WDW Daily News

Spring is upon us and that means the 2019 Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival is about to begin! Starting March 6, 2019, you can join us for fun, flowers, and food! This year’s festival features 17 Outdoor Kitchens and several other locations through the park that will be offering delectable festival bites and libations.

Special dining packages are also available for the Garden Rocks Concert Series. This concert series runs for 90 nights and features over 270 performances by tons of popular artists. This dining package allows you to have either breakfast, lunch, or dinner at nearly any table-service restaurant in the park and grants them guaranteed seating at one of three concert performances that day. Be sure to reserve these early so your Clients can savor every single minute! 

This year’s menus are incredible and you won’t want to miss out on any of these delicious bites! In addition to the returning Outdoor Kitchens like The Honey Bee-stro, the festival has four new Outdoor Kitchens this year: Arbor, The Citrus Blossom, Trowel & Trellis, and Flavor Full Kitchen! Fried green tomatoes, tuna tataki, blood orange aqua fresca, and grilled street corn on the cob are just a few of the new mouthwatering items featured on the menus. Check out these and all of the offerings for the 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival detailed below. The festival runs March 6–June 3, 2019.

The Walt Disney Company has taken the No. 4 spot on Fast Company’s list of “The World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies” for 2019, which spotlights the businesses that are making the most profound impact on both industry and culture and thriving in a rapidly changing world. Fast Company, one of the world’s leading business media brands, singled out Disney’s new and upcoming streaming services, and the Company’s commitment to deliver its unparalleled portfolio directly to consumers.

In addition to highlighting the early success of the ESPN+ streaming service, Fast Company looked ahead to the upcoming launch of the family-friendly Disney+, which will feature new content set in the worlds of Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Monsters, Inc.and more; as well as how the pending acquisition of 21st Century Fox will expand the Company’s incredible lineup of content assets, along with doubling Disney’s interests in Hulu. “We’ll do a better job than others,” Kevin Mayer, chairman of Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer & International business, told Fast Company, adding, “We know [our] brands viscerally.”

The 50 companies named by Fast Company have been selected across 35 industries and are based across every region of the globe. Fast Company sought to identify the businesses that aren’t just leaders in their fields, but those that are transforming the world.  The complete list can be viewed at FastCompany.com, as well as in the March/April 2019 issue of Fast Company magazine.

Jackie Pirtle-Hall nearly won a runDisney race last year. Sunday, she got it done, writing her own fairytale ending in winning the Disney Princess Half Marathon.

For Pirtle-Hall, who finished second in the Walt Disney World Marathon in 2018, the Princess-themed race Sunday was her first runDisney victory and added another highlight to her list of accomplishments, which includes qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Trials.

If Sunday was any indication, Pirtle-Hall of St. Charles, Mo., is already close to Olympic form. Leading virtually the entire 13.1-mile race through Epcot and Magic Kingdom, she crossed the finish line in 1:18:30 – two minutes faster than last year’s winner and more than four minutes ahead of the rest of the field of 25,000 runners. Bianca Toledo of Bergenfield, N.J., was second with a time of 1:22:53 followed by Elizabeth Conlon of Montgomery, Md., in 1:24:26.

“When you go through the Magic Kingdom with the castle, it really is just a whole visceral feeling where you just feel overwhelmed with emotion,’’ Pirtle-Hall said. “This is one of those races where you literally just feel grateful to be experiencing such joy (because) everybody is just so happy for each other and supportive, and that’s what you feel from the crowd. It’s really incredible.’’

Amid the enchanting atmosphere of pixie dust, princesses and princes, there were several inspiring stories of courage, triumph and hope. For instance, there was Cheri Srour of Brooklyn, N.Y., who is battling paralysis from an autoimmune neurological disease. After being pushed in her wheelchair for most of the race by her brother-in-law, she amazed the crowd by getting out of the wheelchair and walking unassisted the final 100 yards.

Additionally, 2019 Miss America Nia Franklin involved Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, running the 5K race on Friday and participating in the finish line activities during the half marathon on Sunday.

The Disney Princess Half Marathon was the finishing touch on a weekend of running events at Walt Disney World Resort. The race weekend included a 10K, 5K and several Kids Races in addition to the half marathon. There was also a health and fitness expo.

The race weekend is the third of four runDisney running events at Walt Disney World Resort during the 2018-2019 race season. The final race of this season is the Star Wars Rival Run, April 4-7, and registration is still available at www.rundisney.com.

Disney is committed to conservation and caring for the planet– ensuring a world where wildlife thrives and nature is treasured and protected. For more than 60 years, animals have been a part of Disney storytelling, and these stories continue today alongside immersive experiences that connect kids and families around the world with the magic of nature. Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has inspired millions of people to take action to protect the planet and directed more than $70 million to reverse the decline of wildlife in more than half the countries in the world through efforts that engage communities in conservation.

Key Accomplishments

Snapshot

• The Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) was inspired by Walt Disney’s conservation legacy and established on Earth Day 1995 to help protect wildlife and wild places around the world.
• DCF has supported projects spanning across six continents, all five oceans and more than half the countries (115) in the world.
• The DCF has awarded more than $70 million in grants* supporting efforts to save wildlife, inspire action and protect the planet.
• The DCF has helped protect more than 400 species around the world, including elephants, cranes, butterflies and coral reefs through its conservation grants.

Saving Wildlife

• The DCF is supporting “Reverse the Decline” collaborations with international and local conservation partners to stabilize and increase the populations of 10 focus animal categories; apes, butterflies, coral reefs, cranes, elephants, monkeys, rhinos, sea turtles, sharks & rays, and tigers.
• In addition to DCF support, Disney Cast Members and employees are lending their expertise to these efforts. More than 180 Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment Cast Members have already participated directly in projects to save wildlife around the world.
• Some highlights of this work in the past three years:
  • 103,000+ square miles of critical forest habitat achieving protection to support endangered apes in the Democratic Republic of Congo through a Great Apes Conservation Action Plan (the Jane Goodall Institute)
  • 2,000+ Atala butterflies and 1,000+ endangered Shaus’ swallowtail butterflies raised and released in the wild (University of Florida)
  • 2,300 coral pieces grown, 12 coral nursery sites established, and 3,000+ coral fragments planted to repopulate reefs in The Bahamas (Perry Institute for Marine Science)
  • 7 Siberian cranes outfitted with satellite transmitters during their migration to identify the most important wetland areas for conservation and protection (International Crane Foundation)
  • 1 million+ acres of forest habitat surveyed to protect important areas for African elephants (Wildlife Conservation Society)
  • 20 tons of plastic waste removed from the environment, 175+ families supported through income-generating programs, 164,000+ trees planted, and more than 37,000 acres of forest protected in Colombia and Brazil to protect cotton-top tamarin and golden lion tamarin monkeys (Associação Mico-Leão Dourado, Proyecto Tití, Save the Golden Lion Tamarin and Wildlife Conservation Network)
  • 20 Rhino Protection Units (anti-poaching teams) in Indonesia trained in advanced monitoring practices to better protect two national parks and the Sumatran rhinos who live there (International Rhino Foundation)
  • 238,000 pounds of marine debris removed from sea turtle habitats and 1.2 kilometers of sea turtle nesting habitat restored and cleared of debris (University of Florida)
  • 156 species of sharks and rays studied to help identify where management or protection efforts are needed the most around the world (Wildlife Conservation Society and partners)
  • 4,131 miles of forest patrolled by community rangers to protect tigers in Sumatra, Indonesia (Wildlife Conservation Society)

Inspiring Action

• Since 1995, the DCF has supported more than 2,000 conservation projects, helping more than 600 nonprofit organizations working hand-in-hand with communities to protect wildlife worldwide.
• The DCF has recognized 150 Disney Conservation Heroes for their efforts to protect wildlife living alongside their communities in 47 countries.
• Disney has helped 53 M+ kids connect with nature through Disney experiences like those found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and through programs, tools and resources supported by the Disney Conservation Fund.
• Disney support has helped conservation programs engage more than 5M people through community outreach efforts.

Protecting the Planet

• In collaboration with Fauna & Flora International’s community-based forest management program in Indonesia, Disney support helped strengthen the livelihoods of 52 communities while aiding in the protection of more than 200,000 acres of critical habitat to support endangered species including Sumatran tigers.
• Disney supported Bonneville Environmental Foundation’s implementation of eight water restoration projects across California and Arizona to improve water use efficiency on agricultural land, reduce the amount of water diverted from rivers and creeks, and improve water quality, recreation and wildlife habitats.
• In celebration of Disneynature films, The Walt Disney Studios and the Disney Conservation Fund have collaborated to support animals and habitats around the world, resulting in:
  • 3 Million trees planted in Brazil’s most endangered forest.
  • 40,000 Acres of a new marine protected area established to conserve coral reefs in The Bahamas.
  • 65,000 Acres of savanna protected to create conservation corridors in Kenya.
  • 130,000 Acres of wild chimpanzee habitat protected in the Congo, and 60,000+ local youths educated, and chimpanzees cared for.
  • 495,000 Acres of forest protected to restore key corridors for wild pandas and establish a new snow leopard conservation program in China.
  • Conservation projects across 400,000 acres of US national parks supported, park visitors educated, and animal and plant species protected.
  • Conservation projects supported across one million acres in Indonesia, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka, benefiting hundreds of species and protecting fresh drinking water for local populations.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom and DCF from the Beginning

“When we, Imagineers, started the development of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we knew that we were entering a new territory of storytelling. These stories were not fantasies, but real. They were not classic tales, but ongoing epics whose conclusions are still unknown. They were not ours alone, but shared with people all around the world, who lived with and cared about the lives of wild creatures. We could not tell such stories unless we ourselves participated in the reality we were describing, contributed to the epic struggle, and shared our skill and our commitment with people around the world. Thus, we concluded that an entity like the Disney Conservation Fund was essential to our story. Without it, our own words and actions would be empty.

The story of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Disney Conservation Fund is not just a story that we tell. It’s a story we are living every day, every one of us. All of us on Earth share this planet with every living creature and with the systems that sustain them. For two decades now, through the actions of the Disney Conservation Fund, we’ve worked towards our dream: a dream of a future for our children in which there is still magic in the forest, the magic that comes from the countless miraculous creatures, some yet undiscovered, that share with us a tiny delicate place amidst a sea of distant stars.” — Joe Rohde, Creative Executive, Disney Imagineering

The Experience Center will be located in the former Odyssey Pavilion and feature interactive exhibits to help visualize park projects throughout this unprecedented period of transformation.

Here are some of the other exciting Epcot experiences we’ve shared:

• Guardians of the Galaxy-themed roller coaster in Future World
• Epcot Forever, a 2019 limited-time nighttime experience over World Showcase Lagoon set to classic Epcot tunes, followed by an all-new nighttime spectacular debuting in 2020
• Space-themed table-service restaurant adjacent to Mission: SPACE
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction in the France pavilion, patterned after the number-one family attraction at Disneyland Paris
• Circle-Vision 360 film for the China pavilion and updated O Canada! 360-degree show
• Signature Dining experience inspired by the natural beauty of Japan
• “Beauty and the Beast” sing-along in the France pavilion, showing in addition to the pavilion’s current film, Impressions de France.

Stay tuned for more updates on the continuing transformation of Epcot.

Recently, we shared top five favorites at Disneyland® Park. Today, we’re highlighting Disney California Adventure® Park favorites that will fill you with excitement and, of course, adventure! Whether they are a dedicated theme park explorer or a first-time visitor, now is the time to go and enjoy!

Here are five fantastic experiences at Disney California Adventure Park:

1. Live the stories of Pixar – You can enjoy the splendor of what Pixar Pier has to offer, including attractions, character encounters, entertainment, food and more! If Guests brave the Incredicoaster, this high-speed attraction will have them  soaring through the sky with the super family in a mad dash to catch Jack-Jack.

2. Join Rocket on a mission – You can hop aboard the Collector’s gantry lift on Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! They’ll help rescue Rocket’s fellow Guardians all while jamming out to Star-Lord’s classic mixtapes. It’ll be sure to drop them out of this universe!

3. Encounter Super Heroes – Meet legendary Super Heroes like Black Panther, Captain America and Spider-Man in Hollywood Land throughout the day. Photos are a must, so bring your most courageous poses and fierce smiles!

4. Rev your engines with the “Cars” crew – Guests can get their kicks as they ride off to the races on Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land. The whole family will love zooming along with Lightning McQueen and other car-acters through Ornament Valley.

5. Discover delicious California-inspired cuisine and beverages – Starting March 1 through April 23, 2019, you can experience culinary craftsmanship at Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival. During this one-of-a-kind event, Guests can taste innovative bites and sips, watch demonstrations, talk to chefs and get inspired in the kitchen!

What are your must-do’s at Disney California Adventure park?

Construction is moving right along on Disney’s Riviera Resort, which celebrates the grandeur of Europe. Today we’re excited to share a bit more of what you can experience when you stay at this all-new Walt Disney World® Resort hotel.

The image above showcases the feature pool, Riviera Pool, and S’il Vous Play, an interactive water play area. The feature pool will offer fun for the entire family with a touch of Disney magic. Guests can soak up the sun in lounge chairs, hang out beneath a colorful sun umbrella, or take a trip down a stone turret slide.

Young Guests will love S’il Vous Play, a whimsical fountain featuring several beloved characters from Disney “Fantasia.” With a patina and limestone-inspired design, this area draws inspiration from the grand public fountains seen throughout Europe. The nearby movie lawn will offer the perfect place for your Clients to take in their favorite Disney film as they lounge poolside.

At Beau Soleil leisure pool will be the perfect place for Guests to kick back and relax under a blanket of sun, or enjoy a bit of quiet time beneath shaded seating areas.

Bar Riva, the open-air pool bar will feature a cool, seaside vibe, and offers the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a cold beverage poolside.

And the gorgeous waterfront promenade will offer a relaxing stroll around the resort. All along the promenade, your Clients will be able to enjoy grand views of the resort’s lush European-inspired landscapes.

Plus, Guests staying at Disney Riviera Resort can hop aboard a Disney Skyliner gondola for a bird’s eye view of Walt Disney World Resort. Once aboard, your Clients can take a European-inspired ride through the sky to Epcot International Gateway or Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and on to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, or Disney’s Hollywood Studios®! 

Forbes Travel Guide recently unveiled its annual Star Rating list, naming Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at the Disneyland® Resort as a new Forbes Travel Guide Star Award winner. As a Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Hotel, it marks the first time the craftsman-style retreat has received this honor and it is the only hotel in Anaheim to earn this distinction.

How do they choose the best of the best? Forbes Travel Guide’s anonymous inspectors scoured the globe in search of the top luxury experiences to discover the world’s best hotels, restaurants and spas to determine the 2019 Star Award winners. The only way to get a Star Rating is by earning it through Forbes Travel Guide’s independent inspection process. Their inspectors check into hotels and pose as ordinary guests. Once there, they test up to 900 objective, exacting standards that address even the smallest details.

Built in collaboration with the Reedy Creek Improvement District and Origis Energy USA, a massive new 270-acre, 50-megawatt solar facility is officially online and providing renewable clean energy to Walt Disney World® Resort!

This facility is expected to generate enough power from the sun to operate two of our four theme parks in Central Florida annually. It will also significantly reduce net greenhouse gas emissions, joining the numerous efforts The Walt Disney Company has launched to deliver its 2020 goal of reducing emissions by 50% compared to 2012.

We will be celebrating this milestone in the coming months and look forward to sharing more details with you real soon. In the meantime, check out this time-lapse video – filmed with a solar-powered camera – to see how the facility has come to life.

It has come a long way since our most recent update last fall, when the first of more than half a million panels was installed! This project is certainly a giant leap forward in our emissions efforts, but it’s not the first. You may have heard about the 22-acre, 5-megawatt solar facility shaped like Mickey Mouse that opened in 2016.

So as you and your Clients make plans to visit Walt Disney World Resort, know that your visit may be partly powered by the sun.