Fans of the classic film “The Sound of Music” – and let’s face it, who isn’t a fan – will find a special treat around Walt Disney World Resort this weekend. Fred Bronson, author of The Sound of Music Family Scrapbook, will be meeting fans and signing his new book at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Downtown Disney Marketplace today and Saturday.

The book is an in-depth look at one of the most beloved films in cinematic history through the eyes of the cast, including Charmian Carr, Nicholas Hammond, Heather Menzies, Duane Chase, Angela Cartwright, Debbie Turner, and Kym Karath – the actors who starred as the von Trapp children. It covers the making of the film, as well as stories of the lives (before and since) of these seven adults, who are still referred to as “the kids.”

Through anecdotes, photographs, and replicas of memorabilia, The Sound of Music Family Scrapbook answers the burning questions fans have been asking for years: How did the children learn the songs and dances for the musical numbers? What was it like to attend a gala Hollywood premiere? How did their lives change after starring in such a beloved film? Pockets within the book include a DVD of their home-movie footage and replicas of Heather’s autograph book, Angela’s artwork, and Kym’s letters home to her father, the official movie poster, and much, much more.

A television writer and author, Bronson has many TV writing credits, including episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the American Music Awards. He’s also written books, including Dick Clark’s American Bandstand (with Dick Clark) and The Billboard Book of Number One Hits.

Bronson will be signing copies of The Sound of Music Family Scrapbook on Friday, April 6, at The Writer’s Stop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios from Noon – 2 p.m. and on Saturday, April 7, at The Art of Disney at Downtown Disney Marketplace from 5 – 7 p.m.

Tagged: DHS, Downtown Disney, WDW

Filed: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort

Well, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, presented by HGTV, is in full bloom! And throughout the festival, we at the Disney Parks Blog will be bringing to your attention to some of the exciting new things for 2012.

One of the great horticulture additions this year is called Haiti: Garden of Many Colors. Sponsored by Haiti Originale, the spectacular garden exhibit showcases signature plants, flowers and crops of Haiti and offers information on the cultural heritage, sustainable art and artifacts of the beautiful island.

Sugar cane, mustard, thyme and curly leaf parsley are bounty from the Creole Garden. Guests can also find information on Recyclable Art, Haitian Arts and Crafts, Art in Motion and the Art of Haitian music; and they can purchase Haitian coffee (a major industry in Haiti) and crafts made by Haitian artists.

Located between the Germany Pavilion and the African Outpost in World Showcase at Epcot, the exhibit features a refreshment stand called Bwason Lakay, meaning “Haitian Refreshments” in Haitian Creole, which offers island libations – in both adult and non-alcoholic versions. And speaking of color, the Art in Motion storyboard gives insight into Haiti’s colorful tap-tap buses.

Haiti Originale was formed to help Haitians help themselves by supporting sustainable economic and social development through the promotion of quality Haitian-made products within Haiti and around the world. Their cause mark is “par Haiti – pour Haiti,” which means “from Haiti – for Haiti.”

Organizers of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival have told us that the garden has been a huge success – both with our guests and our cast. At Walt Disney World Resort, we have a large population of cast from Haiti and that speak Haitian-Creole as a second language.

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, presented by HGTV, runs until May 20. For more information on the festival, you can check out disneyworld.com/flower and continue to check back here for more updates.

Tagged: Epcot, International Flower and Garden Festival, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

Greetings from the Sunshine State! We’re back again from the 19th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, presented by HGTV! This year’s festival is in full swing, running now until May 20.

As usual, this year’s event will include favorite elements like beloved Disney character topiaries, “how to” demonstrations and presentations by HGTV, DIY Network and Disney experts, unique gardens themed to the countries of World Showcase, the Flower Power Concert Series and much more.

We recently caught up with another of our special speakers DIY Network’s Jason Cameron filming one of his hit shows “Desperate Landscapes” in Miami. Jason is also the co-host of “Man Caves” on the DIY Network. Jason (appearing March 23-25) gave us the scoop on his seminar called “Working Makeover Magic for Desperate Landscapes.”

You can see Jason in new episodes of “Desperate Landscapes,” on the DIY Network on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT. And “Man Caves” airs on Fridays at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT.

And come out to see Jason and all the other HGTV and DIY Network stars scheduled this year. The list includes: (Talent/dates/subjects subject to change)

• March 23-25 – Jason Cameron, DIY Network’s Desperate Landscapes and Man Caves – “Working Makeover Magic for Desperate Landscapes”
• March 30-April 1 – Camille Styles, HGTV.com, Design Happens – “Planning Garden Parties That Are Simple, But Not Your Garden Variety”
• April 6-8 – Dan Faires, HGTV.com, DanMade – “Planning Your Planting with Terrarium, Vertical Gardens and Small Space Greenery”
• April 13-15 – Brandon Johnson, My Yard Goes Disney – “Bringing Disney Inspiration and HGTV Design to Your Backyard”
• April 20-22 – Meg Caswell, Meg’s Great Rooms – “Tips for Turning a Good Room Into a Great Room!”
• April 27-29 – Monica Pedersen, HGTV Dream Home 2012 – “Make It Beautiful: Designs and Ideas for Entertaining at Home”
• May 4-6 – Antonio Ballatore , The Antonio Treatment – “Design Outside of the Box: How to Personalize, Customize, and Inspire”
• May 11-13 – Carter Oosterhouse, Million Dollar Rooms – “10 Renovation Tips You Need To Know”
• May 18-20 – Genevieve Gorder, Dear Genevieve and HGTV Design Star – “Turning Your Landscape Inside Out”

For more information on the festival, you can check out disneyworld.com/flower and continue to check back here for more updates.

Check out more Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival posts below:

• Celebrating Springtime at Walt Disney World Resort
• Photos For the First Day of Spring at Walt Disney World Resort
• See HGTV’s Sabrina Soto at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 16-18

Tagged: Epcot, International Flower and Garden Festival, Video, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

Each weekend throughout the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, special guests from HGTV and the DIY Network will share their design and decorating expertise with guests.

This weekend, it’s HGTV’s Sabrina Soto (“The High Low Project”), who will take the stage to share her money-saving design secrets with guests at Epcot through March 18.

Tagged: Epcot, International Flower and Garden Festival, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

Greetings from Epcot!

All the would-be secret agents out there will find a great new interactive experience at Epcot this year.

Coming this summer, Disney Phineas & Ferb: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure is based on the wily secret-agent alter-ego of Perry the Platypus – faithful pet to the title characters from Disney’s animated series “Phineas & Ferb.” Although just a simple pet to Phineas and Ferb, Perry turns into Agent P in each episode to help stop the misguided plans of his nemesis, Dr. Doofenshmirtz.

Epcot guests will transform into secret agents to help Agent P thwart some of Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s most daring plots. Agents will use a “high-tech secret agent device” to receive clues for each case. Solving the clues will take agents to different places throughout seven World Showcase countries at Epcot – Mexico Pavilion, France Pavilion, Germany Pavilion, Norway Pavilion, Japan Pavilion, China Pavilion and the United Kingdom Pavilion. Agents will scour each country for clues, evil “Inators,” and – with a little bit of luck – help Agent P defeat Dr. Doofenshmirtz.

Everyone ready to don their fedoras and help Agent P? I can’t wait!

Disney Phineas & Ferb: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure will arrive at Epcot and the current Disney Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure will close in summer.

Tagged: Epcot, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort

Greetings from the Sunshine State! We are off and running at the 19th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV! This year’s festival kicked off yesterday and will run all the way to May 20.

As usual, this year’s event includes favorite elements like beloved Disney character topiaries; “how to” demonstrations and presentations by HGTV, DIY Network and Disney experts; unique gardens themed to the countries of World Showcase; the Flower Power Concert Series and much more.

And we are not the only ones who are excited! Our special guests from HGTV and DIY Network are getting pumped for their visits too – in addition to all the hard work they put in taping their shows around the country. We here at the Disney Parks Blog have been tracking some of them down to get a sneak peek of what festival guests can expect from their discussions.

We recently caught up with HGTV’s John Gidding filming his show “Curb Appeal” near San Francisco. John is here at the festival this weekend (March 9-11) and gave us a sneak peek at his seminar “Designing for Curb Appeal: From the Challenges to the Successes.”

You can see John on the new season of HGTV’s “Curb Appeal,” Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. CT.

And come out to see John and all the other HGTV and DIY Network stars scheduled this year. The list includes:

• March 9-11 – John Gidding, Curb Appeal – “Designing for Curb Appeal: From the Challenges to the Successes”
• March 16-18 – Sabrina Soto, The High Low Project – “Decorating Design Tips, Tricks and Savvy Shopping Secrets”
• March 23-25 – Jason Cameron, DIY Network’s Desperate Landscapes and Man Caves – “Working Makeover Magic for Desperate Landscapes”
• March 30-April 1 – Camille Styles, HGTV.com, Design Happens – “Planning Garden Parties That Are Simple, But Not Your Garden Variety”
• April 6-8 – Dan Faires, HGTV.com, DanMade – “Planning Your Planting with Terrarium, Vertical Gardens and Small Space Greenery”
• April 13-15 – Brandon Johnson, My Yard Goes Disney – “Bringing Disney Inspiration and HGTV Design to Your Backyard”
• April 20-22 – Meg Caswell Holladay, Meg’s Great Rooms – “Tips for Turning a Good Room Into a Great Room!”
• April 27-29 – Monica Pedersen, HGTV Dream Home 2012 – “Make It Beautiful: Designs and Ideas for Entertaining at Home”
• May 4-6 – Antonio Ballatore, The Antonio Treatment – “Design Outside of the Box: How to Personalize, Customize, and Inspire”
• May 11-13 – Carter Oosterhouse, Million Dollar Rooms – “10 Renovation Tips You Need To Know”
• May 18-20 – Genevieve Gorder, Dear Genevieve and HGTV Design Star – “Turning Your Landscape Inside Out”

(Talent/dates/subjects subject to change.)

For more information on the festival, you can check out disneyworld.com/flower and continue to check back here for more updates.

Tagged: Epcot, International Flower and Garden Festival, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

Based on suggestions from fans of Davy Jones and The Monkees that they would love to see Micky Dolenz at this year’s Flower Power concert series, we agreed with fans that it would be a fitting way to remember Davy, who has been a mainstay of the event for more than a decade.

While winter is still in full swing, we at Walt Disney World Resort are already thinking of spring and the 19th annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, presented by HGTV! This year’s festival will run from March 7 to May 20, 2012, and will include favorite elements like beloved Disney character topiaries, “how to” demonstrations and presentations by HGTV and Disney experts, unique gardens themed to the countries of World Showcase, the Flower Power Concert series and much more.

The festival will include special activities for kids like Bambi’s Butterfly House, presented by HGTV; the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden; For the Birds, presented by Nature Conservancy; and unique play structures offer fun for the little ones—the Evos™ play systems for ages six and older and the Weevos™ play systems for ages two through five.

We are EXTREMELY excited to continue our relationship with HGTV, with their expertise and support of the festival returning for a second year. HGTV stars scheduled to appear this year include (Talent/dates subject to change):

• John Gidding, HGTV’s Curb Appeal—presenting March 9 – 11
• Sabrina Soto, HGTV’s The High Low Project—presenting March 16 – 18
• Jason Cameron, DIY Network’s Desperate Landscapes and Man Caves—presenting March 23 – 25
• Camille Styles, HGTV.com Entertainment contributor—presenting March 30 – April 1
• Dan Faires, HGTV.com’s DanMade, Fan Favorite HGTV Design Star Season 5—presenting April 6 – 8
• Brandon Johnson, host of HGTV’s My Yard Goes Disney—presenting April 13 – 15
• Meg Caswell Holladay, HGTV’s Meg’s Great Rooms—presenting April 20 – 22
• Monica Pedersen, HGTV Dream Home 2012 and Designed to Sell—presenting April 27 – 29
• Antonio Ballatore, HGTV’s The Antonio Treatment—presenting May 4 – 6
• Carter Oosterhouse, Million Dollar Rooms–presenting May 11 – 13
• Genevieve Gorder, HGTV’s Dear Genevieve and HGTV Design Star—presenting May 18 – 20

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. The concerts will again groove-ify the America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. throughout the festival dates. Scheduled to appear this year include (Talent/dates/times subject to change):

For more information on the festival, you can check out disneyworld.com/flower and continue to check back for more updates. See you in the spring.

Tagged: Epcot, International Flower and Garden Festival, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort