Ever, Ever After: The TR Formerly Known as Wishing You Were Here- May 2011

[basketkat]

I love all of the topiary pictures!!! How neat is it that Lotso smelled like strawberries!!! That really IS magic!

I love how excited you were...you can see it in your face for sure!

 

[Nermel9]

I love the Flower and Garden festival, Epcot is so beautiful at that time of year! Lotso is so cute, I know he's evil, but he's cute, and I love that he smells like strawberries!

I love the Fountain of Nations, every time I'm there and it starts, I have to stop and watch for a little while! Who knew a fountain could be so entertaining?

 

[teachermommy78]

F&G looks like so much fun! And the boys are as cute as buttons. I can't wait to hear about your lunch. Scott really wanted Mexican food when we were there, but I just wasn't feeling it for some reason. Next time! The cars topiaries were still up when we were there in late June. Probably due to the cars 2 movies. I was excited to experience a little taste of the festival!!!

 

[PirateKate]

The Flower and Garden Festival is so much fun! It makes Epcot, which is already such a beautiful park, that much more beautiful!

Can I ask what stroller you use? And if you like it? I might be in them market to replace our current stroller!

I loved getting to see the Flower and Garden Festival this year. I had thought that we wouldn't get to see it, so that made it even better when we did.

I use the City Mini Double. I like it a lot. It fits through doors and drives easily. It folds up pretty fast and it's not too heavy, considering what it is. I love the sunshades that come all the way down so the boys are completely shady.

Aren't those topiaries amazing? I couldn't get over the Lotso scent as well! I truly loved all of the topiaries, especially Landon's buddy with the balloon and Carter's blue pal!

The topiaries are so amazing. I love seeing what all they can do with them. I think Lotso might have been my favorite this year. The boys definitely preferred the Pooh characters. Landon loves a balloon.

I love the F&G Festival. I just can't get over how cute your boys are...simply adorable!

I love the F&G Festival, too. Everything is just so beautiful and colorful. Thanks, my boys are very cute, aren't they?

I am really enjoying following along on your adventures! Your boys are adorable and seem to really have a knack for contributing to your TR.

Thanks! My boys contribute to so many of our adventures that I figured it was only fair to let them contribute to the TR, too.

I'm glad that Jeremy arrived in Orlando with no problems and that you were reunited for a fun day at Epcot!

I also did not notice the strawberry smell, but I don't think I'm very observant. I didn't notice the orange smell on Soarin' until someone pointed it out to me either!

I hope you guys enjoyed the cantina, we really like the new CS restaurant!

I was glad Jeremy got there with no problems, too. There really wasn't any reason to expect any problems, but it was still a relief to be all together again.

I love how Disney adds certain smells during some attractions. I just wish for once we'd get mint or rose instead of skunk on Figment.

We did enjoy the cantina. I think they made some good changes to it.

Kate, a great start to your Epcot day. One of these days I really want to get there for the Flower & Garden show. Love the pics of you with the boys.

I'm surprised you all haven't been for the Flower and Garden show before. It's a lot of fun. Thanks, I was enjoying getting my picture taken, since there had been no one around to take my picture the last few days. Landon offered, but I declined.

Loved the Carter update! I'm with him on Sam from The Wiggles. When Greg left, I didn't wanna watch anymore. Can't wait to hear about the rest of this day. You all look so happy to have Jeremy back. I do have to admit that I never noticed the strawberry smell around Lotso either!

Carter was really sad the day he figured out that the Wiggle in yellow wasn't Greg. I don't really like the Sam episodes, either. I think maybe if Sam had been green instead of yellow it wouldn't be quite as bad.
I love having the rest of a Disney day still ahead of us. Apparently a lot of people didn't notice the strawberry scent. Maybe it comes and goes.

 

[PirateKate]

I didn't notice it either Leesa. I think Kate was there a week or two before. We were though. I wonder if it had faded some by the time we arrived?

I still don't know what was causing the strawberry smell, but that seems like a plausible theory.

I love all of the topiary pictures!!! How neat is it that Lotso smelled like strawberries!!! That really IS magic!

I love how excited you were...you can see it in your face for sure!

I thought it was very magical that Lotso really smelled like strawberries. Of course, nearly everything seemed magical at the moment.

I'm not at all surprised the excitement was showing. Between Jeremy being back and Epcot and the Flower and Garden Festival and strawberry smells, there was a lot to be excited about.

I love the Flower and Garden festival, Epcot is so beautiful at that time of year! Lotso is so cute, I know he's evil, but he's cute, and I love that he smells like strawberries!

I love the Fountain of Nations, every time I'm there and it starts, I have to stop and watch for a little while! Who knew a fountain could be so entertaining?

Epcot is so awesome during the Flower and Garden Festival. I thought the Festival was even better this year than last year. I love Lotso, too. I like to think that the Lotsos you see in the parks are the nice Lotsos, like the one who took the evil Lotso's place with the little girl.

I've never sought out the Fountain of Nations especially to watch it, but it was really spectacular when we just happened to catch it. Having it going on when we just happened to be going by made it all so magical.

F&G looks like so much fun! And the boys are as cute as buttons. I can't wait to hear about your lunch. Scott really wanted Mexican food when we were there, but I just wasn't feeling it for some reason. Next time! The cars topiaries were still up when we were there in late June. Probably due to the cars 2 movies. I was excited to experience a little taste of the festival!!!

F&G was a lot of fun! I wish we had had more time to see it all. I'm often surprised at how fast a Disney day goes by. I was the instigator of the Mexican food for lunch, since I wanted to see what it was like since it had been redone. I hope you get a chance to eat there next time.
I thought the Cars topiaries were pretty cool. I'm glad they left those up longer.

 

[PirateKate]

We arrived at La Cantina De San Angel to find crowds of people also trying to get some lunch. Jeremy and I quickly consulted the menu and agreed to share an order of nachos and cheese empanadas.

I was disappointed to see that the kid's menu did not include a taco meal with rice and beans. Carter and Landon love tacos and rice and beans. We decided to get them chicken fingers instead, figuring it would at least be familiar.

The outside tables were nearly all full and there seemed to be a lot of competition for any available ones. That was fine. I wanted to sit inside anyway.

I told Jeremy quietly that I was going inside with the boys to get us a table and left him to wait in line for us.

Inside La Hacienda was very quiet and there were only a few other families there. I picked a table I thought would be good for the boys and a CM came by and brought a high chair for Landon.

Carter climbed into a regular chair, eager to proof that he was much more grown up than his brother.

I put Landon's place mat on the table in front of him and we were all ready.

Just a few minutes later, Jeremy came inside carrying a big tray of food. It looked great.

I carefully got Carter and Landon each set up with some chicken and grapes.

"You got chips for them?"

"I asked if they could get anything besides chips and the lady said no."

It wasn't a huge deal, but I knew Landon would want to eat the chips and that if he tried, he would choke on them. It's hard to eat tortilla chips with only six teeth.

The nachos were good. They didn't seem that different from the nachos we get at the Mexican restaurant at home.

For me, the true star of the meal was the cheese empanadas. They were delicious, covered in cheese and salsa verde.

Jeremy and I agreed that next time, we'd get the cheese empanadas and the beef tacos and skip the nachos.

After grabbing a chip and choking on it, Landon proclaimed himself to be done.

"Are you sure you're done? You haven't had any churros yet."

"Done!"

Landon clapped his hands enthusiastically, just in case I hadn't understood that he was ready for his after lunch cheers.

I broke off a piece of churro and offered it to him. He looked disgusted with it and made a big show of tasting it and handing it back.

We still had a big plate of nachos left and Carter was still eating his chicken. If Landon was truly done eating, he would make the rest of the meal difficult.

"Jeremy, what are we going to do? Landon says he's done and he doesn't even like churros."

"Did you dip it in the caramel sauce for him?"

"Well. No. But I wouldn't think that would make a huge difference to him."

Jeremy took a churro and dipped it in the caramel sauce and offered it to Landon. Landon took it happily and took a big bite with sauce dripping down his chin.

Sure, he'll take a churro from Jeremy.

I was done with the real food, too, so I tried a bit of churro without dipping it. It tasted sort of dry and ordinary.

Then I dipped it in the sauce. It was magnificent. The taste of the caramel soaked into the churro, creating an outstanding dessert.

Carter ate the last of his chicken and wanted in on the churros. I made sure to dip his churro from the start.

Carter seemed to like it, but he only had a few bites. He was probably getting full.

When all of the churros were gone, we loaded up the boys and went back outside.

Landon fell asleep in the stroller instantly. We decided that meant it was time for some more Flower and Garden fun in World Showcase.

 

[KatMark]

Great update, Kate. I've heard a lot of people mention that the inside has always had plenty of seats.

I'm not a big fan of Mexican, but I know Mark likes churros.

What a grown up boy Carter is in a big people chair.

 

[amandaw]

Sounds like y'all had a really nice, laid-back lunch. And isn't it nice anytime a little one falls asleep as soon as they get into their stroller? Can't wait to hear what else y'all did at Epcot!

 

[afwdwfan]

Looks like it was an enjoyable lunch. I'd be more than happy to let everyone else fight over the outdoor tables while I find an open spot in the AC too!

Landon must have just been happy that Jeremy came back to rescue him from you and your cruel desire to keep him trapped in his stroller and that's why he was more willing to take the churro from Jeremy.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Churros are my favorite! Where have I been? I didn't know to dip them in caramel sauce. I always just eat them. Oh well, something new to try next time.

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

Thanks for the tip on about the churros. I too expected the churro to be perfectly tasty without the sauce. But I know better than to doubt Landon. He is King of the Universe after all.

 

[amazingact21]

Sounds like a nice lunch those cheese empanadas look really good. And I have to agree with Landon, churros aren't very tasty without caramel.

 

[basketkat]

Oooo this update made me hungry! Hahaha!

We had lunch there on our last trip and outside was a mad house!!! However when we went inside there was ONE other family! Ha! Much more pleasant that's for sure!

I am not a big churro fan, but the caramel does add a little something to it!

 

[PirateKate]

Great update, Kate. I've heard a lot of people mention that the inside has always had plenty of seats.

I'm not a big fan of Mexican, but I know Mark likes churros.

What a grown up boy Carter is in a big people chair.

I had heard that the inside was always less crowded and I was relieved to find it was true that day. It was so hot outside, that sitting in air conditioning was great.

I thought the new Cantina was much better than it used to be. I'm not a big fan of churros usually, but I thought these were great.

Carter sure thought he was big stuff, sitting in a grown up chair.

Sounds like y'all had a really nice, laid-back lunch. And isn't it nice anytime a little one falls asleep as soon as they get into their stroller? Can't wait to hear what else y'all did at Epcot!

It was a fun lunch, especially since it was the first meal in awhile that I wasn't alone with the boys. And it is wonderful when one of my kids falls asleep in the stroller. If only I could get them to stroller nap at the same time.

Looks like it was an enjoyable lunch. I'd be more than happy to let everyone else fight over the outdoor tables while I find an open spot in the AC too!

Landon must have just been happy that Jeremy came back to rescue him from you and your cruel desire to keep him trapped in his stroller and that's why he was more willing to take the churro from Jeremy.

It was a very enjoyable lunch. Quiet and relaxing and great food. It was so much nicer inside than outside. I don't know why more people weren't inside, too. The windows in La Hacienda building still have a great view of the lagoon.

Come to think of it, Jeremy is more likely than me to let Landon get out of the stroller... Guess Landon figured that one out.

Churros are my favorite! Where have I been? I didn't know to dip them in caramel sauce. I always just eat them. Oh well, something new to try next time.

They are so good dipped in the caramel sauce! I'm not sure if the sauce comes with churros anywhere besides La Cantina, but I think it really makes for a tastier churro.

Thanks for the tip on about the churros. I too expected the churro to be perfectly tasty without the sauce. But I know better than to doubt Landon. He is King of the Universe after all.

That's true, you should always believe the King of the Universe on things like this. I still think that there was no reason why Landon couldn't have eaten his churro undipped. It would have been much less messy.

Sounds like a nice lunch those cheese empanadas look really good. And I have to agree with Landon, churros aren't very tasty without caramel.

I loved those cheese empanadas. We should have gotten two orders of those and skipped the nachos. Landon was right about the churros being better with sauce, but I don't know how he knew.

Oooo this update made me hungry! Hahaha!

We had lunch there on our last trip and outside was a mad house!!! However when we went inside there was ONE other family! Ha! Much more pleasant that's for sure!

I am not a big churro fan, but the caramel does add a little something to it!

It nearly made me hungry writing it last night!

That's just how it was for us. Maybe the general public doesn't realize they can sit inside during lunch hours. Otherwise, I don't see why there wouldn't have been tons of people inside.

According to Landon, the caramel is everything for a churro.

 

[SoonerGirl]

I just now noticed the link to your TR in your signature! I don't have time to read right now, I'm supposed to be making cookies to take to a cookout tonight, but I'll be back later to catch up!!

 

[PirateKate]

I just now noticed the link to your TR in your signature! I don't have time to read right now, I'm supposed to be making cookies to take to a cookout tonight, but I'll be back later to catch up!!

Welcome! I'm glad you found my TR! Making cookies for a cookout sounds like fun.

 

[PirateKate]

Having made up our minds to check out the Flower and Garden displays in World Showcase while Landon napped, we first came upon two unusually large birds.

Maybe it was the delicious lunch we had just finished or maybe it was the sleeping baby in the stroller or maybe it was just a general good mood, but for whatever reason, I thought those two birds were the really cool.

"Jeremy, you go stand by the birds and I'll take your picture."

"Really?"

"Yeah. It'll be fun."

Jeremy looked skeptical that it would be fun, but he's a very good sport about Disney things, so he went and stood by the birds.

"First Lizard!"

"Where?"

Jeremy pointed out a little lizard on one of the birds.

Drat. I was previously undefeated in First Lizard. I didn't want to be a sore loser, so I told Jeremy it didn't count because I had seen a lizard the day before.

Which was completely true. It just hadn't felt like a First Lizard moment, because I had been playing alone and I wasn't completely sure if it counted, since Jeremy hadn't been there to see it, too.

I suggested we move along.

It was fun, walking around World Showcase together.

Carter was starting to look a little drowsy and I began to hope that maybe he would sleep, too and then both boys would wake up refreshed and ready to stay til Epcot closed.

We made it to China and I loved the pandas.

We decided to walk all the way through China, since there was no hurry and we had the rest of the day to enjoy the park.

I found a little staircase that I had never noticed before and of course, I thought it was really cool.

We rounded the Outpost and saw the Lion King topiaries. Wow! Timon looked awesome.

I loved the Rafiki holding up Simba. Jeremy asked if I wanted to get Carter out and hold him up like that, but I declined.

Carter was supposed to be falling asleep. Besides, we've tried shots like that before and somehow, it always ends up looking like we're sniffing someone's diaper.

I saw Pumbaa standing next to Timon, which I thought was convenient.

They were spaced perfectly for a City Mini Double to pose in between.

Coming upon Germany, we saw Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I thought they looked pretty cool, but there were too many people there to get a good look.

I would have liked to have looked at them longer, but Carter didn't seem as impressed as I was.

We discussed whether or not to stop in the caramel store for some Chewy Caramel Bars, but decided to come back later. After all, we had just eaten lunch and there was caramel with the churros.

We went to look at the miniature train set. I foolishly thought I could push the stroller through the middle path, but I should never have tried it.

It wasn't so much the other people blocking the way as it was Carter. Or rather, Carter's foot.

Carter seemed to think it was hilarious to stick his foot through the rails. Of course, when his foot was through the rails and I didn't see it and tried to push, his foot would hold us up and cause me to worry that his foot might get hurt.

I quickly realized that wasn't the way to go and left as fast as we could get out.

I wanted to go over to the rail and spend a few minutes appreciating the beauty of Epcot and the fact that we were all there.

It was truly a beautiful day at Epcot.

We were so lucky to be able to be there.

 

[basketkat]

What a lovely afternoon at Epcot!!!

I think "first lizard" sounds like a fun little game to play!

I love that you discovered those steps! People try to give me a hard time about repeating Disney...."Haven't you seen it ALL?" No way! There is always something new to discover!

 

[amandaw]

Sounds like y'all were having a great day with the whole family being together at Epcot. I loved just walking around & seeing all of the amazing topiaries. Can't wait to see whether or not Carter took a nap as well so that y'all could stay in Epcot that night.

 

[Mommy2BnB]

Sounds like a wonderful day at Epcot. The seating area inside the Cantina was practically deserted the day we ate there too. I didn't realize there was seating inside and wouldn't have known at all if I hadn't had to take DD to the restroom. The restrooms are so nice! If I had been with you I would have traded you my beef tacos for your nachos.

I love your find the lizard first game. I will have to remember that.