2019 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

It's the 25th anniversary of the Epcot® International Flower and Garden Festival, and the park is once again overflowing with bright plants, flowers, trees and topiaries adorning both Future World and World Showcase.

Here are some of the top things your won't want to miss at this year's festival:

• Gardens, lots of Gardens!: In addition to all the natural flora throughout the park, the Walt Disney World® horticulture team has created some truly breathtaking gardens for Epcot Guests to enjoy this year. New gardens this year include “The How-To Garden” and “The Imagination Play Garden,” bot are are perfect for adults and kids to enjoy. Returning gardens include favorites such as “The Goodness Garden Butterfly House” and “The Water Wise Garden,” which showcase environmental responsibility as well as just being fun!
• Outdoor Kitchens: An Epcot Festival wouldn't be complete without fun food and drinks! This year's festival has 15 Outdoor Kitchens around World Showcase, with the newest being “The Honey Bee-Stro,” which features Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Purée; Honey Tandoori Chicken Flatbread with White Cheddar Cheese; and Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake with Orange Blossom Honey Ice Cream garnished with Fennel Pollen Meringue Kisses. These dishes were created to showcase multiple honey varietals in creative and exciting ways. Returning Outdoor Kitchen favorites include “The Berry Basket” (featuring a lamb chop with quinoa salad and blackberry gastrique) and “THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brew” (featuring a pulled-pork slider and warm chocolate cake with Bourbon-salted caramel sauce and spiced pecans). YUM!
• Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration: One of the beloved characters from Disney animated short cartoons, Spike the honeybee, has been “pollen-nating” throughout the Festival. In this springtime scavenger hunt, gardeners of all ages can follow Spike on his pollination trail around World Showcase, where he will “bee” busy collecting nectar and pollinating gardens at Epcot. To get started, purchase a map and stickers at Port of Entry. (Note: Maps are available while supplies last.)
• Garden Rocks Concert Series: Each Friday through Monday of the Festival (what we like to call a “Disney Weekend”), favorite artists from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s will rock out at the America Gardens Theatre.  Rick Springfield, Survivor and Lonestar are just some of the popular acts in the lineup. Each night, there will be three performances: 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m.  And don't forget about the Dining Packages available at several of Epcot restaurants with reserved concert seating in a nice package. 
• Character Topiaries: Topiaries throughout the park feature beloved Disney and Disney•Pixar characters including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Lady and The Tramp, Buzz Lightyear, and Beauty and the Beast.
• Merchandise: Guests will find Festival themed hats, T-shirts, mugs and other fun Festival merchandise throughout Future World and World Showcase. 
• Tours: A great ways to get the “inside track” on the Festival or the latest in gardening techniques is to take one of the tours offered during the Festival. There are tours of The Land pavilion greenhouses and the “Gardens of the World – Spring Edition.” There is also the daily Royal Tea Garden Tour at the United Kingdom pavilion that includes a tea tasting. 

Planning to visit this year’s festival? Make sure you plan on more than one day to see, smell, hear, touch and taste everything.  Don't have plans to visit? Let's fix that! Email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com. Or you can use this fast and easy form to request a free, no obligation quote! As a Disney Vacation Planner, I'll help you plan the most magical vacation - all for free! You won't pay one penny more by booking with me but you'll get personalized help and advice from someone that will get to know you, your wants and your travel plans (which you’re not going to get if you book on your own or direct with Disney)!  

Just a few of the few things I'll do for FREE:

• Help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World Resort; 
• I'll make your Advance Dining Reservations (no early mornings for you!);
• I'll make your Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Reservations; 
• I'll make your FastPass+ selections (once gain no early mornings for you!); 
• Book any tours or unique experiences; 
• Send you tips and tricks to get the most out of your vacation investment; AND
• Plus my clients that book a vacation package get a FREE DISNEY GIFT CARD and more! 

With all of these perks from me, you're bound to have a magical vacation!

Disney Cruise Line 2019 Summer Itineraries!

Summer 2019 Disney Cruise Line itineraries have been announced! Pack your bags because DCL will sail on new itineraries to seven new ports in Europe, including a first-ever round-trip cruise from Rome and first-time visits to destinations in Sweden, France, Spain, Denmark and Northern Ireland! 

Disney Cruise Line will take Guests on a grand tour of Europe with visits to the Mediterranean in early summer and northern Europe in late summer. Plus, adventures continue with sailings to Alaska, the Caribbean and the Bahamas, including new cruise lengths aboard the Disney Fantasy.

You're probably wondering when you can book and get pricing. 

• Platinum Castaway Club Members and Golden Oak Residents bookings open on March 5, 2018 at 8 a.m. ET.
• Gold Castaway Club Members booking window opens on March 6, 2018 at 8 a.m. ET.
• Silver Castaway Club Members, Adventure Insiders and Disney Vacation Club Members booking window opens on March 7, 2018 a.m. ET.
• Bookings open to the general public on March 8, 2018.
• All categories of bookings earn a FREE onboard credit when you book your vacation with Lauren Gonding with Magical Travel!

Also in the summer of 2019, Disney Cruise Line Guests can enrich their experience by combining a cruise with a package from Adventures by Disney®.

New in 2019, Adventures by Disney will offer a pre-cruise guided experience in Rome.  These 3-night Short Escapes (also being offered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Barcelona) allow families to experience memorable icons in ways that few can, such as a private, after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel in Rome. Plus, activities like ziplining, flamenco dancing and preparing local cuisine immerse families in the culture of the region.

Your can also enhance select European sailings with an Adventures by Disney package during the cruise. Adventure Guides lead travelers to experience the best of each port, helping them unlock the wonders of the destination through immersive excursions and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Enjoy exclusive receptions onboard and have access to concierge service from these dedicated guides throughout the voyage.

These Adventures by Disney offerings open for booking beginning March 8, 2018. A Vancouver Short Escape will open for booking later this year.

If you're interested in a Disney Cruise Line vacation for your family, email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com for a free quote (or to answer any questions you may have!) or you can use this fast and easy form to request your free quote!

 As a Disney Vacation Planner, my FREE personalized planning services will help you find a cruise sailing and stateroom that fits your family's needs and budget! I'll also help plan your pre-cruise night stay, port transportation and more! Plus all of my Disney Cruise Line clients get a FREE on-board ship credit for some extra spending money on their vacation plus some extra goodies! Email me today to start planning your cruise vacation today!

Pixar Fest Dining Packages at Disneyland

Pixar Fest is coming to Disneyland® Resort, April 13 - September 3, 2018. This first-ever celebration of friendship and beyond brings favorite Pixar stories and characters together for a limited time with special parades, fireworks and more throughout the Disneyland Resort. To make the most of Pixar Fest (and your time!), there are some amazing dining packages available for you to enjoy.

“Paint the Night” Parade Dining Packages

A spectacular nighttime pageant of magic and imagination awaits you with special dining packages for the “Paint the Night” parade!  This legendary parade is coming to Disney California Adventure® Park for Pixar Fest starting April 13, 2018 and reservations are now open for the “Paint the Night” Parade Dining Packages.

With these packages, you can embark on a culinary adventure highlighted by one of the biggest and brightest parades in Disneyland Resort history.  The journey begins with a mouthwatering feast from one of two popular Disney California Adventure Park restaurants. Step into a Golden-Era movie palace where premier cuisine takes “centerscreen” at Carthay Circle Restaurant or experience Napa Valley’s passion for wine and fresh fare in an idyllic Mediterranean setting at Wine Country Trattoria. And at the end of the meal, you will receive vouchers giving you entrance to special viewing areas to enjoy the spectacular sights of “Paint the Night” parade as it makes its way through the park.

Sonoma Terrace “Paint the Night” Parade Reception

Guests can also ignite the night with tasty treats, libations, reserved viewing and a serving of Disney magic with the Sonoma Terrace “Paint the Night” Parade Reception. If you're looking to end your night on a deliciously dazzling note, then this unforgettable evening is for you. This dining experience welcomes kids of all ages to experience “Paint the Night” parade from reserved seating in the beautiful Sonoma Terrace. At the event, enjoy charcuterie and desserts served with wine, beer and other non-alcoholic beverages plus a box of tasty truffles to enjoy later!

Pixar Play Parade Dining Package

In Disneyland Park, experience Pixar Fest by dining at Plaza Inn before enjoying Pixar Play Parade, debuting April 13, 2018.  Guests booking this package will also receive a Disney FASTPASS for special reserved viewing areas for Pixar Play Parade during which you'll discover some of your favorite Pixar pals from “Up,” “Inside Out” with brand-new story elements. Reservations for this dining package will open March 13, 2018.

  To request a free, no obligation quote for your Disneyland vacation use this fast and easy form  (seriously it takes less than a minute!) or you email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com to book your Disneyland Vacation today! 

As a Disney vacation specialist, I know a Disney vacation is an investment so I’ll put my expert Disney knowledge to your benefit and help you get the most out of your vacation with insider tips and tricks. I’ll help you make sense of Disneyland’s FastPass system; give you tips and tricks on how to make your vacation extra magical; and make reservations at restaurants, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Dessert Parties, and more for you (so you don’t have to)! All of my planning services are FREE plus I’ll send you a FREE DISNEY GIFT CARD to spend while you’re one vacation!  Email me today to get your Disney vacation started!