Tag Archives: Epcot

Disney Vacation Traditions – THAT Hat in Epcot’s Norway

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IMG_2142We can’t be the only family with, ummmm…let’s call it an “odd” Disney vacation tradition.  Yes, I know the usual ones, eating at a particular restaurant every visit, having a certain first-day-at-Disney ride or attraction, always buying a certain type of souvenir like a tee-shirt or a Christmas ornament on each visit.  But what about a tradition of a more unusual sort?

Annnnnd begin flashback: 

During a visit to Disney World many years ago, I thought it would be fun to take pictures of us trying on some of the different hats in the World Showcase at Epcot.  I particularly love all the shapes and sizes of the Viking hat in the Norway pavilion.  Megan?  Not so much.  She’d reached that age – you know whatIMG_1011 I’m talking about.  So after I coaxed her into posing for a picture with Joseph in THE hat, she made this face – the face that perfectly captured her feeling of “okay, if you make me, but I’m clearly doing this against my will – you are so embarrassing”.  I put that picture in our Disney vacation scrapbook and it became the source of much teasing and inside joking at home.

So the next time we were at Disney World, Joseph grabbed a different version of the hat and said, “who am I?” – posing with Megan’s same expression!  Then, it just became a family tradition during every visit! IMG_5091

Megan’s been a good sport about it because even she can see the humor in how much this hat has come to mean to us.  Well – also the male Cast Members in Norway are notoriously handsome.  Oh, wait a minute *head smack* here I thought all this time Megan wanted to go to Norway for the hat tradition!  Oh, wow.

End result – we have a lot of pictures from Disney World of us all wearing the same hat in Epcot.

What’s your favorite Disney vacation tradition? photo3

Epcot’s Flower and Garden for Horticulture Haters

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IMG_2754I don’t know about you, but this time of year I start longing for spring.  Hands down, it’s my favorite season.  If I had my way (and tons of money), I would celebrate spring’s arrival every year by going to Disney World.  Those of you lucky enough to be headed there for a visit any time between March 5th and May 18th will get to enjoy the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival!

Confession time.  I am a horticulture hater.  Horticulture – being “the art or practice of garden cultivation and management” (Google dictionary) – is not an activity for me.  I really do appreciate the bounty and beauty other gardeners achieve.  I only dislike it because I am among the horticulturally impared.  My thumbs are not even a tiny bit green.  It’s even a longstanding joke at my house.  Raymond’s sister once had some small decorative garden signs for labeling herbs – she asked Raymond if he thought I would like to use them – his answer?  “As tombstones maybe.”  Yeah, yeah, go ahead and laugh.  So knowing that I am no good at gardening (and not all that interested in learning how to get better) – why do I love the Flower and Garden Festival so much?  It’s just fantastic, that’s why!  And if you haven’t paid it much attention before, it’s time you gave it a closer look.

What does Flower and Garden have to offer people like me? 

  • First of all, the absolutely amazing topiaries.  I don’t need to know how to make one, but I am in awe of the creativity, the whimsy, and the magical beauty of the Disney IMG_2853Character topiaries spread throughout Epcot during this event.  And there are new ones added every year – for example, Kermit and Miss Piggy will make their debut in 2014.
  • Flower Power Concert Series.  Some serious talent is on hand at Epcot in the Spring!  Acts this year include The Guess Who (March 7-9), Gary Lewis and the Playboys (March 14-16), The Alan Parsons Live Project (May 16-18) and more (Chubby Checker & the Wildcats, The Village People and Paul Revere & The Raiders).  What could be more fun than having having all the World Showcase food and beverages on hand for a concert!?  And speaking of food….
  • Special Food Booths!  I am all about eating and drinking my way around the World in Epcot!  Special booths will be set up around the World Showcase offering new culinary delights this year such as “Piggylicious Bacon Cupcakes” – now who wouldn’t want to try one of those IMG_2750babies?
  • Butterflies!  I’m not just talking about the ones attacted to the beautiful gardens either.  During the Flower and Garden Festival, you have the chance to visit Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House.  This is a great exhibit for all ages.

If you’re not me.  There are some other things going on you might enjoy.

  • HGTV Design Celebrities will host seminars throughout the Festival each Friday through Sunday.
  • DIY Tips and Tricks – presentations by a lineup of garden experts go on daily in the Festival Center (World Showcase).
  • Let your children burn off some energy in the Cars themed garden and playground.

But WAIT!  There’s more!  Additional details and information will be available at Disney’s website as we get closer to spring.

What’s your favorite part of Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival?

 

Epcot’s Japan Pavilion – 5 Great Things to Enjoy

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IMG_2971Epcot’s World Showcase!  The opportunity to visit 10 foreign countries without leaving Disney World and you don’t need a passport.  Circling the World Showcase Lagoon, each country’s pavilion holds wonderful surprises, beautiful details, and educational opportunities for all ages.

Nestled serenely between The American Adventure and the Moroccan Pavilion, is Japan.  A tidy cluster of buildings surrounding a central courtyard, the Japanese Pavilion offers visitors unique shopping and dining experiences (among my most favorite in the World) and opportunities to be entertained by unique Japanese demonstrations.

If you haven’t yet taken advantage of all there is to see and do in Epcot’s Japan – here are 5 IMG_0936reasons to go:

1.  Mitsukoshi Department Store – this place is awesome and HUGE!  The building’s outside is a replica of sections of Japan’s Imperial Palace, but the inside is an incredible, modern store packed with a stunning array of Japanese items – toys, books, clothing, games, swords and knives, kitchen items (sushi-making supplies!), pick-a-pearl (you select the oyster and a Japanese Cast Member will open it and retrieve your treasure), and much more.  Do take time to visit this place – it’s amazing!  Joseph once bought an gorgeous Japanese sword there and had it shipped home – service was perfect, sword arrived safe and sound.

IMG_20052.  The Food (and Beverage).  Three dining options, all delicious – chopsticks optional!

  • Teppan Edo offers guests hibachi-cooked meals where your meal’s preparation is as entertaining to watch as it is tasty to eat.  Beef, chicken, seafood (alone or as part of a combination) are served with fresh vegitables and rice.
  • Tokyo Dining – if you enjoy tempura or sushi, this is the place.  Diners enjoy traditional Japanese fare in a classy, modern setting.
  • Katsura Grill is a quick / counter service option offering a wide variety of Japanese dishes.  Dine inside our enjoy the gardens in the beautiful outdoor seating area.

3.  The Japanese Art Display in Bijutsu-kan Gallery – Learn how Japan’s cultural history gave rise to some of today’s most popular cartoon and video game characters.

4.  The Entertainment

  • Matsuriza is an impressive show featuring taiko – a form of drumming.  I’ve only seen (heard?) this one from a distance – it absolutely merits a closer look / listen.
  • Miyuki – Displaying her skills since 1996, Miyuki’s demonstration involves making artwork out of a piece of rice candy – the candy starts off as a soft ball which hardens as Miyuki forms it into a fanciful masterpiece.  I’ve seen this up close – prepare to be amazed!

5.  Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure.  Pick up your “Interactive Evil Detection Device” calledIMG_0937 F.O.N.E. (Field Operative Notification Equipment) at one of three different Epcot locations and get busy on your mission.  Join Agent P as you receive clues you must solve to foil the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz.  Your mission will lead you through several different countries (7 possible) as you stamp out evil and save the world!  Complete details here.

If you’ve overlooked the Japan Pavilion on a previous visit to Epcot or you’re headed to Disney World for the first time, be sure to slow down for a few minutes and appreciate all this incredible spot along the World Showcase has to offer.

Epcot’s The Seas with Nemo and Friends

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IMG_0979When you hear “Epcot”, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?  Spaceship Earth?  Soarin’?  Test Track?  The World Showcase, perhaps?  I don’t immediately think of any of those things.  I automatically think about The Seas with Nemo and Friends.  You don’t?  Well maybe it’s time to give it another try.  There’s so much packed under one roof in this (to me) underappreciated area in Epcot’s Future World (West).  I encourage you to take a closer look and give it a bit more consideration.  It’s a whole lot more than just place to escape for a while from the hot Florida sun or an afternoon rain shower…

“Oh, my God, Nemo’s shwimming out to shea!” – Nemo’s classmate, Finding Nemo

The Seas with Nemo and Friends began as The Living Seas in 1986 and was originally IMG_0981sponsored by United Technologies (until 2001).  Hydrolators (pretend under-seas elevators) took guests “down” to Seabase Alpha.  A pre-ride movie explained how the Earth’s oceans were formed before vehicles called Seacabs took visitors on a tour of coral reefs.  In the early 2000’s, the exhibit lost its sponsor and The Living Seas faded in popularity before being reinvigorated and re-named in 2006.

“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do, we swim, swim, swim.” – Dory, Finding Nemo

Today visitors to The Seas with Nemo and Friends will find an exciting, fun, and educational IMG_0980array of exhibits and attractions that offer something for everyone, every age to enjoy.  At the entrance, don’t miss the seagulls that yell “Mine!”  Great photo ops start outside the building’s entrance.

Here are the FIVE best things about The Seas with Nemo and Friends:

“It’s awesome, Jellyman. Little dudes are just eggs, we leave ’em on the beach to hatch, and then — koo-koo ka-choo! — they find their way back to the Big Ol’ Blue.” – Crush, Finding Nemo

IMG_28091.  Turtle Talk with Crush – DUDE!  This fantastically entertaining show provides guests an opportunity to interact with the coolest turtle in the seven seas.  Amazing technology allows Crush to see and talk to individual audience members – he tries to educate people about the lives of sea turtles while also asking people to explain strange and unknown things about humans to him.  Guaranteed laughs.  Amazing technology – No, I don’t want to know how it works…it’s magic!

2.  Manatees!  And other live animal exhibits allow visitors the chance to get up close with the likes of sharks, dolphins, rays, and more.  I particularly love the manatees (second level) – if you’re lucky, you’ll be there at the right time to listen to a Cast Member presentation about these endangered gentle giants.  Feeding time is also a lot of fun!  If you IMG_2776read my post on the Kilimanjaro Safari, then you know what happens when I see live animals.  Yep – I could stay right there and take pictures all day.  I have almost as many manatee pictures as I do of giraffes eating.  Don’t miss Mr. Ray’s Lagoon (first floor) for an up-close view of stingrays.

3.  Clamobiles!  Jump on into your ride vehicle and check out your favorite Finding Nemo characters as Marlin once again searches for his lost son – the show’s characters swim alongside real fish in the aquarium.

Ohhhh, let’s name the zones, the zones, the zones, let’s name the zones of the open sea! – Mr. IMG_2774Ray, Finding Nemo

4.  Bruce!  Our favorite shark in all the seas has his own exhibit next to the Turtle Talk entrance.  Bruce’s Sub House is a adorably crafted play area with many excellent photo ops – including posing as Bruce’s lunch!  Anchor and Chum are there, too, in this great place to learn and explore.  A great opportunity for little ones to enjoy a break from the confines of a stroller and burn off a little energy!

“I am a nice shark. Not a mindless eatin’ machine. If I am to change this image, I must first IMG_2008change myself. Fish are friends. Not food.” – Bruce, Chum, and Anchor, Finding Nemo 

5.  Coral Reef Restaurant – Enjoying a meal in this restaurant’s multi-level seating area is both a tasty and entertaining experience.  The main focal point for diners is a breathtaking view of The Sea’s aquarium.  While food reviews have been mixed (and disappointing) of late, the menu offers a wide variety of options with and without seafood as a main ingredient.  We have dined here (usually lunch) on several occasions and have never had a bad meal.  Make an informed dining decision with info here from All Ears.Net.  I will add that if you’re on the dining plan, Coral Reef uses one table service credit.

So?  You ready to give it another look?  If you’ve been to The Seas With Nemo and Friends lately, what did you think about it?