Oh, Just A Few GALLONS of Pixie Dust! - A July/August 2012 TR

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Hahahaha it is funny to talk about the World Showcase countries to people that don't continually think about Disney! When we tell people we had our engagement photos done in the U.K., Morocco, and France, some of them are like "...wait...how long did this TAKE??"

Still have yet to see Voices of Liberty - I'd love to someday though!

 

[amazingact21]

I know exactly what you mean in terms of touring the World Showcase. It's fun, but some of the countries don't have much to do. You feel kind of bad just perusing on by, but aside from restaurants, there's nothing really pulling you in.


It's cool that you got to hear Voices of Liberty sing your school's song. Bet it was nice to get a taste of home while on vacation. And they are so talented; great way to pass the time until the show began. I agree with you, though, the American Adventure show is a tad bit long. I've been known to nap during it.

 

[marDgreen88]

Yay! A new update! Looks like y'all were having a nice, leisurely time in the WS. I have not seen the American Adventure in a very long time. Maybe we'll revisit it once Reid is a bit older.

To me, the WS can be challenging sometimes to tour. I love it because it's so pretty but I am not a huge shopper so I don't feel the need to go in all the stores. And with Reid, the movies aren't really an option (at least not at this point). I wish they would add some different stuff back there as well.

You are very observant!! In addition to my cruise ticker, I had another ticker counting down to a fall trip. However, as you can see, it's now counting down to a December trip. Over the holidays we decided to change our trip dates to Dec 7 - Dec 14th. It will be a surprise (at least as of now) for Reid and Ed & I will also get to celebrate our anniversary which is on Dec 6th. The best part? Ed told me to go ahead and book a Theme Park View @ the Contemporary!!! Can you tell I'm excited?

Yeah, definitely! Our goal was just to see and do most of the stuff we'd never done before.

I like shopping, but we didn't go into ANY of the stores in World Showcase! I think it's because I'm weird and if I want to get merchandise from a specific country, I want it to be something I got in the actual country if I went there myself. Otherwise I feel like it's fake! Anyway, I totally understand what you mean. I guess coloring the Duffy would only be fun for so long!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!!! Are you serious? That is SO exciting!!!! I know how badly you've been wanting to stay at the Contemporary!!!!! I am so excited for you! And December is such a wonderful time to visit, AHHH yay!!!!

Hahahaha it is funny to talk about the World Showcase countries to people that don't continually think about Disney! When we tell people we had our engagement photos done in the U.K., Morocco, and France, some of them are like "...wait...how long did this TAKE??"

Still have yet to see Voices of Liberty - I'd love to someday though!

Seriously! Hahahah that is too funny! They probably wondered what your honeymoon would be like if you traveled so much for engagement photos! Hahahah! Silly people.

You should! They're fantastic.

I know exactly what you mean in terms of touring the World Showcase. It's fun, but some of the countries don't have much to do. You feel kind of bad just perusing on by, but aside from restaurants, there's nothing really pulling you in.

It's cool that you got to hear Voices of Liberty sing your school's song. Bet it was nice to get a taste of home while on vacation. And they are so talented; great way to pass the time until the show began. I agree with you, though, the American Adventure show is a tad bit long. I've been known to nap during it.

Yeah, definitely. I mean I LOVE the World Showcase, but I do feel bad when I don't want to spend as much time in some of the pavilions. It makes me want to go back to Via Napoli on my next trip just so I can spend some time in Italy! Disney problems.

Hahah well it's not really my school's song, just a song that you'll hear a lot in the state of Tennessee. One of the choirs at my school sings it sometimes though! I really liked the show! I feel like I won't see it on every trip, because it could get boring if I do that because of how long it is. But it'll be nice to see it every few trips!

 

[Disney9.9.10]

I'm sorry it has taken me so long, but I have finally read your entire TR!! And I have to say that I loved it. Your enthusiasm and excitement is really awesome (and reminds me a bit of myself ) This TR is what Disney is all about - the magic, the memories, time spent with family, and just being happy. I may or may not have teared up a little . And what amazing Pixie Dust you got! And I think that you deserve it all because you seem like such nice people. I can't wait to read the rest!

 

[mermaid764]

Hey Marissa, I am so behind on your TR it's not even funny, but I am seriously hoping to get caught up soon.

I haven't been on the DIS in forever for various reasons, but I thought I'd pop in really quick and say that your's is definitely one of the ones I want to try and get caught up again on.

It's been so long since I've been on your TR I was just wandering if you have any new trip plans yet or are still like me in the long waiting process?

 

[marDgreen88]

I'm sorry it has taken me so long, but I have finally read your entire TR!! And I have to say that I loved it. Your enthusiasm and excitement is really awesome (and reminds me a bit of myself ) This TR is what Disney is all about - the magic, the memories, time spent with family, and just being happy. I may or may not have teared up a little . And what amazing Pixie Dust you got! And I think that you deserve it all because you seem like such nice people. I can't wait to read the rest!

I can honestly say that this is one of the sweetest comments I've ever gotten on a TR! Thank you SO much. It means so much to me to hear that! Seriously, you are too kind. Those memories with my family are so so special to me, it was a trip that I'll never forget! I'm so glad that you're all caught up now, and I hope that you continue to enjoy it as much as you already have!

Hey Marissa, I am so behind on your TR it's not even funny, but I am seriously hoping to get caught up soon.

I haven't been on the DIS in forever for various reasons, but I thought I'd pop in really quick and say that your's is definitely one of the ones I want to try and get caught up again on.

It's been so long since I've been on your TR I was just wandering if you have any new trip plans yet or are still like me in the long waiting process?

Hey girl! Well I hope you get a chance to get caught up! I've missed you around here!

Hahah unfortunately, not really. I have some things up my sleeve, but nothing definite yet, and it's driving me CRAZY!!! I'm very hopeful about having a trip planned soon, though! I'll keep ya posted!

 

[marDgreen88]

The One With the Cat and A Snack

August 2, 2012

We stayed in Japan long enough to take these phenomenal photographs. I'm so glad I stayed to get them. (Sarcasm. I'm sorry, I cannot help it.)

That is one large rock.

We weren't really in the mood to shop for Japanese items, so we moved on. While we were in transit, I took a picture of, YOU GUESSED IT, another torch lamp. SO MUCH PHOTOGRAPHIC VARIETY!!!

I can't help it! They're gorgeous and just SO WORLD SHOWCASE!

While we were heading into Morocco, I spotted royalty! (I know what you're thinking, and no, it wasn't Will and Kate. It was BETTER than that.)

I bet you thought you wouldn't see another one of these! At least this one is blurry?

Yall get ready to put on your fezzes, because we are in MOROCCO!

I think the Morocco pavilion is so beautiful and unique! I wish I was brave enough to try Restaurant Marrakesh! Someday I need to go though. It's a Disney restaurant, therefore I must try it. Just like the way I want to stay in all the resorts, I also want to eat at all the restaurants. I'm very ambitious when it comes to sleeping and eating, clearly.

Say hello to my friend and yours, the CAMEL!

He listened and put on his fez! Good boy.

I like to pretend this is Aladdin's magic carpet. Otherwise, why would it even be there?! Hahah.

AHHH isn't this tree awesome?

As you can probably tell, we explored the outside of the Moroccan pavilion a little bit before we moved on. Even though I feel like I saw a lot more of World Showcase on this trip, I STILL don't feel like I've fully explored it. I don't know if I ever will be able to FULLY explore it. There's just so much to see! It's really amazing, I must say.

ANYWAYS.

Remember when I described the Test Track construction as a steel prison? Yeah. Proof.

Thank God it doesn't look like that anymore. Or at least, I don't think it does! I actually have no idea. I haven't really been looking at pictures of ANY of the new things so I can experience them for myself first hand whenever I get back! Therefore I'm clueless. Someone, please tell me that Test Track no longer looks like a steel prison! Hahaha.

If you know the World Showcase (and I bet you do!!!) you know where we went next!

France. Yep!

I actually don't even know what this is. I just thought it looked pretty with all the different colors around it.

Fancy. It's French, so I'm not surprised.

We saw that Marie was due for a meet and greet in a little bit, and both Anna and I really wanted to meet her! We've always loved the Aristocats! (Who wouldn't?!) We didn't really want to wait outside for her though, so we figured we'd go inside to watch the French movie and meet her when we went back out. So, inside we went!

SURPRISE!!!!!

What a friendly looking gargoyle, am I right? Maybe not friendly. Sleepy? Bashful? Dopey? None of the above? I really think we should name him. Any ideas? Make it good, he could become a DIS icon!

After a few minutes of waiting for the movie, we decided to nix said movie and just go meet the kitty cat. (I LOVE cats.)

She still wasn't out yet, but the Serveur Amusant show was starting, so we watched that for a little bit.

"Well, it is amooozing..."

(I'm sorry. Friends reference. I really cannot help myself. The name reminded me! Let's continue.)

OH BOY. I could barely watch this! It freaked me the heck out. I'm scared of heights anyway, but this guy went from this:

to THIS:

TERRIFYING. Never in a million years would I even want to do that. EVER!

In the middle of the show, little (well, rather large) Marie came strutting out to do her meet and greet! She handles her fame very well. I basically ran to the line. (Child mindset. I told you!)

She was the cutest!!! She licked her paws and I told her she was sassy, so she wanted us to do a 'sassy' pose.

I love her! I'm glad I got to meet her in France before she moved to Town Square!

While we were in the neighborhood, we decided to get a snack at the Boulangerie Patisserie!

LOOK AT ALL THAT GOODNESS.

What did I get? Well, I will tell you.

See, I’m a frequent Disney menu browser. A couple years ago when I was looking at the menu for the Boulangerie Patisserie, I noticed a snack with a very intriguing name: ‘The Napoleon.’ I thought to myself, “Hmm, this is intriguing.” So I googled ‘boulangerie patisserie disney epcot napoleon’ (yes, exactly... CLEARLY before my DISboard days began) and I saw the various pictures. I thought it looked really good! I kept it in mind as something I really wanted to try, but over the course of my next couple Disney trips, it just wasn’t meant to be. I was always either too full or too sick (womp womp) to try one while in the World Showcase. A couple months prior to the trip, I came upon the menu AGAIN! I remembered how much I wanted to try the Napoleon, so I vowed that nothing would stop me this time. I would get a Napoleon.

(Yeah, I do realize that getting a snack doesn't require a backstory. That's just the way I do things.)

So I ordered a tart. BAHAHA, just kidding. I got my Napoleon, Anna got an eclair, and my mom got a lemon meringue tart, I think. (Sorry, I don't have pictures of theirs! The tart is in the picture of the dessert case above, though!) We also all got bottles of water, and used snack credits to pay!

We went into the little indoor seating area to eat our snacks. Everyone enjoyed what they had! The Napoleon was really good! It was too big though, and a little difficult to eat. Still very good though! Although, after eating that beautiful, delectable Contempo cupcake, nothing could compare.

There were these teeny little birds hanging out inside! I thought it was pretty funny that it was hanging out on a lamp post. That's a pretty normal sight, when you're OUTDOORS!

When we finished our snacks, we thought about going back to watch the French movie after all, but none of us really cared about it for some reason. Someday I will definitely watch it though!

We headed over the International Gateway bridge to our next destination, and let me tell yall, I'm not very good at spelling under pressure.

Continued in Next Update​

 

[Victoriasmom98]

I think we should call the gargoyle George!!! Or Fred!!! Loved this update. We love Epcot, too! I'm like you, though, I have not watched any YouTube videos to see the new Test Track. I want to be surprised when I ride it for the first time.

 

[Nermel9]

OMG I LOVE Morocco! It's so perfect, I like to imagine that pavilion is what the real Morocco looks like! I wish I was brave enough to eat at the restaurant too, but Brandon got something from their quick service place once, and I tried it and ugh...I didn't like it! I'm just not brave when it comes to trying new, exotic things!

Do you know that I've only been inside the France bakery ONCE? In all of my trips? Crazy! I need to fix that immediately! That Napoleon looks really good!

Awww, Marie! She's one of my favorites! I love the pose you did with her, she is just so cute I can't stand it! Glad you got to see her before she moved to MK, where she DOES not belong!

 

[jecskc]

I think Test Track has always looked like that around the area where the track is. I dunno ....

I keep meaning to try a Napolean and I never get the chance. I guess I am always thinking about getting my Grey Goose Slushie in France. An then, when I get that, i think it wouldn't go well with a Napolean.

 

[marDgreen88]

I think we should call the gargoyle George!!! Or Fred!!! Loved this update. We love Epcot, too! I'm like you, though, I have not watched any YouTube videos to see the new Test Track. I want to be surprised when I ride it for the first time.

I'm quite fond of Fred! OR Francois! Fredcois? That Frenches it up, right?

Thank you! Yeah! I haven't looked at the new Test Track or New Fantasyland at all! I can't wait to see it in person!!! I'm glad I'm not the only one!

OMG I LOVE Morocco! It's so perfect, I like to imagine that pavilion is what the real Morocco looks like! I wish I was brave enough to eat at the restaurant too, but Brandon got something from their quick service place once, and I tried it and ugh...I didn't like it! I'm just not brave when it comes to trying new, exotic things!

Do you know that I've only been inside the France bakery ONCE? In all of my trips? Crazy! I need to fix that immediately! That Napoleon looks really good!

Awww, Marie! She's one of my favorites! I love the pose you did with her, she is just so cute I can't stand it! Glad you got to see her before she moved to MK, where she DOES not belong!

It's so pretty! Yeah, I think it must be pretty similar! I'm sure I'll suck it up and go one day just to say I went. I'll get something with chicken in it and see how it goes. I'll let ya know. Hahah!

Hahah, me too, oddly enough! This was my first time going in there! I wonder what it looks like now that it's been expanded? Or is that even finished yet? I don't even know. The Napoleon was definitely good!

Mine too! I just love all the cats in that movie. They're wonderful and adorable. Haha thank you! I know!!! Yeah, it is weird that she moved to MK. I still don't really get it... I feel like they could have put anyone in Town Square! Marie is French! Oh well, I'll definitely still meet her, and the pictures will have a wonderful castle background!

 

[marDgreen88]

I think Test Track has always looked like that around the area where the track is. I dunno ....

I keep meaning to try a Napolean and I never get the chance. I guess I am always thinking about getting my Grey Goose Slushie in France. An then, when I get that, i think it wouldn't go well with a Napolean.

I don't know... I don't remember it looking like that! It was all icky but I've heard it's better now that the construction is done!

You oughtta give the Napoleon a try! I definitely liked it.

 

[kgoodb00]

I just love your updates! I am sick with a bad cold right now and was so happy to read your update today!

For our trip in June I am going to reread all of your Epcot updates. I realllly wanna explore WS. I have been multiple times but I feel like I really haven't seen all that it offers. My DH got a little glimpse of your Napoleon and the cream puff and declared he is going to get those when we go!!

Have you figured out any upcoming trips for this year yet? We are soooo very excited for our June trip! Only 157 more days!!!

 

[MEK]

Beautiful pictures in this update! I especially love the ones from Morocco.

I love your sassy pose with Marie.

That pastry all looks amazing!

 

[marDgreen88]

I just love your updates! I am sick with a bad cold right now and was so happy to read your update today!

For our trip in June I am going to reread all of your Epcot updates. I realllly wanna explore WS. I have been multiple times but I feel like I really haven't seen all that it offers. My DH got a little glimpse of your Napoleon and the cream puff and declared he is going to get those when we go!!

Have you figured out any upcoming trips for this year yet? We are soooo very excited for our June trip! Only 157 more days!!!

Oh no! I'm so sorry you're sick. I hope you feel better soon! May I just say, it's always such a nice surprise to see a comment from you!!! I love it when you don't lurk!

I would highly recommend doing that! I mean, I STILL don't feel like I've seen enough of it! It's such a cool place. Hahha that's awesome! The Napoleon is really good! I bet the cream puff is, too.

Hahah well... I'm WORKING on it. REALLY, REALLY hard. I hope to get back soon!

Beautiful pictures in this update! I especially love the ones from Morocco.

I love your sassy pose with Marie.

That pastry all looks amazing!

Thank you! Morocco is so cool! I wanted to look around longer!

Aww thanks! She is too precious.

It does, doesn't it? We all really liked what we got!

 

[amandaw]

I love the Moroccan pavilion! It's so pretty! But, we haven't eaten there either.

So glad you got to meet Marie....cute picture! Love the Aristocats so much.

I keep saying that I'm going to get a yummy treat from the bakery in France and it never happens. I seriously need to correct that on our next trip.

 

[LilAnn]

And I'm caught up, once again! yay! Oh, and Happy new year!

Storybrooke....loved it. Love that it's back too. And I feel the same way about the OUAT Mulan. All I can think of when I see her is Real World. Wierd to think that's how she got her start.

The whistling clown - funny, I think we saw him doing an ebening performance in the lobby of the Boardwalk once. We were on our way to dinner and stopped to watch him do his thing.

THe Napolean - my hubby's must-get dessert (or one of them) when we go to WDW. Once we get close to France, he just takes off to grab one.

Oh, and I found you on Instagram, so I am now following you.

 

[MeMom]

The new place just opened yesterday with lots of new food choices and plenty of indoor seating. Now it is called Les Halles Boulangerie Pattiserie. I look forward to seeing it and taking lots of pictures in March.

I have had a Napoleon. Good stuff!

Morocco is such a good place to 'escape' in WDW. Walking around those back streets only passing a few other people, yet knowing there are thousands in the park as a whole - that's kind of cool.

 

[Disney9.9.10]

What a beautiful day in Epcot! I know what you mean about exploring Epcot - I always see things on TR's that I have never seen before, and when I go explore them, I find new things that I haven't seen before lol I do really love that about the WS though. That Napoleon looks delicious!

 

[amazingact21]

I know what you mean about being afraid to eat at Morocco. I've heard great things about their Quick Service restaurant, but I'm too wimpy to try. I will say, though, my sister in-law got the lamb Shawarma Platter, and I took a bite of it, and it actually wasn't bad. Believe it or not that was my first taste ever of lamb, and I thought I'd hate it more than I did.


The France bakery is one of my favorite snack shops in Disney! (Dare I say, I like it a little more than Karamell Kuche) I just love the variety they have there. It's very difficult to choose just one snack, because they all look amazing.


Love your photo with Marie! She looks very sassy! (I still don't get why they moved her from France....)