Magical May Solo Adventures, updated 2/8

[SarahDisney]

I cannot get over your Future World flower pictures ... they're amazing! I'm glad you enjoyed the tour, and I'm looking forward to seeing the World Showcase pictures!

 

[abarriger]

Your photos are beautiful!! I love the sleeping ducks overlooking Epcot!

 

[Dentam]

Looks like you had a great cloudy day for getting some nice pics!

I did my horticulture internship at Epcot back in the day (16 years ago) and loved every minute of it. They've really added a lot to the F&G Festival since I worked there! I'm still debating going next spring for the opening week of it. Might have to look into this tour. Just being in WS before it opens would be well worth it!

 

[HermanTriplets+1]

Well hello neighbor! Welcome! Where in Israel if you don't mind me asking?


You really really should! You're gonna have the best time!

Thanks for the encouragement! Solo question: when you ride Buzz Lightyear as a single rider and no one else is in the car with you, do you think it's best to use one laser gun and go for the high score or just blast away on both? These are serious considerations!

 

[Saphire5742]

I'm looking forward to seeing the World Showcase pictures!

Coming right up!

Looks like you had a great cloudy day for getting some nice pics!

It did start that way.....

Might have to look into this tour. Just being in WS before it opens would be well worth it!

With your background you'll probably get more out of it than I did.

Solo question: when you ride Buzz Lightyear as a single rider and no one else is in the car with you, do you think it's best to use one laser gun and go for the high score or just blast away on both? These are serious considerations!

I used both and had no idea what I was doing. Just kept on shooting randomly. I say just have fun with it.

 

[Saphire5742]

Epcot part 2- Gardens of the World Tour continued, World Showcase

I forgot to mention in my last update that the price for this tour was around $67-$69 and it was only offered 3 days a week.

We left off leaving Future World and heading to World Showcase.

First up - Mexico






















Continued next post
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[JulieAlane80]

Beautiful photos!

 

[Saphire5742]

How gorgeous is this Orchid garden?????? There will be some more pictures when I return to WS in the afternoon. Flowers so beautiful are just begging to be photographed. Did I mention before that I was in heaven, having a blast photographing F&G?



On to Norway





Really cool how the roof is covered in grass.







Why hello there Elsa and Anna! I believe that our guide mentioned that these were the first topiaries to have actual facial features.

Continued next post

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[Saphire5742]

One more Norway



Obviously not all the plants are there just for F&G, but I enjoyed photographing all the same


Next Stop - China

Now this is where we entered the still roped off area of World Showcase!



Look at all the empty space! Loved having World Showcase all to ourselves!

















Continued next post


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[Saphire5742]

Some more China. I do recall our tour guide mentioning to notice the still waters of China as opposed to the running waters we will see in Japan (which will be in the next update)



Love the reflection of the sky in the water.



Goodbye China. On to the African Outpost section



I love Timon and Pumbaa. One of my favorite parts of The Lion King is when Pumbaa declares "They call me Mister Pig, Aaaaaaaaaaaa" while charging towards the hyenas:

Stay tuned for more World Showcase in the next installment of My Magical Adventures...



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[Saphire5742]

Beautiful photos!

and !

 

[missangelalexis]

So many beautiful photos! Enjoying an empty WS must have been awesome.

 

[SarahDisney]

Such beautiful pictures!!

 

[DVC-Cassie]

I was getting thirsty so I stopped by Gaston’s Tavern for some LeFou’s Brew, but not before stopping to pose in front of his fountain.

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The drink was refreshing. Very sweet at first but then I got used to it and it was great. I love apple juice though. Drink in hand I waited in line for Gaston appr 20 min before his first scheduled appearance. I knew from watching youtube clips that he is hilarious and I needed to meet him. And he certainly did not disappoint! I was second in line after two young women, one of whom was wearing a Gaston shirt. It’s basically a shirt of his shirt complete with some chest hair drawn in. Gaston finally made his way to the front and as he does so he passes by a family in which the father and two boys are wearing Gaston shirts but the mom is wearing another character shirt. He approves of all three shirts and made a disapproving remark/facial expression at the mom. After he poses with the party in front of me, he takes the one wearing the Gaston shirt over to that family and has them all pose with him sans the mom.

Now it’s my turn. I started to compliment him on his big muscles when he interrupted me by saying that his muscles are as big as my head which is pretty big since my head is also big. Of course that sets me laughing once again:

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We pose for the obligatory photograph:

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See how he’s looking down? Afterwards he remarks to the photographer how awkward that was with my hand positioning especially with the ring around my finger. To which I replied, “well I am looking”. I immediately assured him that I cleared this with Belle first. He was having none of it. And then he told me where to look as he positioned me so I was facing the line as he looked up ahead. The whole time I cannot stop laughing so almost all my photos are open mouthed full on grins. Not my most attractive look, but it does make me laugh when I look at them.

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I was hoping to go on the Pooh ride next but it was down, so I made my way to the circus and met with Goofy and Donald.

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The line for Minnie and Daisy was a lot longer so I decided to come back later so I wouldn’t be late for my lunch ADR. Passed by Small World and the wait time was posted at 15 min. I looked at my watch and saw I could ride and still just make it in time for my ADR. The line moved quickly and before I knew it I was happily seated in a boat traveling around the world to a most delightful tune. I love this ride so much! It is one of the only ones I remember from previous trips to MK.

Afterwards I made my way to lunch at Be Our Guest which you can read about here if you are interested.

Stay tuned for MK1 part 2...


To be continued....​

The character photos you got are all amazing! It looks like you had a lot of fun

 

[hokieinpa]

Wow! I had no idea this tour even existed! What a great way to learn more about the the whole process that goes into F&G and get some extra time in Epcot! Love all of the pictures. Very interesting that Anna and Elsa were the first topiaries with true facial features!

 

[Jerusalem Gal]

As Mickey made his way over to me I spread my arms out wide, exclaimed with emotion in my voice, “I’ve been waiting so long to meet you” (which elicited an “Awwww” from the line behind me), and proceeded to give him a big hearty hug with a HUGE smile on my face

This is the most magical thing I've seen all day!

 

[Saphire5742]

Shifts have been a little crazy at work and tomorrow I'm going to my grandparents for the weekend. There will be another update next week.

So many beautiful photos! Enjoying an empty WS must have been awesome.

Thank you! I loved empty WS. That was definitely a highlight

Such beautiful pictures!!

Thanks!

The character photos you got are all amazing! It looks like you had a lot of fun

Thank you! Meeting characters is so much fun!

Wow! I had no idea this tour even existed! What a great way to learn more about the the whole process that goes into F&G and get some extra time in Epcot! Love all of the pictures.

Thanks! If you love F&G this is a great tour. And the price is decent I think

This is the most magical thing I've seen all day!

Character hugs are the best!

 

[Saphire5742]

Gardens of the World Tour part 3

It's been two weeks since my last update. Can't believe we're in the middle of July already! I feel like the last two weeks have gone by in a blur. Also today marks exactly two months since my last Disney day . What better way to (or at least attempt to) cure the Disney longing blues than reliving the memories through another update.

We last left off in World Showcase just after the Africa Outpost section during the Gardens of the World tour. I'm going to finish the tour up in this update so prepare for even more pictures.

Up next: Germany






Alpine Containers Garden:





Mini village and railroad:.



I love how the duck looks right at home here.




Tried a few times to capture a train right as it was coming out of one of the tunnels. This is the best I got.







Did you know that this mini village was modeled after an actual village in Germany? Don't recall the name but the tour guide mentioned that visitors from that village recognized it immediately as their village. I think that's pretty cool.

Another interesting tidbit our tour guide shared was that it was first introduced at a Flower and Garden Festival one year. When it was taken down afterwards people complained. The following year people actually sent hate mail after it was taken down again. So now it is a permanent part of the German pavilion.

Continued next post...




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[Saphire5742]

And of course it wouldn't be Flower and Garden without some topiaries. Featured in Germany are no other than Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs. I especially love how animated the dwarfs look.


(Gotta have one with SE in the background)











Time to leave Germany and head on over to Italy:






Aren't they just the most adorable thing ever?





The Tuscan Cucina Garden featuring herbs found in Italian cooking. Mmmm! I could go for some Italian right now.... :



Continued next post...
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[Saphire5742]

Who's ready for an American Adventure?


I really love this American Adventure shot with the tree framing.



Howdy Sheriff Woody!





(Can't resist those SE shots!)


Japan:
One of my favorite pavilions to photograph. So incredibly beautiful!













I admit that I was only half listening at this point. Too busy admiring and photographing.

Continued next post....
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