If only Tinker Bell was related to the tooth fairy... (FINISHED 4/26)

[KatMark]

You dads--trying to remember your 20's or 30's...give me a break. Wait until you reach my DH's age and trying remember your 40's!

 

[rie'smom]

You dads--trying to remember your 20's or 30's...give me a break. Wait until you reach my DH's age and trying remember your 40's!

I'm 53 but I wouldn't be 30 again for anything.

Great pics and I'm enjoying your trip report very much!

 

[KatMark]

I'm 53 but I wouldn't be 30 again for anything.

Great pics and I'm enjoying your trip report very much!

I'm 53 too,and I wouldn't want to be 25 or 30 again...but maybe 35. DH is pushing that 60 mark and I love to give him grief over it.

 

[1girln3boys]

Day 2! Oh, how I was looking forward to this day! The day when I get to visit my most favorite theme park in the whole wide world... the park that combines imagination with engineering... history with future... Epcot!! I remember the first time I ever came to EPCOT Center... even the name is reminiscent of changing times. The year... 1991... and I had just finished US Navy boot camp in Orlando. Operation Desert Shield had just been declared a cease fire by President Bush and we considered that part of the war over. Disney was offering a free day admission to any theme park for active duty service members and I figured why not go check out Disney World? Until this point in my life I had never experienced what Disney World had to offer... I had NO idea what an impact it would have on me. I don't have a picture of myself at Epcot, but I do have one from Magic Kingdom from the same time frame:

I went to boot camp in Orlando also. A few years later though in 94.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

What a profound statement.

Actually, it was a movie quote.

 

[Emma's Dad]

You dads--trying to remember your 20's or 30's...give me a break. Wait until you reach my DH's age and trying remember your 40's!

I'm 53 but I wouldn't be 30 again for anything.

Great pics and I'm enjoying your trip report very much!

Thank you so much! Glad you are enjoying it

I'm 53 too,and I wouldn't want to be 25 or 30 again...but maybe 35. DH is pushing that 60 mark and I love to give him grief over it.

Where's the old man smiley when you need it...

I went to boot camp in Orlando also. A few years later though in 94.

Wow... so you were one of the last recruits through that NTC? I went back on late 97 and was able to drive the car around some of the streets we marched on. That was a weird experience. I would never even recognize the place now that they redeveloped it!

Actually, it was a movie quote.

Oh! Don't you start your movie quotes in MY TR, Mister! I wouldn't get any of them!

 

[1girln3boys]

There were a few others after me but not many. I stayed in Orlando through AT land then got stationed on the other side of the country to Cal. This will be my first time back to Orlando since then.

 

[dvczerfs]

two updates!!!! not one, two!!!! send me a text next time you update this thing so i dont have so much reading at one time. great pics don!!! with 4 more inches of snow on the ground around here, it was great to see the pics!!

 

[Emma's Dad]

April 28, 2010

DD found a display set up with a picnic table and a CM sitting at it. Perfect time to take a break:

Video:


Just a few steps away from the fairy exhibit is the butterfly garden. The garden used to be called "Minnie's Magnificent Butterfly Garden" as seen in this picture from our trip in 2009:



But for 2010 the garden was renamed to "Fawn's Butterfly House":



Personally, I like the changes they made to that area of the park this year. The single complaint I would throw out there is the traffic flow... seems to me the area is a wee bit too small for the amount of people flowing through the area. BUT... the plus side to having the smaller pathways make the area seem less overbearing for the little ones. Otherwise, kudos to Disney for keeping the imagineering level up on this one!

Entering the butterfly house through the plastic chains is sort of like parting the veil to a little oasis full of colorful flowers and fluttering butterflies looking for nothing but trouble. Oh... wait... it's the fairies who are looking for trouble... not the butterflies. Anyway... we could spend hours watching these beautiful bugs flying around the place. The coolest part, though, is the actual house they have with all the different chrysalides (Had to look this one up... did you know the plural for chrysalis can also be chrysalises?). We have had the awesome privilege of watching a few butterflies come out of their chrysalis and watch how they dry out before flight. This process was mesmerizing for DD to watch. Highly recommend this stop for your bug-lovers out there

Here is the only picture I took of the butterflies:



There rest was done with videos:







We did not spend much time in the garden this time. Things were starting to heat up and and we were all getting thirsty. What better way to quench a thirst than with free beverages? Beverly anyone?



Since we've already been to Cool Spot before, the Beverly shot is not that bad. Still, not sure why that drink would be so popular to the Italians. Maybe they chase this stuff with some good wine or something? Nah... who would do that to wine?! HAHA!

From Cool Spot we walk down the path towards the World Showcase. Here are some shots along the way:











And then we arrive at our destination. Of all things in Epcot to experience, play with, look at, and drool over, this is the one spot DD ALWAYS asks to go to when we are there... the playground! We first found it back in 2008. And now it a must-do when we visit. Here are some topiaries at the entrance:





For the adults:



And this video pretty sums up what I have to say about the play area:

Video:


And some action shots of DD playing around the area:











With all that extra energy now burned off, it was time we headed to The Land pavilion for lunch. The Four Seasons was on the list for lunch and we were all ready for some food.

Wish I had more room to finish day two in this installment, but the image limit has been reached. Stay tuned for the conclusion of day two.

Day 2, Part 5: "Bubbles... and it's not a bath"

 

[KatMark]

My heart is palpitating...two updates in one day. I don't know how much more of this I can stand.

Okay, after ALL of our visits to Disney, I have NEVER seen that playground. Where is that located? Is is relatively new? I am sure I would have seen it when my kids were little (yes, I'm admitting old age here).

Your pictures are absolutely wonderful. The butterfly and roses are simply beautiful, as are all of the rest.

 

[Emma's Dad]

There were a few others after me but not many. I stayed in Orlando through AT land then got stationed on the other side of the country to Cal. This will be my first time back to Orlando since then.

Wow... that's a long time! Glad you are able to finally get back Are you still in the Navy?

two updates!!!! not one, two!!!! send me a text next time you update this thing so i dont have so much reading at one time. great pics don!!! with 4 more inches of snow on the ground around here, it was great to see the pics!!

Just sent you a text, Dave I wouldn't want you to miss ANOTHER update!

 

[dvczerfs]

thanks for the text don!!! nice pics once again. i love the beverly face.

 

[Emma's Dad]

My heart is palpitating...two updates in one day. I don't know how much more of this I can stand.

LOL! For some reason I just had a flashback of Sanford saying "I'm coming to join you, Elizabeth!"

Okay, after ALL of our visits to Disney, I have NEVER seen that playground. Where is that located? Is is relatively new? I am sure I would have seen it when my kids were little (yes, I'm admitting old age here).

From what I understand, this playground is only erected during the Flower and Garden Festival. HERE is some information about the actual play sets used at the festival. They actually have more pictures of the playsets in the Photo Gallery on that page.

Now the big playground (the one in this installment) is located just as you get to the water at the lagoon... before you get to Canada.

Your pictures are absolutely wonderful. The butterfly and roses are simply beautiful, as are all of the rest.

Thank you Not bad for a point and shoot camera!

 

[Emma's Dad]

thanks for the text don!!! nice pics once again. i love the beverly face.

I'll have to remember to text you when new updates come in
DW was not too sure how to react Even though she's tasted it before, it still gets you every time!

 

[1girln3boys]

Wow... that's a long time! Glad you are able to finally get back Are you still in the Navy?



Just sent you a text, Dave I wouldn't want you to miss ANOTHER update!

No I only did 2 yrs. I was one of the last to go in for a 2/6. I got out shortly after having my daughter and decided I wanted to be a SAHM.

 

[afwdwfan]

Wow, another update!!!!

I'm really enjoying the pictures from EPCOT. All the flowers and topiaries look amazing. I'll have to check the videos out when I get home later.

Kind of funny how everything there is at Disney World and the playground is what catches her interest.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Kind of funny how everything there is at Disney World and the playground is what catches her interest.

I was going to say the same thing. It reminds me of my trip with Scotty, who didn't like anything until we found the barrell bridge on Tom Sawyer Island.

"$80 a ticket and you just wanna bounce on a barrell?!"

More great pictures Don!

 

[dvczerfs]

I'll have to remember to text you when new updates come in
DW was not too sure how to react Even though she's tasted it before, it still gets you every time!

it looks like the i cant believe i fell for this again look. it took me a few years myself to stop falling for it.

 

[Emma's Dad]

No I only did 2 yrs. I was one of the last to go in for a 2/6. I got out shortly after having my daughter and decided I wanted to be a SAHM.

Wow... I forgot about the 2/6 program. Glad you got to stay home and take care of those wonderful kids I ended up reenlisting once and got out after 9 years. I could have retired by now!

Wow, another update!!!!

I'm really enjoying the pictures from EPCOT. All the flowers and topiaries look amazing. I'll have to check the videos out when I get home later.

Kind of funny how everything there is at Disney World and the playground is what catches her interest.

Yeah... I'm VERY spoiled by the F&GF each year. I'm almost afraid to try visiting at any other time of year!

Darn those cool playgrounds!!

I was going to say the same thing. It reminds me of my trip with Scotty, who didn't like anything until we found the barrell bridge on Tom Sawyer Island.

"$80 a ticket and you just wanna bounce on a barrell?!"

More great pictures Don!

Yeah.. sounds about right. Thanks for the reminder, too... we have to do TSI again. There's stuff there we haven't seen yet and I didn't even know it!

it looks like the i cant believe i fell for this again look. it took me a few years myself to stop falling for it.

I still try it each year... hoping it tastes better or something! Is that the definition of crazy?

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Looks like someone's trying to finish a trip report before their next trip, huh?
I'll confess - I'm doing the same thing. But you had a 7 month head start!

I know what you mean about the play ground equipment. We were there last March and my kids found the one they had set up behind MouseGears. It was like pulling teeth to get them out of there! We strategically blocked their view of the playground you guys got stuck at!