Dateline Disney

MARCH 2005

In This Edition:

Disney's Wide World of Sports: Atlanta Braves return to sports complex for 8th season of spring training.

Water Parks: Big splash at Typhoon Lagoon.

Epcot: 'Happiest Celebration on Earth' celebrated in floral displays at 12th annual flower festival.

Downtown Disney: New pub serves up Irish hospitality, food, entertainment and more.

Walt Disney Word Resort: Voted 'favorite vacation spot' award by readers of Southern Accents.

Theme parks: Two favorite quick-service restaurants get exciting new menus.

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Atlanta Braves Spring Training, Feb. 17-March 31

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and the Atlanta Braves are returning to Walt Disney World Resort for their eighth spring training baseball season at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in March.

The reigning National League East champions play a 16-game home schedule at Cracker Jack Stadium from March 2-31 against other top Major League Baseball opponents, including the New York Yankees (March 8), New York Mets (March 6 and 26) and St. Louis Cardinals (March 20 and 21). The Braves' home opener is an exhibition against Georgia Tech on March 2, followed by a match-up against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers on March 4.

Information on spring training season and group tickets and mini-packs is available by calling 407/939-GAME (4263). Fans may also purchase Atlanta Braves Spring Training travel packages through Sports Marketing USA. Travel packages include Braves game tickets, accommodations at Walt Disney World Resort and other benefits. Information is available online at www.sportsmarketingusa.com/braves_dwws.html. Individual tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster, or in person at the Disney's Wide World of Sports box office.

2005 Atlanta Braves Spring Training Home Schedule

Wednesday March 2 - Georgia Tech (exhib.) - 1:05 p.m.
Friday, March 4 - Los Angeles Dodgers - 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 6 - New York Mets - 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 8 - New York Yankees - 1:05 p.m.
Wednesday, March 9 - Houston Astros - 7:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 10 - Pittsburgh Pirates - 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 12 - Detroit Tigers (SS) - 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 15 - Los Angeles Dodgers 1:05 p.m.
Wednesday, March 16 - Washington Nationals - 7:05 p.m.
Friday, March 18 - Cleveland Indians - 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 19 - Philadelphia Phillies (SS) - 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 20 - St. Louis Cardinals - 1:05 p.m.
Monday, March 21 - St. Louis Cardinals - 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 26 - New York Mets - 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 29 - Detroit Tigers - 7:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 31 - Houston Astros - 1:05 p.m.
(SS) - split squad

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Crush 'n' Gusher to Make Splashy Debut at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, March 15

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Flash flooding will take on a whole new meaning for Walt Disney World guests in March as they experience Crush 'n' Gusher, a new white-knuckle "water coaster" thrill ride like never before at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon.

While riding Crush 'n' Gusher, guests will be whisked along a series of flumes and spillways that weave through what appears to be a rusted-out tropical fruit facility. It's another chapter of the Typhoon Lagoon legend.

As guests slip and slide through torrents of gushing water, gravity defying conditions caused by the recent typhoons create crushing bursts that propel guests up and down through cavernous twists and turns, weaving in and out of treacherous wreckage and debris that once transported tropical fruit through the plant's wash facilities.

Walt Disney World guests will have three different fruit spillways to choose from -- Banana Blaster, Coconut Crusher and Pineapple Plunger. The spillways range between 410 to 420 feet in length and feature varying degrees of slopes and turns.

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12th Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
Joins in 'Happiest Celebration on Earth'

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- From April 15 to June 5, Epcot will bloom with bouquets of custom displays themed to the "Happiest Celebration on Earth," Disney's global jubilee marking 50 years of Disney theme parks. Roses, daisies, carnations, chrysanthemums and thousands of other varieties of flowers and trees at the 12th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will add living color to the largest celebration in Disney theme park history.

New this year, guests can experience hundreds of free-flying butterflies as they venture through the Butterfly House -- a unique habitat showcasing several species of butterflies and lush foliage.

Throughout the park, guests can attend gardening seminars and demonstrations, smell the flowers along the Rose Walk where more than 40 varieties bloom, admire an array of intricate topiaries and participate in a daily ladybug release. They also can walk among colorful displays that include an all-new Farmer Mickey's Maze in Future World, The Ultimate Backyard Garden and a Fragrance Garden.

Flower Power concerts return to America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase with nightly musical entertainment from top acts of the 1960s and '70s, including The Turtles, Davy Jones and Paul Revere.

As part of the festival's themed weekend lineup, guests can watch artists paint the gardens during Art in the Garden weekend, learn some of the magic behind Disney photography during Photography weekend, and treat mom to brunch during Mother's Day weekend.

Epcot guests can make plans for visits to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by The Home Depot by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com. The festival is included in regular Epcot admission.

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Irish Eyes Will Be Smiling at Downtown Disney
With Opening of Authentic Irish Pub

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Irish hospitality and a bit o' blarney will be coming to Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort in the form of an authentic Irish pub and restaurant. Scheduled to open in summer 2005, the pub (yet to be named) will feature the very best of Irish food, flair, heritage and entertainment. When the pub opens, Irish and Irish-at-heart guests alike can celebrate St. Patrick's Day year-round with a full range of genuine Irish beers, whiskies and food -- direct from Dublin.

Traditional and contemporary Irish music, storytelling and dance will help create a lively ambience, bringing Emerald Isle charm to Downtown Disney.

The restaurant's gastronomic delights will be the work of Chef Kevin Dundon, one of Ireland's best-known chefs. He will introduce a menu that blends traditional Irish fare and fresh ingredients with a modern flair. Chef Dundon's credits include cooking for celebrities and heads of state, overseeing deluxe international hotel cuisine, opening a premiere hotel and restaurant, and appearing in his own television series.

The Pleasure Island pub will be owned and operated by Great Irish Pubs Florida, Inc., the Irish-owned company that previously created Nine Fine Irishmen at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The Irish pub will occupy the building that formerly housed The Jazz Company. Pleasure Island club admission will not be required for entrance to the pub.

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Southern Accents Bestows Great Escape Travel Award
On Walt Disney World Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Readers of Southern Accents magazine have voted Walt Disney World Resort their favorite vacation spot in the magazine's first-ever Great Escapes Travel Award competition. The results of the voting, in which more than 15,000 readers participated, were revealed in the March-April issue of the bi-monthly magazine published by Southern Progress Corporation, which also publishes Southern Living magazine.

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Menu Makeovers at Two Walt Disney World Restaurants

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Two Walt Disney World quick-service restaurants are introducing all-new menus: Tomorrowland Terrace in Magic Kingdom and Studio Catering Company at Disney-MGM Studios.

Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station features Asian-inspired creations like a chicken or shrimp noodle bowl and a vegetarian noodle bowl. A pork steamed bun with Asian slaw is offered, as well as stir fry, fried egg rolls and pot stickers. Salads include mandarin orange and cashew chicken. And for dessert, a ginger-infused creme brulee is the specialty.

Studio Catering Company now serves flatbread sandwiches including cumin-spiced lamb kefta with baba ghanoush and harissa sauce, tandoori chicken with tomato and cucumber raita, and a steak "gyro"-style sandwich with roasted red pepper hummus and tomato and onion relish. For kids, a grilled chicken wrap with lettuce and cream cheese, or a chilled smoked ham wrap are offered. Dessert includes seasonal fruit tarts, lemon curd in a meringue shell, and panna cotta with strawberries.