Epcot is turning the big 3-0 this year, and D23, Disney's official fan club, is helping the park celebrate. For those of you lucky enough to be planning a trip to Epcot this October 1, here is a list of what to expect to help Epcot ring in their 30th anniversary.

D23 is planning special presentations about the history of Epcot in the World Showcase. Each presentation is included in the park admission ticket, but seating is limited. Here's the schedule:

Walt Disney World and politics? Who knew the two could be mentioned in the same sentence. Recently, Walt Disney World gave $15,000 to Republican State Representative Scott Plakon.

Rep. Plakon, who is a two-term incumbant running for re-election in a central Florida legislative race, was given the campaign donation by Disney last week through his "Floridians for Prosperity & Economic Liberty" fundraising committee.

There are a decent number of daily deal sites out here in cyberspace, and now Disney has thrown its hat into that ring by launching its own - Disney Family Deals.

Working much like other well known deal sites such as Groupon and Living Social, Disney Family Deals looks to offer Disney fans deals on such Disney-related things as merchandise and vacations. In addition, the company has partnered with Plum District to also offer up fans and families "local" deals to help save them money on events, merchandise and such in and around their own area.

Could work on an "Avatar"-based land within Walt Disney World be delayed? According to online reports, the answer is yes.

The reports say work on the sequels (yes, sequels with an "s") to the blockbuster 2009 film has not yet started and no release dates have been set for either "Avatar 2" or "Avatar 3." This stall could spill over to "Pandora: The World of Avatar" - the "Avatarland" that is slated to be built in Disney's Animal Kingdom.