PixieWine offers an easy way to review all of the great demonstrations, seminars and dining experiences of the 2010 Epcot International Food Wine Festival at the Walt Disney World Resort, near Orlando, FL.

With PixieWine you can see about the latest performers for the “Eat to the Beat Concert Series”, find out when the next cooking demonstrations occur or just plan your day wandering around the Marketplace & Promenade of the festival.

So point your iPhone, or other web-enabled smartphone, to PixieWine’s address and get ready to enjoy the best that the 2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival has to offer.

NOTE: PixieWine strives to provide accurate information, but some or all referenced material is subject to change at the discretion of the Walt Disney Co. This application is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by the Walt Disney Co. in any manner. All references to trademarks, copyrights or other intellectual property remain the property of the Walt Disney Co., or their respective owners, and are used for informational purposes only.

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“Captain EO,” the classic musical spectacular that thrilled Epcot guests from 1986-1994, has returned to Epcot for a special open-ended run. The attraction’s return provides new audiences the opportunity to experience the original 3-D production for the very first time, as well as a nostalgic look back for longtime fans wanting to see Michael Jackson in a rare performance created for the big screen.

Twenty-four years ago, Jackson joined forces with Disney, producer George Lucas and director Francis Ford Coppola to create a groundbreaking 17-minute 3-D film experience starring Jackson as Captain EO performing two original songs, and featuring Academy Award®-winning actress Anjelica Huston, and a cast of merry, mythical space characters with dual personalities who undergo magical transformations to become Jackson’s electronic band in conquering the forces of darkness.

The colorful Disney-created characters include: Hooter, the little green elephant-like creature who sneezes wild musical notes through his flute-like trunk; Fuzzball, the orange-haired space monkey with butterfly wings; the Geex, a golden-haired, two-faced personality with two left feet, one right foot and two shaggy heads named Idy and Ody; Major Domo, whose mirrored silver costume becomes a complete set of drums; and Minor Domo with his sparkling purple torso that turns into an electronic synthesizer played by Hooter.

For all its technology, “Captain EO” is first and foremost a musical spectacular and a thrilling space-fantasy adventure. The realism of the 3-D process once again makes it seem that Jackson dances right out of the screen into the theater. While it’s not possible to replicate some of the special effects elements originally in the theater, it will boast a new 70mm print of the film and sound better than ever thanks to acoustical enhancements made to the theater since the film last played there. The total effect is one of motion, color and high energy filled with Jackson’s musical brilliance and various illusions to create an exciting and realistic journey in space for the audience.

During the journey, Captain EO and his merry crew discover a colorless planet where they are confronted by the Supreme Leader (Huston) and her forces of darkness. Using the power of music, dance and light to fill the planet and the theater with all the shades of the rainbow, the EO crew turns the black and white land into a magical world of color and happiness.

The production of “Captain EO” called on Hollywood’s finest choreographers, set designers, costume creators and special effects artists – all of them excited by the challenge of shooting this kind of imaginative film in three dimensions.

“Captain EO” is presented multiple times daily at the Imagination pavilion at Epcot. It replaces “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience” which is planned to return at an undetermined date.

Two exciting additions are coming to Epcot World Showcase, with culinary expansions under way at the Italy pavilion and Mexico pavilion.

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In Italy, an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria to be named Via Napoli is under construction with opening planned for fall 2010 in time for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Operated by Patina Restaurant Group, the same restaurateurs who run the pavilion’s Tutto Italia Ristorante, the 300-seat pizzeria is inspired by Naples 45, another Patina Restaurant Group pizzeria on East 45th Street in New York City.

The casual pizzeria will feature wood-burning ovens – and will import water from a source that most resembles the water in Naples, Italy, home of some of the world’s best pizza dough. The menu also will feature pastas, salads, sandwiches and Italian wines.

The 14,000-square-foot space will include indoor and outdoor dining.

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At Mexico, the popular Cantina de San Angel restaurant is expanding, and will feature 400 seats with al fresco seating for lunch and a perfect place for viewing “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” the nightly Epcot fireworks spectacular.

The restaurant will feature south-of-the border creations from the culinary team at San Angel Inn LLC, who have run both the outside eatery and the pavilion’s San Angel Inn for more than 25 years. Opening also is set for fall 2010.

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Blasts from the past are in store at Epcot, where the curtain rises on popular rock-band tributes June 12 at the park’s America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase. Each evening through July 31 at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m., “Sounds Like Summer” tribute-band concerts drum up lots of nostalgia with hot tunes and cool riffs, from “Satisfaction” to “Saturday in the Park.” The lineup (subject to change):

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June 12-19: Stayin’ Alive – A Tribute to The Bee Gees
June 20-26: Hotel California – A Salute to the Eagles
June 27-July 3: Karin Lawson – A Tribute to Janet Jackson
July 4-10: Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones Tribute Band
July 11-17: Slippery When Wet – The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute
July 18-24: 2U– A Tribute to U2
July 25-31: Beginnings – A Tribute to Chicago

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Guests can Learn more about the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series and all of the “Summer Nightastic!” attractions as well as check out deals for summer travel by visiting www.disneyworld.com/night or by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or a local travel agent.  All special summer events are included in regular theme-park admission.

So for Mother’s Day, my family took a trip back to our ancestral roots and went to Italy to celebrate the day; since the flights were iffy due to the whole volcano things still simmering, we skipped the real country and headed over to the Italy Pavilion in the World Showcase at Epcot.

The restaurant is on its second owner, the Patina Restaurant Group, who has elevated the quality of the cuisine at the restaurant albeit the service is still fairly spotty. The Patina Restaurant Group has about 60 restaurants nationwide and the owners have a belief that culinary excellence is an art form.

The interior is essentially unchanged since the park opened, with Alfredo’s anchoring the spot, with a large indoor dining area and a smaller dining room bordering the exterior seating (which is available after 6:00pm).

The menu is a traditional blend of meat, fish and pasta dishes. It is by no means a deep menu, but the offerings they provide have really been exceptional when we have dined at Tutto Italia.

Dining

We started our meal with a nice cool beverage; araiancata for the kids and a couple of beverages for mom and dad. Since we were celebrating the holiday we tried a Rossini and aPomegranate Cosmopolitan. The Rossini is Prosecco, Italy’s sparkling wine, with strawberries mashed in which made for a delightful combination of flavors. The Pomegranate Cosmopolitan made traditionally but substituting the pomegranate juice for cranberry. Both were quite light and just right for the hot day and to warm up our palettes.

For appetizers, my wife and I both ordered the same thing from the Mozzarella Bar. The Mozzarella Bar is, to quote the menu, “small appetizer choices inspired by one of Italy’s most famous ingredients, Bufala Mozzarella“. We ordered the Carciofi (artichoke hearts), drizzled with a little extra virgin olive oil and a smattering of fresh ground pepper and sea salt. This is one of our favorite dishes at the restaurant; I could have eaten another couple of plates of that and been satisfied, but chose some pasta instead.

For the entree, my wife and I chose separate items. She had the Penne Caprese, tomato, fresh mozzarella, and basil. The fresh basil and mozzarella make this meal spectacular.

While I had a simple bowl of Spaghetti which came with veal meatballs in a traditional pomodoro sauce. I like to judge a restaurant by how well it makes simple dishes. We had not been to Tutto Italia this year, so I ordered the Spaghetti to see if they were on their mark and the chef certainly was. The sauce was nice and light and the meatballs were just the right combination of flavors to complement the sauce.

The kids had the Farfalle with cream sauce, which although I did not try, they finished off rather quickly so I am assuming it was good as well.

For dessert, we had some espresso and a couple of treats. The girls ordered the gelato, which was rich and creamy as it should be.

My wife ordered the cheesecake with fresh strawberries. The presentation of all the dishes was great and the portions were also on the mark; just enough to satisfy your hunger and provide you with the strength to finish off the walk around the park.

Being an Italian kid from Jersey, I had to order the Cannoli. Again, keeping with the premise that if a restaurant can get a simple dish right, I am confident in recommending it and I was not disappointed with the Cannoli.

So that was our Mother’s Day celebration at Tutto Italia.

Wrapping it Up

I did mention the great quality of the food, but I also hinted at some service problems. Being the Walt Disney World Resort, you get used to a certain kind of quality of service, but Tutto Italia has never really lived up that reputation.

We try to dine at the Italy Pavilion at least twice a year and the service is always spotty. This visit was no different; although the staff is always friendly they are never attentive and I had to continually ask multiple times for drinks, cutlery, etc. throughout the course of the meal. I would not avoid this restaurant due to this, but be forewarned that the service can be less than spectacular.

Having stated that however, I will continue to go back to Tutto Italia due to the Carciofi alone. Dining is casual, as is practically all restaurants on property, with moderate pricing for the experience (15-$29.99 per person).  You can make reservations for Tutto Italia by calling (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463.

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There is lots happening all around the Walt Disney World Resort this fall, but one item stands out from the crowd for me. In Italy at Epcot World Showcase, Via Napoli, an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria operated by the Patina Restaurant Group, will feature wood-burning ovens – and will import water from a source that most resembles the water in Naples, Italy, home of some of the world’s best pizza dough.

This 300-seat pizzeria will feature a menu inspired by the famous pizzerias of southern Italy. The menu also will feature pastas, salads, sandwiches and Italian wines. The Patina Restaurant Group also operates Tutto Italia Ristorante at the pavilion.

The 17th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival continues through May 16, 2010. And now Florida residents have two ways to win with a new Web site dedicated to this year’s festival.

At http://www.EpcotGardenContest.com, Florida residents (18 years of age and older) can play the “Grow Your Garden” game for a chance to instantly win a pair of Florida Resident “4-Day Dream Passes” to enjoy the festival – and other favorite experiences and attractions in the Walt Disney World theme parks. Available only to Florida residents, this special ticket provides admission for 4 days to any of the four Walt Disney World theme parks most dates from now until May 25, 2010. (The 4 days do not need to be consecutive, admission is for one park per day and blockout dates apply.*)

Also, as Disney Parks celebrates the spirit of volunteerism in 2010, Disney is awarding to an eligible community organization a garden designed by Disney horticulturists using some plants from the festival. Florida residents nominate their community organizations through the Web site, and one organization will be chosen by Disney. Disney’s master horticulture staff continually creates the topiary, fragrance and interactive gardens for the festival.

Florida residents have until April 30 to enter.

In addition to the contests, http://www.EpcotGardenContest.com features information, photos and video showcasing the 17th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival with its theme “Celebrating the Great Outdoors.” For information on more special offers, Florida residents can call 407/W-DISNEY, their local travel agent or check out the special Florida Resident section on Disneyworld.com.

PixieFlowers

If you are heading to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, don’t forget to pick up PixieFlowers. PixieFlowers is an iPhone map application dedicated to the festival and helping you find your way and make the most of your day. PixieFlowers is available on the iTunes app store today (link opens iTunes app store page) and costs .99¢.

+ Terms and Conditions for the Contest

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. “Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival Grow Your Garden Instant Win Game & Community Garden Essay Contest” starts 3/8/10 at 12:00 AM, ET and ends 4/30/10 at 11:59:59 PM, ET. See Complete Official Rules at www.EpcotGardenContest.com for entry qualifications, participation instructions, judging criteria, prize details, odds of winning Instant Win Game and other important information. Open only to legal residents of Florida who are 18 or older. Void outside of Florida and in all jurisdictions where prohibited.

Sponsor: Disney Destinations, LLC, P.O. Box 10000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000.

Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival is always a signature event for Spring. Showcasing some of the most amazing floral displays throughout the park, the event also showcases great American gardeners who can help you make the most of your green thumb.

PixieFlowers offers a quick and easy way to locate all of the great attractions, concerts, presentations and features of the 2010 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. The applications features sections highlighting:

• Future World
• World Showcase
• Great American Gardener Series
• Flower Power Concert Series
• Just for Kids
• Merchandise Locations

The festival runs from March 3, 2010 – May 16, 2010 and will also feature a Flower Power Concert Series every weekend showcasing some of the most popular music stars through the generations.

Epcot admission is required for the event. Availability is limited for some of the events. Events may also be cancelled at any time without notice.

Since PixieFlowers uses the iPhone’s mapping systems an iPhone using release OS 3.1.2 or greater is required for use with this application. PixieFlowers will not function properly in the park on earlier versions, but can operate with a connection to a wifi network.

Disclaimer: PixieFlowers is not affiliated, endorsed or connected with The Walt Disney Co. in any way.

While much of the country’s landscape hibernates to escape winter’s chill, spring arrives on butterfly wings for the 17th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival beginning March 3 at Walt Disney World Resort. Besides browsing the popular Fawn’s Butterfly House at Pixie Hollow, guests can flex their green thumbs and gather bouquets of ideas for their own spring and summer gardening projects.

This year’s festival, which continues for 75 days through May 16, promises to be “a gardener’s dream-come-true,” says festival horticulture manager Eric Darden, because the early opening features more brilliant color and greater opportunity to soak up gardening tips for successful home plantings. Here are some of the highlights:

Guests can sit in on Disney Gardening at Home presentations, scheduled twice daily each Friday through Sunday, to learn valuable tips that Disney horticulturists employ to keep Epcot gardens thriving. There’s a bonus, too: guests will participate in a hands-on, take-home gardening project.

Celebrity gardeners and authors get in on the fun each weekend when they make appearances and share their own gardening secrets during the Great American Gardeners series.

Families won’t want to miss the festival’s first Community Garden, where carefully manicured topiaries of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy oversee a thriving garden of tomatoes, beans, peppers, herbs and other vitamin-rich edibles.

Guests who like to stop and smell the roses can stroll the Fragrance Garden at the France pavilion, where they can sniff the flowers and plants used to create popular Guerlain perfumes.

Each year, expertly crafted topiaries debut across the park, and this year there are several, including the new American Gothic Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse topiaries at World Showcase Plaza based on the 1930 Grant Wood painting. More than 100 topiaries and lush floral beds decorate the park landscape and showcase the craftsmanship of Disney gardeners.

Guests will find useful and decorative gardening merchandise at The Garden Town Festival Center.

Great American Gardeners Series

Green Thumbs” will have a chance to go to “spring training” during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort.  National, regional and Disney gardening experts will be featured in a series of enlightening presentations each Friday-Sunday of the festival, beginning March 5-7.Topics such as “Easy-to-do Water Features,” “The Small-Budget Garden,” “The Truth about Garden Remedies,” “Creating Backyard Garden Retreats” and many more will be presented on designated weekends during the 17th annual festival, which runs March 3-May 16. Here’s the weekend-by-weekend lineup for March and April:

March 5-7
Disney Gardening at Home: Easy-To-Do Water Features
Great American Gardeners: Florida Fruit & Vegetable Gardening (Robert Bowden)

March 12-14
Disney Gardening at Home: Fun Family Gardening Projects
Great American Gardeners: The Truth about Garden Remedies (Jeff Gillman)

March 19-21
Disney Gardening at Home: What’s Old Is New
Great American Gardeners: Gardening with Heirloom Seeds (Lynn Coulter)

March 26-28
Disney Gardening at Home: Butterfly House-How To Create a Pollinator
Great American Gardeners: The Small-Budget Garden (Maureen Gilmer)

April 2-4
Disney Gardening at Home: Disney’s Horticulture Past-Festival Favorites
Great American Gardeners: Bringing Nature Home (Douglas Tallamy)

April 9-11
Disney Gardening at Home: Irrigation ‘How To’
Great American Gardeners: Stylish Sheds & Elegant Hideaways (Debra Prinzing)

April 16-18
Disney Gardening at Home: Creating Backyard Garden Retreats
Great American Gardeners: Sweet Herbal Recipes & the Creative Herbal Home (Susan Belsinger)

April 23-25
Disney Gardening at Home: Disney’s Top Picks for Mixed Containers
Great American Gardeners: His & Hers–What Makes a Great Garden (Tom & Joani MacCubbin)

The opening-weekend Great American Gardeners presenter, Robert Bowden, is executive director of Orlando’s Harry P. Leu Gardens, which features 50 acres of southern-styled gardens.Disney Gardening at Home is presented at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. each Friday-Sunday, withGreat American Gardeners at 12 noon and 3 p.m. on those days.   All sessions take place at the festival’s Garden Town, located adjacent to Mission: SPACE at Epcot.  The opportunity to attend sessions is included with Epcot admission.

Wrapping it Up

More information about the 17th 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.

PixieFlowers iPhone Application for the Festival

If you are heading to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, you can check out our iPhone app, PixieFlowers. Available on the iTunes App Store today.

Epcot becomes a living jukebox featuring hit songs of the 1960s through the 1990s each Friday through Sunday of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort. That’s when America Gardens Theatre presents Flower Power concerts – a series showcasing artists and groups involved in recordings that climbed the Billboard charts in years gone by.

The 11 weekends of the 2010 Flower & Garden Festival will feature acts that produced 126 Top 40 hits – including 16 releases that topped the charts.Here’s the lineup (Entertainment is subject to change without notice):

March 5-7:  Jose Feliciano
March 12-14: Paul Revere & The Raiders
March 19-21: David Cassidy
March 26-28: Starship featuring Mickey Thomas
April 2-4: Tony Orlando
April 9-11: Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone
April 16-18: Ricky Nelson Remembered featuring the Nelsons
April 23-25: Atlanta Rhythm Section
April 30-May 2: Fran Cosmo (Former lead singer of Boston)
May 7-9: Davy Jones
May 14 – 16: Chubby Checker & The Wildcats

The groups’ shows at America Gardens Theatre are on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. They are included with Epcot admission.Additional information about the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available at www.DisneyWorld.com/flower.

PixieFlowers iPhone Application for the Festival

If you are heading to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, you can check out our iPhone app, PixieFlowers. Available on the iTunes App Store today.

Two exciting additions are coming to Epcot World Showcase, with culinary expansions under way at the Italy pavilion and Mexico pavilion.

In Italy, an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria is under construction with opening planned for fall 2010 in time for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Operated by Patina Restaurant Group, the same restaurateurs who run the pavilion’s Tutto Italia Ristorante, the 300-seat pizzeria is inspired by Naples 45, another Patina Restaurant Group pizzeria on East 45th Street in New York City.

The casual pizzeria will feature wood-burning ovens – and will import water from a source that most resembles the water in Naples, Italy, home of some of the world’s best pizza dough. The menu also will feature pastas, salads, sandwiches and Italian wines.

The 14,000-square-foot space will include indoor and outdoor dining.

At Mexico, the popular Cantina de San Angel restaurant is expanding, and will feature 400 seats with al fresco seating for lunch and a perfect place for viewing “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” the nightly Epcot fireworks spectacular.

The restaurant will feature south-of-the border creations from the culinary team at San Angel Inn LLC, who have run both the outside eatery and the pavilion’s San Angel Inn for more than 25 years. Opening also is set for fall 2010.

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (through May 16) – The curtain will rise on March as Future World and World Showcase are transformed into floral fantasylands as guests roam amid 30 million blooms adorned in artful flower beds, lush rose gardens and floating islands of flowers plus expertly crafted bonsai trees and whimsical topiaries.

For gardening aficionados, there’s a supporting cast of celebrity guest speakers, hands-on seminars and innovative planting demonstrations and exhibits. Gardening tools and other products may be purchased to help guests grow and maintain the perfect garden.

And what better way to finish off the day than live music from bands from the 1960s and 1970s during the Flower Power Concert Series. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the festival, the “way-back” memories pour from America Gardens Theatre, adjacent to The American Adventure pavilion.

More information about the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY(934-7639) or by visiting www.disneyworld.com/flowerfestival.

Most festival activities, including gardening programs and exhibits, are included in regular Epcot admission.