Leisure … more than a word, it's a lifestyle

Disney is in the process of putting the finishing touches on what will be the biggest Flower and Garden Festival yet at Epcot. There are many new additions this time and we’ll talk about those a little later on, but first, take a look at this special video Disney made at Lake Eola Park last week to prepare guests for some of the many surprises they will encounter this year.

Looks like fun doesn’t it? So, what’s new this year… let’s take a look:

Engines revved, music pulsed and Test Track Presented by Chevrolet debuted during a high-octane grand-opening celebration Thursday night at Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort.

The Test Track unveiling was part of a grand week of openings and media previews at Disney World anchored by the launch of New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom.

A new collaboration between Chevrolet Design and the creative team of Walt Disney Imagineering, Test Track Presented by Chevrolet puts guests at the designer’s table for a multisensory experience as they create their own virtual concept vehicle before boarding a “SimCar” to race through a thrilling series of hills, hairpin turns and straightaways.  The attraction zooms in on how meticulous vehicle design influences top performance on the open road and lets guests see how their virtual cars would perform.

During the grand-opening “ac-celebration,” Mickey Mouse joined Walt Disney World Resort President Meg Crofton (pictured above left) on the Test Track stage to the tune of a rock version of the Mickey Mouse March, welcoming park guests and officially opening the re-imagined attraction.  American rock band One Republic (pictured above right) performed for the launch-party crowd and spectators strolled among a Future World landscape of new Chevy vehicles while lasers and special effects illuminated the night.

Guests enter the world of automotive design as never before, creating their own virtual concept, then boarding a “SimCar” ride vehicle to race through a thrilling series of performance tests that celebrate how meticulous design not only shapes the look of Chevrolet cars, trucks and crossovers, but drives their performance on the open road.

For inspiration for the project, Walt Disney Imagineers made numerous visits to Detroit, collaborating with Chevrolet designers and touring the inner sanctums of Chevrolet’s design studios.

“As storytellers, to be able to tell Chevrolet’s design story was fun for our Imagineers,” said Eric Jacobson, senior vice president of WDI. “Chevrolet designers come from the same creative roots as Imagineers. Test Track Presented by Chevrolet will become, for Epcot guests, an exciting part of their visit to Walt Disney World Resort.”

Amid upbeat music, eye-popping lighting effects and a collection of Chevrolet concept and new vehicles, guests themselves become automotive designers – and peer into the future of personal transportation in the process.

“Through an enduring partnership, Chevrolet and Disney continue to inspire generations to imagine the impossible and innovate,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Chevrolet Global Marketing. “The re-imagined Test Track reflects the personality and values of Chevrolet design and offers guests a behind-the-scenes look at a discipline that drives our business. This first-of-its-kind automotive design attraction represents the best of Chevrolet design and Disney innovation.”

Test Track guests enter an all-new, interactive pre-show area with a future-focused design theme – from the fully realized Chevrolet Miray roadster concept car and the Chevrolet EN-V to dynamic media displays including models and sketches of vehicle design possibilities. The sleek new “Chevrolet Design Center” invites guests to create their own virtual custom-concept vehicle.

Car design wannabes get to shape their own virtual car, truck or crossover and learn how their choices perform against four important performance attributes that guide Chevrolet designers:

• Capability – design your car to handle the roughest roads or most extreme weather conditions
• Efficiency – create a car that saves on fuel, reduces your environmental footprint, cuts down on emissions or even uses recycled parts
• Responsiveness – choose elements that will give you easy maneuverability through the tightest of turns
• Power – choose the gear you need to make your car a racer or a hauler

At design kiosks, rows of touch screens become canvasses for guests to try their hand at automotive design. They can design alone or collaborate on their design with family and friends. Even choose from six different languages.

Here, they can virtual-draw – stretch and shape their vehicle design by length, width, height and engine size — and decide which performance attribute is most important to them. Once they create – from infinite possibilities — the design of their dreams, guests complete their creation with even more choices. They can make a design statement with an expressive front grill, tailored wheels of various sizes and styles, and custom paint with graphics and other vehicle accessories. And the crowning touch of every design – Chevrolet’s world-famous bowtie logo.

Even FASTPASS and single rider guests can choose the performance attribute most important to them and select their virtual car’s profile from a selection of pre-designed vehicles.

Their virtual custom-concept Chevrolet vehicle complete, the adventure then shifts into high gear as guests – armed with a card encoded with their personal specs that allows their design to ride with them and see how it performs – board their 6-person “SimCar” ride vehicle. Ahead: a thrilling journey into a dazzling multi-sensory, optically charged experience as guests put their personal design through a series of performance tests – the exhilarating heart of Test Track Presented by Chevrolet.

Along their route, riders experience changing terrain and extreme conditions as their designs are scored at checkpoints for Capability, Efficiency, Responsiveness and Power. How does their design stand up to the challenging hills, switchbacks and straight-aways of the Test Track circuit? How well does it navigate through bumpy roads, icy conditions, turn-on-a-dime curves and other surprises? Their design skills are put to the test – at speeds of up to 65 mph.

The fun and excitement extends to the post-show area, which continues the story of Chevrolet design:

• Scoring their design. Guests get to compare their virtual car’s performance results to that of a baseline “SimCar” – and see how they performed against their fellow “designers” and recent top scorers.
• Guests as freshly-minted car designers can even create their own TV commercial – starring their virtual custom vehicle and adding location, narration and music – and email it to friends and family.
• At a digital driving table laying out a road course, guests have an opportunity to race their virtual custom-concept vehicles against other guests’ designs, over changing terrains and encountering extreme conditions.
• In another experience, guests get to pose for photos with actual Chevrolet vehicles.  Also, through green screen technology — with a few taps on their touch screen — guests suddenly find themselves posing with their virtual concept.
• Chevrolet on the lunar surface, a polar landscape, arcing across the galaxies or other thrilling scenes. The images become easily sharable on social media, sending virtual postcard greetings to family, friends or co-workers back home.
• New and concept Chevrolet vehicles are laid out showroom-style. Guests can get behind the wheel of Chevrolet’s latest production models. Chevrolet product specialists are on hand to answer any questions.

Test Track Presented by Chevrolet continues a 30-year relationship between General Motors and Disney at Epcot dating to the opening of the park Oct. 1, 1982 with World of Motion.

Test Track Presented by Chevrolet is included in Epcot admission. More photos at FloridaLeisurePhotography.com

One of the events that we look forward to the most each year is the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – Party For The Senses. It’s a chance to feast on the sensory arts as the evening begins with a reserved seat at the Eat to the Beat! concert series at the America Gardens Theatre.  STARSHIP were in concert twice at 5:30 & 6:45 p.m last Saturday (check here for a full calendar for the 2012 concert series) and then it was time to wander among the tempting tasting stations of World ShowPlace Events Pavilion before heading to the evenings main event… Party For The Senses.

The event is a separately ticketed event and it includes all the food and wine you can eat and drink as well as some fabulous entertainment from Cirque du Soleil.

Last year the theme seemed to revolve around pork and pork belly in particular. This year the theme seemed to revolve around some absolutely delicious lamb but there were other superb dishes such as a seared mustard marinated salamon, a seared Cape Canaveral Cobia, an excellent pan seared Duck breast and a a diver scallop salad. There were also some fabulous desserts from Viktoria Richards chocolate and from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa bakery and from Disney’s Coronado Springs bakery.

On the wine side, we sampled some excellent whites and reds from France, Greece, Italy, Chile and South Africa as well as enjoying a cool beer from Radeberger, Germany.

The event is held at the World ShowPlace Events Pavilion, located between the Canada Pavilion and the United Kingdom Pavilion in World Showcase. It is held on select Saturdays, October 6, 13, 20 and 27, and November 3, from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m.

The cost is  $145 per person, plus tax, for general admission. Gratuity is included and theme park admission is required.

There is also the chance to upgrade your experience with one of two packages that cost a little more:

• Wine View Lounge: Here you can enjoy a private reserved table, entrance into World ShowPlace Events Pavilion 15 minutes before general admission, a specialty cocktail toast to begin your evening, a premium bar, an artisanal cheese station and much more. There is very limited availability for this selection and the upgrade will cost $270 per person, plus tax.
• Reserved Seating: This is your chance to enjoy a reserved table on the main floor, entrance into World ShowPlace Events Pavilion 15 minutes before general admission and a specialty cocktail toast to begin your evening. Again it has very limited availability with a cost of $170 per person, plus tax.

The Party For The Senses is a great way to enjoy a very special evening at Epcot and you can visit www.EpcotFoodFestival.com to make reservations. Here’s some video :

The lineup for this year’s Eat to the Beat concert series, which runs during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, September 28 – November 12 (subject to change):

September 28-30: Night Ranger
October 1-3: Sugar Ray
October 4-7: STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas
October 8-10: Boyz II Men
October 11-12: Smash Mouth
October 13-14: Javier Colon, winner of “The Voice”
October 15-17: Air Supply
October 18-19: Gin Blossoms
October 20-21: Survivor
October 22-23: Hanson
October 24-25: The Pointer Sisters
October 26-28: Sister Hazel
October 29-31: Billy Ocean
November 1-2: .38 Special
November 3-4: Howard Jones LIVE
November 5-6: Blues Traveler
November 7-8: Dennis DeYoung, original member of the group STYX
November 9-12: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

The concerts, which are included with Epcot admission, will be at the America Gardens Theatre nightly at 5:30, 6:45 and 8:00 p.m.

1.5 Million Tasty Festival Treats in 46 Fabulous Days= 1 Fun-Filled Festival at Walt Disney World Resort

Guests at Walt Disney World can sip new wines, beers and cocktails, savor delicious new marketplace tastes and enjoy live entertainment all day long at the 17^thannual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival from Sept. 28-Nov. 12, 2012.

The 46-day festival at Disney’s Epcot theme park serves up authentic cuisine from six continents; wine, beer and inventive new cocktails; nightly Eat to the Beat! concerts with entertainment ranging from rock and soul to funk and blues; cultural exhibits of more than 25 international regions; and regularly scheduled performances by acrobats, musicians, dancers and comedy troupes.  Exotic marketplaces from Hawaii to Belgium offer exciting taste treats.  The festival is believed to be the largest food and wine event of its kind in the world, beginning at the Festival Welcome Center in Future World and fanning around the promenade encircling World Showcase Lagoon.

Here are some facts about the 17th annual event:

• More than 300 national and international wines
• A record 46 days long
• More than 76 kinds of international foods, each appetizer-sized portion priced $3-$8
• 160 of America’s most celebrated chefs and Walt Disney World chefs
• More than 300 wine and beer seminars
• More than 1,200 fireworks exploding each night over World Showcase Lagoon in    “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” grand finale to the festival
• 138 Eat to the Beat! concerts performed
• 33,000 bottles of wine and champagne
• 1.5 million sumptuous samplings throughout the festival; 600 items tasted during VIP Chef Tours
• 300,000 wine servings
• 360,000 servings of beer
• 100,000 desserts including Yogurt Panna Cotta with Orange Cake, Raspberries and Pomegranate; Lemon Custard Verrine with Blueberry Compote; and Dark Chocolate Mousse with Chili and Salted Caramel (Desserts & Champagne marketplace). More than 500 pounds of watermelon to be tasted at the 3D Disney’s Dessert Discovery parties.
• More than 5,000 pounds of lobster for Linda Bean’s Perfect Maine Lobster Rolls and Linda Bean’s Lobster Claw Cuddlers at the Hops & Barley marketplace plus Lobster and Scallop Fisherman’s Pie at the Ireland marketplace.

The good ole days return to Epcot as select summer nights heat up from June to July with the some of the world’s greatest tribute bands. Classic hits from the likes of U2, The Bee Gees, Bon Jovi and many more will rock during Sounds Like Summer concert series. The high-energy performances take place at the open-air American Gardens Theater in World Showcase.

The schedule (entertainment subject to change without notice):

• June 10-17: Hotel California ~ A Salute to the Eagles
• June 18 to 23: Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot ~ The Ultimate Billy Joel Show
• June 24 to 30: Stayin’ Alive ~ A Tribute to the Bee Gees
• July 1 to 7: Slippery When Wet ~ The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute
• July 8 to 14: The Police Experience ~ A Tribute to the Police
• July 15 to 21: SouthBound and Company ~ A Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd
• July 22 to 28: 2U ~ A Tribute to U2

Show times are 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. – except on July 4 when show times are 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m. Sounds Like Summer concerts are included with Epcot admission. Here’s a preview of each band…

Hotel California ~ A Salute to the Eagles (pictured above) — From June 10-17 Hotel California ~ A Salute to the Eagles kicks off the Sounds Like Summer concert series. The band was founded with the intent of filling the void left by the demise of The Eagles in 1982. By blending their extraordinary vocal and musical talents, HOTEL CALIFORNIA faithfully and accurately reproduces the sound of the Eagles studio recordings while recreating a classic sound which undeniably transcends the boundaries of Rock, R&B, and Country while delivering a modern, action packed performance that brings this timeless music into the new millennium.

This band, comprised of five respected, multi-talented top music industry professionals, presents a dynamic exciting show saluting the music of The Eagles, a supergroup whose music has proven to have a staying power that few bands lay claim to. Each concert presents an exciting showcase of The Eagles mega-hits such as “Take it Easy”, “Heartache Tonight”, and “Hotel California” as well as newer releases “Get Over It” and “Love will Keep Us Alive”. The group also performs select titles from the solo works of Don Henley, Glen Frey, and Joe Walsh.

Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot ~ The Ultimate Billy Joel Show(pictured above) — From June 18-23 Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot ~ The Ultimate Billy Joel Show will perform during the Sounds like Summer concert series at Epcot. Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot, fronted by the amazing vocals and piano of Michael DelGuidice, a well known, world class, respected, Long Island multi-instrumentalist. He is backed by one of the most dynamic and seasoned bands in the industry. The show is packed with hit after chart-topping hit from Billy Joel’s music in a high energy, interactive stage performance.

Slippery When Wet ~ The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute(pictured above)– From July 1-7 Slippery When Wet ~ The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute will perform during the Sounds like Summer concert series at Epcot.

The Tribute Band is a group of seasoned veterans of the New York and New Jersey music scene. Raised on the same mean streets and reared in many of the same bars and nightclubs as Jon and the band, these experienced rockers bring the same energy, enthusiasm, and New Jersey attitude to the stage as the early Bon Jovi, circa 1986!

SLIPPERY WHEN WET (NJ) has been perfecting their show for the past ten years and are going stronger than ever. Singer Mike Parkes bears an uncanny resemblance to a young Jon Bon Jovi right down to the wardrobe. His vocal range nails all of the highest notes as he brings to life the high-energy stage presence of Jon in his youth. Combined with Radicci’s incredible likeness to a young Richie Sambora, whose blazing guitar solos nail every note as if you were listening to the original recordings, you get a front line rivaled only by Jon and Richie themselves. Supporting this amazing frontline is the rock solid rhythm section comprised of Sean Faust on keyboards, Ronnie Parkes on bass and Tommy John on drums. Complete with pristine backing vocals this group of Jersey Boys is a force to be reckoned with in any venue!

Since 2001 SLIPPERY WHEN WET (NJ) has toured the USA and the Caribbean and has performed over 500 shows including nightclubs, casinos, large festivals, private parties, and corporate events.

The Police Experience~ A Tribute to the Police (pictured above)– From July 8-14 The Police Experience~ A Tribute to the Police will perform during the Sounds like Summer concert series at Epcot.   THE POLICE EXPERIENCE is the most authentic Police tribute band in the world; performing nationally and internationally to deliver the ultra high-energy show The Police were known for in the 1980s. This highly acclaimed tribute to the Police has even won the praise of Stewart Copeland himself, who said of the band…

“…every nuance, all the drum parts, and the singer has Sting down to a tee… “

In 2003, Ian Copeland, founder of Frontier Booking International (FBI), heard the band and immediately had them perform for an audience that included Stewart Copeland and Miles Copeland; founder of IRS records and manager of The Police. Upon hearing the band, Stewart himself jumped up on stage and sat in with THE POLICE EXPERIENCE, tearing the house down with “Driven to Tears” and “Roxanne.” For the band it was an honor and a solid affirmation of their efforts to play with one of the world’s most talented rock drummers ever and the founding member of The Police. Miles Copeland said of the band…

“…the best copy band I have seen to date…close your eyes and it’s my boys…”

In 2007, the band became the subject of the award winning documentary “Tribute Bands”, which appeared on Canadian National television. They were also featured in an article by BBC News reporter Stephen Robbs about Police tribute bands and the Police reunion. Later that year, they were hired to perform pre-show/after show parties during the two nights The Police played Fenway Park on their reunion tour.

In 2009, the band got the attention of long time Stewart Copeland disciple Taylor Hawkins, of The Foo Fighters, who invited David Rasner, (“Sting”), and Jimbo Head, (“Andy”), to his house to jam. Hawkins was so taken with the authenticity and talent of the band, that he played an entire show with them 2 days later. Hawkins, who still does shows with THE POLICE EXPERIENCE, had this to say of the band…

“…All of sudden I was transported back to 1983… they knew every single Police song perfectly… it might have been the awesomest, funnest, most musically satisfying experiences…this guy sounds exactly like Sting…”

THE POLICE EXPERIENCE’s drummer, Mike Nieland, has the remarkable ability to copy Stewart Copeland’s complicated drum style note for note. As a result, Nieland has been featured in the international drum press where he talked about emulating Copeland’s technique. In 2007 Nieland himself had the opportunity to interview Stewart Copeland for Guitar Center’s “GC BACKSTAGE” viral video series.

The band continues to thrill audiences from Montreal to Trinidad, from San Diego to Nova Scotia. They remain unmatched by any other Police tribute band for their authenticity. THE POLICE EXPERIENCE is as close as it gets to the real thing… “Roxanne,” “Walking On The Moon,” “Every Breath You Take, Don’t Stand So Close to Me….” you’ll hear all your favorite Police songs, you’ll get transported back to the 80’s, you’ll experience what it was like to see one of the world’s best bands in their prime.

SouthBound and Company ~ A Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd (pictured above) — From July 15-21 SouthBound and Company ~ A Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd will perform during the Sounds like Summer concert series at Epcot.

Some years back Darryl Reed asked a fellow musician a simple question, “Where are all the great Southern Rock Tribute acts?” Before his friend could answer, Darryl had made up his mind to fulfill a lifelong dream to front a Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute act.  His new band SouthBound and Company, would be the vehicle to launch that dream!

Florida born Darryl Reed plays the role of Ronnie VanZant with an uncompromising, no nonsense approach to all of his vocals. Multifaceted lead guitarist Mike F has spent the last several years studying the guitar workings of Rossington, Collins, Gaines as well as Ed King. As a result Mike “Dorsal” F seamlessly moves from slide guitar, to intricate double leads to wailing hard edged solos and back!

Accomplished Yucaipa drummer/percussionist Michael Hunter has read books and reviewed hours of video focusing on the style of Artemus Pyle. Michael Hunter is a harder hitting version of this great drummer. Corona bassist Pete Madary provides a unique ‘70’s brand of play, trademark high harmonies and a sense of humor not unlike the always unpredictable Leon Wilkeson.

So let Southbound and Company take you on a trip back through time!

2U ~ A Tribute to U2 (pictured above) – From July 22 to 28 will perform at Epcot.

When one experiences a 2U show, they come away feeling as though they’ve just seen a live U2 show in an intimate setting, at a fraction of the ticket price. The reviews speak for themselves. Gaining widespread notoriety through tireless touring, in the years they’ve been performing, they have become the absolute best U2 tribute band that the world has to offer. The utmost attention has been paid to detail. It’s not enough these days to play a band’s music to the note, which this band does second to none. 2U recreates a live U2 show. While their lead vocalist is indeed a dead ringer for Bono, all of the band-members actually resemble their respective counter-part in U2 as well.

Company take you on a trip back in time!on a trip back in Some years back singer Darryl

Hi there! Michelle here and I’m delighted to have been asked to contribute to the Florida Leisure blog. I hope you enjoy my thoughts about some of the great things to do in Orlando and Central Florida and for my first post I thought I’d talk about a recent visit I made with my family to the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival. The festival is in full bloom this spring, adding bursts of vibrant color, whimsical topiaries and sweet scents down virtually every park path.

My husband and I took advantage of a gorgeous March day to bring our 8-year-old daughter, Gabby, who has been there several times, and her friend, Megan, who was visiting the park for the first time.

Among the featured weekend events of the festival are the home and garden presentations led by some of the biggest names at HGTV, as well as concerts by big name acts from the 1960s and 70s such as Starship and The Monkees. I would have loved to hear from Sabrina Soto from “The High Low Project” but with two kids in tow, the presentation was quickly relegated to the “maybe next year” list. Instead, we chose to spend our day hitting the everyday highlights of Epcot but still making sure we took plenty of time to smell the roses. And roses there were…

According to Walt Disney World Resort, Epcot boasts 30 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 spread across 260 acres, all of which take more than one year and 400 Walt Disney World horticulturists to plan and prepare. The description promises a great deal—and it delivers.

The Disney character topiaries are perhaps the most impactful element of the festival, with the most beloved names from all generations of Disney films represented. I was instantly smitten with Mickey and Minnie Mouse in the Classic Characters garden, whereas the girls unanimously voted Lady and the Tramp, found in Italy, their favorite. Interestingly, it’s a movie they’ve never seen, yet it involved puppies, they reasoned, so it must be great. I have to admit, the long grasses representing Lady’s floppy cocker spaniel ears were a stroke of horticultural brilliance.

With the topiaries themed to various areas of the park, it seemed there was always a surprise waiting around the next corner, especially in the World Showcase, where we found greenery pandas and a flowery, mist-breathing dragon in China, and the ever charming Lumière and Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast frolicking in a garden maze in France, to name just a few.

Bambi’s Butterfly Garden was another favorite with the kids, with dozens of species flitting from flower to flower and occasionally finding rest on a guest’s head or shoulder. The oversized butterfly topiaries outside the tent made for yet another great photo stop but it was the chrysalis display that most interested Gabby, and the Bambi, Thumper and Flower topiaries that captured Megan’s attention.

The Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden was another delightful surprise. Although it’s billed for preschoolers, even the adults seemed to enjoy strolling through the garden of graceful green figurines and peering down into the tiny representations of their fairy homes.

Sprawling expanses of flower beds, often in whimsical flower patterns, line the banks of Epcot’s many lakes, while floating flower beds dot the surface of the water, making the concrete walkways from Future World to the World Showcase much more appealing.

Our first order of business for the morning was to grab Fast Passes to ride Soarin’ in the late afternoon. The whole family loved the feet-dangling, free-spirited feeling of flight and the incredible scenery. After several hours passed, we were able to obtain early evening Fast Passes for Test Track, another family favorite. The speed lap at the end didn’t sit well with our guest, who crossed her arms and scrunched up her nose at being “tricked” into riding a “roller coaster” but promises of Mickey-shaped ice cream sandwiches soon smoothed over any hard feelings.

We found a surprisingly short line for Mission: SPACE, for both the green and orange teams, but the girls kids agreed that the dizziness they experienced, even on the less intense green team, put a damper on the overall ride experience.

Of course, educational opportunities are always close at hand at Epcot, and the girls were quickly drawn to a manned exhibit of dolphin bones at The Seas with Nemo and Friends. In typical “tween” fashion, they couldn’t recount exactly what Mark the cast member had to say, but they somehow came away with the knowledge that dolphins swallow their food whole and that their teeth feel something like pegs. Good job, Mark!

We made time for a few other rides, including Ellen’s Energy Adventure, the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros at Mexico, and Maelstrom at Norway, however, the girls were most excited to participate in Kidcot, in which they traveled to each country in the World Showcase to obtain stamps and often colorful drawings of each countries’ flags from the attendants at each. While passport books can be purchased at various World Showcase gift shops, children can receive a complimentary cardboard cutout of “Duffy the Disney Bear,” the handle of which can be stamped much like a passport. Seeing the colorful costumes and hearing the authentic accents of World Showcase cast members was part of the thrill but the kids especially enjoyed seeing their names written in various alphabets of the world, from Chinese to Arabic.

Living in Central Florida for the last 12 years, I’ve been to the Disney parks and to Epcot numerous times, but I’ve decided there is perhaps no better way to spend a warm, sunny springtime day than strolling among the millions of blooms and stopping to admire and photograph the cast of characters, albeit in greenery form. These photo opportunities of my daughter are even more meaningful to me, as the last photo I have of her with a Disney character was taken when she was just a year old. Looking back at that photo, I realize that her unease around (ssshhh!) people in costumes was evident even then: in the picture, she’s practically jumping out of my arms, giving Mickey Mouse a glare that would warn him to keep his distance— if only he had peripheral vision… Luckily, the floral variety of characters were above suspicion and she posed happily… for the first dozen shots or so.  After numerous “Just one more!” requests to “Stand right over there” or “Just sit up nice and tall!” this snap happy journalist was chided with groans and growling faces and eventually put the camera away.

Although kids get tortured by too many photos, it’s the dads who often get the short end of the stick at the theme parks:  Carrying the camera bag and the backpack full of snacks and sunscreen; ordering lunch and balancing a tray of food and drinks while mom and the kids relax and “save a table” in the café, or having to backtrack halfway around the world after Duffy the cardboard bear somehow got swallowed up by the Maelstrom. Most of the time, seeing their children having fun is reward enough for Dad. But just in case, a nice cold Pilsner at the “Bier Garten” in Germany certainly never hurt…

The Epcot Flower & Garden Festival runs through May 20. For tickets, information and a schedule of festival events, visit www.FloridaLeisure.com.

Excitement is in bloom at Epcot as the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV! starts today.

Every year around this time Disney springs to life with colorful flowers and gardens, dazzling Disney character topiaries, live music and some fascinating programs. The event runs from today through to May 20, 2012, and this special event beckons you to be inspired by nature at its finest.

Some of the festival highlights are educational presentations at the Festival Center, themed weekends, special displays and a lot of fun for the kids. At the Festival Center you’ll be able to watch and learn as some wonderful presenters offer some great presentations on the HGTV Designers Stage, Greenhouse Stage HGTV Theater and there will be chances to “Ask an Expert” about various aspects of life around the home and the garden.

One of the main features of the festival are the topiaries and you’ll find more than 100 of them throughout the Epcot theme park—including more than 75 Disney character topiaries! Highlights include character topiaries representing Buzz, Woody and Lotso from the Disney•Pixar film Toy Story 3, Lightning McQueen and Mater from the Disney•Pixar film Cars 2, and many other classic favorites.

You’ll also be able to enjoy some fabulous live music from the 1960s and 1970s during the Flower Power Concert Series as a different artist features every weekend at the America Gardens Theatre.  Show times are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Here’s the line up:

March 9-11                 Jose Feliciano

March 16-18               Starship featuring Mickey Thomas

March 23-25               The Guess Who

March 30 – April 1        The Spinners

April 6 – 8                   Chubby Checker & The Wildcats

April 13 – 19                Paul Revere and The Raiders

April 20 – 22               The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie

April 27 – 29               Chuck Negron (formerly of Three Dog Night)

May 4 – 6                   The Orchestra (featuring former members of ELO)

May 11 – 19                Herman’s Hermits staring Peter Noone

Among other highlights of the festival will be Bambi’s Butterfly House, Sustainable Beauty, English Tea Garden, Epcot Gardens of the World and Haiti: Garden of Many Colors…places where you can explore and learn more about some of the great things this planet has to offer. It’s a must see and do if you’re in Orlando between now and the middle of May!

During the holidays, Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park is transformed into an international celebration of Yuletide traditions filled with festive decorations and live entertainment. From Holidays Around The World to Candlelight Processional, you can delight in the sights and sounds of the season.

The Candlelight Processional is a special holiday event held nightly at the America Gardens Theatre as part of Holidays Around The World. The event retells the stirring story of Christmas with a special celebrity narrator  accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and a mass choir.

The Candlelight Processional is a terrific way to get in the Christmas spirit and to share the magic of the season with your family and friends. The event has become an essential family tradition for many Guests — once you experience it, you may be inspired to share it every year with the ones you love.

Academy award-winning actress Mira Sorvino returns to Walt Disney World Resort Nov. 25-27, 2011, to kick off the event. Sorvino is among a dozen celebrities, ranging from contemporary Christian and country music artists to a soap opera legend and award-winning actor, who will take the stage for the joyous retelling of the Christmas story. They join a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir at Epcot America Gardens Theatre for performances at 5, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m. most nights. The lineup (artists subject to change):

Nov. 25-27: Mira Sorvino
Nov. 28-Dec. 1: Michael W. Smith
Dec. 2-3: Geena Davis
Dec. 4-6: Edward James Olmos (guest shows at 6:45 and 8:15 p.m. only)
Dec. 7-9: Isabella Rossellini
Dec. 10-12: Neil Patrick Harris
Dec. 13-15: Lorraine Bracco
Dec. 16-18: Chita Rivera
Dec. 19-21: Trace Adkins
Dec. 22-24: Susan Lucci
Dec. 25-27: Blair Underwood
Dec. 28-30: Marlee Matlin