Dateline Disney March/April 2008

-- Disney's Hollywood Studios: Fifth edition of ESPN The Weekend welcomes sports celebrities to Walt Disney World Resort; Funtastic "Block Party Bash" brings high-energy fun.
-- Disney's Wide World of Sports: Dodgers' "farewell Florida tour" to stop at Walt Disney World.
-- Epcot: Flower & Garden Festival to bloom longer than ever, including more Flower Power music.
-- Magic Kingdom: Ten more nights of Pirate & Princess Party merriment coming in March-April.
-- Downtown Disney: More than a weekend's worth of St. Patrick's Day fun is in store.

15th Flower & Garden Festival Puts Extra Special Bloom on Epcot for Record 75 Days Beginning March 19

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Goofy catches a topiary wave while Mickey Mouse and gal pal Minnie chill at the "beach" for the 15th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 19-June 1 at Walt Disney World Resort. Featuring the theme "Fun in the Sun," the popular event has sprouted runners and expanded to a record 75 days, with a first-ever March launch offering oceans of floral fantasy and gardening fun for spring break visitors to the Vacation Kingdom.

As guests enter the park near Spaceship Earth, they'll spot a 14-foot Goofy topiary riding a 6-foot wave of flowers and plants. Sandcastles and palm trees surround Mickey and Minnie topiaries posed on a floral beach towel spread upon a sandy "beach." At World Showcase Plaza, Disney topiary specialists have crafted a volleyball beach scene starring Donald Duck and Daisy. Nearby, a topiary Pluto frolics while colorful Stitch from "Lilo and Stitch" keeps watch from a lifeguard stand.

New festival fun includes:
-- Peter Pan's Neverland Garden, a children's area along the Imagination Walkway from Future World to World Showcase featuring a pirate ship-themed garden with whimsical topiaries of Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Tinker Bell and Tic Toc Croc plus a shaded play structure.
-- Sweeping Future World flower beds, planted on the shores of East and West Lakes, in the shape of nautical flags representing letters (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc.) that spell a message to be decoded by guests.>
-- The zany Three Caballeros -- Donald Duck, parrot Jose Carioca and Panchito, the Mexican charro rooster --as topiaries celebrating their new Epcot show, "Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros" in the Mexico pavilion.

In all, up to 70 topiaries plus 30 million blooms, artfully designed floral beds, expertly crafted bonsai trees and lush rose gardens grace the 300 acres of Future World and World Showcase. According to Disney horticultural manager Eric Darden, Disney's horticultural team plants two crop rotations during the fest to allow for a more brilliant floral display for the festival's duration.

Beyond the dazzling displays of blooms, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is known by gardening aficionados for its celebrity guest speakers, hands-on seminars and innovative planting demonstrations and exhibits such as a new Florida-style Key to Outdoor Living garden display. Roger Swain of PBS's "The Victory Garden" and "green" gardening expert Joe Lamp'l (a.k.a. joe gardener) lead the lineup of nationally known gardening gurus slated to meet and share tips with guests.

Each evening, Flower Power concerts rock the park with live entertainment from top acts of the 1960s and '70s. Acts include The Guess Who, Davy Jones, Jose Feliciano, Petula Clark, Paul Revere and the Raiders and 17 other crowd-pleasers.

More information about the 15th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com/flower. The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

More Flower Power Concerts than Ever Rock Epcot in 2008
During Flower & Garden Festival Beginning March 19

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- With the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival growing to 75 days, there will be more Flower Power music than ever before -- beginning March 19 when The Guess Who takes the America Gardens Theatre stage. Known for pop singles like "American Woman" and "These Eyes," The Guess Who kicks off a concert series that will showcase 22 acts before the curtain falls June 1.

The March-April lineup of 13 acts includes a trio of Flower Power newcomers -- Jay Black ("Cara Mia," "This Magic Moment"), The Happenings ("See You in September") and The Ventures ("Walk, Don't Run"). There'll also be a "British Invasion" in March-April with the return of Petula Clark ("Downtown"), Peter & Gordon ("A World without Love") and Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone ("Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter").

Flower Power concerts strike a lively, nostalgic chord daily at America Gardens Theatre at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. and are included with regular Epcot admission. Here's the March-April lineup (subject to change without notice):
March 19-22 -- The Guess Who
March 23-24 -- Petula Clark
March 25-29 -- Paul Revere and the Raiders
March 30-31 -- The 5th Dimension
April 1-3 -- Ricky Nelson Remembered featuring The Nelsons
April 4-5 -- Jay Black
April 6-9 -- Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone
April 10-13 -- The Grass Roots featuring Rob Grill
April 14-16 -- The Happenings
April 17-18 -- Peter & Gordon
April 19-23 -- Starship starring Mickey Thomas
April 24-26 -- The Ventures
April 27-30 -- B.J. Thomas

Guest information is available at disneyworld.com. Or call 407/824-4321.

5th Edition of ESPN The Weekend Offers Sports Fans Fun for All Ages

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- ESPN and Walt Disney World Resort will offer sports fans of all ages the opportunity to see and hear ESPN personalities and world-famous athletes Feb. 29-March 2 during the fifth edition of ESPN The Weekend presented by Dick's Sporting Goods, a festival-style event at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

The three-day sports fan-fest will be highlighted by Hollywood-style motorcades, star conversations with sports celebrities, behind-the-scenes looks at ESPN shows, and an interactive sports area.

Also featured: on-site telecasts and remote broadcasts of popular ESPN shows including "Mike & Mike," "ESPN First Take," "Baseball Tonight" and "NFL Live."

Among the celebrities scheduled to appear are Shaun Alexander, Donte Stallworth, Maurice Jones-Drew, Richard Seymour, Steve Smith, Antonio Gates, Johnny Bench, Gary Carter and Jim Palmer -- plus many ESPN personalities. For the most up-to-date information about celebrities planning to attend, fans can visit www.espntheweekend.com.

ESPN The Weekend is included with regular admission to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Guests to Join Disney-Pixar Characters in Wildest 'Block Party' as Rockin' Bash Comes to Disney's Hollywood Studios This Spring

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida. -- The Year of A Million Dreams rocks on at Walt Disney World Resort this spring with "Block Party Bash," a funtastic parade featuring favorite Disney-Pixar characters. Currently scheduled for a mid-March opening at Disney's Hollywood Studios, the high-energy extravaganza cranks up the music and excitement to the max, putting guests in the middle of the wildest Disney parade ever -- a non-stop musical block party that doubles as a fun-filled interactive street spectacular.

The famous Green Army Men lead the procession of favorite Disney-Pixar characters that entice guests to dance, play and party as the "bash" makes its way down Hollywood Boulevard.

In addition to an eclectic mix of fun-inducing retro tunes, "Block Party Bash" includes appearances by some of the most popular characters including Woody and Buzz Lightyear from "Toy Story," Mike and Sully from "Monsters, Inc." and Flik and Atta from "A Bug's Life."

The "block party" transforms into major choreographed sections that immerse guests into a feeling of playing with the "toys," screaming with the "monsters" and dancing with the "bugs." The performance is bursting with dancers, acrobats, jumping stilts and a "mini" caravan of electric scooters that combine to fill the performance area with an awe-inspiring array of visuals and sound sensations.

The elaborate set pieces for this interactive parade/show include large floats themed to "Toy Story," "Monsters, Inc." and "A Bug's Life," trampoline units (invented specifically for "Block Party Bash"), and "tweeners" (smaller floats that look like stacks of toy blocks that double as dance stages, decorative prop boxes and sources of amazing special effects). These rolling stages camouflage impressive telescoping towers that rise during the finale of the extravaganza revealing Mr. and Mrs. Incredible and Frozone from the Disney presentation of a Pixar Film, "The Incredibles."

Braves' 15-Game Spring Training Schedule at Walt Disney World Begins with Game against Arizona-Bound Los Angeles Dodgers

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Los Angeles Dodgers' "farewell Florida tour" comes to Walt Disney World Resort Feb. 29 as the opener of the Atlanta Braves' 15-game Grapefruit League spring training schedule in Champion Stadium at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. The Dodgers, whose annual pilgrimage to Vero Beach for Major League Baseball spring training dates to 1948, will be leaving their famous Dodgertown facility in favor of a new Cactus League facility in Arizona that likely will be ready in time for 2009 spring training.

The Braves, meanwhile, are into their 11th Major League Baseball spring training season at the 9,500-seat ballpark on Disney's 220-acre multi-sport campus. Following an exhibition tune-up on Feb. 27 against University of Georgia, the Braves will play 10 games against National League teams and five against American League foes between Feb. 29 and March 27.

This year's spring training schedule includes games against reigning National League East Division champion Philadelphia (March 4) and American League Central Division champion Cleveland (March 12 and March 21).

Individual-game tickets can be purchased at the Disney's Wide World of Sports box office or through Ticketmaster at 407/839-3900. Prices range from $14.50 (general admission lawn seats) to $23.50 (lower reserved). Information about group tickets, mini-packs and season tickets is available by calling 407/939-GAME (4263). Mini-packs include three- and five-game options.

Here's the Braves' schedule of games at Champion Stadium in 2008:
Wednesday, Feb. 27 -- University of Georgia, 1:05 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 29 -- Los Angeles Dodgers, 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 2 -- Houston Astros, 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 4 -- Philadelphia Phillies, 1:05 p.m.
Friday, March 7 -- Detroit Tigers, 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 8 -- Houston Astros (*SS), 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 9 -- St. Louis Cardinals, 1:05 p.m.
Monday, March 10 -- St. Louis Cardinals, 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 11 -- Washington Nationals, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday, March 12 -- Cleveland Indians, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 15 -- Tampa Bay Rays (*SS), 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 20 -- Detroit Tigers, 7:05 p.m.
Friday, March 21 -- Cleveland Indians, 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 23 -- Houston Astros, 1:05 p.m.
Wednesday, March 26 -- Washington Nationals, 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 27 -- New York Mets, 1:05 p.m.

(*SS) -- split squad game

Pleasure Island, Raglan Road Irish Pub Plan St. Patrick's Day Fun

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The St. Patrick's Day fun will last longer than a weekend at Downtown Disney as Walt Disney World guests are treated to a variety of special entertainment at Pleasure Island beginning March 14 and at Raglan Road Irish Restaurant & Pub beginning March 16.

-- Pleasure Island's Sham-Rock 'n' Roll features street-party fun for the whole family March 14, 15 and 17. The island will "turn green" with live music featuring Seven Nations, videos by Irish artists, leprechauns and stilt walkers. Club admission is not required to experience the fun beginning at 7 p.m. each day. For additional information, guests can call 407/WDW-2NITE (option 4, option 1) or visit www.downtowndisney.com.
-- For everyone interested in celebrating St. Patrick's Day "the Irish way," the Irish owners of Raglan Road Irish Restaurant & Pub have lined up a program of Irish music, song and dance for March 16 and 17. Featured will be U2 Elevation, the world's most popular U2 tribute band, playing a mix of the band's songs. In addition, Tuskar Rock, Raglan Road's imported house band, will present their unique mix of traditional and contemporary Irish music accompanied by award-winning Irish dancer Danielle Fitzpatrick. The fun begins at 11 a.m. on March 16. On March 17, there is a $15 cover charge. For more information, call 407/938-0300 or visit www.raglanroadirishpub.com.

Fairytales Unfold and Rowdy Adventures Spring to Life During Disney's Pirate and Princess Party in April

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- If you spot Mom strolling down Main Street, U.S.A. crowned with a sequined tiara escorted by Dad donning pirate motif, it's no April Fools joke. It's just the young-at-heart overflowing with the spirit of Disney's Pirate and Princess Party which returns to the Magic Kingdom on April 1, for six additional nights.

Regal merriment and swashbuckling fun welcome adventurers of all ages to this after-hours event held on select nights in March and April from 7 p.m. to midnight in Magic Kingdom. Young bucs and fairytale princesses venture through the park on a quest for treasures while discovering specialty entertainment, dance parties, themed princess courts and pirate coves along the way. Plus, favorite attractions are open throughout the evening.

Two nightly spectacles -- "Enchanted Adventures Parade" and "Magic, Music, and Mayhem" fireworks -- are sure to delight partygoers with original music and colorful displays.

The Pirate and Princess party takes place March 1, 6, 11, 14 and April 1, 4, 6, 11, 23. Ticket prices are $45.95, plus tax, and $39.95, plus tax for ages 3-9. Call 407/WDW-AHOY or visit www.disneyworld.com/pirateandprincess for special offers.

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