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Valentine’s Day update to ‘The
Magic, The Memories, and You!’ projection show coming to Walt Disney World
Just in
time for Valentine’s Day, Cinderella Castle and “it’s a small world”
will be covered in red roses and then turned into a beautiful,
star-filled sky. During part of the show, spectacular stained glass
windows grace the façades, depicting the stories of Cinderella, Snow
White and Belle and, we hear, another version of the show will soon
debut with another romantic theme. So, in time for Valentine’s Day,
beginning February 3, romantic folks will have the opportunity to see
Cinderella Castle adorned in hues of red and pink with rose pedals,
thorny bushes, and images of classic Disney tales of romance. One of
our favorite moments comes when the king and queen from “Tangled” appear
on a balcony, lifting a single lantern to the sky for their missing
daughter. It’s soon joined by hundreds of others, creating a magical
sight sure to draw “oohs” and “ahhs” from the crowd. Of course, the most
heart-warming part of any segment is the images of OUR GUESTS, captured
by Disney photographers during the day and incorporated into the show
each night.
Magic Kingdom's Castle Show
Photos of Epcot's
International Flower & Garden Festival:
Flower Power Concert
Series (at International Flower Festival):
There is still time to assemble your fellow princesses for Disney's
Princess Half Marathon Weekend. The royal affair will bring women of all
ages together for a half marathon, a 5K, kids' races, and a health & fitness
expo. Yep, to Mickey, every woman is a princess and he's sure to ask you
which princess are you? The Disney Princesses are
the inspiration for the weekend's events which will focus on the attributes
every princess possesses: commitment, courage, determination, fantasy,
perseverance, and strength.
>>>Atlanta Braves
Spring Training (Early Spring, 2012)
Baseball fans can catch some major league
action when the Atlanta Braves take the field for spring training. First
game is March 3 and last game is April 2. There are, of course, many other
teams who have spring training close to our homes in the I-4 corridor:
Detroit Tigers (Lakeland), Houston Astros (Kissimmee), Philadelphia Phillies
(Clearwater), and New York Yankees (Tampa)! This year, some of Major League
Baseball's marquee teams, including the reigning World Series Champion St.
Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees, will take on the Braves during their
spring training. In fact, the Cardinals and Yankees, as well as the New York
Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, make up the core of the Braves' 18-game home
schedule at Champion Stadium. The Cardinals face the Braves on March 19. The
Yankees visit twice, Saturday March 10 and Wednesday March 28, and the New
York Mets come in three times, March 9 and 23 and the spring home finale
April 2.
>>>Epcot
International Flower & Garden Festival (March 7-May 20)
In 2012, the Epcot International
Flower & Garden Festival will be held from March 7 through May 20 . Each
year this event features impressive displays of Disney characters made with
flowers and plants. Beyond these characters, there are also many other
components of the festival. Designer presentations can help you plan
everything from planting your first garden to increasing the curb appeal of
your home. Experts from HGTV and Epcot provide a range of innovative
gardening ideas throughout this festival. In addition, this festival also
includes a concert series; our favorite! If you want to attend the Epcot
International Flower & Garden Festival, all you need to do is visit the
Epcot theme park. Some visitors plan trips exclusively to Epcot, while
others work the festival into a larger family Disney trip.
If you're thinking about attending the Epcot
International Flower & Garden Festival you might be wondering what to
expect. This annual festival takes place both indoors and outdoors and is an
all day affair. The gardening fun gets started on March 7, but some savvy
travelers wait a few weeks to attend in order to let the flowers and plants
grow and thrive. In 2012, the festival will last through May 20. A number of
Disney-Pixar characters have been featured in the topiaries, including kids'
favorites like Buzz and Woody from Toy Story. Another festival highlight
that both kids and adults will love is the Flower Power concert series.
These concerts take place every weekend at the America Gardens Theater and
showcase the music of the 1960s and 1970s. Some festivals in Disney World
are designed just for kids, but Epcot does an exceptional job of appealing
to adults too. In both this festival and the Epcot Food & Wine Festival,
adults will be just as happy as their kids to be spending vacation time in
Disney World. While kids will be enjoying their favorite characters created
with flowers, adults can be learning tips about how to improve their gardens
from gardening experts at the designer presentations. These events will
provide practical information that you can put to use in your garden this
season.
We've learned that for 2012, Disney will go
"Fantasia" for the festival, featuring topiaries and details from the 1940
animated film "Fantasia." Insiders tell us an eight-foot-tall Sorcerer
Mickey will greet guests at the Epcot front entrance, introducing the
“Fantasia” focus at Epcot Flower & Garden. Sorcerer Mickey will be in full
powers – or should that be full bloom – as he rests on a 12-foot-tall floral
mountain cliff above the entrance’s topiary bed. Mickey will be surrounded
dancing broomsticks, buckets, mushrooms, hippos, alligators and elephants,
all of which recall the classic movie. Then, for 75 festival days, Epcot
guests can explore topiaries and gardens, learn planting, style and design
techniques and rock to the tunes of popular Flower Power concerts: Bambi’s
Butterfly House, three times the size of the festival’s original, will be
a-flutter with multiple species of brilliant butterflies. At Imagination
Walkway by Innoventions West.; Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden – Fabulous Disney
fairy topiaries alight to greet young fans who enter this whimsical garden
designed with play structures for children ages 2-5. At the Test Track
Walkway; The HGTV Designers Stage will present HGTV celebrities each Friday
through Sunday and nationally recognized garden personalities Monday through
Thursday. At the Festival Center; The Flower Power concert series will
welcome back 20th century pop favorites this year.
Early dates for the Flower Power Concert Seriesto be performed during the 2012 Epcot Flower and
Garden Festivalare showing up already: March 30 - April 1: The Spinners
, April 6 - 7: Chubby Checker & The Wildcats, April 13 - 15: Paul Revere &
The Raiders, April 20 - 23: The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, April 27 -
29: Chuck Negron, May 11 - 13: Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone.
Remember this is any early listing and stars may change and, most certainly,
others will be added for every week in the festival.
>>>Star Wars
Weekends (May 18-June 10, 2012)
Star Wars Weekends is an annual special event at Disney's Hollywood
Studios theme park that celebrates the legendary Star Wars Saga and
the animated television series, The Clone Wars. Join Jedi Knights,
Sith Lords and Star Wars celebrities for special shows,
presentations and memorabilia. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each
weekend, you can join celebrities and characters for special shows, panels,
presentations and more! Have a memento signed by Star Wars
celebrities attending the event! Kids under 12 can hone their lightsaber
skills and prepare to do battle with Darth Vader himself at the Jedi
Training Academy. And in the Padawan Mind Challenge, they can test their
wits before the Jedi Council. At the end of each day, let loose with music,
comedy and dancing at the Hyperspace Hoopla! With so many Ewoks, Wookiees,
stormtroopers, Jawas and otherworldly creatures, young Jedi and their
parents would be wise to have their cameras ready.
>>>Sounds Like
Summer Concert Series (June 10-July 28, 2012)
Sounds Like
Summer is an annual live concert series at Epcot theme park that brings
together a talented collection of tribute bands to authentically recreate
the classic hits of legendary musical icons. To see and hear a few of last
year's performances, simply click on the Facebook logo, and scroll (way)
down. Get the family together and get into the groove with the songs you
all know and love. Dance to classic hits and have a toe-tappin' good time
under the skies of the open-air America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase.
>>>Night of Joy
(September 7 and 8, 2012)
Night of Joy is a contemporary Christian music festival that takes place
each fall at Magic Kingdom Park. It features live performances by
contemporary Christian superstars in rock, pop and gospel. Each fall, Night
of Joy brings spirited and soulful entertainment to the Magic Kingdom.
During this contemporary Christian music festival, Guests can delight in
live performances by music superstars across a variety of genres—including
rock, pop and gospel. Mark your calendars for a weekend of outstanding
entertainment on September 7, 2012 and September 8, 2012. Enjoy performances
from a variety of Christian artists, including: Casting Crowns, Chris
Tomlin, MercyMe, Third Day, and many more. From soulful, inspiring singers
to hard-hitting, high-energy rockers, Night of Joy offers a variety of
entertainment that's sure to lift your spirits.
>>>Epcot
International Food & Wine Festival (Sept. 28 - Nov. 11, 2012)
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
is an autumn special event that transforms Epcot theme park into a food and
wine lover's paradise with specialty food items, culinary events, wine
seminars and live musical entertainment. Lee thinks of this festival as
"eat your way around the world!" A food and wine paradise awaits you!
There's something to satisfy most every taste and interest. In addition to
the attractions Guests already enjoy at Epcot theme park, this annual autumn
event features a delectable array of offerings, including: International
kiosks featuring tasty tapas and refreshing beverages, Cooking
demonstrations and dining events—including experiences with celebrity chefs,
Mixology classes and wine tastings, Live musical performances by popular
hit-makers in the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, and more. Eat your way
around the world! Cultivate your cooking skills. Savor a rare vintage.
Enjoy an exhilarating outdoor concert. Make magical memories to last a
lifetime!
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is
a Halloween-themed special event held on select dates in Magic Kingdom theme
park and the tone of the event is, well, "Not-So-Scary", and is most
appropriate for children of all ages. Purchase of an additional event
admission ticket is required to attend Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween
Party. Dress up in your favorite costume and get ready to treat-or-treat.
During Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, guests of all ages are
encouraged to dress up in their favorite Halloween costumes. Even better,
you can collect delicious candy as you trick-or-treat around Magic Kingdom
theme park. In addition to many favorite Disney attractions, Mickey's
Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is filled with special entertainment,
including: Mickey's "Boo-to-You" Halloween Parade—including Disney
Characters and the stars of the Haunted Mansion. The parade begins with a
spook-tacular ride by the Headless Horseman; Happy HalloWishes—a spectacular
fireworks show where the Disney Villains go trick-or-treating in the sky;
Many favorite Disney Characters and Disney Villains in special Halloween
costumes. Special lighting, music and theming effects transforms special
areas of Magic Kingdom theme park into happy haunted hollows.
The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend blends the magic of a
run Disney race with the flavorful festivities of the Epcot
International Food & Wine Festival. Whether you wish to race under the stars
or support your favorite runner, this race weekend offers fun for all ages
and tastes.
More than
100 world-class golfers will come together at the annual Children's Miracle
Network Hospitals Classic for 4 magical days of heart-pounding competition.
Experience the spirit and tradition of the PGA TOUR at the Walt Disney World
Resort championship golf courses. This 41st PGA TOUR event at Walt Disney
World Resort returns to the award-winning Disney's Magnolia and Disney's
Palm Golf Courses. Be a part of the longest running PGA TOUR event in
Central Florida—a historic tournament that began with 3 consecutive wins by
Jack Nicklaus in 1971, 1972 and 1973. The Children's Miracle Network
Hospitals Classic also continues to attract the best players in the world.
In its history, it has crowned such champions as Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh,
Payne Stewart and Davis Love III.
>>>Epcot's Osborne
Family Spectacle o Dancing Lights ( Early to mid Nov. through the New Year)
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights on the Streets of America
at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park is a massive Christmas season
display featuring millions of holiday lights perfectly synchronized to
music. The lights are so extensive you may find it hard to comprehend their
magnitude. Entire buildings are blanketed in sheets of multi-colored lights,
and thousands more lights form twirling carousels, heavenly angels, and even
Santa and his reindeer. Approximately every 10 minutes, the lights dim and
then dramatically spring to life — dynamically choreographed to traditional
holiday music. You have to see the effect to believe it! Some nights, if
you truly believe in holiday magic, the show is capped off with an enchanted
flurry of snow (Florida snow that is!). The Osborne Family Spectacle of
Dancing Lights started modestly in Arkansas as a single home's annual
display. Every year, Jennings Osborne and his family set up an elaborate
collection of holiday lights and over the years, the collection of lights
grew, and grew... and grew! In 1995, the Osborne family decided to share
their magic with the world, and Walt Disney World Resort happily offered to
become the new permanent home for this exceptional exhibition of holiday
cheer.
>>>Mickey's Very
Merry Christmas Party ( Select nights from early Nov. - Dec., 2012)
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a special event held each winter
on select nights at Magic Kingdom theme park. Purchase of an additional
event admission ticket is required to attend Mickey's Very Merry Christmas
Party. This festive celebration is filled with live entertainment,
spectacular fireworks and an oh-so-jolly holiday parade. Celebrate the
magic of the season in the holiday wonderland of Magic Kingdom theme park.
Gather with loved ones for a festive sight- and sound-filled special event
that is sure to make you merry! Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
features: The enchanted Castle Dream Lights of Cinderella's Castle,
Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, complete with a special
appearance by Santa Claus himself, An exclusive holiday fireworks
extravaganza — Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season. Live
entertainment featuring Disney Characters, Meet and greet opportunities
throughout Magic Kingdom theme park with some of your favorite Disney
Characters, Complimentary cookies and hot cocoa, A magical snow fall on Main
Street, U.S.A., and more!
>>>Holidays Around
the World - Candlelight Processional ( Nov. - Dec., 2012)
Candlelight
Processional is a special holiday event held nightly at the American Gardens
Theatre in Epcot theme park as part of Holidays Around The World. The event
retells the story of Christmas with a celebrity narrator, orchestra and
choir. During the holidays, Epcot is transformed into an international
celebration of Yuletide traditions filled with festive decorations and live
entertainment. From Holidays Around The World to Candlelight Processional,
delight in the sights and sounds of the season. Candlelight Processional is
a special holiday event held nightly at the American Gardens Theatre in
Epcot as part of Holidays Around The World. The event retells the stirring
story of Christmas with a special celebrity narrator accompanied by a
50-piece orchestra and a mass choir. Candlelight Processional is a terrific
way to get in the Christmas spirit and to share the magic of the season with
your family and friends. The event has become an essential family tradition
for many Guests — once you experience it, you will be inspired to share it
every year with the ones you love.
>>>New Year's Eve
Party at Disney Quest (Dec. 31, 2012)
While the adults Ring in the New Year
with all the Disney Parks have to offer, the younger sent may wish to do so
with a cyber celebration at DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive theme park in the
Downtown Disney area. Celebrate New Year's Eve with an exciting evening of
fun, games and dancing at DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive theme park in the
Downtown Disney area. Discover 5 floors fueled by electronic Disney
innovation and imagination—including virtual reality, 3D encounters and
classic video games—and ring in the New Year. Your evening includes access
to all DisneyQuest attractions and video games, food, and a DJ dance party
with a New Year's Eve countdown and a confetti drop at midnight! We hear
this is supposed to be great for older teens as adults enjoy the more
grown-up activities of the parks. Your fun-filled evening includes: Access
to all DisneyQuest attractions and video games, including Virtual Jungle
Cruise, Buzz Lightyear's Astroblasters and CyberSpace Mountain, A
DJ dance party, complete with party favors, A New Year's Eve countdown and a
confetti drop at midnight, A coupon for a personal pizza, hot dog, kid's
hamburger or a chicken Caesar wrap, as well as chips and a fountain soda at
FoodQuest, and more. It's a fun-filled celebration that's sure to delight
every member of the family—from younger Guests to the young-at-heart.
Scotty McCreery at Disney!
Since folks ask us
what is the best
thing to eat at Disney, we
thought we'd show you (Mickey Waffle in the Magic Kingdom):
Granddaughter #1 and Mickey Waffle
A Great Idea from One of Our
Guests:
For many future
Mousekateers, especially little ones, it is hard to wait for their trip to
visit Mickey. One of our guests has made the wait easier by making a "Days
'til Disney" calendar. It is made with Disney paint sample stickers you can
get from the local big box store, a couple of hooks, and a nice background
board. It really does make the wait shorter!
An Insider Tip:
Disney World
Celebration Buttons for your First Visit, Just Married,Anniversary, Birthday, and
more:
If you're celebrating a special event at Walt Disney
World, make sure you stop by ‘City Hall’ in the Magic Kingdom or ‘Guest
Services' in EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom and ask for a complimentary button to wear during your
visit. (They'll give (free) you a special button with you name!) These ALWAY generate very
special attention from the Cast Members as well as other guests. The buttons are 3 inches
round.Take a look and be sure to get yours
– they’re free!
Living with the Land is a gentle 14-minute boat ride through unique indoor plant growing
areas. The first part of the ride shows tropic, desert and prairie biomes that
existed before humans arrived but the best part is The Land’s experimental growing
areas:
The Production
Greenhouse - where tons of tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and other vegetables are
actually grown for use in The Land’s Garden Grill Restaurant and other Epcot
restaurants.
The Tropics
Greenhouse - you can see crops such as
rice, sugar cane, peanuts, cacao, and bananas which are usually grown under the 60-foot
dome.
The Aquacell
- crops include fish, alligators, catfish, tilapia, sunshine bass and
American eel.
The Temperate
Greenhouse - featuring the concepts and technologies of sustainable agriculture,
including intercropping, integrated pest management and specialized irrigation systems
that reduce waste and increase crop production.
The Creative House , showing imaginative
ways to grow crops -- without soil, hanging in the air, even on a space station. USDA
scientists currently are working at The Land to develop fruit with a longer shelf life.
*One of Lee’s Favorite Spots:If you
had just a little too much of “the mouse,” and need a relaxing break, why not go
back to your youth!Try the Harmony Barber
Shop at the MagicKingdom.
Sit
back in a real barber's chair and experience a good old-fashioned haircut at Harmony
Barber Shop on Main Stree in theMagicKingdom.
Located near the Emporium and with a signature candy-striped pole outside, the shop
transports guests to a simpler time when barbershop quartets entertained and getting a
haircut was and still is a real treat. If you want to take your little Mousekateer
along,"First Haircuts," the establishment's specialty, treats young'uns to pixie
dust, bubbles, Mickey Mouse stickers and an extra-special "My 1st Haircut" set
of Mouse Ears. Haircuts for children are $14; adults are $17; first-come, first-serve. You're right! Lee's haircut does not take a
lot of time.....no much there!
The American Idol Experience at Hollywood Studios:
The T-Rex Cafe at Downtown Disney!
PLAYHOUSE DISNEY LIVE ON
STAGE:
THE NEW SPACESHIP EARTH:
The
walls around Spaceship Earth have been removed and we've been on the new ride!
This
time, Spaceship Earth tells a slightly different story, one essentially about how all the
innovations of one generation influence and inspire another. There's definitely a
relationship between the caveman in the early scenes, who is writing on walls, to our era
in which we write on computers. The new set is a series of building blocks that add upon
each other as you travel through Spaceship Earth.Once we reached the top of the 165-foot diameter Spaceship Earth geodesic
dome, the new, interactive touch screens on our "time machine" vehicle
invited us to create our own vision of the future and actually see ourselves yourself in
that future. It is then we realized why they took our photos at the start of the
ridc! We watched our future as the ride ended, but did note that several older
scenes were no longer there. But the essence of Spaceship Earth
remains a constant. Everything that everyone loved about the attraction—the smell of Rome burning, the
monk snoring— is still be there, but it sure is a new experience in a many ways.
After
we left the time machine, we explored the new interactive area with lots of fun and
fascinating exhibits.
Here is a couple of photos of the new scenes
(including one in a "California garage that changed our world"
Finding Nemo - THE Musical:
The
undersea world that charmed audiences around the world in the Disney-Pixar smash-hit film
"Finding Nemo" has come to life in an all-new musical stage show at Disney's
Animal Kingdom.We took our granddaughter to
see it and it was absolutely wonderful, lasting almost 40 minutes and without a minute to
miss. This one is an absolute!
"Finding Nemo-The Musical" really
did immerse us in the story of Marlin and Nemo -- an overprotective clownfish father and
his curious son -- through a dazzling production that combined puppets, dancers,
aerialists and animated backdrops.The
visually inventive show represents the first time Disney has taken a non-musical animated
feature, as well as the first Pixar film, and transformed it into an original musical
production. It will was presented in the newly enclosed 1,500-seat Theater in the Wild,
completely redone to accommodate first-class theatrical productions.
The show was filled with unforgettable characters and a story rich with honest emotions
that we all just loved, including our 8 month old granddaughter. The Theater in the Wild
becam a magical undersea environment with innovative lighting, sound, special effects,
animated projections, and theatrical magic.Principal
characters such as Marlin, Nemo and Dory are represented by live performers operating
animated puppets. Some puppets are larger-than-life -- such as Crush, the cool sea turtle,
who is nearly the size of a Volkswagen, and Nigel the pelican, who stands 22 feet tall! Our granddaughter could not take her eyes of Nigel!Other
characters are portrayed by a diverse array of puppetry styles, including rod, Bunraku and
shadow. Tap dancing sharks, puppets riding bicycles, and a punk rock routine by Bruce the
shark create theatrical magic and fun throughout the big blue world.It really is Broadway-caliber!
"Finding Nemo-The Musical" tells the story of a father clownfish, Marlin, and
his son, Nemo, each on a separate journey that ultimately teaches them how to love and
understand each other. The two have been separated -- and Marlin will stop at nothing to
get his son back, facing undersea challenges with his new friend Dory, who swim with the
sharks, take on the jellyfish, and ride the current with Crush the turtle. Meanwhile,
Nemo, relocated to a fish tank in Sydney, makes
new friends who teach him that he's stronger than he thinks. When news of his father's
heroic journey reaches the tank, Nemo is inspired to do whatever is necessary to escape
the tank and see his father again.
"Finding Nemo-The Musical" is not to be missed; just ask
Paulette and Lee
Turtle Talk with Crush is fantastic. Crush, the
surfer-dude sea turtle from the Disney/Pixar hit “Finding Nemo,” is now at
Epcot.Turtle Talk with Crush now presents
the animated sea turtle on a large aquarium like screen.It is a voice-activated, real-time animation technology which allows Crush to
“talk” to tourists!It is not
just push a button and see a film - the presentation is really personalized to people in
the room.Also, another Nemo Character now has
his own Living Seas exhibit: Bruce, the shark with a down-under accent, will headline a
shark-education area.The Imagineers have created
an amazing technology giving an animated version of Crush the ability to have real-time
conversations with the audience. You're
ushered into a small theater. There are curved benches for the grownups to sit on, while
children are encouraged to sit on the carpeted floor close to the screen. A Cast Member
hosts the session and it begins with everyone calling for Crush to appear. When he makes
his entrance, he can "see" the audience. Crush makes comments about the
"dude with the orange shell" (the color of the kid's shirt), when pointing out a
child, much to their delight.
The
children are encouraged to ask questions. In our session, we also were taught
"dude-speak." Since this is a live interactive chat, each visit is different.While the focus is on the kids,grownups will be
just as enchanted by this attraction. It's incredible to watch, and Crush is very funny.
Everyone leaves with a smile.
It's "totally awesome
dude!"
BIBBIDI BOBBIDI BOUTIQUE SPREADS PIXIE DUST
AT THE MAGIC KINGDOM::
A second location of Bibbidi
Bobbidi Boutique, Disney's "magical makeover" salon for young princesses and
"cool dudes," is to open in September at Cinderella’s Castle in the MagicKingdom.We’re
told Princesses can choose from three makeover packages -- the "Coach" makeover
(hairstyle and shimmering makeup), the "Crown" makeover (hairstyle, nails and
shimmering makeup) and the "Castle" makeover (hairstyle, nails, shimmering
makeup, an imaging package and princess costume of their choice complete with crown, wand
and shoes).Within each makeover package,
young princesses can choose from three different hairstyles -- the Disney Diva, the Pop
Princess or the Fairytale Princess. Insiders tell us the MagicKingdom salon will be open every day from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Children must be three years or
older.Looks like our granddaughter will have
wait a little while longer! The first salon is located at Downtown Disney Marketplace,
inside the World of Disney Princess Room. Reservations are absolutely recommended, and can
be made up to 180 days in advance.
Please email us at drherron@mindspring.com or telephone us at 407-351-9530for more information!
Got Questions?
For more information, to make reservations or to request our
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