Led Zeppelin Collides With The Magic Kingdom! The Grand Finale!!! 6.28.2012

[saintstickets]

Great update Tisa. Love the pics of EPCOT. There are so many great photo ops in each country.
I still have not tried the foul-tasting beverages here. Guess I need to look for them next trip to EP! .....

[mickeystoontown]

I was two updates behind but am now all caught up. I just love all the pictures of the topiaries and flowers and will say it again....I wish they'd extend the Flower & Garden Festival out to the end of May so I could see it all. It's so beautiful!

I can see why your calves were hurting, ya'll been moving along at a nice pace.

I didn't realize there were electrical outlets in the Electric Umbrella. Good to know.

[shan23877]

I was obsessed with those teacups. Not sure why buy I took about 20 pictures of them!

That sand sculpture was so cool! I loved seeing it up close.

You got a great picture of the lake with the monorail track. I haven't looked to see if I got any decent ones or not.

Nice to know that you can use the outlets at Electric Umbrella! Thanks for the tip!

Mousegears is so fun to shop in! I loved that Minnie tutu for DD, but couldn't justify the $35 knowing that I could make it for $10. I really loved it though!

[TinksThree]

Before I reply to the posts I would like to ask your thoughts to be with Madison and her classmates. They are currently at the high school holding a candlelight memorial for a classmate that died today. He was involved in a very bad car wreck this past Tuesday right after school along with two other guys. Madison and my DS were right behind the accident and saw the ones ejected from the car. The others are okay but the one was taken off of life support this morning. Needless to say it has rocked my little girl's world! As I looked for candles to send them off with I was overcome with sadness thinking what they were heading off to and the reasons why. But also because just before they left we were discussing this weekend and what we would be doing for Mother's Day....this boy's mother will be facing a much sadder and difficult Mother's Day.

But now on to much happier things!!

Originally Posted by sherylcin

Wow! I got a little behind! You guys are moving fast...no wonder you're tired! Don't you just love the shopping in Japan and Morocco? We always spend quite a while in both of those places just browsing. The kids look like they were having a good time. Appreciate all the pictures! As usual they are beautiful and that sand sculpture! Very impressive!

Glad you finally got a little rest and wonder what you're gonna do next! Some rides I think!! Pretty funny that Madison tricked her friends with the Beverly. That stuff is nasty!!!

I love spending time in Morocco and Japan but you are right in we were moving through things fast!! Although we did spend a good 20 minutes or so in Morocco. That country probably had the longest visit aside from Norway and Mexico. The kids were having a blast!! Wasn't the sand sculpture awesome! I wish I could make one look like that!!

Madison had been plotting that ever since she knew they were going to Disney!

Originally Posted by saintstickets

Great update Tisa. Love the pics of EPCOT. There are so many great photo ops in each country.
I still have not tried the foul-tasting beverages here. Guess I need to look for them next trip to EP! .....

Thank you! I take so many pictures in each country on every trip that you would think I would tire of it...but I don't!! Can you keep a secret? I haven't tried it either! I tricked my kids the first time, saw their faces and haven't been brave enough to try it myself!!

Originally Posted by mickeystoontown

I was two updates behind but am now all caught up. I just love all the pictures of the topiaries and flowers and will say it again....I wish they'd extend the Flower & Garden Festival out to the end of May so I could see it all. It's so beautiful!

I can see why your calves were hurting, ya'll been moving along at a nice pace.

I didn't realize there were electrical outlets in the Electric Umbrella. Good to know.

I wish they would extend it longer too although this year it would doesn't matter for me! It is so beautiful!! I think we went through a power walking segment at one point!

The outlets are on the bank of windows across from Mousegears. I did some research prior to going to locate places in each park! It was very handy!!

Originally Posted by shan23877

I was obsessed with those teacups. Not sure why buy I took about 20 pictures of them!

That sand sculpture was so cool! I loved seeing it up close.

You got a great picture of the lake with the monorail track. I haven't looked to see if I got any decent ones or not.

Nice to know that you can use the outlets at Electric Umbrella! Thanks for the tip!

Mousegears is so fun to shop in! I loved that Minnie tutu for DD, but couldn't justify the $35 knowing that I could make it for $10. I really loved it though!

England had some very pretty flowers! I would have lingered longer had we not been on a mission to meet up with the kids!

Thanks on the picture of the lake...I only wish I could have waited for a monorail to come along!! I never would have thought to look for outlets but I read the tip on the Touring Plans Liner App (Chat) and started making notes of where to go!

$35 for a tutu! Wow! Knowing how to make one would definitely deter that purchase!!

[mickeystoontown]

I'm so sorry to hear about Madison's classmates. It's always hard to deal with any kind of death but when it's the death of someone so young, it's especially hard. I'll be sure to keep them all in my prayers.

[TinksThree]

Originally Posted by mickeystoontown

I'm so sorry to hear about Madison's classmates. It's always hard to deal with any kind of death but when it's the death of someone so young, it's especially hard. I'll be sure to keep them all in my prayers.

It has been very difficult for them. This has been an emotional week with that and my boss (I think I mentioned her to you when you told about your aunt) has been given little hope so I haven't had much Disney spirit. I think I need to get back into Disney for some "magic"!

[sherylcin]

So sorry to hear about Madison's classmate and your boss too. Life can have some really hard days and some things are just beyond our ability to understand I think. That's when my faith sustains me and I just trust that God is in control. Hope you feel the prayers coming your way from all your friends.

Not to over-philosophize, but I think that's why I love Disney so much. It's a little bit of heaven on earth.......letting us all still be big kids and create so many wonderful family memories. Those days are what help us get through the hard ones as well!

Happy Mother's Day!

[TinksThree]

Originally Posted by sherylcin

So sorry to hear about Madison's classmate and your boss too. Life can have some really hard days and some things are just beyond our ability to understand I think. That's when my faith sustains me and I just trust that God is in control. Hope you feel the prayers coming your way from all your friends.

Not to over-philosophize, but I think that's why I love Disney so much. It's a little bit of heaven on earth.......letting us all still be big kids and create so many wonderful family memories. Those days are what help us get through the hard ones as well!

Happy Mother's Day!

Thank you and Happy Mother's Day to you as well!! And thanks for the prayers! I appreciate the prayers! I firmly believe that faith sustains me! My boss' attitude and faith through this fight has been truly amazing!

I agree Disney is such a wonderful way to bridge those good and bad times!! And I love how I can act like a kid! That is probably why I enjoyed this trip so much. The kids let me be a kid with them!

[TinksThree]

Be prepared...this post is pretty long!! I left off with us shopping or browsing in Mousegears.

We have a group meeting in the middle of the store and decide to head to Spaceship Earth next.

Along the way...



And Madison gets lazy...











This is a walk-on so it takes no time at all before we are making our journey through time!





I attempted a few pictures and some came out while others were no better than my point and shoot camera.









I always love her style and those go-go boots!!





Then we begin our decent....



We get our future and exit the ride.

Madison and her friend were in front of me so I snagged a picture of them...



And then proceeded with ours!











Everyone lines up to e-mail their future pictures.



Madison and her friend...



Continued in next post....

[TinksThree]

Then the kids decide to try out some of the games.





There was one where you put a body together. My DD Madison is a blond sometimes and she clicked on the Spanish option. Unfortunately there was no turning back so she and a friend competed while attempting to places Spanish terms for body parts in the appropriate place. Madison was very proud of the fact she was able to complete the task in Spanish and could not wait to return to school to let her Human A&P teacher know of her accomplishment! This was not the first nor the last time Madison exhibited her blondness and one time it is even commented on video at the MK.





We head out and two girls want to go see the characters while the rest went elsewhere...I can't remember but I think it is where we meet them shortly!

On our way to the Character Spot...





This was actually my first time here! It is set up really cute!! The wait was about 25 minutes or so. Since the girls I was with did not include Madison, I will only post the character pictures of who we saw! Who did we see? Well I will show you!!!!

First was the Big Cheese Himself....Mickey!!!!



We then saw a very lovable and flirtatious Pluto!!



Next was Minnie!!



I think they actually took advantage of two teenage girls waiting because they had a switcharoo and the 2nd Minnie was noticeably shorter....

Next was a Donald



And finally the best one of all! He danced with the girls and kissed the girls hands and flirted worse than Pluto. And the girls ate it up!!



By this time the kids are needing a rest so we head back to Electric Umbrella due to the outlet availability and knowing exactly where they are located.

A common sight...



As they rested several decide to go ahead and grab supper. I think it was around 5:30 at this point. This was not a place I really wanted to eat but we were here so Madison and I decided to split a chicken nugget meal.





Uhm, it was okay. No really it wasn’t bad, I am just not into that sort of food and here I am at Epcot eating chicken nuggets! Well at least it was filling and provided energy for the rest of the evening! We still had several hours left!

This was what all of the kids did while we were resting:



Playing games, updating Facebook, texting, who knows! But they all had their phones plugged in and heads down focused on their task!

This is the view from our outlet spot at Electric Umbrella. I took this just to show people this nifty little spot!



As we were resting, we made decisions on what to do next. The consensus was Nemo so off to The Living Seas we head!



Me and my girl!





The group:



Continued in next post....

[TinksThree]

First I wanted to try some “jumping” pictures. I wish I had thought of it earlier since their poor legs were give out! But they gave it a valiant effort:









And in the middle I got the best effort!





Onward we march to find Nemo!





We find this is another walk-on ride



and soon we are loaded into our clam mobile and off we go! Again I make a poor attempt at pictures but these are better than I ever got with my point and shoot!









After we exit, the kids decide they want to go to Turtle Talk but the wait is 15 minutes.



We decide to look around the aquarium area.























Continued in next post....

[TinksThree]

The group:











By the time we finish here it is time for Turtle Talk to begin but the desire to see the show has passed. We head outside and snap a few pictures during the quickly fading dusk-light.







Then we are off for one final ride!

[shan23877]

I think that you got some really good pictures! I love the jumping ones, and the jellyfish I feel like we're in the same boat learning to use our cameras, so I really appreciate the good ones you got!

Funny how all the kids were on their phones, I find myself doing it all the time too. I try not to at meals with my family or friends, but I sure pulled that Iphone out as soon as we got on a bus at Disney I often have that thought "when I was young, we had to talk to the people we were with" and then I feel really old

[TinksThree]

Originally Posted by shan23877

I think that you got some really good pictures! I love the jumping ones, and the jellyfish I feel like we're in the same boat learning to use our cameras, so I really appreciate the good ones you got!

Funny how all the kids were on their phones, I find myself doing it all the time too. I try not to at meals with my family or friends, but I sure pulled that Iphone out as soon as we got on a bus at Disney I often have that thought "when I was young, we had to talk to the people we were with" and then I feel really old

I kept playing with my features on the camera but I wish I had more time to focus on what I was trying! I hope to get to try to tweak it even more in July! I kept snapping a little quick on the jumping pictures but they weren't all jumping on time anyhow....they were as tired as I was!!

Sometimes the phones really get on my nerves with my kids. We did have to make a rule of no phones at dinner because they wouldn't stay off of them! I must say I can be guilty of looking at my phone a lot too though!

[sherylcin]

You know I don't think in all our trips to Epcot we've been inside the Electric Umbrella. Good to know about the recharging availability! Thanks for the tip! I bet everyone was pretty tired by that time of day/evening. Good thing you could sit a while but I totally understand how you felt eating chicken nuggets when really yummy food is not far away. The jumping pictures are fun! I'm gonna have to try those with the DGK's next trip.