JANUARY – Walt Disney World Marathon

This 26.2-mile race encompasses all four Disney theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Rounding at the weekend agenda is also a half marathon, two-day health expo and a 5K.

FEBRURAY – MARCH – Atlanta Braves Spring Training
Baseball fans have the opportunity to watch a major league team play as the Atlanta Braves return to Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex for spring training.

MARCH – MAY – Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

For those with an appreciate for all things botany-related, Epcot will come alive with more than 30 million colorful blossoms, topiaries, interactive garden activities for kids and workshops with national gardening experts during this annual spring festival. This event is certain to make your heart bloom!

MAY – JUNE – Star Wars Weekends

The summer gives us 4 consecutive weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as the park turns into a giant Star Wars fan-fest. Up-close meet-and-greets with favorite characters and actors from the film series as well as interactive games, parades, music and fun for the whole family will certainly make any Star War fan’s year!

SEPTEMBER – Night of Joy
Some of the industry’s top contemporary Christian music performers headline this special event annually happening within the Magic Kingdom. This long-running concert has played to a combined audience in excess of a million!

SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER – Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

This family-friendly spooktacular happens within the gates of the Magic Kingdom featuring Mickey’s Boo To You parade (my personal favorite parade of all-time), dance parties, special Halloween-themed fireworks, trick-or-treating with characters throughout the park, face painting, and more. Although I’m certainly more of a Christmas fan, I must say that this party is my favorite party hosted by the Magic Kingdom.

SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER – Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
It’s time to talk a little bit about my personal favorite event at the Walt Disney World Resort. A walk around World Showcase offers up the chance to savor fine wines and delectable cuisines from around the globe. This event has an itinerary that’s jam-packed with goings-on and special events, including live celebrity entertainment, guest chefs, culinary demonstrations, seminars and winemaker dinners (just to name a few).

OCTOBER – Children’s Miracle Network Classic
Golf-enthusiasts rejoice as this annual PGA tournament held at Disney’s Magnolia and Palm golf courses, features some of the sport’s top players,

NOVEMBER – Festival of the Masters
More than 200 award-winning artists showcase their artistic gifts throughout Downtown Disney. This three-day festival features chalk artists, folk artists, a jazz festival, culinary delights and lots of family activities.

NOVEMBER – JANUARY – The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
This breathtaking, must-see light display at the Disney’s Hollywood Studios backlot, will have you begging for more! This magnificent display which features millions of sparkling holiday bulbs was originally designed by Arkansas businessman and philanthropist Jennings Osborne as a gift to his daughter and eventually as it outgrew his home, the guests of the Walt Disney World Resort. This is an annual must-do for my family and a surefire way to get our Christmas-spirit quickly into “drive”.

NOVEMBER – JANUARY – Holiday Splendor

The magnificent Walt Disney World Resort becomes even MORE magnificent during the holiday season with dazzling lights, spirited song and even snow flurries; Yep……snow flurries in the Sunshine State! Here’s just a taste of what’s in store during this arguably most magical time of year at the resort: Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade at Animal Kingdom; Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom; Candlelight Processional at Epcot along with visits by Santa (not just by our Old Saint Nick but also Santa’s from around the globe). You’ll probably also find yourself singing along as you happen upon carolers throughout the parks. Don’t miss the evening tree lighting ceremonies also found within each of the parks.

Can you imagine a more special time to be at the Walt Disney World Resort than on New Years Eve?

New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest fireworks evenings of the year at Walt Disney World Resort, a place where fireworks are spectacular. Fireworks and nighttime shows will light up the skies at three theme parks on Dec. 31, 2011.

Here’s some of the magic that’s in store:

• Magic Kingdom offers up two spectacular fireworks shows: “Wishes” nighttime spectacular with a holiday overlay at 8:30 p.m. and “Fantasy in the Sky” at 11:51 p.m.
• Epcot‘s “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” will delight audiences with two unforgettable showings at 7 p.m. and 11:42 p.m.
• At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the 25-minute spectacular “Fantasmic!” that combines water, fire, lights, lasers, fireworks and music will be presented at 6:30 and 8 p.m., with the popular “Lights! Camera! Happy New Year!” fireworks display at midnight.

Not interested in partying with the crowds inside any of the parks? You’ll be excited to know that the Walt Disney World resort will be offering alternative celebrations outside of the parks, as well!

• At Downtown Disney, DisneyQuest will throw a family-friendly cyber celebration from 8 p.m. -1 a.m. Kids will be entertained with a DJ and dance party, plus the usual unlimited access to all the games and DisneyQuest attractions. Partygoers at this techno celebration will experience a confetti drop and festive party favors when the clock strikes midnight. Guests at this party will also get a coupon for a pizza, hot dog, chicken casesar wrap or hamburger, plus chips and soda. Price is $45 advance purchase – or $55 day of, including tax. Call 407-934-7639 to reserve tickets.
• Another special happening at Downtown Disney will be observed at Cirque du Soleil, La Nouba. All guests attending the Dec. 31 performances will receive a limited-edition Walt Disney World/Cirque trading pin. Shows are at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
• Registered guests at select Disney resort hotels will be treated to music and entertainment. One example of a very special celebration that will be happening will be found at Narcoosee’s restaurant located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. There will be a four-course dining experience for $149, plus DJ, balloon artist and special fireworks viewing at 8:30 and 11:51.
• Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort will be hosting a special-ticket New Year’s Eve party from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. with video DJ Tony Zapulla spinning dance favorites until the early morn.

No matter what type of celebration you may have in mind for the ushering in of 2012, the Walt Disney World Resort is sure to have you covered with plenty of exciting choices!

I am a true-blue, over-the-edge, die-hard, pixie-dusted Disney fanatic.  I have spent MUCH of my free time roaming the hallowed grounds of the Walt Disney World Resort.  From the turn-of-the-century optimistic ambiance of Main Street USA,  to the obscure, peaceful trails winding about Wilderness Lodge, and over to the dazzling, aromatic streets of Downtown Disney with its twinkling jewel-like lights strung overhead.  I have visited each of these glorious destinations on numerous occasions and all of the precious nooks and crannies in between.  I simply can’t get enough of the air at Walt Disney World.  It weighs ever so much lighter on my lungs and its aroma is like no other.  I have attempted to surround myself with as much of “The Magic” on my home turf as I can afford by way of every form of paraphernalia imaginable, yet it in no way can compare to the feeling of actually inhabiting a piece of Walt Disney World real estate.   I’m forever anticipating and planning my next trip to my “Heaven on Earth” and on the ride home from any given vacation, control my enormous urge to bawl by reminding myself of the plans I have for our next trip.

You wonder how this Disney enthusiasm came to be?  I have lived in a small town just 50 miles west of Disney all of my 38 years.  My mother introduced me to Walt Disney World as a small child and from the very minute I entered into the gates of the Magic Kingdom, my love and fascination of all things Disney was born.  Instead of growing out of it, with each passing birthday my love and excitement concerning Disney flourished. Friends and family now consider me the one “in the know” about all things Disney and often come to me concerning questions on vacation planning to minor trivia (although nothing about Disney should ever be thought of as minor!).   I spend much of my free time studying anything relevant to Walt Disney and the awe-inspiring Worlds that he created here in Central Florida, as well as the original in California. I have recently come to the realization that this infatuation, if you will, is not going to diminish and I would do well to whole-heartedly, dig in and roll around in it like a big, warm, fluffy bed covered in quilts hand-stitched by grandma herself. …….aaaaaaaaah.

You see, I dream of inhabiting a world like that of Walt Disney’s ideal;  A place where smiling, laughing faces are common scenery and not the second-glance inducing surprise that you rarely encounter on any given day;  Where on every path you take, a song dances through the air; the sort of melody that taps into the  part of you that still believes in handsome princes on white horses and Good always triumphing over Evil.  It’s a world in which you are eager to awaken before the alarm clock’s wail because you realize that the land beyond your door offers you the promise that something spectacular will surely happen to you today. It’s a place that invokes a heart so warm and full that its contents spill over into every ounce of your being, and often in my case, spill over onto my cheeks.  I ask you, who wouldn’t want to be a part of a world like this?! 

Lately, I have shamelessly begun sharing my enthusiasm and unadulterated love for all things Disney with perfect strangers.  Gee, they deserve to “get it” like I do too, don’t they??   They deserve to know that the world we see through “Channel 8 News” is not the only thing this planet has to offer!  There’s beauty, magic, child-like innocence and….and……TINKERBELL, for the love of Pete! Think about it……what does Tinkerbell say to you?  I’ll tell you what I’m hearing from this little imp with wings.  With a sprinkling of pixie dust, measured with just enough faith and trust, you can FLY.  Yes…..at last….you can fly.  Your hopes, dreams and child-like optimism can reach heights you only dreamed of.  Believe… hope… dream…. and sooner than later, you’ll find that you’ll be able to SOAR.  Now that’s an idealogy that I can excitedly get behind.

To sum up my adoration for all things Disney is a difficult task.  But I’ll just say this as a meager attempt; The remarkable gift that Walt Disney has provided to my world is one of such greatness and magnitude that it simply MUST be shared with everyone, everywhere!  I look at it as carrying on and keeping alive “one man’s dream”.  My goal is most definitely to do just that.  Donna Andrews (Dizney Donna) is a Disney Travel Planner with Our Laughing Place Travel.

Rix Lounge located at Walt Disney World’s Coronado Springs Resort (my favorite Moderate Resort), is becoming a wonderful new and trendy”hot spot” at the Walt Disney World.  Although the Walt Disney World Resort recently closed all of its nightclubs at Pleasure Island, in Downtown Disney, I think it’s important that people know that this location is a very appealing alternative. 

 The atmosphere and decor is what I would refer to as super-hip and sophisticated with throw-back touches here and there to the 70s.  With lots of cozy, inviting sitting areas, a nice size dance floor, and a dj spinning top 40 remix hits, it offers an atmosphere for those just wanting to relax with some friends, as well as an area to “get your groove on”. 

 Also, Rix offers many “special events” throughout the year, usually only requiring a $5.00 cover charge.  Very reasonable for events such as the Halloween Parties (for both adults and children, offered at different time-frames on the 31st ), New Years Eve, SuperBowl, Saint Patrick’s Day, etc. 

To take a peek into this hip, new nightclub and to keep informed as to what special events may be happening, you can go directly to the nightclubs website here, www.rixlounge.com. 

I should also mention that there is a separate room that you can reserve for private get-togethers or special occassions.  You can also choose to include onr of variously themed buffet set-ups at an additional cost.

The next time you’re at the Walt Disney World Resort and are in the mood for a more adult-oriented atmosphere, take a look at Rix Lounge……I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Note:  Rix Lounge is open from 5pm – 2am daily.

I was fortunate enough to dine at the brand new Wave Restaurant within Disney’s Contemporary Resort about a week ago.  This was the restaurant’s third week being opened and I could not wait to give it a try.  I am so happy to report that Walt Disney World has another winning dining experience within its repertoire of dining establishments with The Wave.  Disney dining at its finest!

Upon entering the restaurant, you emerge into a brushed silver tunnel, with glass walls encasing “bubbles” on either side.  You’ll notice that as you move on, the tunnel declines ever so slightly, giving you the subtle feeling that you are descending into a watery wonderland.  The soft, blue lights that permeate the tunnel, also lend their ambiance to the “watery wonderland” that awaits you at the end of the tunnel.  At the end of the tunnel, you’ll find the podium, with a huge, gorgeous, frosted glass wall as its backdrop.  This glass wall encases ”waves and bubbles” within, leading you to imagine that the wall itself contains flowing water throughout. 

The two lounge/waiting rooms are to the right of the restaurant as you exit the tunnel.  These semi-circular rooms, with their long comfy couches aligning the entire wall, are quite dark, with a soft glow of blue light radiating from a circular “tray” in the ceiling.  These rooms are so relaxing in nature, that you almost don’t mind the wait to be seated.  While waiting, you’ll look on as glowing drinks are brought to guests, permeating the darker, soft blue glowing area and adding to the relaxing overall ambiance.

The bar itself is another beautiful area of the restaurant.  Darker, warm, woods with lots of glass so the soft lighting, perfectly placed, plays off of the glass and lend its own brand of soft glow.  Upon the ceiling are golden twinkling lights adding to the warmth of the ambiance.  At the very end of the bar area you’ll see the hundreds of wine bottles through the windowed wall, allowing you a glimpse into one of the restaurants “quirky” claims to fame; the largest collection of fine “screw top” wines in the US.  It is told that experts are now finding that the freshest and tastiest of wines are to be found beneath screw tops; not the long believed corks that generally top our possibly outdated idea of the finer wines of the past.  You’ll also find organic wine and beer as a unique offering to sample, as well. 

Moving into the dining area, you’ll find that this area takes on more of warm golden glow.  It’s as if you’re transported from the watery wonderland into an underground mysterious cave of golden walls and waves flowing freely above.  This is accomplished with very modern, contemporary touches such as interesting use of lighting, along with golden waves of metal, encasing the entire ceiling of both rooms.  In the center of each table, you’ll find that the salt and pepper shakers lend their own artistic touch to your table.  Circular brushed silver “pucks” settled into a brushed silver holder will have you initially wondering “what in the world?”  Upon closer inspection you’ll find the tiny openings atop the “pucks” leading to the revelation that you’ve discovered the salt and pepper shakers.  Contemporary art of soft golden colors adorns the walls in a conservative way, careful not to overdue and take away from the feeling of “calm” you’ll experience during your time within The Wave.

Clam Linguini with Tomato Broth

The food, mostly of organic nature, is extremely fresh, with vegetables arriving every other day from local farms.  You’ll find nothing battered and dripping with grease here.  Everything is either grilled, pan seared, or baked.  As a southern girl and huge fan of all things battered and fried, I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive.  However, upon the arrival of our food, we were more than pleasantly surprised.  My filet bathed in a wonderful cabernet sauce, I’ll venture to say, was the best that I’ve had in quite some time.  It was served with fresh warm, dressed greens, and roasted tomatoes and fingerling potatoes hiding beneath the filet itself.  My companion for the evening, (my 9 year old son), opted for a linguini dish, adorned with shrimp, baby clams and a wonderful light tomato broth.  We requested the broth on the side, and the server was happy to oblige.  In all honesty, I was tempted to dig into the remaining broth in the bowl and enjoy it as a soup.  It was that good. My son and I were both extremely pleased with our choices and were eager to give 2 very hearty thumbs up.

Desserts are served in 3 miniature bowls offering various samplings of delectable and interesting sugary delights.  Samplings are grouped in various categories such as “Creamy Indulgence”, “Decadent Flavors”, “Crisp and Crunchy” and “Freshly Crafted Sorbets”.  You are also welcomed to mix and match to create your own personalized, 3 miniature bowl, samplings.  We opted for the cheesecase with raspberry coulis, coconut panna cotta with passion fruit drizzle and vanilla braised pineapple spears on one sampling “plate”.  Then we decided on a second sampling of the homemade and freshly crafted sorbets (pineapple, strawberry, and lemon basil); Again, a “homerun” for The Wave in the dessert department.  I’d say our favorite was the cheesecake and coconut panna cotta, with the vanilla braised pineapple spears coming in last.  Not that they weren’t good……it’s just that for our sweet teeth, this choice didn’t quite offer the sugar-laden dessert that we have personally become accustomed to.  However, this along with the sorbets make for a delightful choice for those desiring something subtly sweet. 

Our dinner for 2 with desserts was around $70.00.  However, I can tell you with confidence that it was money well-spent.  We enjoyed every minute of our hour and a half within The Wave.

In wrapping up my review of The Wave, I must speak briefly about the service.  Our server was Ali, a delightfully cheery fellow, whose disposition was a bit contagious, I must say.  He seemed as if he had found his dream job in serving others at The Wave.  He exuded just that much authentic “happiness” which honestly should be a necessity for all Walt Disney World cast-members.  He was extremely attentive without being overly so.  My son had ordered coke to drink.  After several minutes into our meal, Ali brought over a drink and instructed my son to “just try this one…. on me….it is our own raspberry lemonade”.  My son and I both agreed that this was one of the most heavenly drinks we’d had.  After letting Ali know how much we enjoyed the drink, he continued to bring them to both of us.  When the bill came, the lemonades were nowhere to be found.  Ali is pure perfection when it comes to food service and I would highly recommend that you request a table in his section. 

In summary, I suppose you’ve already concluded that The Wave has become a new favorite of mine and I absolutely can barely wait to visit again.  Like I said – and it bears repeating:  Disney dinging at its finest!

Note:  The Wave serves breakfast, lunch and dinner