With two miniature golf locations, the Walt Disney World® Resort is a paradise for golfers of all ages. Enjoy two wacky 18-hole adventures at Disney’s Winter Summerland. The Winter course takes a zany, snow-clad Florida look to the North Hole; Summer features a visit to Santa on the Winternet with a tropical, holiday theme and ornaments hanging from palm trees. Hippos dance, fountains leap and broomsticks march at Fantasia Gardens. Putt your way through an 18-hole interactive adventure with music and obstacles from Disney’s classic film, “Fantasia.” Or, experienced golfers can challenge Fantasia Fairways, complete with par-3 and par-4 holes ranging from 40 to 75 feet. Whether you’re a mini-golf fanatic or a first-timer, Walt Disney World® miniature golf is a hole-in-one to fun for the entire family.

Excitement is in bloom at EPCOT® theme park this spring with the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV!

Watch Disney spring to life with colorful flowers and gardens, dazzling Disney character topiaries, live music and fascinating programs. Held March 7, 2012 through May 20, 2012, this special event beckons you to be inspired by nature at its finest.

 Festival Highlights

Behold brilliant botanicals, unique gardens and so much more at Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV:

 *Educational presentations at the Festival Center

*Themed weekends

*Special Displays

*Fun for kids

 Designer Presentations

See how green your thumb can be as some of the nation’s top designers help you plan everything from planting your first garden to enhancing your home’s curb appeal. With expert advice from HGTV and DIY designers and Epcot gardening experts, you’re sure to be inspired!

 Topiaries

You’ll find more than 100 topiaries throughout Epcot theme park-including more than 75 Disney character topiaries! Highlights include character topiaries representing Buzz, Woody and Lotso from the Disney® Pixar film Toy Story 3, Lightning McQueen and Mater from the Disney® Pixar film Cars 2, and other classic favorites.

Flower Power Concert Series

Musical entertainment pairs perfectly with botanical beauty during the nightly Flower Power concert series. Enjoy a varied lineup of performers throughout the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, March 7 through May 20, 2012.

March 9 to 11-Jose Feliciano

March 16-18-Starship Starring Mickey Thomas

March 23-25-The Guess Who

March 30-April 1-The Spinners

April 6-8-Chubby Checker & The Wildcats

April 13-15-Paul Revere & The Raiders

April 20-22-The Turtles Featuring Flo & Eddie

April 27-29-Chuck Negron (Formerly of Three Dog Night) NEW!

May 4-6-The Orchestra Featuring Former Members of ELO and ELO Part II NEW!

May 11-13- Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone

May 18-20-Davy Jones

 Please note that Epcot theme park admission is required. Entertainment is subject to change without notice. All concerts will take place at the American Gardens Theatre at World Showcase

43 of the top drivers in the world compete in “The Greatest American Race, “NASCARS biggest, richest and most prestigious motorsports event. This year’s 54^th Annual Daytona 500 will be held a week later on Sunday, February 26, 2012. This move shortens the racing season by one week, which is something the teams and competitors will surely enjoy, and it eliminates the off-weekend typically scheduled in March, which many fans and media partners have said created a drop in momentum in the early part of the racing season.

 One of the most exhilarating ways to experience the Daytona 500 is by going to the Sprint Fanzone. To enter the area you will need either a grandstand ticket or an infield admission. A gate admission ticket is required to access the Sprint FANZONE. Children 12 and under are admitted free to the area with a paying adult. The Fanzone entitles you to the infield to watch the pre-race entertainment, see the drive Introductions, see the drivers work on their cars thru the garage windows, Driver question and answer sessions, see the show cars, and watch the race from the Sprint fan deck. You will also be able to sign the start/finish line before the race.

 If you’re attending the 54^th Annual Daytona 500 you might want to stay at the Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel which is just an hour’s drive away.  The hotel offers complimentary continuous transportation to the Walt Disney World Theme parks and is within walking distance to several stores and restaurants. The hotel boosts 325 deluxe rooms each with a private furnished balcony, high speed internet throughout the entire resort, fitness center, interactive game room, Flamingo Cove lounge, Trader’s Island Grill, Parakeet Café and an official Disney store.  Book early and take advantage of our “Bed and Breakfast” package that includes all-u-can-eat breakfast buffet and make your own Mickey Mouse waffles. For reservations please call 800.348.3765 or book on line at www.LakeBuenaVistaResortHotel.com.

 The First Daytona 500 took place on February 22, 1959, at the Daytona International Speedway. The posted awards for the “500-Mile International Sweepstakes” totaled $67,760. A field of 59 cars took the green flag for the start of the 200-lap race. A crowd of 41,000 was on hand to witness the beginning of another chapter in the history of racing in Daytona.

The finish of the race also went into the history books. The finish was too close to call, but Johnny Beauchamp went to Victory Lane and savored the celebration although the results were posted as “unofficial.”

Sixty-one hours later, Lee Petty was the winner in what appeared to be a dead heat between Petty and Beauchamp – with the lapped car of Joe Weatherly making it a three-wide finish at the checkered flag. A clip of newsreel footage proved that Petty was the winner by a few feet. For additional information visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights on the Streets of America at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park is a breathtaking seasonal display featuring millions of glittering lights perfectly synchronized to holiday music.

The lights are so extensive you may find it hard to comprehend their magnitude. Entire buildings are blanketed in sheets of multi-colored lights, and thousands more lights form twirling carousels, heavenly angels, and even Santa and his reindeer. Approximately every 10 minutes, the lights dim and then dramatically spring to life-dynamically choreographed to traditional holiday music. You have to see the effect to believe it!

As the story goes, Arkansas resident Jennings Osborne and his family were very big on the Holidays. In 1986, Jennings asked his youngest daughter Breezy what her Christmas wish was. She replied that she would like to see their whole house covered in lights. They had quite a large house but Jennings was determined to make his daughter’s Christmas dream come true. The first year the Osborne family covered their home with a modest 1000 red lights. With each passing year, the family wanted to do more. The Osborne’s eventually purchased property adjacent to their own in order to expand on their newfound hobby. The display grew to millions of lights. There were flashing lights, multi-colored lights, custom-made light sculptures and a 75-foot Christmas tree adorned by lights. This drew onlookers from all over Arkansas. Displeased by the resulting traffic jams, the local residents asked that the Osborne family stop the annual display. Legal intervention was sought, and it appeared that the Osborne’s beloved tradition was about to come to an end. When Mickey Mouse got word of this, he offered a venue where the Osborne lights could be shared with visitors from around the globe. In 1995, Residential Street at the Disney’s Hollywood Studios became the home of this dazzling light show. Approximately 80% of the lights that are on display come from the original Osborne collection.

In 2003, Residential Street began undergoing a major renovation in preparation of the new stunt show scheduled to open in 2005. For the first time in 8 years, the Osborne lights were not displayed. Fortunately, a new home was found for this magical attraction. The Streets of America (formerly New York Street) is now hosting the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.

As in years past, once evening descends, this amazing display springs to life. Formerly drab buildings become twinkling light sculptures, while a host of angels fly overhead. Visitors are welcome to stroll through at their own pace. With over 4 million Christmas lights, this is not to be missed. To enhance the experience, Florida “snow” flutters down while Christmas tunes fill the air.

Admission to the display is free with admission to the park, and it’s a MUST SEE if you’re visiting the Walt Disney World Resort over the holidays.

Musical entertainment pairs perfectly with culinary fun during the nightly Eat to the Beat! concert series. Enjoy a varied lineup of classic rock, soul, R&B, jazz and funk hit-makers during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, September 30 to November 13, 2011.

2011 Eat to the Beat! Concert Series Line-up

September 30-October 2, 2011-Taylor Dayne, “Tell it to My Heart”

October 3-5, 2011-.38 Special, “Hold On Loosely”

October 6-7, 2011-Jon Secada, “Just another Day”

October 8-9, 2011-Roger Hodgson (Formerly of Supertramp), Give A Little Bit”

October 10-12, 2011-Billy Ocean, “Caribbean Queen”

October 13-16, 2011-Starship starring Mickey Thomas, “We Built This City”

October 17-19, 2011-Sugar Ray, “Fly”

October 20-21, 2011-The Orchestra starring former members of ELO-New!, “Don’t Bring Me Down”

October 22-23, 2011-Howard Jones, “No One Is To Blame”

October 24-26, 2011-Boyz II Men, “End of the Road”

October 27-28, 2011- Gin Blossoms-New!, “Hey Jealousy”

October 29-30, 2011-Sister Hazel, “All For You”

October 31-November 1, 2011-Hanson, “Give a Little”

November 2-3, 2011-The Pointer Sisters-New!, “He’s So Shy”

November 4-6, 2011-Night Ranger, “Sister Christian”

November 7-8, 2011-Air Supply, “Lost in Love”

November 9-10, 2011-Richard Marx, “Right Here Waiting”

November 11-13, 2011-Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, “Go Daddy-O”

Location: America Gardens Theatre at World Showcase

Show Times: Daily at 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.

Please note that Epcot Theme Park theme park admission is required. Entertainment is subject to change without notice. All songs listed below are for artist recognition only and may not be included in the playlist.

Blue Springs State Park covers more than 2,600 acres, including the largest spring on the St. Johns River. Blue Springs is a designated Manatee Refuge and the winter hone to a growing population of West Indian Manatees.  The spring pumps 104 million gallons of water a day into the St. Johns River. The water stays at a consistent 72 degrees Fahrenheit, making the spring run the perfect haven for manatees when the river cools down in the winter. But there’s more to the park than just manatees. At least 15 threatened or endangered plants and animals call the park their home. A visitor to the park might see Florida scrub jays, gopher tortoises, black bears, and of course, alligators.

For centuries, the spring area was home to Native Americans. In 1766 it was visited by Colonial American botanist John Bartram, but it was not until 1856 that it was settled by Louis Thursby and his family. The Thursby house, built in 1872, remains standing. The spring’s crystal clear; 72 degree water can be enjoyed by swimmers, snorkelers, and certified scuba divers with a partner.

Boat Tours

St. Johns River Cruises and Tours operates daily at 10:00a.m.and 1:00p.m. This is a two hour narrated nature and ecological cruise on the beautiful and historic St. Johns River. See the Real Florida….naturally.

The river is popular for fishing, canoeing, kayaking and boating. Boat rentals are available. To book a River Cruise or for additional information please call the St. Johns River Cruises at 386.917.0724.

 Tubing

 Park visitors can enjoy tubing the crystal clear waters of the Blue Springs run. The entry point is just downstream from the spring boil, and the takeout is approximately a quarter mile downstream at the swim dock. Tubes may be purchased or rented at the park concession located adjacent to the swim dock.

 Blue Springs State Park is a favorite for the locals. They offer two separate picnic areas throughout the park. These are covered pavilions.  Or if you prefer, just find a shady tree and enjoy your picnic. If you are planning to talk a picnic be sure to check with our chef and we would be happy to arrange your picnic.

For additional information please visit http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/.

Imagine a mountain of your favorite Disney plush toys piled so high it seems endless. Gourmet foods…magical gifts…cool collectibles. If shopping is your bag, you’ve found paradise! The Magic Kingdom® Park alone has more than 50 shops, featuring everything from Disney merchandise to unique specialty items. Add to that, the bazaars and trading posts of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, the showbiz gifts and memorabilia of Disney’s Hollywood Studios™, and the global-scale shopping of Epcot® – with trinkets and treasures from eleven countries around the world – and you really can shop ‘til you drop! But, even that’s not all. Downtown Disney® Marketplace features hand-carved gifts, decorative items, name-brand apparel and the largest Disney Character merchandise store in the world. And, you’ll find unique shopping at Downtown Disney® Pleasure Island, Downtown Disney® West Side, Disney’s BoardWalk Entertainment District, and every themed Resort Hotel throughout the Walt Disney World® Resort. From tempting toys to the fabulous fashions, it’s all here.

This year marks the 16^th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, with the theme “Passport to a World of Flavors,” the event with more than 25 international marketplaces will feature tapas-sized portions ($3 to $8) paired with beer, wine and cocktails.

NEW This year:

*Hawaii, the Caribbean islands and Portugal all debut the Marketplaces-look for Kalua pork sliders in Hawaii, Ropa Vieja in the Caribbean and Calamari salad in Portugal.

*The new Odyssey Lounge opens, where guests can check in with friends and family back home, play games and surf the web while enjoying a specialty cocktail or a glass of wine or beer. There’s even a charging station for mobile phones and other electronic devices.

*A new Cranberry Bog display by Craisins tells the story behind the cranberry’s rich agricultural heritage.

*Run Around The Parks, Dine Around The World, While you’re her, join this year’s Inaugural Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon, which will be run on a brand new half marathon course at the Walt Disney World Resort, at night! Race under the stars through Walt Disney World Theme Parks, and enjoy a private after party at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival exclusively for runners and their friends! Plus enjoy a full slate of weekend fun starting Saturday, Oct 1, 2011 at 10:00 pm.

More than 270 chefs will be participating in this year’s event. Some of the top culinarians like Jeff Henderson, Cat Cora, Alan Wong, Gale Gand, Suvir Saran, Jamie Deen, Rock Harper, Celina Tio and more.

Eat to the Beat! Concert Series is back at the American Gardens Theatre with first timers the Pointer Sisters, The Orchestra starring former members of ELO and Gin Blossoms. Taylor Dayne kicks it off the opening weekend.

Also back are First Bites Opening Reception on September 29 (one time only); Kitchen Memories (formerly Celebrating Family and Friends in the Kitchen); Mixology Seminar, and “3D” Disney Dessert Discovery. And of course the grand Party for the Senses!

There’s always fun stuff at the Festival Welcome Center, from a wine bar to tasting seminars and free sessions with cookbook authors.

The Party for the Senses grand tasting events and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. Guests can call 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378) for information and to make reservations for special events and programs. You can start to make your reservations on August 16, 2011. Festival details are subject to change.

Gentlemen, start your engines! July 2, 2011 Central Florida will welcome the 53^nd annual Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.  This race begins at sundown on one of the biggest American holidays of the summer…July 4^th weekend.

 The Coke Zero 400 is a 160 lap, 400 mile night time race run by some of NASCAR’s biggest superstars. This race attracts the sport’s most famous stars and cars in the NASCAR Sprint Series. Fans will get their red-white-and-blue on for all the action at the 52^nd annual race day weekend.

Martina McBride will perform a 60 minute pre-race concert prior to the 53^rd annual Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday night, July 2. All race fans that purchase a Pre-Race Sprint FANZONE access pass for the Coke Zero 400 in addition to a race ticket will be able to view McBride’s Coke Zero 400 Pre-Race Show as well as the driver introductions from the infield grass tri-oval area.

McBride is a four-time Country Music  Association Female Vocalist of the Year, three-time American Country Music Female Vocalist of the Year and a Grammy winning recording artist with more than 18 million in album sales and 24 top-10 singles, including six that reached No.1.

McBride, whose hits include “Independence Day,” “Wild Angels,” “A Broken Wing,” “Blessed,” “Concrete Angel,” and “This Ones for the Girls,” recently signed with Big Machine Label Group’s Republic Nashville and is currently in the studio recording her 11^th studio album that will be released later this year.

In 1959, the race was originally scheduled to be a USAC Championship (Indy) Car event. However, after a crash-filled event in April, open wheel racing on the oval was permanently canceled. NASCAR quickly stepped in and replaced the schedule with a stock car race.

The race was developed to provide a second major Cup-level racing event for the Daytona International Speedway which would not detract from the legendary status of the Daytona 500. At its creation in 1959, the race was 100 laps for 250 miles, and owing to the scheduling on the July 4^th, was nicknamed the Firecracker 250. In 1963 the race was expanded from 100 laps to 160 laps, for a distance of 400 miles, and became known as the Firecracker 400.

In 1985, the race became known as the Pepsi Firecracker 400, when PepsiCo became the title sponsor. In 1989, the “Firecracker” name was dropped, and the race was known simply as the Pepsi 400 through 2007. From 1998-2002, the rave was often subtitled the Pepsi 400, held at Michigan during that period.

The renowned nationally syndicated radio personality, Bubba The Love Sponge® will serve as Honorary Pace Car driver for the 53^rd annual Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday, July 2 and will participate in a special ticket package built around the Independence Day holiday weekend.

 As Honorary Pace Car driver, Bubba will be behind the wheel of the Dodge Charger pace car as he leads the 43 car field to the green flag for the 160-lap, 400-mile Independence Day holiday classic under the lights at Daytona.

In addition to Bubba’s role as Honorary Pace Car driver, a special Bubba Army Tailgate ticket package has been created for the Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola.

With packages starting at $104, admission to the outdoor infield tailgate area includes:

*Grandstand ticket for the Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola on Saturday, July 2.

*Designated infield tailgate parking

*Three drink tickets for beer, wine, soda or water

*NASCAR celebrity appearances and special giveaways

*Appearances by Bubba The Love Sponge® and Bubba The Love Sponge® Show personalities

*Happy hour specials

*Live entertainment and games

Race fans that have already purchased a Coke Zero 400 ticket can upgrade their experience with the tailgating package for just $60.

 Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel is an “Official Walt Disney World Hotel”, located at the Walt Disney World Resort. The hotel is the most affordable full-service hotel in the Downtown Disney Resort Area. The property prides itself on offering amenities normally found in higher priced accommodations including, private furnished balconies, and guest rooms with two queens or one king size beds, with triple sheeting and luxury linens and wireless internet service though-out the entire hotel. The hotel’s contemporary lobby level features a variety of dining and shopping outlets including an official Disney Gift Shop.  Enjoy breakfast at Trader’s Island Grill where you can even make your very own Mickey Mouse waffles. Flamingo Cove offers indoor and poolside dining with daily specials and also serves Pizza Hut Express pizzas.  The hotel also offers continuous shuttle to the Walt Disney World Theme parks and the Downtown Disney Marketplace.

 Book now and take advantage of our Bed and Breakfast package that includes All-U-Can-Eat-Breakfast buffet each morning for two persons. Book online at www.LakeBuenaVistaResortHotel.com or call us at 800-348-3765.

Plunge into the absolute coolest water park that pummels the pools for awesome fun in a fantastic setting. Legend has it that the snow-capped mountain world of Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park was built as a ski resort. Now it’s considered today’s coolest water park. Experience “black diamond” –intensity thrills like the 120 –foot-tall Summit Plummet water slide. Kids will love the “bunny slope” –level areas just for them. Plus, the whole gang can share the relaxation of tube floats and the fun of family fluming together.