Walt Disney World
The day started out warm and became ridiculous. I just want to go on record with photographic evidence that I most certainly DID have something resembling a hair style when I walked out the door in the morning. This is me at the bus stop –
Our main goal on this day was to Continue reading Saturday at EPCOT
Once you get the lay if the land, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort becomes an ideal environment for running. It was a beautiful 59 degrees F when I stepped outside this morning – you really can’t beat the temperature and the scenery for more perfect running conditions.
Headed for the boat back to Saratoga Springs. Bongos was really good, but really loud. We want some quality conversation time.
Waiting to dock at Pleasure Island
After ditching the car at the resort and hoofing it over to Downtown Disney’s Marketplace, I decided to board a water taxi to Pleasure Island. Destination: Bongos!
These lovely flowers are so fragrant, and quite beautiful against the blue and silver backdrop of Spaceship Earth and the springtime Florida sky.
Glad to see Mexico dripping with orchids once more. There have been years where this hasn’t happened.
Buzz Lightyear topiary, appropriately placed just outside of Mission:SPACE. We never ride this attraction any more – once or twice was enough!
Creative use of trash cans!
I will have a healthy and active future according to Spaceship Earth. Here I am rising and shining. When the video arrives in my email, I’ll post it here.
Some days, Spaceship Earth is absolutely permeated with the smell of Rome burning. You can detect it long before as well as long after.
There was absolutely no line for Spaceship Earth. Let’s travel back in time together!
I’m here at Walt Disney World for a couple of days to visit with family in town from Long Island. Right now, I need to chillax a little and have some lunch. Then well have some fun! Bongos for dinner tonight – mmmm Cuban food, can’t wait *drools a little* C’MON LET’S GO!
Cast Member at the exit obliged me for a photo of her sign. One of my favorite quotes ever! I will probably come back at the end of the festival, when family will visit Orlando once more. SEE YA REAL SOON!
Heading out of the park now – have taken leave of the family and will soon be on the road back to Fort Myers area. Stopped just long enough to enjoy Daisy playing a game of badminton. Fore! Or whatever one shouts prior to launching the birdie LOL 😉
This is a tiny Venus fly trap in bloom – have never see this before! The bloom is vey small and delicate – could fit a couple of them on a dime. Fragile yet feisty!
Tillandsia in various forms are for sale at the a Garden Boutique outside EPCOTs Outpost. This one was in bloom – teeny tiny blossoms!
The troll in Norway has a fuzzy tail this year but the sun was in the wrong spot for me to capture it.
The birds situation here at the waterside tables in Mexico is abhorrent. We spoke to the manager and let him know that the dining experience is severely degraded and the birds and humans are in peril when guests are not told that feeding wildlife table side is not acceptable. He asked us to stop by guest relations and tell them too.
The shrimp and grits at EPCOT’s Florida Fresh kiosk gets three thumbs up (thumbs not pictured). We’re moving on to Mexico.
I have had my eye in the shrimp and grits from the Florida kiosk since I got here on Monday. Now we’re going to find out how it is..
I happened to look up as the monorail was going by, so why not? 🙂
Taking a little time on my way to lunch to capture some more blooms from the Festival displays. The variety and colors are wondrous.
The topiary display out front of EPCOT is just totally mobbed. Not much of a photo op to be had here. Moving on!
I have to beat it back to Southwest Florida this afternoon. Going to sample some food from the kiosks at the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival before I go. Lets go taste stuff!
I love the colors of the new striped hot air balloon in Downtown Disney. I want to climb aboard and end up in Oz!
It’s a brisk, sunny morning in Walt Disney World, and I’m about to get my browse on. Lets go see what we can see here in Downtown Disney, soon to be renamed "Disney Springs".
We split this among three of us, and it was plenty! The wine was San Guiseppe Pinot Noir, a favorite of ours.
We’ve stopped into EPCOT’s Tutto gusto, but I guess the menu comes from Tutto Italia at this time of night. Looks like we’re going to split a few items and some wine.
The basis of this slushie is Grey Goose orange vodka, but it does sort of have a rose-ish flavor to it. Mysteriously, our drinks are arranged on a hidden Mickey shape…
We are about to feast the palate – wine and cheese at Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Jiko
There is a fairy tale legend surrounding the Warwick wedding cup. A man wanted to marry a princess, but was told by her father that he could not unless he invented a drinking cup out if which two people could drink simultaneously without spilling a drop. He made it in the shape of this woman. And they got married and lived happily ever after.
You can find blanket flowers all over Florida, both in the wild as well as in landscaping. I found these in the Italy pavilion in EPCOT.
I am looking forward to seeing Monsters university one of these days!
Ever since the video of the newborn panda that sneezed and scared his mom, pandas have enjoyed an increase in their notoriety. I always wonder if the topiary pandas are life – sized.
When a mama duck will parade her children past a crowd that is only 6 feet away, it’s time to relocate the family. These ducks are simply too unafraid of humans and this leads to encounters with humans that are not safe for anyone involved.
This morning on Walt Disney World property, I witnessed parents and children alike persisting in chasing ducks down, trying to pet them, and then "OUCH – hey it BIT me!". More signs and more Cast Members are needed to educate and intervene.
Please, Disney – you used to be better at this! Don’t wait until someone gets hurt. And yeah, "someone" includes the animals. Practice a little risk management while making the World a little safer for the wildlife that lives and breeds on YOUR property. You can do this – don’t let me down!
It smells like there is a bed of sweet alyssum around here somewhere. I’m off to find it 🙂
Look, up in the sky – it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s….. The Walt Disney World Dolphin!
I stopped on my way out to see the fountain show – spectacular, as always. Dinner is at one of the resort restaurants this evening.
My sister in law says it looks like this flower came from Whoville. I think she’s in the wrong park!
We saw this bunny munching on the grass outside the Festival Center Apparently you can’t walk on it but chewing is ok!
Everything looks fresh and beautiful all over EPCOT. I have not seen these flowers anywhere else except the Festival Center planters.
Answer: in my Dole Whip! And that’s not all that got into my Dole Whip – see next post…
Here’s a fairy house constructed from sea shells – ingenious !
The colors on these irises were just stunning. Not a bad macro for an iPhone, huh?
Look how crumpled and magical and beautiful this newly-emerged butterfly is!
We’re heading into the butterfly tent and had to stop and capture Tinker Bell, the one, the only, the original!
It’s nice to see the rainforest dripping in orchids again. For several years, the rainforest was dormant during Flower and Garden Festival. There are bromeliads in here too – pitcher plants are always fun 🙂
One of my favorites –
I am looking for the perfect place to do an iPhone panorama shot around world showcase. If anyone has a suggestion, please tweet @BellTinkR
Snow White is always one of the most attractive of the EPCOT topiaries. And that’s saying a lot, considering they are all so well done!
This year, the Festival features a country walk egg hunt. You can buy a map and stickers to place every time you find an egg. The resourcefulness of Disney Merchandising never ceases to amaze!
I have reached France in EPCOT and discovered that the crepe myrtle are actually NOT grafted – they are greening up nicely. If I come back at the end of the Festival, they should have flowered by then.
He’s a little dark in the shade here but I thought the Eiffel Tower in the background made for a nice tableaux. I think I will head to France for my brunch. I had to pass by the RUM Dole Whip booth because of empty stomach – mon Dieu, we need to get our drink on!
This is not the version of Captain Hook that jumps out at you or photo bombs your family. No human topiary here – just a good old fashioned "Arrrrr!".
The crepe myrtle trees at the front of the park are barren as yet. I sometimes wonder if they are grafted into bloom, instead of progressing naturally.
I stood and watched two toddlers playing in the wet play area while waiting for the monorail to come along. It smells indescribably delicious in EPCOT right now. And I am HUNGRY!
I like the mural as Daisy Duck’s backdrop. This is located at the front plaza of EPCOT, right near the jacaranda trees.
I purposely arrived hungry because this year the Flower and Garden Festival features food kiosks, like Food and Wine Festival. So here I go – off to seek more culinary adventures. What are you waiting for? Lets go!
We hung out on Disney’s Boardwalk for a while after dinner, and then I elected to take a turn around Hour Glass Lake before heading for the parking lot and my hotel. The weather is just picture perfect this evening. Hoping for the same for the rest of the week. Good night!
I love the pixie dust on my chocolate spiral.
I am not a lamb person. I have had it twice at Flying Fish and both times I thought to myself, "I don’t do lamb because … why?" It was served with a fabulous Shiraz.
Here’s more of our menu for this Chef’s Tasting at Flying Fish. This will tell you all about the components of the 2nd course.
I never knew there was a fish with a triple tail. I like the fact that Flying Fish sources locally as much as they do. This dish features chanterelle mushrooms and pork bellies, which add a lot if flavor to the firm fish. Two thumbs up!
Pine island Shrimp – heads ON! Fava beans. No chianti, nice or otherwise LOL. The buffalo sausage is to die for!
Here is an explanation of what was in the last photo. The salmon was awesome. I have also never had black radishes before, so this was a great experience for me.
Salmon and a bunch of other stuff. Pardon me, I need to eat!
This is actually a grand experiment because I’d forgotten it came with a generous handful of nuts sprinkled all over. I have been avoiding nuts as a dietary precaution, and was a actually hoping it would be temporary. We’re going to find out, I guess. Bon appetite!
My brother and SIL arrived in Walt Disney World several days ago so I decided to drive up and see them. Let’s have some fun! Everybody neat and pretty? Good – let’s go!
I’ll go back to eating properly tomorrow. Right now, I am in Walt Disney World and I want a Mickey-shaped treat!
The giant anteater in The Oasis is often not viewable. He does value his privacy, so it’s a rare opportunity when he deigns to make an appearance.
A beautiful crowned crane swooped low over our heads just after striking this pose at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
We have the table directly above the prayer tree out front of the Yak and Yeti restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
There were several new babies in the group but they were shy and hanging back.
We are at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, making our leisurely way toward Asia and lunch. We found orchids blooming in a tree, towering over The Oasis.
We are preparing to check out. I glanced out the window and saw the Downtown Disney balloon ride coming in for a landing. Too cool!
Steam rises off the swimming pool at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. It’s only 39 degrees F this morning in Lake Buena Vista – BRRRR!
It feels even colder this morning than it did yesterday, but I am determined to see some of this resort on foot before we have to check out. Onward!
It is not a short walk from out rooms at Saratoga Springs, but it’s a pretty one.
Cinderella and her prince, preceded by the Fairy Godmother in the parade at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
Mary Poppins and Burt hitch a ride with Aladdin’s genie in the afternoon parade at Magic Kingdom.
We are headed to the Boardwalk for dinner – taking in the parade as we make out way out to the bus stops.
Haven’t been up here in a while. Unfortunately, there is no place to "pull over" and enjoy these views of the Magic Kingdom, but we can quickly snap a photo to savor later on.
Heading into Pirates if the Caribbean with the niece.
Splash Mountain is under rehad – perhaps it is being rid I it’s uniquely pungent odor? Hope springs – or splashes – eternal.
Pretzels are one of my guilty pleasures while visiting a Disney park. Now that they are shaped like Mickey, they are even more of a must-do.
The way Disney has laid out the new section of Fantasyland reminds me a bit of Disneyland Paris. That park features dueling castles too; the castle of Alice in Wonderland’s Red Queen looms over the rear of the Paris park in a similar manner to that of the Beast’s castle here in Orlando.
Next door to Be Our Guest, where there is a horrific line to get in, is Gaston’s Tavern. Love the bronze effigy of him in the fountain out front – what a comical touch, especially when his theme song begins to play in the tiny courtyard. Too cool!
I suppose I should be thankful that the bakery at the Magic Kingdom is being refurbished – removes temptation! However, they are noticeably still pumping "Eau Du Baked Goods" onto the sidewalk out front.
Disney is now scanning paper tickets by hand with what looks like an iPhone! As soon as I passed the ticket scanners, the Walt Disney World Rail Road pulled into Main Street Station with a clang and a bang and a woo-woo of the whistle. Yes, the sky really IS that shade of blue today 🙂
I snapped this shot while walking to the bus stop from my room. It’s a beautiful if brisk morning at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. I am headed to the Magic Kingdom, where I will visit the newest section of Fantasyland.
The rest of the family is moving even more slowly than I am, and I am not sure what time I will meet them or where.
The bus is here now – let’s go!
G’morning, everyone. Spotted our pal Donald Duck while out for a brisk walk this morning at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, and I do mean brisk! It’s only 45 degrees in Orlando at the moment. Definitely sweatshirt weather! Now for some coffee – will check in with you again later on!
Answer: not much 😉 I just checked into Disney’s Saratoga Springs resort
for the weekend. Chez Bro and da fam are already at EPCOT. We’ll take a
detour to Downtown Disney to lunch with some friends and then catch up with
them in the afternoon. Lets go!
Earlier, before we were seated, the whole Chefs de France staff came running and applauded wildly around a particular table. A Cast Member told me, "She said yes!" Awww!
"Work rushes in to fill a void" and "If you build it, they will come" both come to mind. What used to be a hole in the wall with a handful of tables is now a BOOMING eatery in EPCOT’s France.
We are wandering th World showcase!
Very modern locomotives have popped up in EPCOT’s Germany.
We saw a disturbance in the lagoon approaching World Showcase Plaza. It turned out to be a formation of these large catfish/carp, heading together toward the bridge to the Odyssey side.
The breeze is mild, so the Fountain of Nations is not getting us too wet. What a beautiful afternoon in EPCOT!
