--Spring Savings--

Disney has released additional room-only discounts for guests vacationing between April 20 - May 21, 2008. Discounts include select Value Resorts from $84+ and Moderate Resorts from $139+. The rates increase on weekends. Ask for code CMB. The number of rooms offered at these rates is limited. For details on this and other vacation specials contact INTERCOT's Official Travel Agency, Magical Journeys at 1-570-785-3283, or visit their web site and fill out a quote form.
 

>> Magical Journeys Travel Agency

>> Details & Discussion Here

<<INTERCOT Hot Topics >>

With lots of planning for a Spring Break vacation to the Walt Disney World resort being sought after and shared, the boards have been a flurry of great advice and helpful tips.  Let’s take a look  at the Hot Topics for March 2008!

--World Showcase Activities?--

DisneyJaime sought the advice of other INTERCOTees as to what were their favorite activities in the World Showcase section of Epcot.  Here's some of the suggestions that were offered.

"One of our favorite things to do is grabbing a half yard at Rose & Crown and heading to the garden to listen to British Invasion. They are awesome."-tink2006

"I love to try to catch the entertainment at the different countries and it's my favorite place to shop in all of Walt Disney World. The shopping is especially in Japan and UK."-DNS

"Margaritas at the Mexican Margarita stand!"-IloveDisney71

" Off Kilter, the band that plays near Canada - they are fabulous.  Also, the Chinese Acrobats are pretty amazing and the Japanese drummers are too."-PinKy

--Yearly Picture Spot?--

DisneyTwinsMommy wanted to know if INTERCOTees had any annual picture locations for each of their trips.  Here's some of the locations that INTERCOTees listed.

"The Walt & Mickey statue in front of the castle and the Roy & Minnie statue in Town Square."-Tick-Tock

"We take our picture right outside the train station where they have the Mickey Floral. We also get a good shot of the train station or sometimes the train."-Hull-onian

"There is a great spot over by the Rose Garden in the Magic Kingdom. The castle is in the background"-FenwayGirl 

--Special Meal with Mom?--

sdrinon asked other INTERCOTees where would be a good place to take one's mother for a special meal.  Here's some of the opinions that were shared.

"California Grill, with a reservation during the fireworks, so you can watch the fireworks over the castle. It really doesn't get any more awesome than that."-wire0monkey

"Narcoosee's! The food is fabulous and when we went there for my birthday last year found it really was special atmosphere too!"-Donald's Girl

"Victoria & Alberts would be a great choice"-Tygger7

"I would recommend the California Grill. For the whole package I do not think anywhere else on site compares."-KAT1811

Thanks to our topic starters for asking such great questions, and thanks to all of those who responded for sharing their insight and experiences.

<<Picture Perfect>>

by Stan Kelley Photography

Tired of the same old stiff, stoic portraits? Looking for some fun photos? While some of Stan's clients have more fun than others, you can tell from photos like these …

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… that a lot of folks are having a good time. Stan and his clients plan ahead the where when and how, so the actual shoot can be relaxed and unhurried, with the care and time needed to get photos that will be cherished. Stan will work with you on location pretty much anywhere and any time you want (why limit yourself to photographers at fixed locations?). Plus Stan carefully touches up every image he delivers (why accept "unedited out of the camera" or "auto fixed" photos?). Call or email Stan as soon as you know the dates of your trip or even when are you already at Disney World!

>> Contact Stan!

<<Festival Flowerings>>

The 15th Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival kicked-off March 19th and is currently in full bloom across the park. Here's the highlights of what this year's festival has to offer:

--Peter Pan's Never Land Garden, a children's area along the Imagination Walkway from Future World to World Showcase. The pirate-ship-themed garden will feature whimsical topiaries of Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Tinker Bell and Tic Toc Croc, as well as a shaded play structure. 

--Sweeping Future World flower beds, planted on the shores of East and West Lakes, in the shape of nautical flags representing letters (Alpha, Bravo Charlie, etc.) that spell a message to be decoded by guests. 

--The zany Three Caballeros -- Donald Duck, parrot Jose Carioca and Panchito, the Mexican charro rooster --as topiaries celebrating their new Epcot show, "Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros" in the Mexico pavilion.

--Beloved Disney characters such as Lady and the Tramp and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs make topiary appearances for perfect photo ops in the park. 

--The new Garden Town festival center in Future World East next to Universe of Energy, where guests can find festival merchandise, attend speaker presentations and demonstrations and ask gardening questions of the experts. The Garden Town Kid Fun Fair features interactive activities for children.

--Themed weekend events such as I Dig Bugs, Art in the Garden (including The Florida Highwaymen), Coming Up Roses (featuring Mother's Day Brunch) and Garden Party (featuring a Doll and Teddy Bear event) weekends.

--The popular Great American Gardeners series featuring gardening celebrities and authors from across the country.

--The family-oriented Growing Future Gardeners area, complete with colorful (and tasty) planting ideas for kids and parents.

--A Lift and Sniff Fragrance Garden at the France pavilion showcasing flowers and plants used to create a lineup of popular Guerlain perfumes.

--Disney Gardening at Home presentations during which Disney horticulturists share gardening tips and lead guests in a hands-on activity for taking home.

--Each evening, Flower Power concerts rock the park with live entertainment from top acts of the 1960s and '70s. Acts include The Guess Who, Davy Jones, Jose Feliciano, Petula Clark, Paul Revere and the Raiders and other crowd pleasers.

--Minnie's Magnificent Butterfly Garden, with hundreds of butterflies in a walk-through screened enclosure that includes a live exhibit showing how caterpillars form a chrysalis and emerge as butterflies.

--Kids' activities (in addition to the new Peter Pan's Never Land Garden) including Pluto's Play Zone with climber, Disney character meet-and-greets and daily ladybug releases.

Entry to the festival is included in the price of park admission. The festival continues through June 1st.

<< INTERCOTee Top 5 ... Ice Cream Spots >>

Nicer weather is starting to sprout-up as we head into Spring, and that means the ice cream sundae is starting to come back into season (not that it is every totally out). At a resort destination as big as the Walt Disney World resort, there are soda shops, parlors, kiosks, cafes and restaurants abound where Guests can cool down with an ice cream treat. To help narrow down the frozen field, the Insider has reviewed recent discussions and has compiled the INTERCOTee Top 5 Favorite Ice Cream Spots at Walt Disney World.
 

Coming in at number 5 … Fountainview Ice Cream Parlor

Located in Epcot's Future World, this recently refurbished location serves up ice cream in what use to be a favorite breakfast stop.  Offering ice cream scoops, floats, ice cream sandwiches, milkshakes and sundaes; this nook in Innoventions is sure to hit a technological sweet tooth for passer-bys.

Coming in at number 4 … Plaza Ice Cream Parlor

This ice cream parlor of yesteryear is one of many fashionable merchants adorning Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, but the only one where you can enjoy hand dipped cones or old fashion floats. For a classic cool treat try the restaurant’s signature “Plaza� Ice Cream Sundae; this staple of the dessert world features your choice of ice cream topped with hot Fudge, whipped cream and a cherry served in waffle bowl.

Coming in at number 3 … The Plaza Restaurant

This quaint Victorian parlor on the corner of Main Street and the hub serves up a variety of old fashioned ice cream classics like an Original Banana Split and the Plaza Restaurant Sundae as well as unique ice cream dishes like the Mickeylodean. The restaurants signature Plaza Restaurant Sundae is your choice of ice cream topped with hot fudge, strawberry sauce, crushed pineapple, whipped cream, chopped nuts and a cherry. The Mickeylodean is sure to please for kids of all ages as this vanilla ice cream dish features chocolate “Mickey ears� and cone hat.

Coming in at number 2 … Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

This throw back to the soda shops of the 1950’s American seaboard serves up sundae’s that will fill even the largest of appetites. The shop located at Disney’s Beach Club Resort offers huge signature gourmet sundaes like the Milky Way Sundae, The Fudge Mudslide or the No Way Jose. The No Way Jose, a particular INTERCOTee favorite, is a peanut butter lovers dream comprising of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, peanut butter and hot fudge sauces, peanut butter and chocolate morsels, whipped cream and a cherry. The main edible attraction though is a mountain of tasty morsels known as the Kitchen Sink. This monstrosity of a sundae is scoops of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee and mint chocolate chip, smothered cookie bites, candy bar pieces, whipped cream, cherries, hot fudge, and every other topping in the shop all served up in a kitchen sink.

And coming in at number 1 …Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop

Topping out our list is a sweet San Franciscan soda shop that is sure to please all chocolate lovers. This soda fountain nestled amongst the shops of the Downtown Disney Marketplace serves up a number of deliciously memorable sundaes .  Since Ghirardelli is first and foremost about the chocolate, its no surprise that their flagship sundae is their “World Famous Hot Fudge Sundaeâ€�. This sundae lives up to it’s name featuring two scoops of premium vanilla ice cream overflowing with fresh home-made Ghirardelli hot fudge sauce, topped with whipped cream, chopped almonds and a cherry.

That’s it for the countdown, hope it’s given you some ideas for places to cool off with a sweet treat on your next trip.

<< This Month in Disney History with vizsla  >>

Magical Disney Milestones for the month of March:

1967 – The “Pirates of the Caribbean� attraction and the “Blue Bayou Restaurant� opened in New Orleans Square at Disneyland on March 18th.
 

1973 – Disneyland’s 7th themed land “Bear Country� opened on March 24th. The Country Bear Jamboree attraction became the first attraction to be imported to Disneyland from the Magic Kingdom.
 

1975 – On March 14th the film “Magic Carpet ‘Round the World� was shown for the last time at the Circle-Vision 360 Theater at the Magic Kingdom.

1986 – The “Pirates of the Caribbean� and “Alice’s Tea Party� attractions opened at Tokyo Disneyland on March 8th.

2007 – A 10-year-old giraffe named Nikki gave birth to a calf, named Rori, at on March 26th at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

<< Conclusion >>

That wraps up this edition blooming with great travel tips.  As spring continues to have sprung, the Insider will continue to bring you great travel tips and rev you up for the always busy summer travel season.  We'll be back in a little bit with out monthly columns and even more great tips and info.  See ya real soon!

<< Thank You To Our Sponsors! >>

The INTERCOT Insider and INTERCOT.com are supported by the following sponsors who in turn, help us bring the Magic to you!

<< Thank You To Our Sponsors! >>

The INTERCOT Insider and INTERCOT.com are supported by the following sponsors who in turn, help us bring the Magic to you!

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