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

[TinksThree]

I have started a PTR for our July trip! If anyone is interested in following along with me as I prepare for this new adventure, I would love to see you over there!!

4 days, 4 Parks and 4 Years in a row...Here We Go!! July 2012

I should have a new update on this TR very, very soon!

 

[sherylcin]

Wow! Your pictures are so good. It's fun to look at them and know pretty much right where you were in Epcot and attend the F&G Festival vicariously through your report! Thanks!! BTW, that cloud really did resemble Stitch.

Seems like Madison has picked up your good planning skills and knows how to use them! Good for her!!

Going to sub into your pre-trip report now. Very jealous that you will have two trip reports done before I get back to the World!

 

[TinksThree]

Wow! Your pictures are so good. It's fun to look at them and know pretty much right where you were in Epcot and attend the F&G Festival vicariously through your report! Thanks!! BTW, that cloud really did resemble Stitch.

Seems like Madison has picked up your good planning skills and knows how to use them! Good for her!!

Going to sub into your pre-trip report now. Very jealous that you will have two trip reports done before I get back to the World!

Thank you!!! I felt like I was walking through the park I was was posting those! I am so happy you enjoyed seeing the pictures!

It did resemble Stitch, didn't it!? I am so happy others see it because (as I said) it makes me feel less crazy!! I actually found out about the upcoming trip 1 week prior to leaving on this trip. I feel like a lucky girl going again!

 

[TinksThree]

Making our way to World Showcase we enter Mexico and find out the kids are on Gran Fiesta.

A few pictures inside the Mexican temple:

We decide to board the boat too.

This ride is always fun to me but I also love Donald Duck! I snap two more quick pictures as we set out in search of the kids again!

Orchids outside the Mexican Pavilion area:

We exit and find out they have headed to China. So we head in that direction. Along the way....

Continued in next post....

 

[TinksThree]

The pandas are always so playful!!

But then Madison says they are headed to Mexico to eat. We turn around and go back that way....


No, sorry not in Mexico...now in Norway. They decided to ride Maelstrom!

So we stop in Norway:

So since we are in Norway we ride Maelstrom too—the wait time wasn’t bad and I think we loaded even faster than this!

I like this boat ride and tried to get pictures but sadly failed. This is the only one I actually got!

Getting ready to dock:

I ask my cohort if he wants to watch the movie or not. I have seen it so many times I can skip it. He states he prefers to not sit through the movie. We head into the gift shop…well, we are forced into the gift shop! …and I make an important purchase for myself and some candy for DH and DS. By this time I hear back from Madison that they decided to not go to Mexico to eat and were in China. Don’t you just love the decisiveness of teens!?

And are you exhausted from all of this back and forth? Up next I will let you know if we ever find them and if we finally get to eat lunch!!

 

[saintstickets]

Luv, luv, luv your F&G trip pics and TR and am looking forward to...

I have started a PTR for our July trip! If anyone is interested in following along with me as I prepare for this new adventure, I would love to see you over there!!

DW and I were going to hit F&G and F&W next year but darned if she didn't decide she wanted to do some stuff to the kitchen! I had to choose one or the other and you know I picked the one with the food and booze! Oh well, maybe the next year for F&G.

I'm heading over to your new TR right now to sign up! Can't wait for more!!

 

[TinksThree]

Luv, luv, luv your F&G trip pics and TR and am looking forward to...

Thank you!!! I have so many from F&G so I am happy you are enjoying them! Many more to come!

DW and I were going to hit F&G and F&W next year but darned if she didn't decide she wanted to do some stuff to the kitchen! I had to choose one or the other and you know I picked the one with the food and booze! Oh well, maybe the next year for F&G.

I'm heading over to your new TR right now to sign up! Can't wait for more!!

I am busting to go to the F&W!! That is what I want in October for my birthday but I am still trying to convince my DH and I don't know if he will agree to another trip so soon. I am hoping for a great deal to entice him! I can't blame you for your choice at all!!

 

[sherylcin]

I am at the teenage yo-yo-ing! Thank God for cell phones, eh! Again, really really enjoying all the pictures. The pandas were especially cute. I'm just always very impressed that the Disney gardeners have such imaginations. I'm also remembering trying to cram Epcot into one day on our last trip when we usually spend 3 or 4 days there (over a two week visit). Good to know you're coming back soon when you have to pass by some places too quickly!

 

[ksl5f123]

We skipped the butterfly garden this year. I noticed at least 2 different kinds of butterflies in your pictures. Were there more? I remember being disappointed last year because we only saw one type of butterfly.

Your pictures in the Mexico ride are great! I need to play around with my camera more to figure how to get non-blurry pictures on the dark rides (without using the flash).

It sounds like Madison made a great Disney tour guide.

 

[TinksThree]

I am at the teenage yo-yo-ing! Thank God for cell phones, eh! Again, really really enjoying all the pictures. The pandas were especially cute. I'm just always very impressed that the Disney gardeners have such imaginations. I'm also remembering trying to cram Epcot into one day on our last trip when we usually spend 3 or 4 days there (over a two week visit). Good to know you're coming back soon when you have to pass by some places too quickly!

Thanks, again!! Cell phones are a blessing!! The way they were bouncing around we never would have located them!! I saw a video about how they make the topiaries and the plants they choose. It is really amazing!!! I don't like cramming Epcot into such a short time. It needs to be spread out and enjoyed! But we will be there a lot (I hope) in July! The one thing I didn't get to do was look in the WS shops like I enjoy doing. But with my DH I can get him a drink, sit him on a bench and he doesn't care....as long as he has that drink!!

We skipped the butterfly garden this year. I noticed at least 2 different kinds of butterflies in your pictures. Were there more? I remember being disappointed last year because we only saw one type of butterfly.

Your pictures in the Mexico ride are great! I need to play around with my camera more to figure how to get non-blurry pictures on the dark rides (without using the flash).

It sounds like Madison made a great Disney tour guide.

There were not too many different kind of butterflies. Most were too fast for me to get a picture of. And most of the ones we saw looked like what we have in our yard. We only stayed here for 5-10 minutes max.

Thanks on the pictures! I am still playing with mine and trying to take notes for July. Overall I was pleased but on some rides they still looked like my point and shoot pictures. I figure practice makes perfect!! So I need to go lots for practice!! Madison was a great tour guide!!

 

[saintstickets]

We skipped the butterfly garden this year. I noticed at least 2 different kinds of butterflies in your pictures. Were there more? I remember being disappointed last year because we only saw one type of butterfly.

I wonder if there are various kinds of butterflies but they come out of their cocoons at different times during F&G?

 

[mickeystoontown]

I really enjoyed this update because you were able to take such great pictures in Mexico, on Grand Fiesta and even the ones on Norway turned out good. I can never take good pictures there. I am sure it can be frustrating following around a bunch of teenagers who aren't your own. If they were all your's, then you could make them stop and tell them where they are eating. When they are other people's kids, you can't really do that.

 

[TinksThree]

I wonder if there are various kinds of butterflies but they come out of their cocoons at different times during F&G?

I have wondered the same thing about the butterflies. There were a lot of cocoons still "nesting"!

I really enjoyed this update because you were able to take such great pictures in Mexico, on Grand Fiesta and even the ones on Norway turned out good. I can never take good pictures there. I am sure it can be frustrating following around a bunch of teenagers who aren't your own. If they were all your's, then you could make them stop and tell them where they are eating. When they are other people's kids, you can't really do that.

Thank you!!! As we were on the boat ride I realized I was pretty much snapping every inch of the ride!

You are so right!! My kids just go and eat where and when we tell them to! This trip I felt like I was running in circles!!

 

[TinksThree]

So back to China we go and finally meet back up. They do a little shopping:

I grabbed a few pictures outside while they made their purchases. I love the dragon! He is always one of my favorites at F&G!

Then we decide to eat in Norway. We enter Kringla Bakeri og Kafe.

This was one of my “goals” so I knew immediately what I wanted to order! I got the Ham and Apple Sandwich and the rice cream. I guess since the sandwiches are made to order it takes a little longer to fix but it took a while to get our sandwiches. Then one poor guy in our little group had his tray tilt on the bar area and splat! down went his food! So we were delayed a little longer (which matters in a minute!). We go outside and find a little table area. The eating area here seems pretty sparse. It was around 1:30pm and the place was full.

The CMs were super nice. Overall my experience here was great and the food was very yummy! The kids had gotten the Norwegian Club Sandwich (Ham, Turkey, Bacon and Jarlsberg and Muenster Cheese with fresh tomatoes, sliced red onion and lingonberry mayonnaise on toasted multigrain bread) and most said their sandwich tasted funny. We determined it was the Muenster cheese and they just aren’t used to it. It all got eaten though so it must not have been too bad!

Everyone had one voucher a day for food and it equaled a credit on the DDP QS (entrée, side, drink and dessert). We all chose the fruit cup which was full of really fresh fruit! (The other choice was a side salad) A few food pictures!

The Ham and Apple Sandwich: Ham, apple, and Jarlsberg and Muenster Cheese with a sweet Apple Chutney on toasted multigrain bread. And Rice Cream: Rice Pudding with Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries

Chocolate Mousse Cake: Chocolate Mousse with a homemade Cookie Crumb center covered with Chocolate Ganache). Very good but extremely rich!

Berry Cream Puff: Puff Pastry filled with Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries

Now on to why it mattered that things were moving slowly….I had somewhere to be a 2pm! A few weeks before the trip a Dis meet was discussed/planned and I didn’t intend on missing it. I could tell I was going to be a little late and I let her know. Soon after eating my chaperone cohort and I set out for the entrance. The mariachi band had been playing while we ate. I snapped a picture as we skirted by.

The kids thought it was funny to be eating in Norway but having a Mexican Mariachi band serenading us!

To the front of the park we go!!

The big joke with everyone was when I said “I am meeting someone I met on the internet”….that didn’t always sound real good! Upon further explanation everyone was no longer concerned for my safety!

We reach the front of the park and I left my cohort at a gift shop and went on to meet ksl5f123. Since I didn’t have my ticket and it was a non-park day for her family we did what I referred to as a “prison” meet. As in I was behind bars!

It was really great meeting her and her sweet little DD6 (who took this picture—such a good job!). I have been following along with her family’s adventures since 2009 or so and it was wonderful to finally meet her in person!

Next we begin the trek back to World Showcase!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Mmmm, that food looks yummy. Kringla og is such a great stop.

I'm guessing that they didn't like the Jarlsberg on the sandwiches. It's a bit on the stronger side, so I'm thinking they didn't enjoy that too much. Sounds heavenly to me though.

 

[TinksThree]

Mmmm, that food looks yummy. Kringla og is such a great stop.

I'm guessing that they didn't like the Jarlsberg on the sandwiches. It's a bit on the stronger side, so I'm thinking they didn't enjoy that too much. Sounds heavenly to me though.

I really enjoyed eating here! It was my first time to eat anything in Norway and now I don't know why I hadn't!! I don't think I have ever had Jarlsberg before so I wouldn't have been able to distinguish it. I love the stronger cheeses but I agree...I can see why teens use to "regular" cheese would not care for it!

 

[saintstickets]

Love seeing you wear that shirt! Much, much better than that maroon one I've seen your DH wear!

 

[TinksThree]

Love seeing you wear that shirt! Much, much better than that maroon one I've seen your DH wear!

You made me laugh out loud and co-workers wondering what is so funny!!

You can't tell I love wearing it, can you? I think it (or one like it) is in every single trip report I do! You will be proud to know that I don't own one of those "maroon shirts"!!

 

[sherylcin]

Well, I don't think I've ever seen the dragon in China at F&G and let me say it is REALLY impressive. You got some great pics too. That might be my favorite so far! Such details!

I was looking over the menu you posted from Kringla Bakeri and thinking I've got to try the ham and apple sandwich...and then you did. That looks very yummy. We always visit the Bakeri but usually just for snacks. That sandwich makes me want to put it on my list for next year though!

Nice meet n' greet photo of you and ksl5f123. I've read her last trip report and am reading her current camping adventure too. Laughed out loud at the prison visit scenario!

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

Nice report - look for more!