Here I am, ready to give you yet another look inside my Disney-deranged psyche.
I'm gonna tell you a story but I need you to do something for me first, if you'd be so kind, for your maximum reading pleasure. Please go to
YouTube and look up the song "Stranger On the Shore". Please allow it to play as you read this. I'll wait til you come back, and dance to pass the time.
Back? Okay.
Last year, DH and I were crossing over the bridge which connects the UK and France pavilions. It was early evening, and the already cloudy sky was beginning to darken. We were probably on a mission to see what the fuss over the Grand Marnier slushie is all about
But as is so often the case with us, we weren't in any hurry, just walking slowly together, taking a good look around us, trying to soak it all in, occasionally stopping to take a picture of some little detail we loved. The Faux Eiffel Tower was in the distance and I was holding hands with DH and gazing out over the water towards the other pavilions. "Stranger on the Shore" was drifting softly through the air.
Does it get any better than that? I really don't think so. I don't even think the miraculous and inexplicable appearance of Tonga Toast could have made that scenario any better.
World Showcase is something I'm totally psyched about, as I am every time we visit. I think it's fascinating, the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into each display.
I mean, I'm in love with the entire Morroccan pavilion. I managed to get some really great shots of it on our honeymoon, when we explored on our last day. The detail is exquisite, isn't it? All that tile work!
We explored a bit in the UK last year, and I loved the beautiful English gardens. We also managed to catch a bit of a performance by "The Beatles"
on our honeymoon, and that was a lot of fun to watch (even if people were being snippy with each other about not being able to see).
This year, I'd love to spend more time in France (possibly at the Boulangerie Patisserie? hmmm...) and Italy (um, the perfume store? Yeah, if I win the lottery...) and Mexico (perhaps whilst sipping a margarita? One never knows...!
)
One thing we can never visit WDW without seeing twice is
Illuminations. I remember the first time I saw it - it was the first night of our honeymoon and we'd just had a terrific meal at Yachstman's Steakhouse.
Then we took the boat to Epcot and quickly made tracks for Italy, where DH assured me we'd have the best spot. It was amazing, to say the least! However, he later read that Illuminations was designed to play to the entrance of the World Showcase - in other words, we were watching from the back this whole time! So last year we staked out a spot near the entrance, right by the railing.
And can we say
OH MY GOD??? It was like a totally different show! Seeing was believing, for sure! It was like everything was coming directly at us. I can't describe it any better - you need to see for yourself, if you haven't already!
Another, not so fond, memory: We must have held that Illuminations spot for at least an hour, probably closer to an hour and a half. We spent the entire time sitting on the ground, alongside a family with young children who ate chicken nuggets and played games as they waited. Not to mention everyone else who had staked out a spot nearby. After much waiting and, let's face it, after my butt had thoroughly fallen asleep, it was just about time for the show to start. Immediately, DH and I stood up, as did the family next to us and everyone else seated by the railing. Then....BOOM! Showtime!
Suddenly I hear a voice behind me, directed at all of us in general: "Can you tell me why you chose NOW to stand up?".
Turns out it was a person seated a short distance behind us...a person who had sat on a bench for the entire time we waited on the ground. I was actually a bit confused by this question, to be honest with you, and the mom next to me was clearly irritated (plus, it was distracting!). Finally I said, "We're standing so we can see the show" and turned back to the action. I mean, heaven forbid you should not be able to sit comfortably through the entire wait AND the show itself! Sheesh!
Anyway, as I said, I'm really looking forward to visiting WS in a few weeks!
I would like to:
Pick a pearl in Japan
Try the avocado margarita in Mexico
Visit the Boulangerie Patisserie - I always say I want to but never do!
Take millions more pictures of every nook and cranny!
I've had schoolbread - maybe an almond pretzel is in order this time?
Why am I so food-fixated?
Any suggestions on other discoveries we can make there?
Next: Other stuff in Epcot!
Excitement!!!!! 
Otherwise I think I'm okay. I don't so much use the list for the actual clothes packing because I pretty much have it all in my head by then.
