What's coming up at Walt Disney World this summer

Walt Disney World is planning a socko summer, with new experiences and attractions. Not all  events will make the earth tremble, but they do sound like fun. Here is just one highlight from each park:

* The American Idol Experience, already underway, lets guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests  audition  and perform or vote for their favorite musical performances. The attraction, of course, is modeled after the enduringly popular TV show. Contestants 14 and older must first ace an audition, then they can display their talents for a shot at appearing on the TV show and other prizes. Any future Adam Lamberts out there? For full details, click here. 

* Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration is a live stage spectacle in Tomorrowland.  This musical revue features an animated version of Stitch interacting live with Magic Kingdom guests.

* Adventurers’ Celebration Gathering takes place near Disney’s Animal Kingdom entrance each evening during park closing and features Mickey, Minnie and many other characters, all clad in khaki and shaking pom-poms as they  urge guests to join in the street party  by dancing to the music and forming a conga line.

* Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure invites Epcot guests of all ages to take on the role of secret agents and save the world from  comical villains and their mad inventions. The "adventure" is offered in seven World Showcase pavilions.

There is a lot more. For a free DVD and details on saving up to 35 percent this summer at "moderate" resorts on Disney property, as well as other deals, visit www.disneyworld.com.

Dynamic duo: cows and corn

The Davis Family Farm in Sterling, Mass., has a split personality of sorts. It caters to children with its farmland, now open, and calls out to adults with its Lost Tomb corn maze, opening July 30. The Davis family calls the Loat Tomb "the world's most complex, 3-D adventure cornfield maze." Farmland tickets for ages 2-59 are $13.95 until June 13,  $16.95 from then through Labor Day, and $13.95 again Sept. 10-Nov. 1. Seniors (60-plus) pay $3 less at all times. Mega-Maze prices are not yet listed. Sterling is about 55 miles from Boston and an hour from Providence, R.I.

    For either attraction, visit www.davisfarmland.com or call 978-422-MOOO (6666).

Prince Edward would have been so proud!

I have always maintained that Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada is a special place. Here's just one example, as reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.: A Charlottetown landlord is thanking the strangers who helped scoop up the more than $10,000 in cash that blew into a city street.  Ian Walker was getting out of his truck to go to the bank when a gust of wind carried the money out of his unzippered deposit bag. Cash quickly scattered everywhere on the busy street.  Walker called out for help and passersby quickly came to his aid, scooping up the scattered bills and returning them to him. When Walker got to the bank he had $10,300, meaning all of the money was returned.

Would that have happened where you live?

The art of Midcoast Maine

A group of bed-and-breakfast inns in Camden, Maine, is offering an artsy Memorial Day weekend package. It features a two-night stay, admission to the Farnsworth Museum in nearby Rockland, a discount in the Museum Store, admission to three Andrew Wyeth films at the museum’s auditorium, an invitation to the opening of the Olson House and attendance at a panel discussion on the Life of Andrew Wyeth on Saturday, May 23,  at the art-deco Strand Theatre. Prices begins at $280.

For information on the inns, visit www.camdeninns.com. 

Travel tip

Bring stamps for postcards with you when you travel. Otherwise, you may spend a goodly part of your vacation hunting for a place that sells stamps. Also, mailboxes seem to be in short supply these days, so it may be best to mail the cards  from your hotel rather than conduct a street search.