Chapter 50. Food and Wine here we come.
We were really looking forward to this event on the trip.
we crossed dates with it on a previous trip but for some reason we can not remember we never tried anything on that trip.
Our first stop was to go into Journey into imagination.
We made it about half way through the line when he decided that it was not for him, no way no how no talking to get me through it dad...
Okay so we went through the exit in the gift shop to let the kids play in the music area.
he was all about that and jumped from square to square having a blast.
Parker and I then went and made our own figment We named him figgy.
Then it was a stop at one of my personal favorites from growing up. the jumping water streams and water balls.
Parker was all about catching the water balls, Noelle was all about poking the rock wall.
on the way back through innovations, we stopped at the art store and met
Larry Dotson, who we have tallied up 6 of his artworks now, all signed by him in person on a trip.
NOte: when i talked to him last trip in Epcot i said he needed to get a painting of fort wilderness, and he said he didnt find a perfect spot in there yet...I told him to use the boat dock, but looks like he did one of the depot instead...i just found it on the website when i went to link that website.
We talked to him for a little bit and then picked out our prints for this trip.
Noelle and candi went to wait outside for parker and i while we waited to get it signed by him and packed up to be sent back to our resort.
We were so happy to have met him for the 3rd time and get some more prints.
When we ventured outside we found a little girl nodded off in the stroller.
Parker was getting hungry so we stopped to get him some lunch.
If this photo doesnt say dad stop taking pics of me it is just nuggets i dont know what does
After he finished eating we headed off to the food and wine festival center.
We had to pick up our passports at the main desk.
It was set up really nice in there, and the first time i have been in there since it used to have the attractions going.
crannium command was one of my personal favorites.
I wonder if i really liked the show that much or if it was because i had a crush on Annie growing up.
if you have never seen the show or it was not around when you started going to disney
here is a video of the whole preshow and the show.
annie makes her debut at the 11:40 mark.
at the top of the stairs going into the pavilian.
first thing we picked up our passports...which i did not take a picture of fully until we got home, i will find those and share them later.
one of the demo areas.
and a demo area that has the wine pairings.
lots of items for sale in there, some glasses and a beer cozy that i really wanted along with a few other things.
we made our way around toward the back where the Ghirardelli area was, when you walked in you were given a free chocolate sample.
you can also see the covers of the passports in candis hand in the background.
in the back of that room was the super secret entrance for the disney visa card holders.
now this is not a flattering pic of candi but it shows the free beverage station they had set up.
there were also private bathrooms in there, and also a area to sit and relax and watch some tv.
also they had a table set up that you could get writsbands for a few different things, one being a special seating area for illuminations or a reserved area for the eat to the beat concert series.
we did not know what show we were going to see for that so we chose the illuminations bands.
after we had a few drinks and used the restrooms we headed back out to get our sample on.
not realizing that i should have picked up that beer cozy i wanted there.
but it might make an appearance or mention again later in the report.
on the way to world showcase we spotted the cranberry bog...we took a few pictures but didnt stay around long enough to learn anything about them or how the work.
it was sampling time, and we just crossed into the main event.
a quick question that you can answer in a response for me.
What way do you go when you get to the world showcase...for us, we ALWAYS go to the left first, i wonder if it is because mexico is so close and that has a ride is why? i have no idea, but we again went to the left first.
and the first booth we saw was
the terra booth...of course i had to try something.
candi asked me, are you sure, i said absolutely, i havent been saving these snack credits for nothing.
all she said was "okaaayyy"
i went up and ordered the chili.
which is detailed as.
Chili Colorado with House made chips and Cashew Cheese featuring Gardein Beefless Tips.
my thought mmm chili im sold.
my second thought i wonder how chili meet is beefless...ohh well, MMMM CHILI.
and got this.
i took a big bite of the "beefless tips" and loved them. then asked if candi wanted a bit she said no, the kids loved the chips.
Writers Note: parker had lunch, noelle will have lunch in the next chapter, and the goal for them was to just have them eat some of our food throughout the sampling the rest of the day...this little tid bit comes into effect for the next day.
I told her i loved it, she said "you know that is vegan. "
me
well, it was good.
would i eat it again in a heart beat, i love anything chili.
will i change to vegan no way bud, but i did really like that dish, had i known it was vegan would i still have tried it, more than likely yes. remember i love chili. ( i do host a chili cookoff each year afterall.)
First booth down it was time to continue onward.
right next door was a certain lovable bear that the kids and us were excited to meet.
Thanks for sharing the pics - it reminded me that I want to get that in this July for the kids.
It is so hard to find a balance between letting them skip things you know will be alright, and making them face the unknown a little so they can discover something fun!
glad you are enjoying it, and really hope that the tips and things we experienced help you out on your trip.
we will have more adult touring in the world showcase of the current day coming up.
I have a feeling I'll end up with chicken tenders while DH samples around the WS. 
