share gardening tips and lead guests in a hands-on, take-home activity. At the Festival Center.
- Special Festival Weekend Celebrations - An Art in the Garden celebration of plein air artists is scheduled March 23-25; a Disney’s Animal Kingdom Specialists weekend presents indigenous insects that are part of our world; a Florida Federation of Garden Clubs gathering will be April 27-29; and a Fresh from Florida Farmer’s Market salute is slated for May 4-6.
- Bambi’s Butterfly House, three times the size of the festival’s original, is a-flutter with multiple species of brilliant butterflies. At Imagination Walkway by Innoventions West.
- Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden - Fabulous Disney fairy topiaries alight to greet young fans who enter this whimsical garden designed with play structures for children ages 2-5. At the Test Track Walkway.
- The HGTV Designers Stage presents HGTV celebrities each Friday through Sunday and nationally recognized garden personalities Monday through Thursday. At the Festival Center.
- Flower Power concert series welcomes back 20th century pop favorites this year when Chubby Checker and The Wildcats, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Davy Jones and eight other bands rock the America Gardens Theatre with their timeless tunes. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Performers and appearance dates subject to change.
More information about the 19th 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.
Related articles
- HGTV Stars to Highlight This Year’s Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (chipandco.com)
- 2012 Flower Power Concert Series at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (chipandco.com)
2012 Flower Power Concert Series at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
For me it seems the lineup is a little dated and I think their should be a mix of 60′s – 90′s at the 19th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival’s Flower Power concert series. Beginning March 9 and continuing each weekend, the Flower Power lineup features two new-to-the-festival acts: Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night (“Joy to the World”) and The Orchestra starring former members of ELO (“Don’t Bring Me Down”).
Jose Feliciano, whose star shines on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and whose musical achievements have spanned five decades, revs up the Flower Power stage during the first festival performance March 9. Among the biggest hit-makers in the lineup: Chubby Checker & The Wildcats (22 hits on Billboard’s Top 40 chart); Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone (18 Top 40 hits); The Spinners (18 Top 40s); and The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie (9 Top 40s).
Flower Power performances are at America Gardens Theatre at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. each Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Here’s the lineup (subject to change without notice):
Flower Power performances are included with Epcot admission. For additional information about the festival, visit www.disneyworld.com/flower
.
Related articles
- Epcot’s 2012 Flower Power Concert Series Schedule (chipandco.com)
- HGTV Stars to Highlight This Year’s Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (chipandco.com)
Capturing Disney in Pictures: A Fan’s Star Wars Weekend Encounter
Andrea Canaday's Star Wars Weekend Encounter
Every Photo has a story…
Chip & Company fan Andrea Canaday from Beaufort, South Carolina , and her family love to attend Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Andrea said, “Every picture does have a story. I took some great photos on a Disney vacation in June of 2009. We were also staying at our Home Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village, for the first time since it’s completion. A dear friend I had not seen in a while and her fiance were also joining me and my family for the weekend. Can you say we were excited?”
Picture this…
When Andrea and her family arrived at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Storm Troopers where all across the top of the ticket entrance. “It was crowded and as my friend and I were waiting for the lines to move, we decided to take pictures of them. This particular Storm Trooper noticed us taking his picture. The next thing you know, we were interacting with each other. I love to interact with the characters; it’s so much fun! He pointed his Blaster Rifle at us and then did the ‘I’m watching you’ with his fingers. You know, the pointing to his eyes and then to person thing. My friend and I did it right back. He pointed the Blaster Rifle back at us and did the ‘I’m watching you’ again. This went on for a little bit, and we laughed and carried on with him. It was one of those magical memories you never forget!”
Thanks, Andrea, for sending in your Star Wars Weekend photo and your story, and thank you Chip & Company fans for coming along for a photographical ride!
Do you have any fabulous Disney vacation pictures you’d like to share? Remember, Chip & Company is looking for great Disney vacation photos without family members, preferably of Disney characters, landscapes, architecture, or funny photos for our “Caption This Contest.” Please send in pictures (one at a time please) with a brief description of your photo. Be sure to tell us what is in the picture and any important details. Just use the 5 W’s: Who, What, Where, Why and When, because that way we have enough information to share the Disney Magic. Every photo has a story, so be sure to include yours.
Drop by and share your photos on Facebook at Mouze Kateerz. Take a virtual Disney vacation twice a day in photographs. Visit my photo blog at mouzekateerz.com, check out my photos on Pinterest at Pin Mouze Kateerz, or shoot me an email of your favorite Disney location at mouzekateerz@chipandco.com.
Doggy Treat Truck Bringing Ice Cream & Cookies To Walt Disney World
Tails will be wagging at Walt Disney World® Resort this week: The Best Friends Pet Care Treat Truck for Dogs is coming to town with free ice cream and cookies for canines.
The colorful, doggy-logo’d truck will be making frequent visits to the Fort Wilderness dog park, downtown Celebration and at Best Friends Pet Care on Bonnet Creek Parkway starting Thursday, January 26 through Saturday February 4.
The Treat Truck will also be visiting community dog parks in Orlando, Apopka, Kissimmee and Winter Garden.
Best Friends created the truck to give the dog lovers a taste of the fun and caring its staff provides to pet guests every day at its pet care center. Best Friends is the exclusive pet care provider for Walt Disney World® Resort.
For the detailed schedule of stops and times, visit www.bestfriendspetcare.com/treat-truck-tour/
Best Friends Pet Care launched the Treat Truck was launched last summer. It has traveled down the east coast from Boston through New England, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Atlanta. After Florida, the Truck will head west to Texas.
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- Do You Need a Car while at Walt Disney World? (chipandco.com)
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HGTV Stars to Highlight This Year’s Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
While winter is still in full swing, we at Walt Disney World Resort are already thinking of spring and the 19th annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, presented by HGTV! This year’s festival will run from March 7 to May 20, 2012, and will include favorite elements like beloved Disney character topiaries, “how to” demonstrations and presentations by HGTV and Disney experts, unique gardens themed to the countries of World Showcase, the Flower Power Concert series and much more.
The festival will include special activities for kids like Bambi’s Butterfly House, presented by HGTV; the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden; Sounds of Nature, presented by Nature Conservancy; and unique play structures offer fun for the little ones—the Evos™ play systems for ages six and older and the Weevos™ play systems for ages two through five.
We are EXTREMELY excited to continue our relationship with HGTV, with their expertise and support of the festival returning for a second year. HGTV stars scheduled to appear this year include (Talent/dates subject to change):
- John Gidding, HGTV’s Curb Appeal: The Block—presenting March 9 – 11
- Sabrina Soto, HGTV’s The High/Low Project—presenting March 16 – 18
- Jason Cameron, DIY Network’s Desperate Landscapes and Man Caves—presenting March 23 – 25
- Camille Styles, HGTV.com Entertainment contributor—presenting March 30 – April 1
- Dan Faires, HGTV.com’s DanMade, Fan Favorite HGTV Design Star Season 5—presenting April 6 – 8
- Brandon Johnson, host of HGTV’s My Yard Goes Disney—presenting April 13 – 15
- Meg Caswell, HGTV’s Meg’s Great Rooms—presenting April 20 – 22
- Monica Pedersen, HGTV Dream Home Tour 2012 and Designed to Sell—presenting April 27 – 29
- Antonio Ballatore, HGTV’s The Antonio Treatment—presenting May 4 – 6
- To be determined—presenting May 11 – 13
- Genevieve Gorder, HGTV’s Dear Genevieve and HGTV Design Star—presenting May 18 – 20
Musical entertainment pairs perfectly with botanical beauty during the nightly Flower Power concert series. Enjoy a varied lineup of performers throughout the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, March 7 through May 20, 2012. The concerts will again groove-ify the America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. throughout the festival dates. Scheduled to appear this year include (Talent/dates/times subject to change):
For more information on the festival, you can check out disneyworld.com/flower and continue to check back for more updates. See you in the spring.
Related articles
- HGTV Celebs Share Party Tips at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (chipandco.com)
- 19th Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Coming March 7 – May 20, 2012 (chipandco.com)
