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!
Tag Archives: pearly gates
I have arrived in Walt Disney World
I took a side trip to Banana Republic, where I got a FREE dress to wear to my niece’s Sweet 16. Now I am finally on property at Walt Disney World – wheeee!
“You have arrived…”
That’s what the GPS lady always says, but I don’t need GPS to get to The happiest Place on Earth. I had not been here more than 2 minutes and already had three great CM encounters.
1. The security dude doing bag check looked deep into my eyes and said, "Have fun, Princess."
2. The CM at the turnstiles took note of the fact that Goofy is on my AP and said, "hey there, no goofin’ around now haw haw haw!" just like Goofy
3. I’ll tell you the third one in a minute…
Orlando Do-Over: Day 3, explorations in EPCOT
This is the SEVENTH in a series of βdo-overβ posts that are being created to make up for the mobile blogging errors that occurred during my last trip to Orlando.

The “pearly gates” of Disney. Day 3 started out with a few hours of work; income is a good thing, as it supports the Disney habit, so I’m not complaining! On my way to EPCOT, I hopped off I4 at Apopka-Vineland Road. There’s a Starbucks there π After getting my treat (I was a good little worker bee, so I deserved a treat, right?), I purposely passed the entrance, made a U-turn, and doubled back so I could stop at the light and get this picture (above) before turning into Disney property. This is “Pearly Gates, Jr.”.

No parking mojo at Disney. The parking mojo was not too terrible; Discover 13 isn’t bad at all. It could be far worse. To be honest, I don’t really think parking mojo applies at Disney World. They’re so busy telling you where to park, it’s unlikely that mojo will have a chance to exert itself. Still, this was not terrible.

It’s a blue sky Disney day. Ah, look at that blue, blue sky! Yes, it really IS that color. Those are jacaranda trees to the left, which grow just before Spaceship Earth/the geosphere. Next time I come back, which will be in May (conference/credits to maintain my professional certification), the jacaranda will will hopefully be in bloom. Spring came mighty early this year – I’m going to guess that everything is about three weeks ahead of schedule, all up and down the Eastern states. I’m hoping that the jacaranda will wait for me!

Jiminy Cricket! I was not in any particular hurry on this day, so I just adopted a meandering, vague touring style. First stop – a browse through The Art Of Disney store, just to the side of Spaceship Earth, where I saw this cute little Jiminy Cricket figurine.

Croc encounter. Next, I popped into Mouse Gear across the plaza, where I encountered the strangest pair of Crocs I’ve ever seen. It’s got a canvas upper, like a regular loafer, but the foot bed is pure Crocs. Weird!

EPCOT’s snapdragon sea. After a satisfying browse through Mouse Gear (I want it noted: I have been in two stores full of Disney merchandise so far, and purchased NOTHING!), I became interested in examining EPCOT for signs of Flower and Garden Festival preparations. It’s rare that I’m in the Disney parks when there is NOT some sort of festival or celebration going on, so the entrance was looking a bit spare to me. I wanted signs of festivular activity! The first thing I encountered was a sea of snapdragons. They were quite impressive!

EPCOT flower power. Just beyond the snapdragon sea, near the entrance to the Rose Walk, the flower power landscape of EPCOT was taking shape. The display on this side of the lagoon was pristine and orderly – and it smelled divine! It boggles the mind to think of how many pansies were painstakingly started, seed by seed, to become this magical landscape.

EPCOT’s hard hat mystery men. I came upon a section that was partitioned off by a marching row of vegetation. Peering through a space in the wall, I spied a small knot of men in hard hats and safety vests, conferring seriously with one another. Who could they be, and what could they be talking about, hidden there behind the shrubbery?
NEXT TIME: The hard hat men revealed, and epicuriosity in EPCOT!
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Now entering Heaven
Going to eat at Downtown Disney
“Have A Magic Day :) “
That’s what the CM at the toll gate said to me as she waved me through. Sometimes, just hearing someone say it makes it so. Therefore, I’d like to shout out to you all, everyone reading this –
HAVE A MAGICAL DAY !!!
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EPCOT entrance through the droplets
Sunshowering earnestly now – going to bring my baby umbrella in with me (folds up tiny for portability)
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Driving onto Disney property is always a thrill
Now with new and improved happiness – The Pearly Gates on Osceola Parkway
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Pearly Gates for the last time
Until next month, that is. Another niece is coming to visit so of course, we need to visit Mouse Mecca π
The family is having lunch in EPCOT and then proceeding to the Studios before heading out to MCO. I have just arrived at Studios and I am on the tram, trundling toward the gates.
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The “Happiest” Place On Earth?
It’s only 11:20 am and there are already multiple meltdowns happening all around me here in the Magic Kingdom.
Folks, if your kid is of the age to still need a nap, it’s cruel to keep them up late and make them get up early just so you can have your fun and get your money’s worth (dammit). I know this is your vacation of a lifetime and you paid a lot to be here… but if your kid is gonna melt down at 11:20 am due to lack of sleep, maybe you should wait a couple of years till they are old enough to handle it.
This has been a public service announcement from Auntie Tink *~*~*, who hates to see the hollow eyes and the tear-stained cheeks π
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Pearly Gates Jr. At Hotel Plaza Blvd
Got my Starbucks fix and now I’m going to cruise Buena Vista Blvd up to Magic Kingdom
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More pearly gate goodness
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One more time, with feeling
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Now to find food and friends, in that order
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Pearly gates, Disneyβs Animal Kingdom
It’s a GORGEOUS DAY! Not as chilly as it has been. Excited to see the Christmas decorations.
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Pearly gates, Osceola Parkway
Exit 68 off I-4
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magic Kingdom, here I come
Pearly gates to the Magic Kingdom. No longer referring to it as "late" start – it’s now "leisurely" π
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EPCOT and some @badelves for dinner
Ok that doesn’t sound quite right, does it? Ha ha ha
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Pearly Gates Jr. In transit
Red lights are for blogging π
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One more time through the Pearly Gates
Meeting da fam on proprty for lunch – looks like it might rain!
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Driving back to the hotel #Starwood #SPG #Orlando
Here’s a look at "Pearly Gates, Jr." at night. i got the school monkey off my back for a few days and tomorrow I am switching hotels, so I need to get my act together tonight. I’ll be moving to a hotel that’s closer to Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure. Looking forward to my New York friends coming into town for some Wizarding World of Harry Potter fun this weekend!
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Pearly Gates, Jr. β Hotel Plaza Blvd. #disney Hwdw
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Pearliest gates EVAH!
Ah, the Walt Disney World "pearly gates". Checking in, then meeting Chez Bro and SIL for dinner
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