My aunt had surgery so I went to Disneyworld. Update 5/23 Final Thoughts

[Lesprivate]

I love that butterfly garden. I love when your smartphone doesn't work - my droid froze with any update halfway through a trip one time and I had to wait to get a new phone till we got home. That dole whip looks good.

 

[scottny]

Glad you got there. I just did a street view ride. That was fun. I need to get out more.

Yeah your at Disney. Boo there was rain.

The dole whip was...well I cannot say you will have to read about it.

Too bad it rained but it didn't sound like it slowed you down too much.
Can't wait for day 2.

Great pics.

 

[tazdev3225]

I love that butterfly garden. I love when your smartphone doesn't work - my droid froze with any update halfway through a trip one time and I had to wait to get a new phone till we got home. That dole whip looks good.

I spent some time there. Butterflies are one of my favorite subjects to take pics of.

The phone was more of an issue because I only had it 2 weeks and still wasn't sure how everything worked. I would be upset of it froze.

The Dole Whip was good and I'm not usually a fan of pineapple. It was just a little small. You can get a dole whip much larger than this was at MK for under $4 and I don't think the rum was worth that much but what can you do. It's Disney.

Glad you got there. I just did a street view ride. That was fun. I need to get out more.

Yeah your at Disney. Boo there was rain.

The dole whip was...well I cannot say you will have to read about it.

Too bad it rained but it didn't sound like it slowed you down too much.
Can't wait for day 2.

Great pics.

I was glad I got there too. I really was a little nervous as Jim usually drives. The street view is fun and gives a good general idea on where you're going. Next time I need to leave Disney and get to my aunt's. That might have been more helpful.

I could have dealt with a light rain. This was just steady and not light. I knew I was going to be back so I didn't really care too much.

I did read your opinion of the Dole Whip.

Day 2 coming soon.

 

[tazdev3225]

I am happy people are reading but say Hi! I don't bite. I would like to know what I'm doing right or wrong here.


OK commentary over. Day 2 shall commence.

I was up at 7 AM with no alarm. I showered and headed downstairs to find my mom and aunt had been up for hours. We chatted for a bit and I had coffee and carrot cake for breakfast. OK I had something disguised as coffee. My aunt had recently gotten a Keurig and bought some flavored coffees. I had the Cafe Mocha and I swear I really had hot chocolate. The conversation revolved around the armadillo my aunt said she saw on the patio. I wanted to leave by 8 AM every day but didn't want to appear rude so I waited til around 9. By that point my mom was throwing me out.

Took a bad pic of the car I rented. Just couldn't get a good angle


I had no problems finding my way this morning. Usually once I see the road once I can get around well. I turned onto I 27 and stopped for


That's right McDonalds coffee. It was hot and had caffeine and was 80 cents with tax. I was happy. I don't think that Keurig had caffeine in it. I continued on and missed my turn onto Disney. Not a huge deal I just headed a little further to I 4 and went in that way. It was friday morning and I hit a ton of traffic but by a little after 10 I was seeing


It really was nice seeing that every day. Where was I headed?


Yep EPCOT again. That was the whole purpose of the trip. I was happy with the pics this time considering I was driving again. By 10:30 I was in EPCOT ut what to do? Where to head to first? First I had to get a few pics at the entrance since I skipped that the day before


The flower bed was so colorful


Got my monorail shot






I moved on and got a nice fountain pic. I had three objectives this trip: topiaries, monorails and fountains. I added butterflies once I got there.


I decided to head on to Spaceship Earth. I had about a 15 minute wait, not bad. Since I was really going laid back this trip I only took a couple of pics.

waiting area


Got stopped here so took a quick pic


And of course I had to take a couple of My Future


And yes my face was that sunburned from the day before. I got sunburn in the rain. I made sure to wear sunblock the rest of the trip.

More to come. Where do I go next?

 

[jecskc]

I remember that Friday that it rained some. Did you get there before the rain ?? We moved over to AKL that day and I remember it raining in the morning but then turning out to be a really nice day.

I'm ready to go back !!!

Susan

 

[tazdev3225]

I remember that Friday that it rained some. Did you get there before the rain ?? We moved over to AKL that day and I remember it raining in the morning but then turning out to be a really nice day.

I'm ready to go back !!!

Susan

It was just a little overcast when I got there in the morning. It may have rained by my aunt's because the car was wet but I had none while I was there.

I'm working on my December trip since that is when I'm going back.

 

[rndmr2]

Glad to see a new TR! followed the link from Scott's report the other day but just now getting the chance to comment.

Don't you just love Rush Hour on 95? So much fun!

Glad you had a nice flight, too bad you left the GPS.

Love the pics of the Butterfly/Fairy Garden! I loved it there the last 2 times I was at the F&G fest.

 

[tazdev3225]

Glad to see a new TR! followed the link from Scott's report the other day but just now getting the chance to comment.

Don't you just love Rush Hour on 95? So much fun!

Glad you had a nice flight, too bad you left the GPS.

Love the pics of the Butterfly/Fairy Garden! I loved it there the last 2 times I was at the F&G fest.

Thanks for joining in.

Rush Hour is not how I would describe it and it is worse right now due to construction - again!

The flight was nice and leaving that GPS behind will haunt me.

Thanks the Butterfly Garden was a favorite spot,

 

[scottny]

Nice pics from Epcot.

Cute car they gave you.

I love Mcdonald's coffee.

Your face is red there but I have seen redder on you.

Looks like a good time so far.

 

[tazdev3225]

Nice pics from Epcot.

Thanks, I was happy with them. Even better since I was solo I could take the time to not get people in them for the most part.

Cute car they gave you.

Not as big as I normally drive but it was a nice car.

I love Mcdonald's coffee.

It is good as long as it's fresh. Never get it in the afternoon.

Your face is red there but I have seen redder on you.

Yes you have but considering I got that in the rain it was already red but does the sunblock work for the rest of the trip?

Looks like a good time so far.

I did have a good time til that point but does it continue? We shall see.

I'll update later today hopefully. I have 2 ball games to get to and need to clean the glass out of my DH's truck. Somebody broke out all of the windows in it last night. I need to go to Disney again.

 

[tazdev3225]

Continuing Day 2

I left SE and saw this on my way


Decided that wasn't in my plans for the day. Took another fountain pic with my destination in the background


Yep off to Club Cool.


So many choices


What to choose? Beverly? Nope, I'm not crazy. I opted for China. I love watermelon. I will say that I had a lot of fun just people watching for a bit. You can always spot someone new to Club Cool and Beverly by the look on their face. After amusing myself for a bit I moved on. Where to? I didn't know. I did stop for a pic


As I wandered I saw a display for Scott's Miracle Gro. I use that in my own garden and it will figure into my DGD's Science Fair project next year. Had a nice chat with a representative and took a picture of these cute little gnomes


They were supposed to be for sale but I never did find them. I wandered a little more and waited for a monorail pic. It was a little breezy so not the perfect shot I wanted but I was happy with it



I headed on to the WS and saw this display


They were so pretty but I didn't think they would survive the trip home so I didn't buy any. I did find some monsters


I watched Monsters Inc for 6 straight hours with the grandkids for 3 days in a row and I still like them. I liked the little flower displays in the openings


Noticed these on the other side of the glass display. I really would have loved to get something but I also have 2 cats that go a little crazy chasing each other so I avoid glass


A few more monsters


And I reached the WS. I wanted to see whether Duffy had on an outfit for the F&G festival but after waiting 5 minutes for him to come out I decided not to wait any longer. I did use the time to check my Disney App for wait times.

And I will stop here for now. There's much more to come.

 

[tazdev3225]

When last I left you I had given up on Duffy. Where did I go? Why off to try some food at - Florida Fresh. Many things intrigued me but my choice was the Watermelon Salad with pickled red onions, Baby Arugula, Feta Cheese and Balsamic reduction for $3.50.



OMG This was so good. The perfect balance of acidity, a little bitter from the greens, salt and sweetness. I could have eaten bowls of it.

After thoroughly enjoying the salad I moved on down the road to Mexico. I had noticed some flowers the day before and wanted to explore further. Mexico had an orchid display. Just pictures here



















Sorry that may have been overkill on the pictures but they were so pretty and all a little different. Took a pic of the view


And then I moved on to Norway. I loved the flowers on the roof


This was interesting


I was into light fixtures this trip too


I'm assuming this says Ladies Room


This was the first time I ever noticed an area for service dogs


Then I stopped into Stave Church. This is a really nice little gallery of Norwegian history


Erik the Red




King Olav


A raider


Then I went on Maelstrom as it had almost no wait


Love this little guy


A topiary troll


And I moved on.

 

[Lesprivate]

That salad looks amazing. The orchid photos are beautiful.

 

[Pre]

I love your pics of the orchids!

 

[stink]

Enjoying your pictures ! Look forward to more !

 

[rndmr2]

I love that pic of Club Cool, I like that Watermelon one too.

Beautiful F & G pics! I love the pics of those orchids in Mexico.

I don't think I ever went into that Stave Church before.

 

[wiigirl]

Beautiful pics of the orchids!

 

[tazdev3225]

That salad looks amazing. The orchid photos are beautiful.

It was amazing. I'm going to try and figure out how to make it this summer. Thanks.

I love your pics of the orchids!

Thank you. I was happy with them.

Enjoying your pictures ! Look forward to more !

Glad you like them. More will be coming.

I love that pic of Club Cool, I like that Watermelon one too.

Beautiful F & G pics! I love the pics of those orchids in Mexico.

I don't think I ever went into that Stave Church before.

Thanks I went for different with that one and liked how it came out.

I really was happy with the orchids. The advantage of no plans and all the time in the world.

Stave church isn't very big but it is nice to go in and look around, especially in the summer. It has AC.

Beautiful pics of the orchids!

Thank you.

Update later today after I get my notes back in order. The cats had fun last night.

 

[tazdev3225]

Day 2 continues on

One note about Norway - I got to ride in the very front of the boat for Maelstrom. I loved that but you do get splashed. If I could just get pictures to come out on that ride. I stayed and looked around the little village when I got off of the ride and need to do that again next trip. The CM kept looking at me funny so I rushed all of my pics. It's dark the camera needs to be kept still. I did skip the movie. I may stay for it next trip as I honestly can't remember if it's any good.

OK Norway done I wandered on. Next stop Lotus House for Beijing-style Candied Strawberries, $3.50


These were so good. They seemed to be in a simple syrup coating and served on a skewer. Hard and crunchy and so good but very sticky as you ate them. They were in a cooler and by the time I got to the third strawberry it was a little messy. I wandered around the outside as I ate the strawberries and took a few pics





Light fixtures




I then moved on to


I spent a bit of time here taking pics of everything so I wouldn't bore my DH here again in December




Mans face on a fish






Just a sample of what is on display in there. Worth taking the time to visit if you've never seen it. I love the colors on the buildings


The top of the dome inside where they show the movie. I loved all the detail


Some more light fixtures




Then I stopped for some pics of the views and also to rest my ankle for a few minutes. It was really aching. There were some birds flying around and I got some pics of that too. You would never know I am afraid of birds but I love getting pics of them. There is a Great Blue Heron here in Philly that has been giving me fits for 3 years trying to get its picture. Sorry saw it again last night AFTER I put my camera away.

One of the birds in flight against what looks like a stormy sky but it really wasn't. The weather was beautiful


After my small rest I headed towards Germany and Bauernmarkt. I had the Potato Pancakes with House Made Apple Sauce, $2.75.


This was very good but I love potato pancakes and I love appplesauce. The pancake had a bit of chunkiness to it from the potatoes and the applesauce was also not smooth. I would add some cinnamon to the applesauce but I put cinnamon in mine all of the time. I might also add a small hint of onion to the pancake but that was the way my German aunt made them and make it a little bigger. Overall it was very good.

I skipped exploring Germany today and moved on to Primavera Kitchen. Everything looked good but I had Lasagna Primavera - Spinach lasagna, Green Peas, Zucchini, Mushrooms, Broccolini, Bechamel and fresh Tomatoes with Garlic and Basil, $6.00.


This was another hit with me. I was expecting spinach for some reason not thinking the noodles were spinach noodles. DUH!!! I could have used a little more vegies in it but the tomatoes made this dish. They were so good and tiny pieces of garlic but it didn't over power the dish. I could have made a meal of this one.

I skipped Italy and moved on to Hanami. I do NOT like sushi. My youngest DD's BFF is Japanese and her family owned a sushi restaurant. They were always trying to get me to come in and try the sushi. Sorry I'm not a huge fan of seafood as it is but there is no way I'm eating it raw. I was intrigued by one thing offered here however. Frushi - Fresh Strawberries, Pineapple and Cantaloupe rolled with Coconut Rice atop a Raspberry sauce sprinkled with Toasted Coconut and Whipped Cream, $4.50.


This was fantastic. The rice was sweet and went perfectly with the fruit. It was wrapped in very thin slices of what I think was a honeydew melon. It wasn''t really over powered by coconut, not that I would have minded as I like coconut. I meant to go back for more later in the trip but never did. I just wish they gave more than 2 pieces per serving.

I decided to skip Japan today too and wandered further around WS. As I passed the Backyard Play Garden they were handing out samples


I have seen this in stores and wondered about it so I was happy to try it. It was nice and cold and tasted OK. I would definitely but it for my grandkids.

I will stop here and next up France and a Dis meet.

 

[Lesprivate]

Those candied strawberries looked amazing. I love to walk around the china pavilion, in October Frank and I actually stopped to see the movie and it was very good. Andrew loves those applesauce pouches I buy them at Target all the time for him, they also have other flavors, they are great to throw in your bag because they don't need to be refridgerated.