2016 Flower and Garden Festival Menus!

The 2016 Garden Passport is now available for download here.

The passport gives you all the information from the festival including topiaries, Garden Rocks concerts, weekend events, merchandise and more. It also give a full list of Outdoor Kitchens and what they will be serving.

Here is a rundown of the food being served this year:

URBAN FARM EATS (Near Pineapple Promenade)

• Watermelon Salad with Pickled Onions, B&W Gourmet Farms Baby Arugula, Feta and Balsamic Reduction
• Vegetable and White Bean “Naanwich” with Arugula Pesto and Oven-dried Tomatoes featuring Seeds of Change® Quinoa, Brown & Red Rice
• Seared Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom Ragoût, Spring Vegetables and Marble Potatoes

PINEAPPLE PROMENADE (World Showcase Promenade)

• Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Taro Chips
• Pineapple Soft-serve

LA ISLA FRESCA (World Showcase Promenade)

• Jerk-spice Grouper or Chicken with Mango Salsa, Chayote and Green Papaya Slaw with Lime-Cilantro Vinaigrette
• Jamaican-braised Beef with Pigeon Pea Rice and Micro Cilantro
• Tres Leches with Guava Purée

JARDIN DE FIESTAS (Mexico)

• Tacos de Camarón – Tempura Shrimp Tacos served with Hibiscus Flower, Caramelized Onions and Habanero Sauce
• Corn Tortilla Quesadilla served with Roasted Mushrooms and Zucchini Blossom topped with Green Tomatillo Sauce
• Flan de Rosas served with Hibiscus Reduction

LOTUS HOUSE (China)

• Gaoli Beef Bun
• Beijing-style Candied Strawberries
• Vegetable Spring Roll with Orange Sauce

BAUERNMARKT: FARMER’S MARKET (Germany)

• Chicken Fricassee with Green Asparagus and Peas served with Uncle Ben’s® Rice Pilaf
• Currywurst with Paprika Chips – Roasted Bratwurst with Curry Ketchup and Paprika-spiced Chips
• “Armer Ritter” – Egg Battered Toast with Cherry Compote and Powdered Sugar

PRIMAVERA KITCHEN (Italy)

• Pollo alla Parmigiana – Breaded Breast of Chicken Parmigiana, Tomato, Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese
• Mezze Lune Primavera – Egg Pasta stuffed with Ricotta and Spinach in a Creamy Sauce with Spring Vegetables and Pecorino Cheese
• Cremoso al Pistacchio – Pistacchio Cream, Strawberries and Mascarpone Cream

THE SMOKEHOUSE: BARBECUE AND BREWS (The American Adventure)

• Pulled Pig Slider with Crispy Onions and Coleslaw
• Smoked Pork Ribs with Roasted Corn Salad
• Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños
• Warm Chocolate Cake with Bourbon-Salted Caramel Sauce and Spiced Pecans

HANAMI (Japan)

• Frushi – Fresh Pineapple, Strawberry and Melon Rolled with Raspberry Coconut Rice, sprinkled with Toasted Coconut and Whipped Cream on the side
• Chicken Edamame Bun – Steamed Bun filled with Chicken and Edamame and topped with Curry Sauce
• Beef Teriyaki Udon – Thin-sliced Beef, Onions and Noodles tossed on the grill with Soy and Ginger

TASTE OF MARRAKESH (Morocco)

• Harissa Chicken Kebab with Sweet Couscous Salad
• Falafel Pocket with Cucumber-Tomato Salad and Tahini Sauce
• Baklava

FLORIDA FRESH (Between Morocco and France)

• Kale Salad with Dried Cherries, Almonds, Goat Cheese and White Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Shrimp and Stone-ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes and Cilantro
• Florida Larder Board – Orlando-made Ricotta Cheese, Cahaba Farms Micro Onions, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic, Country Pâté and House-made Pickles

FLEUR DE LYS (France)

• Tarte à l’Onion Alsacienne – Alsatian Onion Tart with Sautéed Onions, Fresh Thyme and Rosemary on a Flaky Puff Pastry Crust
• Cassoulet au Confit de Canard – Pulled Duck Confit with Braised Flageolet Beans
• Macaron Chocolat Framboise – Large Raspberry Macaron with Chocolate Fudge and Raspberry Jam

CIDER HOUSE (United Kingdom) 

Land-harvested Field Greens with Apples, Dried Blueberries, Stilton Cheese and Apple Cider Vinaigrette

• Pear Cider-brined Shredded Corned Beef with Braised Cabbage and Pears and Branston Dressing
• House-made Potato and Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare
• Freshly Baked Lemon Scone with Crème Fraîche and Mixed Berries

You can also try these tasty treats at Sunshine Seasons in the Land pavilion:

• Oak-grilled Vegetable Flatbread
• Tomato and Cucumber Salad

For more on this and ALL Disney news, join 1,000,000 Disney SUPER Fans  on Facebook!

Updated Garden Rocks Concert Series

This year's EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival runs from March 2 to May 30, 2016.

Here is an updated list of the Garden Rocks Concert Series:

• 3/04 - 3/06: The Orchestra starring former members of ELO
• 3/11 - 3/13: Starship starring Mickey Thomas
• 3/18 - 3/20: Little River Band
• 3/25 - 3/27: Village People
• 4/01 - 4/03: Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone
• 4/08 - 4/10: The Guess Who
• 4/15 - 4/17: Blood, Sweat & Tears featuring Bo Bice  
• 4/22 - 4/24: Brian Howe, former lead singer of Bad Company  
• 4/29 - 5/01: Georgia Satellites  
• 5/06 - 5/08: Gin Blossoms
• 5/13 - 5/15: Darlene Love  
• 5/20 - 5/22: Night Ranger
• 5/27 - 5/30 (Monday): The Spinners

 Note: The concert schedule is subject to change without notice.

For all the latest Disney news and fun, join 1,000,000 Disney SUPER Fans on Facebook!

How to Stop Facebook Scams!

Free trips, free tickets, free prizes! Facebook is certainly full of them. However, before you jump on that next great offer, pull back that itchy clicking finger and take a minute to really LOOK at what you are sharing. If it looks to good to be true, it usually is. Many of these "offers" floating around Facebook are scams and some can be VERY harmful. In many cases, a quick Google search or a look at Snopes.com will instantly tell you the ad you're seeing is a fake. When deciding what to click on Facebook, a little common sense goes a long way!! Here are some common things you should be looking at before sharing:

This is the latest offer to come through my groups. This particular scam has been circulating since last year and can cause major problems for you! Let's examine it.
1. READ THE CAPTION! Every Disney fan in the world knows that Disneyland has been celebrating their 60TH anniversary all year long. We also know that Walt Disney World is in it's 45th year. So, there is your first red flag.
2. The "ticket" say Walt Disney World and the caption reads "Disneyland". This is NOT an error the company makes.
3. Look at the "website" listed at the bottom. Dot "xyz" is not a valid domain! This is your next tip-off that clicking this link is leading you to a place you do NOT want to go. Most, BUT NOT ALL, of these offers are using the .xyz extension. So even if you see one that doesn't, you still need to be careful.

Now, I've already mentioned this scam has been around since last year and I'm sure you have seen it without even knowing! That's because they have used McDonald's, Burger King, Walmart, Aldi, Target, Rolex, Netflix and just about EVERY major company name in the country to draw you in. But the results of trying to claim these "free" prizes is all the same and it is NOT good. Aside from not giving you anything, they can cause big problems for you. Let's take a look at how:

When you click on these offers, it will take you to a page that leads you believe you are still getting what you want. All you need to do is send this ad to 5 groups. Well, that's your first problem. Many group admins, like myself, who are tired of combating this onslaught of spam have decided that it's much easier to just ban members who share this junk in their groups. You can find yourself losing membership to some of your favorite FB groups by posting these. But that's the least of your problems. Clicking these links also is giving them access to your profile. Soon, you will find out that unbeknownst to you they are posting their spam, phishing and sometimes PORNOGRAPHIC ads to all your groups from YOUR profile! This will definitely get you thrown out of a lot of groups and can also get you locked out of your entire Facebook profile. But what's worse is these hackers are now gaining access to your computers and devices where they can access valuable personal information that could end up costing you BIG financial problems.

Aside from the trouble you are causing for yourself, you are also putting your friends and family at risk by sharing these phony links. Another popular scam is the free Disney trips. You will see a free trip being offered by Walt Disney World or Disney Cruise Line or some other major company. You click to enter and find a page like the one shown here. BEFORE you share that link, let's think about a few things:
1. Any legitimate contest by Disney will be listed on their official website, such as disneyworld.com or disneycruise.com. Check their website first to see if it's real.
2. Walt Disney World is the number one vacation destination in the world! This FB page has 14,000 likes. Seriously? The real Disney Facebook pages have followers in the tens of millions!
3. See that period at the end of the name? That's a dead giveaway. Copycat pages will have a random period, hyphen, comma or some other punctuation that will tip you off. Also, you can see that the rest of the page has no real Disney posts or news other than the "giveaways".

Also, official Facebook pages will have the checkmark in the circle at the end of their name to let you know they are verified as real.





These are just some of the ways scammers can draw you in. Sadly, they will always come up with new ideas. The only way to stop the harm they cause is by not helping them!! Whether it's Disney, or an "abused" animal, or a "sick" child, or an amazing free offer, ALWAYS take a few minutes to verify that what you are sharing is authentic. Keep yourself and your friends safe by REPORTING these fake links to Facebook. Do NOT share them on your wall or in groups. If you want to post a warning to people, do NOT share the link. Take a screenshot instead to show others. Always THINK before you CLICK!

To keep up on all the latest and talk Disney all day long, join 1,000,000 Disney SUPER Fans on Facebook!

Crime Wave hits Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa

The Orlando Sentinel reported today that the Orange County Sheriff's Office has been investigating a rash of burglaries at the resort in recent weeks.

They have received reports of more than 20 thefts since late December. Several arrests have already been made, but investigations are still open.

To read the full article, click here.

To keep up on ALL Disney news, join 1,000,000 Disney SUPER Fans on Facebook!

Beware of fraudulent credit card charges if you dined at Yak & Yeti

If you dined at Yak & Yeti in Disney's Animal Kingdom or any other restaurant owned by Landry's, Inc or Golden Nugget Hotels and Casinos during certain time frames last year, you may want to pay close attention to the charges on your credit card statement.

Landry's launched an investigation in December after receiving reports of suspicious activity on credit cards used in several of their locations. That investigation has been concluded. Apparently, the Landry's-owned locations of Rainforest Cafe and T-Rex Cafe in Walt Disney World were not affected by this breach, but Yak & Yeti was.

To read the full report, click here.

To see a detailed list of affected locations, click here.

Keep up on all the latest Disney news! Join 1,000,000 Disney SUPER Fans on Facebook!

Ultimate Walt Disney World Bucket List Top 100!

When you think of a visit to Walt Disney World, the usual things come to mind: a ride on It's A Small World, watch a parade, meet a princess. But, there is a never-ending, ever-changing list of things to see and do that you may not think about, or even know about! The one thing we all know is that there is NO WAY you can do every thing in one trip, and it's very likely you can't do everything in multiple trips, but it's still fun to try! So we have compiled this "ultimate" bucket list. See how many you have already done and how many you put on your "to-do" list for your next trip! Be advised, you may find a few experiences that are no longer available, but WDW is always adding great new things to try.

Magic Kingdom

1. Be chosen as the Family of the Day
2. Ride the Main Street Trolley
3. Be in the park before opening 
4. Watch the Dapper Dans perform
5. Pull the sword from the stone
6. Be chosen as Grand Marshall in a parade
7. Try a Dole Whip
8. Find a paintbrush on Tom Sawyer Island
9. A member of your party is "that guy" at Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
10. Try a turkey leg
11. Ride all 3 mountains in one day: Splash, Space and Big Thunder
12. Attend Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
13. Attend Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
14. Stay in Cinderella Castle Suite
15. Purchase and wear a Disney ear or character hat in the park
16. Try the Gray Stuff
17. Eat a Mickey Ice Cream bar
18. Try LeFou's Brew
19. Visit Talking Mickey Mouse
20. Get a haircut at Harmony Barber Shop
21. Play Sorcerers of Magic Kingdom
22. Take the Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour
23. Take the Family Magic Tour
24. Take the Keys to the Kingdom Tour
25. Take the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour
26. Stay to see the Kiss Goodnight

EPCOT

27. Attend the Food & Wine Festival
28. Attend the Flower & Garden Festival
29. Try a Beverly at Club Cool
30. Complete a World Showcase Passport
31. Ride the Gran Fiesta Tour in Mexico
32. Watch Reflections of China
33. Watch Impressions de France
34. See The American Adventure
35. Watch O Canada
36. Pick a pearl in Japan
37. Take the Behind the Seeds Tour
38. Take the Backstage Magic Tour
39. Take the World Showcase: DestiNations Discovered Tour
40. Take the Undiscovered Future World Tour
41. Snorkel in the the EPCOT Seas Aqua Tour
42. Meet the dolphins at the Dolphins in Depth Tour
43. Scuba dive at EPCOT DiveQuest
44. Watch Holiday Storytellers

Disney's Hollywood Studios

45. Attend Star Wars Weekend
46. Dine with an Imagineer
47. Be chosen to participate in the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular
48. Check out the celebrity footprints in front of the Chinese Theater.
49. Take a photo at the Singin in the Rain umbrella
50. Get the high score on Toy Story Midway Mania
51. Get a "ticket" from the Citizens of Hollywood policeman
52. Take a photo on the Star Wars speeder

Animal Kingdom

53. Take the Backstage Tales Tour
54. Take the Wild Africa Trek Tour
55. See DiVine perform
56. Get a Wilderness Explorer badge
57. Pet the animals at Conservation Station
58. See Wes Palm
59. Squirt people from the bridge on Kali River Rapids

Disney Springs

60. Take a ride on Characters in Flight
61. Play at Disney Quest
62. See Cirque du Soliel
63. Get food from a food truck
64. Ride an amphicar
65. See a glass-blowing demonstration at Arribas Brothers
66. Get a sample at Ghirardelli Chocolate
67. Visit Santa Claus at Disney Springs

All Around the Resort

68. Find a Hidden Mickey
69. Ride in the front car of the monorail
70. Ride the Ferry across Seven Seas Lagoon
71. Visit Blizzard Beach
72. Visit Typhoon Lagoon
73. Participate in a Run Disney race
74. Attend Mickey's Backyard BBQ
75. Make a pressed penny
76. Eat a Kitchen Sink sundae
77. Visit all four parks in one day: MK, AK, DHS and EPCOT
78. Eat at a character meal
79. Dine at Victoria and Albert's
80. Attend Hoop Dee Doo Revue
81. Trade Disney pins
82. Do a night safari at Animal Kingdom Lodge
83. Visit a resort spa
84. Have a caricature done
85. Play at Winter Summerland
86. Play at Fantasia Gardens
87. Visit Tri Circle D Ranch
88. See a movie under the stars at a Disney resort
89. Waterski or parasail on Seven Seas Lagoon
90. Go to Chip and Dale's Campfire
91. See Electrical Water Pageant
92. See Gingerbread House at Grand Floridian
93. Take a carriage ride at Port Orleans
94. Take a wagon ride at Fort Wilderness
95. Watch the pianist at Grand Floridian
96. Stay at a Disney Value Resort
97. Stay at a Disney Moderate Resort
98. Stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort
99. Camp at Fort Wilderness Campground
100. Get character autographs

Believe it or not, there are a TON more fun things to do that we didn't mention. Did we miss one of your favorites? To discuss all this and much more, join 1,000,000 Disney SUPER Fans on Facebook today!!

Disney's 2016 Film Release Overview

The Walt Disney Studios will release 7 new family-friendly films in 2016. Here is a brief overview. Which one are you most excited to see??? (This Johnny Depp fan can't wait for the Mad Hatter's return!)

1. Zootopia - opens March 4

This animated Disney movie takes place in an all animal city called Zootopia where a fox, voiced by Jason Bateman, is "framed for a crime he didn't commit." The city's top cop, a rabbit voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin is after him before they both get caught up in a conspiracy, which eventually leads to a friendship. Idris Elba and J.K. Simmons also appear in the film as Elba voices Chief Bogo and Simmons voices Mayor Lionheart. 

2. Jungle Book - opens April 15

The 1967 animated classic comes to life thanks to "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau. "The Jungle Book" tells the story of a boy named Mowgli (Neel Sethi) who is raised by animals in the jungle. The movie has an all star cast with Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Christopher Walken and Ben Kingsley. 

3. Finding Dory - opens June 17

The long-awaited sequel to Finding Nemo finally arrives in 2016. Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) will be looking for her family with the help of Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (Hayden Rolence). The forgetful fish will also learn about "the true meaning of family" along the way.

4. Alice: Through the Looking Glass - opens May 27

Six years after Tim Burton directed the remake, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) will return to Wonderland to save the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) from Time (Sacha Baron Cohen). Alice will quickly learn Wonderland has gone through many changes in the years she's been gone and is now darker.

5. The BFG - opens July 1

"The BFG" or "Big Friendly Giant" is based on the popular children's book written by Ronald Dahl in 1982. Steven Spielberg directs this adaption about a girl named Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) coming across a giant (Bill Hader), who turns out to be kind, unlike the other giants who choose to eat children. 

7. Pete's Dragon - opens August 12

Bryce Dallas Howard stars in this remake of the 1977 Disney movie. An orphan looks to get away from "abusive adoptive parents" when he befriends a pet dragon. Robert Redford and "American Horror Story" star Wes Bentley will also be in the movie.

8. Moana - opens November 23 

A young girl named Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) is in search of a "fabled island" in this animated flick. She will use her acute sense of direction to find it along with the help of a demigod named Maui (Dwayne Johnson). Peoplereported Moana is the next Disney princess and Cravalho said Moana is going to be an "amazing character." 

"She’s brave, she is so empowered, she knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to get it, and I think that’s something that I can relate to as well," Cravalho dished. "I just love watching how she goes along in this wonderful movie and grows as a person and helps her culture along the way."