Anne's blog

Time to update your Magic Kingdom map! You can visit Tinker Bell and her fairy friends at a new character greeting area in Mickey's Toontown Fair, one of the best places for character interaction at Walt Disney World.

The Imagineers have sprinkled their pixie dust over the Toontown Hall of Fame, nestled between Mickey's and Minnie's houses in Toontown ... and created a new greeting area. Guests are "transported" to a magical forest called "Pixie Hollow," a special place deep in the heart of Never Land.

Isn't Disney magic wonderful?

Tinker Bell (of course, you recognize her in the center of this photo) is most famous at Peter Pan's pal in the 1953 Disney animated classic. Since then, she's been the hostess for many Disney television specials and for "flying" above the Disney theme parks. Tink is joined inside Pixie Hollow by four fairy friends: Iridessa (left), a light fairy; Rosetta (second from left), a garden fairy; Silvermist (second from right), a water fairy; and Fawn (right), an animal fairy.

So it looks like taking "the second star on the right" to reach Never Land just got a little bit easier... thanks to this last update to the Disney World maps!

This very cool article in the Orlando Sentinel, Talent hub for theme parks lies in Orlando-area, really echoes what makes Walt Disney World vacations so special.... It really is all about the people ... or cast members, in Disneyspeak. The article talks about the number of businesses focused on creating themed entertainment that have sprung up in Florida. And it hits the nail on the head with this quote:

The industry's unique aspects require not just unique skills but a special frame of mind, said Jerry Aldrich, a former Disney executive and now president of Amusement Industry Consulting in Orlando. Those unique aspects, he said, show up in something as complicated as coordinating the ride systems, themes and special effects needed to create an attraction such as the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man -- or in something as simple as knowing where to place the bathrooms, or how many toilets to install.

Disney folks consistently prove they have that mindset by building and operating the kind of vacation destinations that makes guests want to return again and again. So when you're studying your Disney World map as you plan your next vacation, take a few minutes to notice how perfectly the park is arranged... the flow of attractions, restaurants, shops, entertainment, even the restrooms ... so that you can get the most of your Disney vacation!

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.

So all of the Disney World map guides have been updated to say "Disney's Hollywood Studios. I just have to ask: What's in a name?

Some bloggers and Disney critics ask if the new name more than just a way to avoid issues related to the original partnership with MGM Studios. Read more

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