WDWNT’s newest staff member, Anthony Yacullo, has just returned from his latest trip to the Walt Disney World Resort and has a number of photos from around the world to share with us:
Construction of Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration continues in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom.
The control booth is coming along nicely as well.
Our good friend Robert Ashburn of Figmentsmedia.net has provided us with photos from his trip to the Walt Disney World Resort on Friday. Let’s take a look at some of his pictures:
Robert began the day at Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park
The latest edition of the Mickey Monitor annual passholder publication is now available for viewing and offers a number of newsworthy announcements on some upcoming Walt Disney World attractions and special events. Here are some highlights:
-Passholders are being informed that Space Mountain will be closed for a “Space-Lift” beginning in April 2009. The article confirms that the track layout and the exterior look of the Mountain will not be touched during the refurbishment. While no reopening date is given, an opportunity to own a piece of the classic Magic Kingdom attraction is. For all the details on how to win a piece of Space Mountain, consult the Mickey Monitor and WDW Annual Passholder website.
-The article with top billing in this issue has a lot of information on the 2009 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, including a complete list of performers for the Flower Power concert series.
-Another article has more details on the upcoming “Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party”. The parade/show will feature contemporary Radio Disney music, as well as some classic Disney tunes as characters emerge from large party boxes around the hub to party with guests in front of Cinderella Castle. The parade/show will perform multiple times daily at the Magic Kingdom beginning February 12th.
-Star Wars Weekends 2009 will be held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between May 22 and June 14, 2009.
More information on all of these special events and attractions, plus much more, can be found in this month’s issue of the Mickey Monitor which can be found HERE.
Here is an article from the Disney Insider on the 2008 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival beginning tomorrow:
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to enter a lush garden aflutter with hundreds of butterfly wings? Or how about escaping into a serene water garden? These are just some of the adventures awaiting Guests at the Epcot International Annual Flower and Garden Festival. Celebrating its fifteenth year, the flourish-filled fest has extended its run to 75 days, from March 19 to June 1, offering a magical journey into the world of gardening. Guests are greeted by a 14-foot topiary of Goofy riding the waves at the Epcot’s front gate while Mickey and Minnie relax beachside in a nod to this year’s theme, “Fun in the Sun.” More Disney Characters will be blooming than ever before, along with specialty gardens geared toward food lovers, English tea aficionados, and even those with not-so-green thumbs.
The festival’s most popular event is Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden, where Guests can surround themselves with 500 American butterflies in a 1,400-square-foot enclosed house. With a little patience, you can observe an amazing metamorphosis as the chrysalis opens and a butterfly emerges, gently pumping newborn wings for its first attempt at flight. But there’s more to observe here than just the obvious beauty. Eric Darden, Horticulture Manager for Epcot and the Food and Garden Festival, explains that, “Telling the story of our native butterflies informs our Guests while promoting butterfly-friendly gardening.”
In addition, the festival features numerous activities that focus on green issues. Xeriscapes, a brand-new exhibit, provides an eco-conscious choice for the horticulturally challenged. Taking the country’s recent droughts into account, Eric states, “we are asking Guests to consider the environmental impact when they go home.” This easy-to-care-for garden is packed with plants requiring minimal water aside from natural precipitation, illustrating a worry-free option for the water conscious.
Advanced gardeners looking to unearth some new tips and tricks will enjoy the ongoing lecture series featuring the man in red suspenders himself, Roger Swain, longtime host of PBS’s “The Victory Garden,” along with many of the country’s top horticulturalists. Although Disney might be the “House of Mouse,” 2008’s Year of the Rat is the perfect time to explore the Chinese zodiac at the festival’s Topiary Chinese Zodiac Garden.
There’s plenty to do with little ones in tow. Every year the festival adds more activities the entire family can enjoy. For boys who don’t want to grow up, Peter Pan’s Never Land Garden is a great place to explore, with Captain Hook and Peter Pan topiaries whisking them away to a make-believe world. Proving fun is for kids of all ages, the Flower Power Concert Series, features stars like Davy Jones, the Nelsons, and other memorable acts from decades past. Annual Passholders can unwind from the afternoon grind and get grooving to some of their favorite artists. Whether your thumb’s ever-green or you’re a gardening washout, Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival offers blooms, tunes, and something truly spectacular for every member of the family.
For a look at some of the displays that have already popped up at Epcot for the 2008 International Flower and Garden Festival, head on over to Mousesteps.com to see pictures taken by our good friend Denise. To see the complete pictorial update, go HERE.
