THANK YOU BOBBY!: Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox smiles as he sits in the dugout at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, March 31, 2010, prior to the start of his final game at the complex’s Champion Stadium. Cox is retiring as Braves manager following the 2010 season, and has trained the Braves each spring at Walt Disney World Resort since the sports complex opened in 1997. The Braves faced the Houston Astros in their final spring training home game of 2010 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (David Roark, photographer)
CUSTOMIZED AND TRICKED-OUT RIDES: Kids of all ages can now build the toy car of their dreams at the newly-opened Ridemakerz at Downtown Disney West Side at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The fun shifts into overdrive at this interactive experience as guests move through various shop zones and choose from dozens of bodies and paint jobs, rev it up with various sound effects, and customize with colored treads, pinstriping, radical wheels, decals, spoilers and more. More than 649 million possible variations are offered including a remote control option. Ridemakerz is located in the space previously occupied by Virgin Records Megastore.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – At the Walt Disney World Resort two exciting additions are coming to Epcot World Showcase, with culinary expansions under way at the Italy pavilion and Mexico pavilion.
In Italy, an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria is under construction with opening planned for fall 2010 in time for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Operated by Patina Restaurant Group, the same restaurateurs who run the pavilion’s Tutto Italia Ristorante, the 300-seat pizzeria is inspired by Naples 45, another Patina Restaurant Group pizzeria on East 45th Street in New York City.
The casual pizzeria will feature wood-burning ovens – and will import water from a source that most resembles the water in Naples, Italy, home of some of the world’s best pizza dough. The menu also will feature pastas, salads, sandwiches and Italian wines.
The 14,000-square-foot space will include indoor and outdoor dining.
At Mexico, the popular Cantina de San Angel restaurant is expanding, and will feature 400 seats with al fresco seating for lunch and a perfect place for viewing “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” the nightly Epcot fireworks spectacular.
The restaurant will feature south-of-the border creations from the culinary team at San Angel Inn LLC, who have run both the outside eatery and the pavilion’s San Angel Inn for more than 25 years. Opening also is set for fall 2010.
