I’m heading out to the 2014 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival today to see the floral show in all it’s spring glory. In the meantime, I have a bunch of fun facts to share with you about the festival. I also managed to get this video preview, including a brief interview with festival horticulture chief Eric Darden.
The 21st EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival blooms March 5-May 18.
Fun facts below the jump:
There are a lot of Hidden Mickeys and even a few Walt Disney tributes. But did you know about a special tribute to Walt’s brother. This lantern at the Japan Pavilion in EPCOT was a gift to Roy O. Disney from Emperor Horihoto. But it… Read More »EPCOT Story: The Gift of Light
Disney has just released a concept video showing a short fly-over of a completely re-designed central plaza in the Magic Kingdom. I’d heard the rumors this was coming, but had not heard exactly how extensive the change would be. It’s dramatic. The end result will change the character of the main hub of the park, transitioning from moat to garden, an idea first conceived for Shanghai Disneyland. But Orlando is getting a version of it first.
Watch the video then join us below as we dissect a few key visuals:
The newly remodeled hub will feature several new elements, including fountains, sculpted gardens, additional pathways, expanded restaurant seating and even a special viewing area for fireworks and other performances.
Read More »Major Changes Coming to Magic Kingdom’s Central Plaza (aka the Hub)
The Disney Parks Blog just announced March 9 as the date for the first official appearance of the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade in the Magic Kingdom. The new parade celebrates Fantasyland with nine floats, an original soundtrack, and costumes designed by Mirena Rada. I’m… Read More »Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade To Debut March 9 at Magic Kingdom
from Instagram Although ostensibly it was to expand the smoking area, the recent upgrade to the old canoes queue and dock looks really nice. They used to do a cute little ‘pan for gold’ activity in this area, these gold nuggets look more permanent, so… Read More »Instapic: There’s gold in them there hills.
I’m always on the lookout for great new merchandise and a new set of coffee mugs for Walt Disney World certainly qualifies. In fact, I used to collect coffee mugs, but they were nothing like these Three of the four park icons are represented in… Read More »New Park Icon Coffee Mugs
Hard to take a bad photo during the festival
The 2014 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is still two weeks away, but already Disney is moving pieces into place. The horticulture team has been busy putting the giant Flower Quilts together and the festival team has been working on booths and displays across the park.
Yesterday I took a nice stroll through the park and captured some of their preparations for a fun look behind the process of assembling a great show for guests.
Can’t watch the video, photos from the walk are below the jump:
Read More »EPCOT 2014 Flower & Garden Festival Prepares for March 5 Opening
A large sweeping drop will send passengers on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train speeding past a waterfall and over a wooden bridge.
The walls are down around a small section of Snow White’s mountain at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland expansion. So we’re back with a second update on the roller coaster this month. Work by Disney’s artisans and craftsmen (and women) appears to be is progressing at a rapid pace now. When workers aren’t putting finishing touches on the show details others are testing the cars on the track and working out the kinks of the dispatch and safety system.
Still no word on an official opening date, but some say soft opens could come as soon as April. Here’s video of taken of the newly open area yesterday as well as updates from all around Snow White’s Mountain.
Many more photos of the newly revealed vista and other progress on Snow White’s Mountain below the jump:
Read More »Wall Removal Reveals Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Coaster’s Big Drop & More