As if Walt Disney World & Epcot Center weren’t cool enough to visit on their own, they also have fun events and festivals that happen yearly. This is a great way to re-experience Disney as an adult, or to see Disney in a different way if you are a frequent Disney-goer. The following events happen yearly, and provide an extra special reason to check out an already magical place.
The 18th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is happening from March 2nd to May 15th, 2011, and is a true delight for gardeners, Disney fans, and people who appreciate taking time to stop and smell the roses. This experience is full of over 100 topiaries, ornate patterned gardens, live music, gardening tips from HGTV personalities, a sustainable garden with info on how to make one at home, and an English Tea Garden tour, just to name a few of the draws of visiting during this time. You can even get a special 3-hour tour by a Disney Horticulturist (for an additional cost) to learn about the award-winning gardens, and what it takes to set up the whole festival!
This year brings about a new cast of characters for the topiary gardens, which varies from year to year based on what’s new. Get ready to travel “To infinity and beyond!” with the cast of Toy Story 3 in topiary form, as well as a representation of the Hundred Acre Wood where you will be able to check out Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too! A “Cars 2″ garden rounds out the new additions this year and will be a real treat for fans.
Also, look out for some of the classic attractions during the festival, like the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden where you can meet and greet with Tinkerbell and her friends, a bonsai garden, Rapunzel’s Tower, and Bambi’s Butterfly House, a popular butterfly garden that is now twice the size of previous years. Other topiaries that make a yearly appearance include Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, Stitch, Peter Pan, Disney Couples, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. Every year there is live music and this year’s theme is Flower Power, focusing on music from the 60’s- 80’s.
Can’t make it this year? No problem! They already have the schedule up for next year’s festival which will run from March 7th to May 20th 2012.
Looking for some holiday fun? Check out Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom theme park! On select nights from September through October, park goers are encouraged to dress up in costume, trick-or-treat through the park, and enjoy the fun of the holiday with special effects that transform the park into “happy haunted hollows”. From Mickey’s “Boo-to-you” Halloween parade to “Happy HalloWishes” (a Disney villain’s fireworks show), to seeing all of your favorite characters in special costumes, this will be a Halloween that you and your tykes will never forget.
Another exciting event is one specifically aimed at adults, the 14th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. From September 30, 211 – November 13, 2011 Epcot becomes a haven for foodies, wine enthusiasts, chefs, and culinary folk from all over the world. The World Showcase Promenade becomes a magical throughway of tantalizing aromas, unique culinary demonstrations, talks from renowned winemakers, seminars on food, and samplings of a myriad of different gourmet delicacies.
With the Festival Welcome Center as the hub of the event, it will be your home base to figure out where you want to go with your day. Maybe you want to enjoy the Eat to the Beat concert series? Or stop by the Wonder Bar for a celebrity book signing with chefs and authors. Another option is to explore the 25 international marketplace kiosks that feature tapas portions, so that you really can have a bite of the world.
Finally, to round out the fun of Disney Festivals, is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom. Every winter this very special happening occurs with Mickey’s “Once Upon a Christmastime” parade, exciting live entertainment, and fireworks! They set the mood by turning on the Enchanted Castle Dream Lights on Cinderella’s Castle (which truly is a sight to behold), having Santa Claus fly in on his magic sleigh, giving out complimentary cookies and cocoa, having barbershop quartet style carolers, and best of all, creating a “magical snow fall on Main Street, U.S.A.”.
Ready to go to Orlando now to visit some of the coolest events Disney has to offer? I know I am! Boscov’s Travel offers a number of direct chartered flights from Reading, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Avoca), Harrisburg, and Lancaster nonstop to Orlando. Our prices have no hidden fees, bags fly free, we offer pre-assigned seats at no charge, and complimentary snacks on the plane. If you want to plan a trip to Disney World, be sure to check out our Disney/Orlando Charters, or click here to find a Travel Specialist near you!
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