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GOTTA BE, CENTERFIELD: A groundskeeper cuts a silhouette of Mickey Mouse’s head into the outfield of Champion Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on Feb. 24, 2011, in preparation for the 2011 Major League Baseball Spring Training schedule. The stadium is the Spring Training home to the Atlanta Braves. The Braves will play their first 2011 Spring Training game Feb. 27, 2011 against the New York Mets. ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is a 220-acre, multi-sport facility at Walt Disney World Resort.

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LIFTOFF!: The new Disney Dream cruise ship is docked in the foreground at Port Canaveral, Fla., as the Space Shuttle Discovery blasts off in the background from nearby Cape Canaveral, Fla. at 4:53 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2011. The mission marks Discovery’s final liftoff for NASA’s oldest orbiter. The Disney Dream is the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, and sailed on its maiden voyage from Port Canaveral last month.

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You can see here that Wood and Buzz are almost ready for their March 2 debut in topiary form at the 18th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Guests will see Woody in front of Spaceship Earth at the front entrance garden. The festival will run for 75 days through May 15 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. and it will feature dozens of Disney character topiaries.

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Magic Kingdom officials have a hunch a really “hot ticket” in their realm this summer is going to be something other than a ride, a snack or a show. Rather, it’s a first-ever opportunity to nail down a time to meet with Mickey Mouse. It’s Mickey’s FASTPASS!

When meet-and-greets with Mickey move into a permanent new location in Town Square later this spring, Magic Kingdom guests will be able obtain a Disney’s FASTPASS ticket specifying a one-hour window when they can return to see the popular character for hugs, photos and autographs — without waiting in the standby queue. It will mark the first time the complimentary, computerized service has been available for a character meet-and-greet at any Disney Park.

Since spending time with Disney characters is at the top of the “must-do list” of many guests, the FASTPASS ticket will allow them to experience their Mickey Mouse meet-and-greets more conveniently. As a result, guests will be able to devote more time enjoying other Magic Kingdom experiences with family and friends.

The new meet-and-greet location, Town Square Theater, will be located inside the current Exposition Hall area just inside the park entrance. Imagineers already are working to completely transform the space for the new experience. “This isn’t just remodeling Expo Hall; it is completely re-imagining this entire venue as a beautiful Victorian-era theater and the new home for Mickey Mouse,” Jon Georges, WDI Director, Senior Show Producer, said.

“Mickey and Main Street, U.S.A. are great examples of pure Americana that complement each other very well,” Concept Designer Jason Grandt said. “We drew a lot of inspiration from classic Mickey animated shorts such as The Nifty Nineties and Mickey’s Grand Opera. Many of the scenes in these shorts look like they take place right on Main Street.”

Guests arrive at a building befitting Mickey Mouse’s stardom — with a grand-Victorian-theater elevation, including a marquee that glistens with gold-leaf trim and sparkles with lights. Inside, there’s a mosaic floor, lush curtains with gold rope tie-backs and polished-brass chandeliers. Imagineers are creating new elements and surprises for Magic Kingdom guests, including an interactive queue — with an extra touch of Disney magic — and highly themed retail shops.

The queue takes guests “backstage,” where Mickey is waiting to greet them in a rehearsal-room environment amid posters, steamer trunks and stage props.

In addition, during the New Fantasyland construction, royalty will be visiting as the Disney Princesses will be in Town Square Theater to meet and greet their loyal subjects.

Currently, guests can visit with Mickey Mouse in Tomorrowland, in a location to the right of Space Mountain. Meet-and-greet experiences with the Disney Princesses are currently at Adventureland Verandah.

Disney is best known for its family entertainment, including the unrivaled Broadway-style musical productions you’ll find aboard Disney Cruise Line!

Honoring the recent addition to our fleet, the Disney Dream, we would like to tell you about “Disney’s Believe.” This original musical, created exclusively for the Disney Dream, headlines the repertoire of stage spectaculars presented in the Walt Disney Theatre.

“Disney’s Believe” introduces you to Dr. Cornelius Greenaway, a brilliant botanist obsessed with his work. You’ll also meet his imaginative and spirited daughter, Sophia, who is heartbroken because her father overlooks her birthday while being preoccupied with cultivating his precious plants.

Sophia then makes a special birthday wish…and POOF! Genie from Disney’s “Aladdin” magically appears in Dr. Greenaway’s garden to teach him a valuable lesson about what’s important in life.

This exciting production features more than 20 of Disney’s most beloved characters who help Dr. Greenaway reconnect with his daughter. Here’s a glimpse at some of the cast.

To truly experience all the magic of “Disney’s Believe,” you’ll just have to see it for yourself.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – A constellation of HGTV design stars lights up the 18^th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 2 through May 15, while “Toy Story 3” heroes Woody and Buzz take Disney topiary magic “to infinity and beyond!” 

Genevieve Gorder, Vern Yip and nine other HGTV design gurus appear for the first time at the Walt Disney World Resort festival during weekend presentations that cover topics ranging from “Life, Love and Landscaping” (Yard Crashers’ Ahmed Hassan, April 8-10) to “Curb Appeal Projects from Concept to Construction” (Curb Appeal: The Block’s John Gidding, April 29-May 1).

Disney’s topiary craftsmen pack powerful curb appeal into the festival’s Future World front-entrance garden where the lead toys of Disney’s Oscar-nominated film “Toy Story 3” meet arch-enemy Lotso (a.k.a. Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear) in a larger-than-life floral spectacle. The popular Disney-Pixar characters hit the sandbox as seven- and eight-foot-tall topiaries surrounded by a sand castle, strawberry-scented field and playground toys featured in the film.  With bold strokes of seasonal color, the topiary display marks the first time that “Toy Story” characters have been featured at the festival. It’s also the first time in seven years that the front-entrance floral display showcases all-new topiary characters, says festival horticulture manager Eric Darden.

Throughout the festival, elaborate floral beds and entertaining exhibits will decorate the park landscape and showcase the extraordinary talents of Disney gardeners.  A blooming Guerlain Fragrance Garden at the France pavilion returns with its never-ending “love story” of the relationship between plants and perfume. At the Japan showcase, the art of bonsai will mesmerize guests who stop at the pavilion’s vermilion torii gate.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history is underway, a project that will nearly double the size of Fantasyland and deliver a new home for Ariel, new ways to interact with favorite Disney princesses, an exciting new family coaster, a double dose of Dumbo and more.

Scheduled to open in phases beginning in late 2012, the new Fantasyland will immerse guests in Disney stories as never before.  Among the highlights planned:

• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, a major, all-new attraction during which guests will travel with Ariel and her friends through their exciting adventures above and below the waves – all against a musical backdrop of songs from the classic film.
• The castle of the Beast, standing majestically upon a hill just across an old stone bridge from Ariel’s new home. The Be Our Guest Restaurant will feature a lavish dining experience in the elegant ballroom, gallery, and mysterious “West Wing” of the castle.  With seating for 550, this magnificent facility will offer “great food fast” service by day and full table service dining in the evening. Nearby in Belle’s Village, guests will find the rousing Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts.
• Just outside the village is Belle’s cottage and Enchanted Tales with Belle. The adventure begins in Maurice’s workshop, where a magical mirror is the doorway to a captivating new kind of storytelling experience: Guests are transported to the Beast’s library to meet Belle and Lumiere, and share in a lively, interactive, re-telling of the “tale as old as time.”

But that’s just the beginning of what guests will discover when the multi-phase project is completed.  Here’s more of what’s in store:

• The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will take guests on a rollicking, musical ride into the mine “where a million diamonds shine.”  The coaster will feature a first-of-its kind ride system with a train of ride vehicles that swing back and forth, responding to every twist and turn of the track.  The journey will be accompanied by music from the classic Disney film and animated figures of Snow White and the Dwarfs.
• In Princess Fairytale Hall, Aurora, Cinderella and other Disney princesses, such as Tiana and Rapunzel, will greet guests in their new home, an elegant royal court on the site where Snow White’s Scary Adventures stands today.
• The sound of the calliope will lead guests to the brand new Storybook Circus and not one but two circling carousels of airborne pachyderms on Dumbo the Flying Elephant.  Before taking to the skies on this Fantasyland favorite, guests can experience an array of fun-filled family games and interactive wonders for kids of all ages inside the Big Top.
• Next door in Storybook Circus, the classic Barnstormer gets a bright new look as well, featuring Goofy as The Great Goofini.  It’s a twisting, turning roller coaster “flight” high above the circus fun.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: Actress/singer Vanessa Hudgens poses Feb. 13, 2011 with the “Beast” from Disney’s animated film “Beauty and the Beast” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Hudgens’ co-stars in the upcoming motion picture “Beastly,” which will be released in theaters March 4, 2011. (Todd Anderson, photographer)