Disney World Events for Fall 2011

Disney’s Night of Joy
September 9-10, 2011
www.nightofjoy.com

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Select Evenings Between September 13 & November 1, 2011
www.disneyworld.com/halloween

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
September 30 – November 13, 2011
www.disneyworld.com/foodandwine

Children’s Miracle Network Classic
October 20-23, 2011
www.childrensmiraclenetworkclassic.com

Festival of the Masters
November 11-13, 2011
www.disneyworld.com/artfestival

Old Spice Classic
November 24, 25 & 27, 2011
www.oldspiceclassic.com

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Select Evenings Between November 8 & December 18, 2011
www.disneyworld.com/holidays

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Epcot “Sounds Like Summer” Concert Schedule

The “Sounds Like Summer” concert series returns to Epcot featuring tribute bands that will bring back the sounds of decades of summers gone by. Opening with Hotel California – a Salute to the Eagles, June’s lineup of bands will also “play” tribute to the timeless tunes of the Bee Gees and Bon Jovi. Sounds like Summer concerts are under the skies of the open-air America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase at Epcot. Show times are 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. Here’s the summer lineup (subject to change without notice):

o   June 12 – June 18: Hotel California — A Salute to the Eagles

o   June 19 – June 25: Stayin’ Alive — A Tribute to the Bee Gees

o   June 26 – July 2: Slippery When Wet — The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute

o   July 3 – July 9: Little Queen — The Music of Heart

o   July 10 – July 16: Frontiers — A Tribute to Journey

o   July 17 – July 23: Karin Lawson — A Tribute to Janet Jackson

o   July 24 – July 30: 2U — A Tribute to U2

*Summer concerts are included with Epcot admission*

For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com.

Orlando Spring Festival Guide for 2011

In addition to world-class theme parks such as Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando, the Orlando area offers a variety of festivals, events and fairs in 2011 that are sure to please visitors and residents alike. On most weekends throughout 2011, but especially during spring, you’ll discover lively festivals and events going on somewhere in Orlando.

Many of Orlando’s most popular spring festivals and events are hosted by area theme parks and the 2010 lineup includes Mardi Gras at Universal Studios, the largest Mardi Gras celebration outside of New Orleans, runs Saturdays and select nights between February 12 and April 23, 2011; and the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, which features world-class flower and horticultural displays, from March 2 through May 15, 2011.

In most cases, these special events at Disney World and Universal Orlando during 2011 are included in the cost of the base ticket, providing an added benefit to your theme park excursion. And spring is a great time to visit Orlando since the weather is perfect and you can get a jump on the summer crowds.

Outside of the theme parks, major spring festivals and events in the Orlando area include the Arnold Palmer Invitational (formerly known as the Bay Hill Invitational), which draws top professional golfers on the PGA Tour, from March 21-27, 2011; the 11-day Central Florida Fair, which features carnival rides, live music, regional arts and crafts, food, livestock shows and amazing interactive exhibits from February 24 – March 6, 2011; and the Central Florida Home & Garden Show, the region’s largest consumer home and garden showcase, from April 15-17, 2011.

Art and culture lovers will enjoy such Orlando festivals as the 20th-annual Florida Film Festival, April 8-17, 2011; Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, one of the country’s most prestigious outdoor art festivals, from March 18-20, 2011; and Spring Fiesta in the Park, which displays the talents of more than 200 artists and craftspeople from all over the country, in early April 2010.

Good sources for more information on upcoming Orlando festivals and events include the “Orlando Seasonal Events” section of the Orlando, Florida Guide, as well as the Friday entertainment sections of the Orlando Sentinel and the Orlando Weekly, a weekly arts and entertainment publication. In addition, check out Orlando’s online calendar at www.orlandoinfo.com, the official website of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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Epcot to Host Flower & Garden Festival

With world-class flower and horticultural displays, specially themed weekends and the Flower Power concert series, the 2011 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival promises to be bigger and better than ever! The 18th-annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival offers something for everyone and is included in Epcot’s regular admission price. And spring is a great time to visit Orlando since the weather is ideal and you don’t have to cope with the summer crowds.

Enjoy endless displays of colorful roses, wildflowers and topiary displays of your favorite Disney characters, as well as gardening seminars, workshops and demonstrations at this immensely popular annual Walt Disney World® Resort festival, which will run from March 2 through May 15, 2011.

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Candlelight Processional to Return to Epcot

The Candlelight Processional will return to Epcot November 26 through December 30, 2010. Joined by a mass choir and 50-piece live orchestra, this immensely popular holiday tradition will take place at America Gardens Theatre nightly at 5 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:15 PM.

Below are scheduled celebrity narrators (subject to change without notice):

November 26-28, 2010 – Isabella Rossellini
November 29 – December 1, 2010 – TBA
December 2-4, 2010 – Corbin Bernsen
December 5-6, 2010 – Susan Lucci
December 7-9, 2010 – Jodi Benson
December 10-11, 2010 – Whoopi Goldberg
December 12-15, 2010 – Steven Curtis Chapman
December 16-18, 2010 – Thomas Gibson
December 19-21, 2010 – Trace Adkins
December 22-23, 2010 – Brad Garrett
December 24-27, 2010 – Edward James Olmos
December 28-30, 2010 – Marlee Matlin/Jack Jason

Note: Performances are included with Epcot admission, and guests are advised to arrive early.

For more information about the Epcot Candlelight Processional, visit www.disneyworld.com/holidays.

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Epcot Thrill Rides

Epcot is home to several not-to-be-missed thrill rides such as Mission: SPACE, which opened in 2003 and takes you on a simulated space flight to Mars (complete with motion sickness bags) at the “ International Space Training Center.” Each member of the four-person crew is assigned a specific role – pilot, commander, navigator and engineer. Adjacent to Mission: SPACE lies Test Track, a six-passenger vehicle that cruises onto 50-degree banked curves at speeds up to 65 miles per hour. You must be at least 44 inches tall to ride Mission: SPACE and 40 inches tall to ride Test Track. At Soarin’, state-of-the-art technology allows you to take a bird’s eye view of California’s spectacular scenery, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Redwood forest, Yosemite National Park, Napa Valley, Disneyland and much more.

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