No Work and All Play – Disney on the Company’s Dime! (8/1 There and Back Again)

[WrightFamily06]

That sucks (about losing your comments).
But Figment was definitely one of my favorites from my first trip to EPCOT right when it opened.
It's a shame Dreamfinder is gone but I've heard rumors that they may try to bring him back in the future.
Cross those fingers!!

Def keeping my fingers crossed for that one !!!

Nice update

Beautiful pictures of the F&G Festival and WS !

Can't wait to hear all about your KP mission !

 

[thecapells]

I'm ready, Mike! Let's get moving!

Nice shots, BTW! I like your one of the Mor. Pav!

The Morocco Pavillion?
You seeing something I'm not?

Lovely pictures! We picked up a Gnome Mickey that day, just couldn't resist

You know I'm in for KP

Awesome! How's the Gno-Mickey holding up?

That's probably a "plus" to some tired parents!

Can't wait to see what you ended up with for Mother's Day!

Stay tuned - the Decision on Mother's Day is coming up.
But that can wait until after I save the world!

 

[thecapells]

Def keeping my fingers crossed for that one !!!

Nice update

Beautiful pictures of the F&G Festival and WS !

Can't wait to hear all about your KP mission !

Unfortunately, I'm not holding my breath for the return of Dreamfinder but one can wish...
Thanks for the nice words about my F&G pictures.
The festival definitely makes EPCOT very picturesque!

 

[All7OfUs]

No, I meant Italy, from across the Lake. When I first looked at it, I thought it was Morocco, but had to do a double take- and got mixed up. I don't see too many "across the lagoon" shots.

 

[WrightFamily06]

Unfortunately, I'm not holding my breath for the return of Dreamfinder but one can wish...
Thanks for the nice words about my F&G pictures.
The festival definitely makes EPCOT very picturesque!

Me either

Your Very Welcome

 

[dawnbu40]

Awesome! How's the Gno-Mickey holding up?

He stayed in the yard all winter and now he's lost a little paint on his hat but other than that he's good. I probably should have put in away for winter but we enjoyed seeing him peeking through the snow

 

[thecapells]

No, I meant Italy, from across the Lake. When I first looked at it, I thought it was Morocco, but had to do a double take- and got mixed up. I don't see too many "across the lagoon" shots.

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

Me either

Your Very Welcome

Too bad though - I miss good ol' Dreamfinder.

He stayed in the yard all winter and now he's lost a little paint on his hat but other than that he's good. I probably should have put in away for winter but we enjoyed seeing him peeking through the snow

We ended up leaving our souvenir out as well and I think it's cracked now.
But more on that later...

 

[thecapells]

I was a bit early (it was 10:50) so I decided to stroll around the International Gateway.
I had never really checked it out before.
I watched the friendship boats for a bit as well:

Then it was on to my mission!
I checked in and requested the United Kingdom.
I was basically the first agent of the day so the CM did not mind at all.
I told the kids I would complete the three missions we missed last time.
And I had promised to take video of them as well so I could show them to the kids when I got home.
So I headed back to the UK to check in with Wade

I love how empty the streets are when the World Showcase opens.

And there was an empty Yorkshire County Fish and Chips

But I couldn’t enjoy the sights too long – Kim needed my help!
The villain Duff Killigan was on the loose.
And last time Kim faced him, he built a giant golf ball that you can still see across the lake!
Good thing Kim stopped him from making a giant golf club!
(I love that joke)

I followed some clues and they finally led me to a discreet British phone booth.

This is by far the coolest of any of the KP missions.
After activating your Kimmunicator in the booth, the phone comes alive and actually delivers to you a golf ball.
It’s up to us now to get that ball analyzed at a secret location at the Sportman’s Shoppe.

In the front window is a cool little display that’s hard to photograph due to the flash and glare.
I gave it a shot anyway.

Also in the little alcove is the secret golf ball analyzer.
You place the ball in the machine and watch as technology goes to work.

Apparently the golf ball has a GPS and a laser-guided gyroscopic navigation system for Killigan to cheat with.
It also contains an embedded nanochip with the plans to the Rainiac K250.
Unfortunately the plans are encrypted and we need the code in order to make any sense of them.
Luckily, we have an informant at Twinnings Tea so I had to get there and get the password.
On my way, I passed some Tea topiaries and took some of my wife’s favorites:
English Breakfast

And Earl Grey

Then it was on to Twinnings.

I had to enter the shop, find our agent, and tell him the secret greeting:
“Danger is my cup of tea!”
Our informant handed me a tea bag and I made my way to a little alcove to share my results with Wade

Apparently “CHAI” is the data encryption password so Wade was able to do the rest.
Who knew Indian Spiced Tea would be so important to saving the world?

Then it was off to the butterfly exhibit in the tea garden.
My Kimmunicator started playing Barry White and surprisingly the butterflies opened their wings for me.
On each wing was a symbol.
A Rose and a Crown!

That was the meeting place for Killigan’s henchmen.
Team Possible rounded them up and now it was all down to Killigan himself.
Following clues to the back alleys of the United Kingdom, we stumbled onto Killigan’s lair!
With Wade’s help, we were able to activate his weather machine inside the hideout flooding it and capturing our nemesis!
Way to go Team Possible!!

Summing up, this is definitely one of the best KP missions for the sole fact that it’s more interactive than the others.
Transporting the golf ball and exchanging secret greetings with an informant are a great touch to the adventure.
The only other location that offers such an experience is China where one of the missions has a clue in a fortune cookie.

Also, another tidbit for those Epcot historians – we see Killigan get flooded by watching a window fill up with water.
Ring a bell?
Every wonder where the Living Seas Pavillion stashed the old hyrolater windows?
Yup! Those "windows" are one and the same!!

Anyway, with the world saved, I tucked my Kimmunicator away and headed to the Great White North!
I had to make a stop before Team Possible needed me again.
Take off!

 

[All7OfUs]

Sorry, I couldn't resist!
...

HEY, look it's Morocco again!!



(sorry, I couldn't resist)


Good natured ribbing is always OK!

 

[All7OfUs]

After reading all your KPs so far, this one sounds far and above the coolest!! I"m asking for this one!!!

 

[dawnbu40]

Great update! You did a wonderful job relaying just how fun this KP mission is

I also love the WS pictures with no people around! What a treat!

 

[WrightFamily06]

This KP mission does sound like the best one this far Will def have to let the kids do this one !

Can't wait to read all about the next mission ! Is it Canada ?

 

[praisehisname]

What a fun mission! I hope this stays around a while so I can try it out!

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

Hope you don't mind me jumping in a little late! Just found your TR and I'm trying to catch up! Loving it so far!

 

[thecapells]

HEY, look it's Morocco again!!



(sorry, I couldn't resist)


Good natured ribbing is always OK!

Morocco, Italy, United Kingdom - they're all the same, right?

After reading all your KPs so far, this one sounds far and above the coolest!! I"m asking for this one!!!

It was definitely the most interactive and among our favs along with Germany and China.

Great update! You did a wonderful job relaying just how fun this KP mission is

I also love the WS pictures with no people around! What a treat!

It is fun exploring the World Showcase right at 11:00.
You get the whole place to your self!

This KP mission does sound like the best one this far Will def have to let the kids do this one !

Can't wait to read all about the next mission ! Is it Canada ?

Nope - Canada is one of the non-mission countries.
But I figured before I trekked around the World, I should backtrack and explore our neighbors to the North.

What a fun mission! I hope this stays around a while so I can try it out!

Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure should be around a long time.
Especially since it's so easy to switch out the tasks throughout the mission.
Keep in mind there's about 7-10 tasks for each country and you only play about 5-7 during each mission.
That means, each time you go back, you get to experience new things!!

Hope you don't mind me jumping in a little late! Just found your TR and I'm trying to catch up! Loving it so far!

The more the merrier!
Welcome aboard!

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

Finally all caught up on your trip! MAN you did a lot in a short period! Seems like it was a blast. I love all the little details you captured, I'll have to go seek them out when I head down in August.

The Kim Possible Mission sounds awesome! I've heard a thing or two about it around here but don't really know what it is. Maybe I should try it out!

 

[thecapells]

Finally all caught up on your trip! MAN you did a lot in a short period! Seems like it was a blast. I love all the little details you captured, I'll have to go seek them out when I head down in August.

The Kim Possible Mission sounds awesome! I've heard a thing or two about it around here but don't really know what it is. Maybe I should try it out!

It's definitely all about the details!
And I totally recommend trying a Kim Possible Mission... or 7...

 

[thecapells]

I passed Canada and headed back to the World Showcase Plaza for my Mother’s Day Gifts.
I had thought it over and made my decisions.
This was not one of the runner-ups but it was very neat:

But I finally decided.
I bought them, shipped them, and a couple of weeks later, Mom had a great surprise.
She opened the box to receive 2 Mickey stepping stones and a Mickey Welcome Stone.
They look great out front in our yard (although one has a crack since we forgot to bring it in over the winter).
But we still love ‘em!!

Then it was back to the World Showcase.
Canada was next on the agenda.

The Victoria Gardens were impressive for Flower & Garden.

They definitely spruce this section up for the festival:

And I love the shot of the Hotel du Canada with the scenery

And you can’t forget the Trading Post with the totem poles

Also, for Flower & Garden, Canada plays host to topiaries of Bambi and her friends.
Not quite sure how Bambi ended up in Canada but here there are:

While normally I’d be heading towards Le Cellier right about now, this time I had a different agenda.
While Le Cellier is one of my top 3 restaurants in all of Walt Disney World, I couldn’t bring myself to go without my family.
So I headed towards:

It was time for Circle-Vision 360.
I heard it was a whole new movie with Martin Short and I wanted to give it a try.

Sure enough, it’s much less boring and much funnier.
There’s a bunch of cute jokes and it’s actual a decent movie.
Definitely worth a shot again for all those who have signed off on World Showcase movies.
Alas, I had to be moving along again.
My Kimmunicator was alerting me to trouble in France.
Alons-y!

 

[dawnbu40]

Nice update!

I love the stepping stones! Very cute!

Canada is one of my favorites in WS. It's so pretty and I love how they decorate it for Flower and Garden. Your pics are great!

 

[thecapells]

Nice update!

I love the stepping stones! Very cute!

Canada is one of my favorites in WS. It's so pretty and I love how they decorate it for Flower and Garden. Your pics are great!

Thanks!
We love the stepping stones.
The kids have even been coloring them with chalk lately when they head outside.
So while the kids have fun coloring Mickey, it washes clean afterwards!

As for Flower & Garden, they definitely spruce up Canada the most.
They take the already nice gardens and make them spectacular.
Now I still prefer Food & Wine but this is a nice touch...