May 2001 WDW Bits and Bites

Feature Article

This article appeared in the May 1, 2001, Issue #84 of ALL EARS® (ISSN: 1533-0753)

Happy Birthday!!!!

Muppet Vision 3D opened 10 years ago at the Disney-MGM Studios, May 16, 1991.

Port Orleans (now the Dixie Landings-French Quarter) opened 10 years ago, May 17, 1991.

It's a Small World debuted at Disneyland 35 years ago, May 28, 1966.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Flower and Garden Festival

The Eighth Annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is the best yet. I was so excited to see all the new exhibits, topiaries and sculptures. Almost all the character topiaries have been moved into Future World and new topiaries have been scattered throughout World Showcase. This year's new displays and demonstrations showcase more color and are even more innovative. If you were growing a bit tired of the same ol' same ol' (as I was), be sure to head to Epcot between now and June 2nd!

This year's Festival Poster is a beautiful water color of the China Pavilion, created by Steve Rogers.

Each weekend of Flower and Garden Festival has a special theme: Art in the Garden, May 4 – May 5; Mother's Day, May 11 – May 13; Plants for Health, May 18 – May 20; I Dig Bugs, May 25 – May 27; and Kids' Weekend, June 1 – June 3.

Deb's Not to Be Missed List:

  • -The Topiary Character Bus – Epcot Entrance
  • -Opportunity Garden for gardeners with special needs Future World East
  • -Orchids in Bloom & the Floss Silk Tree – Mexico
  • -Troll Topiary – Norway
  • -Panda Topiary & Begonia Columns – China
  • -Patio Palette – Italy
  • -Bug Adventure Garden for Kids of All Ages – Outpost
  • -Bonsai Exhibits – Japan
  • -Swan Topiary – France
  • -Rose Walk – Imagination Walkway

The America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase is home to the Flower Power Concerts. Show times are 4:30, 5:45 and 7:10 p.m.

  • Yardbirds – May 1-3
  • Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone – May 4-6 (May 6 shows: 1:30 & 3 p.m.)
  • Classic Rock All Stars – May 7-10
  • Marshal Tucker Band – May 11-13
  • Bad Finger – May 14-15
  • The (New) Rascals – May 16-17
  • Paul Revere and The Raiders – May 18-20
  • Starship – May 21-24
  • Gary Puckett – May 25-28
  • The Buckinghams – May 29-30
  • Arlo Guthrie – May 31, June 1-3

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Celebrating the Empress Lilly

Longtime WDW visitors still remark how they miss dining aboard the Empress Lilly, the beautiful replica of an 1800s Mississippi sternwheeler docked in Downtown Disney. Much work went into the re-creation, including a huge dredging project.

The riverboat, which took more than a year to build, measures 220 feet long and is 62 feet high. The smokestacks are 84 feet high! The decor is absolutely beautiful with deep mahogany walls, plush carpeting, stained glass windows and ornate furniture.

Lillian Disney, the boat's namesake, christened the Empress Lilly on May 1, 1977! It closed for an extensive rehab in 1995 and then reopened 5 years ago (May 10th) as Fulton's Crab House!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Entertainment Update

Courtesy of Steve Soares Webmaster of the UNOFFICIAL Walt Disney World Entertainment site: http://wdwent.com

Last chance to catch Blamann (Norway)! They had a one-year contract with Disney and never planned to continue beyond that.

Jonita and Butch have been performing in Norway as "Spelmanns Gledje" and France as "Mélodies de Paris". They'll soon be performing in Canada as well.

Blast! is a drum and bugle corps that will be appearing in the America Gardens Theatre after the Flower Power concerts are completed. Their website is http://blasttheshow.com

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

WDW Pin Trading Update
courtesy of dizpins.com

April saw a very exciting pin month at WDW. On April 22, 2001, Earth Day, the Animal Kingdom hosted a "roaring" good time in the "jungle", celebrating the Pin Countdown Event. We have heard nothing but rave reviews on how this event was celebrated!!

Many new pins were released, including a LE 1000 Bamboo Mickey Pin, which has Mickey eye-to-eye with a giraffe!! A gorgeous "Artistry of the Animals" LE Spinner Pin was released, as well as "whimsical" animal pins including a lion, giraffe, rhino and elephant. Five new "Safari Animals of the Animal Kingdom" series pins featuring stylish new safari guide card backs and all new animal designs were also released. Artists were on hand to sign the gorgeous pins they designed. A special surprise release was the DinoRama! Pin to celebrate the opening of this attraction in the year 2002.

The highlight of the celebration had guests partake in a "Disney's Animal Kingdom Pin Adventure". Guests received their complimentary "Field Guide" and then embarked on an exciting adventure that took them to the far reaches of Harambe Village, Dinoland, Asia, and other parts unknown. At each destination on their trek they sought the answer to a trivia question or traded pins with cast members to receive a special Safari mark. Guests who completed their journey will receive a special commemorative "3rd Anniversary" Disney's Animal Kingdom pin in the mail. All we can say about the event is Hakuna Matata!!!

April also had guests at the WDW Resort participate in an Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday!! Guests had to "hunt" for 6 Egg Pins, each being a LE of 1000. There was a total of 6 different Easter Egg Pins, one for each of the Parks, one for Downtown Disney and one for the Resorts. The 1000 pins within each area were divided by several different locations and popped up all Easter Day long.

So what's in store for May???? On May 16, 2001, Disney-MGM Studios will host their Pin Celebration Countdown Event. May will also see the release of many new pins including a Mother's Day LE pin featuring Duchess and Marie and a LE 2000 Happy Memorial Day Pin.

May will also premiere the release of a new series of pins called the Princess Series — each pin will be a LE of 3000. Graduation event pins will also be released, as well as a few surprises along the way. And look for some open edition spinner pins at Epcot!!

Dizpins Pin Tip – If you are tired of losing your pins from your lanyard or are tired of them turning around in your pin bag, use rubber pin backs. The rubber pin backs will hold them tighter and you will lose fewer of those precious pins!!

Happy pin trading!!!

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.