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

The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow debuts this fall at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., giving Walt Disney World Resort guests a chance to become immersed in the world of the four “Pirates of the Caribbean” films. Aspiring pirates will experience the story of Jack Sparrow like never before to discover if they have what it takes to join Captain Jack’s crew. The attraction will be included with theme park admission and will be located in Soundstage 4, former space of Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Starting this fall, Splitsville, located in Downtown Disney West Side, will reinvent bowling for America with 50, 000 square feet of fun and 30 lanes on two floors. Guests will come for the bowling but stay for the food. Between strikes and spares, guests can feast on menu items including hand-tossed pizza, fresh-rolled sushi and hand-cut filet sliders served right at the lane. Beyond a great hangout for friends and families, the all-new day-and-nightime venue also will be available for birthday parties and corporate events

Starting on May 25, Disney Channel stars Phineas and Ferb kick off a rockin’ summer celebration that visits the beach, the jungle and under the sea with favorite Disney characters and cherished Disney music – and it all plays out on Cinderella Castle, famed icon of Walt Disney World Resort as part of “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” As part of Disney’s “Let the Memories Begin,” the ten-minute, nighttime spectacle features photos of guests captured in the park that very day making memories — projected larger than life among the spires, towers and turrets of Cinderella Castle.

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!

The Vancouver Whitecaps beat Toronto FC 1-0 to capture the 2012 Disney Pro-Soccer title last night and it marked the end of a very successful tournament. In the consolation game FC Dallas won by a similar scoreline to overcome Houston Dynamo.

The tournament was well supported by soccer fans as 6 Major League Soccer took part as well as Swedish Premier League club BK Hacken and our own Orlando City Soccer club. In all, 14 games were played over the week long event and fans enjoyed the 32 goals that were scored.

Nigel Worrall & Jay DeMerit

In the end Vancouver held the perfect record as they conceded no goals and won all their games.

We look forward to next year’s tournament and hope to see even more soccer fans attend the event. Hopefully the powers that be will ramp up the marketing efforts and really start to get serious about an event that really could help boost soccer in the area as Orlando City ramps up its efforts to join the MLS in the not too distant future.

Another great event going on this weekend was the Princess Half Marathon. Rachel Booth, 31, pictured above, of Mandeville, La, crossed the finish line to capture the 2012 Disney’s Princess Half Marathon title in an official time of 1:18:11.  19,000 people were registered as runners for the 4th annual 13.1-mile event and a record 27,000 athletes took part in a variety of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend events, including a 5K race and a Health and Fitness Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Disney’s Princess Half Marathon is part of the “runDisney” series of endurance events that take place throughout the year at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Super Bowl XLVI MVP and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning takes a celebratory ride with Mickey Mouse at Magic Kingdom this afternoon.

After leading his team to a game-winning drive and the Super Bowl championship Sunday night, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning led another drive Monday: down Main Street, U.S.A. to cheering fans at Walt Disney World Resort.

“I’m going to Disney World!” proclaimed Manning Sunday shortly after his team scored a dramatic 21-17 win over the New England Patriots to capture Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis. In a gala parade Monday at Magic Kingdom, Manning made good on that promise, waving and smiling alongside Mickey Mouse from a red convertible in the shadow of Cinderella Castle.

Fans of the Giants and Manning, including those sporting team jerseys Monday, got to see their hero up-close in the place where memories are made. New York Giants balloons mixed in with red, white and blue balloons along the parade route, Mickey Mouse was joined by other Disney characters and confetti in the shape of the Lombardi Trophy (awarded to the NFL champion) rained down on the happy scene. Manning was joined in the Magic Kingdom by NFL Youth football players.

Manning – who was named the game’s MVP — is no stranger to storybook finishes. Sunday’s late, game-winning drive marked the seventh fourth-quarter comeback Manning led this season. His 15 fourth quarter touchdown passes set an NFL single-season record.

Manning’s “I’m going to Disney World!” — anchoring one of TV’s most enduring and iconic Super Bowl commercials — was captured seconds after the final whistle. Monday’s visit marked his second “What’s Next…?” appearance in the Disney commercial. In 2008, Manning was celebrated following the Giants’ 17-14 upset win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

This latest commercial is the 45th in a series that began in 1987 following Super Bowl XXI. The first “I’m going to Disney World” commercial, featuring New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, was regarded as a groundbreaking concept – a produced national commercial involving a current event, airing on major networks within hours of its conclusion. Manning again joined a lineup of people from sports and beyond who have celebrated milestone accomplishments in “I’m going to Disney World” commercials.

More photos here.

Eli Manning is coming to Disney World. After leading his Giants team to a come-from-behind 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, Manning is keeping the time honored tradition of visiting Orlando the day after the championship game victory.

In the celebratory moments after his team captured the National Football League championship on Sunday night in Indianapolis, Manning stood in front of a TV camera and shouted five words that have become ingrained in Super Bowl victory celebrations: “I’m going to Disney World!”

This afternoon Manning is scheduled to go the Magic Kingdom for a grand parade down Main Street, U.S.A.

This latest “I’m going to Disney World” commercial is the 45th in a series that began in 1987 following Super Bowl XXI.

Combine some of the world’s finest automobiles, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi, and Porsche, with a new track layout designed for drivers to experience awe-inspiring acceleration, speed and handling and you have an “Exotic Driving Experience.” It’s the latest offering at Walt Disney World Speedway and is the opportunity for anyone with a driver’s license to get behind the wheel of one of the world’s fastest “supercars.”

Petty Holdings, best known as owner and operator of Richard Petty Driving Experience, the worldwide leader in the stock car drive and ride business, has applied its expertise in delivering a unique, safe and exciting automotive experience to the Walt Disney World Speedway. The have specifically constructed an interior road course-style section that starts at $199 for six laps around the circuit. Thrill Rides with a professional driver behind the wheel are also available for $99 and the experience opens tomorrow 16 January 2012.

So which car is it to be…. the Ferrari 458 Italia ($389), the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 ($339), Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 ($299), Audi R8 ($269) or the Porsche 997 (S199) ?

Here’s some video…

Following on from Jose de Morias victory in the half marathon, Fredison Costa, pictured above, from Votorantim, Brazil made it a clean sweep for his home nation in today’s 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon as he crossed the finish line 14 seconds ahead of fellow countryman and seven time Disney titleholder, Adriano Bastos of Sao Paulo. Costa recorded a time of 2:19.02 as he successfully defended the Disney marathon title he won last year.

In the women’s section Renee High, pictured above, from Virginia Beach recorded a time of 2:48:35 nearly five minutes ahead of second placed Emily Kroshus of Boston.