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2013 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival – Book a Tour!

Published February 2, 2013 by Disneyways.com

March 6 – May 19, 2013 is the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival where you can celebrate the great outdoors!


Every weekend during this special time you can catch a Festival tradition, the Flower Power Concert Series. Head over to the Festival Center, where you can experience a demonstration led by HGTV personalities or get tips from Epcot gardening experts. Be sure to visit Festival Center located in Innoventions East for all the details!

festival center

Don’t want to look at a map? Let someone else be your guide!

The Gardens of the World Tour is only offered on select days during Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival

Everywhere you look at the Walt Disney World Resort, the trees, shrubs and flowers play a vital role in setting the stage for recreation, entertainment and beauty.  Disney landscaping has become a recognized show in itself, providing color and enjoyment throughout the year.  Did you know that only during the Flower and Garden Festival – you can book a tour of all this beauty?

The Gardens of the World Tour gives participants the chance to study the various gardens of Epcot with one of the experts responsible for helping maintaining it all.

Your “horticultural instructor” will turn Epcot into a living classroom. Discover how seeds are planted and design ideas take root to produce extraordinary botanical backdrops, imaginative themed areas and topiaries of some of your favorite Disney characters. Your guide will describe the basic process of plant design and how it is incorporated in the landscape for the World Showcase pavilions.  Find will even find out how you can design and theme your own home gardens.

Here’s more about what will happen on the tour.

You will:

  • Study the five principles of the Disney horticulture program.
  • Examine the role of landscaping at the Walt Disney World Resort.
  • Discuss ways to adapt the Disney landscaping techniques at home.
  • Discover how landscaping helps develop a theme.
  • Explore plant materials and gardening techniques in World Showcase.

The beauty of each country’s traditional landscaping makes this tour an extraordinary introduction to the World Showcase nations!

Prices are subject to change, but this year you can take the tour for $63.90 including tax. That price also includes a pin and a poster for you to take home.

Book online or call (407) WDW-TOUR or (407) 939-8687 for exact schedule.

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Know Before You Go (Here’s the fine print.)

  • Guests are not allowed to carry backpacks, camera bags, duffle bags or large bags during the tour. Fanny packs and purses are allowed. Lockers are available for bags for a nominal fee (not included in price of tour).
  • For safety reasons, closed-toe and closed-heel shoes, such as sneakers, are required for this experience. No sandals, open-toe or open-heel shoes will be permitted. Guests should wear comfortable shoes as there will be periods of walking and standing.
  • Tour itinerary, content, duration and availability are subject to change without notice.
  • Guests must be 16 years of age or older and have a valid photo ID.
  • Please check in outside the Epcot Main Entrance 15 minutes prior to the start of your experience. You will forfeit the entire price of your tour if you no-show or cancel within 2 days of your reservation.

Please let us know if you will be taking this very special tour!

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Epcot’s World of Motion – A Photo Tour

Published January 25, 2013 by Disneyways.com

World of Motion  (1982-1996), presented by General Motors, was a road trip through the evolution of transportation. It opened in October 1982 with the rest of EPCOT Center and closed in January 1996 to make way for Test Track. All photo credits belong to LostEpcot.com

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Transcenter was the post ride area with many exhibits. It was Located on the lower level of the pavilion – the second hemisphere. Photos from LostEpcot.com

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Getting Schooled on Epcot’s Norwegian School Bread (Skolebrød)

Published January 19, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Talk to any person who loves Epcot food long enough – and you might hear them mention School Bread. It has become a favorite of many Disney fans, almost as famous as some other portable snacks such as the turkey leg, or maybe even the Dole Whip. You can find the Disney World version of this baked good inside the Norway Pavilion at Epcot, or the Kringla Bakeri og Kafe to be exact. Here is what it will look like:

Epcot’s version of School Bread. Photo source: melsquietthoughts.com

I mentioned School Bread on facebook and really sparked some questions. That is what inspired this post today. Not ever having eaten School Bread myself, I wondered, what is it really, and why is it such a big deal to those of us who love Disney? To give you an idea of how popular it is – Amanda of MigotoChou (her store on etsy) has sold out of her “School Bread Scented Polymer Clay Epcot Walt Disney World Snack Miniature.” I just think these little things are adorable, so I had to include a picture of them too. Check it out!

Photo source: etsy.com/shop/MigotoChou

To find out more about the real, edible school bread, I did a little research.

Moose and L-Jay from MyLittleNorway.com are a fantastic source for all things Norwegian. According to the couple – School Bread (Skolebrødis) all about the “bread” which they don’t really even consider bread, but more like a bun. Before we go any further I should explain that “Skole” means school. Why do they use the word school to describe this treat? Well, because it is filled with rich vanilla cream or vanilla pudding, Norwegian School Bread is a special treat to include in your children’s lunches or to prepare for a special school gathering. Bolle is the word to describe one bun and Boller refers to two or more. For whatever reason – it seems we are all calling them school bread or “skolebrød”- when actually they are more of a School BUN – or a “skoleboller”.

When I contacted Moose and L-Jay through facebook and asked why I couldn’t find Skolebrød in my search of their site they told me this:

“They are also known as skoleboller (as they are typically made from boller dough not bread as such.)”

So if you search skoleboller on their site – what you see if the actual food that has inspired Epcot’s famous school bread. My next question – what is boller dough and how is it different then bread?

To quote mylittlenorway.com: “To me, a bolle just seems like a hot-cross bun without the hot-cross and eaten everyday rather than just Easter. But to a Norwegian the bolle is a way of life.”

Skoleboller (school buns) are boller with a custard center and an iced coconut topping. They are VERY common in Norway. Every supermarket stocks a fresh batch in the bakery section. When a Norwegian has a choice between plain boller and skoleboller, the latter always wins. No wonder they made their way to the Norway Pavilion in Epcot.

To find out more about Epcot’s version of School Bread I went to the Disney Food Blog. They are quoted as saying this little slice of heaven is absolutely delicious. It is stuffed with vanilla custard, surrounded by a light sweet pastry, and sprinkled with coconut. They described it as magnificent and adding to the delight is the fact that the custard is chilled, making School Bread the perfect compliment to a hot Epcot afternoon. Believe it or not, according to DFB, School Bread actually isn’t too sweet! Which is possibly why so many people love it. Regarding taste and texture, the bread is a cross between a cinnamon roll and a dinner roll. It’s not super moist — more springy. But the sweet vanilla custard is extremely smooth and abundant. They go on to say the basic icing and coconut on top give it just enough extra sweetness.

Have you tried School Bread? What did you think of it?

After Dapper Drink Location Added & the PIN (Part 4 of our Dapper Day Series!)

Published January 15, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Part One – Dapper Day history 

Part Two – What to wear ideas and video from last year.

Part Three – Suggested events and meet-ups

Another location has been added for “After Dapper Drinks” in Walt Disney World. The tiki-themed Tambu Lounge in Disney’s Polynesian Resort (main building, Monorail level) AND at Mizner’s Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian. Mizner’s Lounge is a great place to enjoy live jazz standards by the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra. You will find the lounge upstairs behind the bandstand. The band is scheduled to play until 9:40pm. Just like with all Disney performances and shows, times are always subject to change.

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In other news – Disneyland made a pin for the event! I have a feeling this took the organizers by complete surprise. Disneyland should probably correct some words in the description. It’s “Dapper Day” not “Days,” and it’s the 3rd Spring event not the 2nd – but hey – it’s nice that they noticed!

PIN

Please click here for Disney’s information on how to order one for yourself.

Dapper Day organizers revealed that they will have their OWN buttons available for the public commemorating this special night. Distribution details on these are still to come. Personally, I think I would rather have one of those!

You can find more details on every thing Dapper Day at the official site DapperDay.com

Dapper Day events are independently organized social gatherings neither operated by nor associated with The Walt Disney Company.

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Food and Wine Festival 2013 Dates Announced

Published January 15, 2013 by Disneyways.com

2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

The 2013 Epcot Food and Wine Festival will take place from September 27 – November 10, 2013, in Epcot, Walt Disney World. 

Just like in previous years, we can look forward to fantastic special events, culinary and beverage demonstrations, celebrity chefs, and, of course, World Showcase Marketplace tasting booths.

Photo ©DisneyFoodBlog.com

Remember Disney always reserves the right to change dates at any time.

Click here to read our blog from last year about how to save time and money at the festival.

Click here to read a review of the 3D Dessert Discovery Party and a few more fun facts about Food and Wine.

 

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Important New Dapper Day Information Released (Part 3 in our Dapper Day series!)

Published January 10, 2013 by Disneyways.com

Dapper Day Promo

Photo Credit: DapperDay.com

This is part 3 in our series about Dapper Day in Walt Disney World.

Please click here to read more about Dapper Day, it’s history and purpose.

Please click here to read more about what to wear and to see video from last year’s event at Disneyland.

The official Dapper Day site has been updated with some more details, so I wanted to share those with you today. This information is in reference to the Dapper Day event taking place at Walt Disney World. Just as a reminder “Dapper Day” events are independently organized social gatherings neither operated by nor associated with The Walt Disney Company. I am not involved in any of the planning and I do not know the organizer personally. I am just hoping to serve my friends, (that’s you!) the Disneyways.com readers, by sharing the new information.

Join the fashionable crowd SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24, for DAPPER DAY Spring 2013, and the 3rd annual spring outing at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

3pm THE LIBERTY BELLE BON VOYAGE – Meet at the boat landing in Liberty Square and we’ll all board the first departure at 3pm or after for an elegant trip (or two) around The Rivers of America on this original attraction from 1971.

4-5pm ISLAND ESCAPADES – Explore jewel filled caverns, frontier forts, and other prime photo-op locations on Tom Sawyer Island. (Board the rafts near the Big Thunder Mountain. Island closes at dusk.)

7pm THE DAPPER DERBY – Meet at Prince Charming’s Regal Carousel for a most elegant group ride!

8pm-Midnight AFTER DAPPER DRINKS at the tiki-themed Tambu Lounge in the Polynesian Resort, main building, Monorail level.

Dapper Day organizers stress that event hours and schedules are merely suggestions and they highly encourage you and your party to enjoy the park at your leisure.

The Magic Kingdom will close at 8pm, (10p Extra Magic Hours for resort guests). Fireworks at 8pm (Disney park hours and schedules may change.)

Another note about dress – Dapper Day events celebrate the tradition of stepping out in style. Any elegant fashions, from vintage-inspired looks to the latest haute couture, are encouraged. Active and retired service members, please consider wearing your dress blues or service uniform to Dapper Day!

Please click HERE to visit the official website for Dapper Day.

How to Make Your Own Character Autograph Books

Published January 9, 2013 by Disneyways.com
Photo credit Heidi and Mouskejournals.com

Photo credit Heidi and Mouskejournals.com

My son is all grown up now so I don’t think he would have a problem with me telling you his secret. He was TERRIFIED of any sort of character. Disney or otherwise. Just to make it even though- here is a deep dark secret of mine. Who’s got two thumbs and makes some of the ugliest crafts you’ve ever seen? This girl. I failed cutting in kindergarten and things haven’t really gotten any better since then.

I know there are many families out there who do not suffer the same misfortune – and this post is for you! Straight from Heidi – one of my new friends over at Mouskejournals.com, here are some great ideas for making your very own autograph books for you or a loved one’s favorite Disney characters to sign.

If you end up with an extra book- will you send it to me? Mine is probably going to come out looking more like one of those snowflakes we used to have to cut out of paper in kindergarten.

CLICK HERE FOR DO-IT-YOURSELF AUTOGRAPH KEEPSAKE IDEAS!

Dapper Day 2013 – What to wear, and What is it really like? (Part 2 in our Dapper Day Series!)

Published January 8, 2013 by Disneyways.com

dapper

Recently we shared preliminary details about Dapper Day coming to Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

As promised, today we want to share  some videos from last year, and some ideas on what to wear. DapperDay.com has a beautiful inspiration wall full of  attire, hair style, and makeup ideas. Check out this Pinterest board from my friend Sarah Norris for even more great ideas.

Sarah Katz-Scher has a public album of photos from last year that you can check out here.

ThisFloridaLife.com posted an awesome blog about her feelings before the event, and some great photos of her adventures from the day of. I loved seeing photos and reading her take on the Walt Disney World version of the event.

Check out this video we made from a previous Dapper Day at Walt Disney World!

You will notice there are people of all ages attending. It’s not just for the young – but also the young-at-heart!

My Disney Experience App for Android

Published January 4, 2013 by Disneyways.com

My Disney Experience

The new official Walt Disney World app My Disney Experience is now available on Android smartphones for download from Google Play.  Amazon Android Marketplace downloads are also available.

The app has been available for iPhone and iPad since early August 2012.

My Disney Experience – Walt Disney World can help you plan your visit, find your way around the park and maximize the magic while enjoying all that Walt Disney World has to offer!

What can you do with it?

You can check out brand new Walt Disney World maps, official attraction wait times provided for you by Disney, look up FASTPASS® return times, book dining reservations, get details about nearby characters, attractions, entertainment, park hours and schedules, and more!

• New Here & Now feature, which instantly shows attractions and events closest to your current location
• Explore Walt Disney World attractions, including descriptions, images, and height requirements

• Locate nearest restrooms, baby care centers, concierge, and other Guest Services
• Browse dining options including Table Service and Quick Service restaurant locations

• Check availability and sign in to make dining reservations and
• Sign in to manage your personal profile

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How to Pack for Your Trip to Walt Disney World

Published January 3, 2013 by Disneyways.com

This is a guest post by Samantha Jolicoeur that contains her suggested packing list for your next trip to Disney World. Please see below for Samantha’s bio and a link to join her facebook group. Please contact Krista at Disneyways if you are interested in guest blogging.

How to Pack for Your Trip to Walt Disney World by Samantha:

If you are new to Walt Disney World, you may be wondering;

Mickey list

“What do I need to pack for Walt Disney World?”

I’m not generally an over-packer but I do like to cover all my bases when it comes to visiting the World!

Floridian weather can be unpredictable and we can get sick at the drop of a hat, but why spend your dole whip money on WDW’s overpriced cold meds or ponchos? This checklist is something I have been using and checking twice, each and every time I visit the happiest place on Earth!

– Clothes – socks, underwear, pajamas, shorts, capris, tanks, t-shirts, one hoodie/light jacket (depending on season), one pair of jeans (again…depending on season)

NOTE: You will want to pack for your length of stay. Remember, resorts on WDW property have laundry services. Doing laundry while on vacay not for you? Throw it in while you sit by the pool!

– Bathing suits
– Shoes – flip flops and runners
– Shampoo and conditioner (those little ones aren’t enough from Disney, but I still hoard them)
– Toothbrush and toothpaste
– Hairbrush, straightener and hair products. (Hairdryers are in each WDW resort room)
– Makeup (keep it basic: liner, mascara, shadow)
– Meds: Allergy pills, cold and cough pills, aspirin (just in case), any prescriptions.
– Hair clips, elastics
– Razors
– Deodorant
– Confirmations – ADRs, Park hours and EMH lists.

(I am crazy about this, I have a WDW travel book that I write up)

– Lanyards (I like to wear it to hold my Key to the World/Park ticket)
– Laptop and charger
– Camera and battery charger
– Passports, money and traveller’s cheques, ID (I seperate my “tip” money from souvenir cash)
– Watch
– Dollar store ponchos (yet to use them *knocks on wood* – bringing your own saves you money!)
– Hats
– Sunscreen!
– Sunglasses
– Aloe vera, polysporin, etc.
– Ziploc bags (keep thing dry on wet rides, etc)
– Collapsible Cooler
– Stroller (if needed)
– Backpack/fanny pack/beach bag.

Other Ideas:
– Walkie talkies for the parks
– Mist fans
– Decorations for your hotel room window
– In-room snacks
– Cell phone and charger

To me, this is a very basic list of what you need to bring with you. Some people bring their own autograph books, pens, towels … but that is up to you! I look at it this way, if you are flying to WDW, you’ll want more room (and spending money) for your souvenirs. When I make my list, I write it out and leave a little check box beside each item, and it doesn’t get checked off until it is actually packed. I wouldn’t want to leave anything important behind!

Your trip to Disney will be magical though, whether or not you forget your favorite t-shirt, but hopefully, with this list you won’t!

SAMANTHA

About Samantha:

My name is Samantha and I am a Disney-aholic! It’s true. I’ve always loved all things Disney, but didn’t make my first trip until I was 21 years old. It only took that one day at Magic Kingdom to get me hooked. I don’t get to go as often as I’d like, but I have made it my own personal hobby to research Walt Disney World as much as possible and I enjoy lending some of my advice to others. I have a husband and a beautiful son, both who love Disney (maybe not QUITE as much as myself). I’d rather be a pirate than a princess, although being a princess wouldn’t be too bad either! Please, feel free to come join my happy, laughin’ place on Facebook “Disney Dreamers“- we discuss all things Disney, do trivia and giveaways, and most importantly, make new friends who share the same passion for Disney!
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for me!

~Samantha Jolicoeur

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