Epcot Map Highlight: Flower and Garden Festival

The 15th Annual Flower and Garden Festival is in full swing at Epcot, one of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World in Florida. I've marked by Disney World map with my favorite features of the Flower and Garden Festival -- the topiaries and the butterfly garden.

Since this year's theme is "Fun in the Sun," all of the topiaries have an outdoor flavor. (Wait... I think I'm mixing metaphors there. Oh, well...) Here's a picture of Mickey with some seashells. He's standing next to Minnie and Goofy at the entrance of the park. By the way, Goofy is the largest topiary this year.... 14 feet!

Other topiaries can be found just north and south of the Dancing Fountain, which is at the center of Future World. And of course, there are more displays around the lagoon in the World Showcase. In all, there are 70 topiaries.

My other favorite addition at Epcot for the Flower and Garden Festival is Minnie's Magnificent Butterfly Garden. It's a screened-in gazebo just south of Mouse Gear, between the main walkway and Test Track. The gazebo is 40 feet in diameter and houses 10 different species of butterflies. It's jam packed with lots of beautiful flowers -- plumbago, passion flower, honeysuckle and much more.

Just a little warning ... The butterfly garden can get very crowded. I prefer to wait until there are no strollers inside, then take my time browsing around. Early morning is the best time avoid the crowds.

Here are a few interesting tidbits about the Flower and Garden Festival:

• The Disney folks say there are 30 million blooms in all on display!
  
• At least 25 different plants are used to create the topiaries.
• More than 15 floral, herbal and spice ingredients of 10 popular perfumes are on display in the Fragrance Garden at the France pavilion. Guerlain, the perfume maker featured at the pavilion.
  
• Every evening, music from the 60s and 70s is featured at special (albeit short) "Flower Power" concerts at the American Gardens Theater.
  

Visit this special page on the Disney World web site to download the Flower and Garden Festival Guide.

No matter when you visit Walt Disney World, be sure take along your Disney World map. There's always something to explore! If you're lucky enough to be traveling before June 1, plan to spend plenty of time at Epcot enjoying the "Fun in the Sun" at the Flower and Garden Festival.

Cinderella's Castle: Sparkling Spot on Your Disney World Map

Oh, my, what a wonderful addition to your Disney World map .... twinkling, shimmering lights have transformed Cinderella's Castle for the holiday season.

Officially dubbed "Cinderella's Holiday Wish," the specially decorated castle debuted last week ... with 200,000 tiny, LED lights cascading like icicles from the turrets. Every night through January 6... which happens to be the Feast of the Epiphany on the Christian calendar ... Cinderella and her Prince Charming preside over lighting the castle. Mickey, Minnie and the gang are also on hand for the ceremony.

Cool facts about the castle lighting:

• It took 65 "evles" and two cranes six weeks to put up the lights.
• Fifteen miles of cables, which are colored to match the castle, and 32,000 square feet of fishing net support the lights.
• In all, there are 200,000 energy-efficient LED lights and 500 strobes.

The lighting ceremony begins at 5:45 PM each evening, and the castle is illuminated through the evening's activities... seasonal live shows, Holidays Wishes fireworks show, and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on selected evenings.

Where to mark your Disney World map ... Go to the Magic Kingdom, which is located on the top center of the resort map. Enter and go under the train station to Main Street USA. Head north.... It's hard to miss the castle!

Disney World Map: Twilight Zone 13K Route

If you'll be at Walt Disney World on Saturday, October 27, be sure to add the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K to your plans.... and mark the route on your Disney World map if you want to catch part of the action.

One of the popular running events held at Walt Disney World each year, the Tower of Terror 13K begins at 9:30 PM that evening inside Disney-MGM Studios. You can join in the fun by getting "party tickets" that give you admission to the park until 1:00 AM. There will be a live band; select attractions will be open; and you can witness all of the finish line activities.

What attractions will be open? The Tower of Terror, Rock N Roller Coaster and The Great Movie Ride. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $10 for children age 3-9. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the Disney World Sports web site.

So what's the route? The race begins at Disney-MGM Studios, exits through the back of the park and follows the roadway to Disney's Wide World of Sports. After circling around the sports complex, racers head back to the Studios, wind through the park and end in the shadow of the Hollywood Towers Hotel, AKA the Tower of Terror.

So that's the latest addition to my Disney World map suggestions. Be sure to check out the other mosts for more ideas on how to use your map of Walt Disney World to get the most out of your family vacation!

Magic Kingdom Focus on Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Today we are opening our Disney World map to the Magic Kingdom... and taking a sneak peek at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. I admit that I'm not a big fan of Halloween, but Mickey and his pals make it more fun than usual...

The Magic Kingdom is located on the north side of Disney World, near the top of the map. Since we always stay at the Disney hotel, it's just a (relatively) short ride right to the front entrance. If you're staying off property, you'll drive to the main parking area then take a tram to the Ticket and Transportation Center... and then take the boat or monorail over to the Magic Kingdom.

So what do you need to know about Mickey's Halloween Party? First of all, it's an "after hours" event. That means you'll need a special ticket... which costs $39 for adults and $33 for children age 3-9. Next, there are lots of special activities... trick-or-treating stops, special decorations, a special parade and a special fireworks show. (I told you there were lots of specials!)

And finally, some... but not all... of the Magic Kingdom attractions will be open. The official word is the "most popular" attractions will be open. That means the attractions that probably have the longest lines during the day are the ones that will be open for the party.

So how does your Disney World map help you plan? Use your map to find all of the hidden, out-of-the-way or less popular attractions ... and ride them during regular park hours. If you can, get copy of the special party map at Guest Relations and find the attractions that will be open... and plan to enjoy them during the Halloween Party!