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

[skhermsmeyer]

Great pictures, but I too have no clue what the deal is with the spider. I can't even think of any Disney movies with a spider in it that would deserve that kind of attention. Now I'll have to find out when I go down in December.

Now, where'd you go for dinner???

 

[dawnbu40]

Beautiful pics of the Epcot resort area! That whole area is so lovely and the BC is tops on my "someday" list

 

[Jupiter&Wolfe]

This place feels like you’ve been transported to the Northeast.
I wanted to grab my cardigan and ascot and head out to the sailboat to meet Muffy and Buffy for a ride before the big croquet game.

As a Northeastern Native I should probably take offense to that....but that was TOO FUNNY.

Looks to me like they might have been trying to go for a Butterfly with that topiary??? I don't know, I wonder if it will still be there for my August trip...

Ah I can't believe you passed up Beaches and Cream! If we have time during my vacation I am forcing my family to the Beach Club just to try it....I'm DYING to give it a shot. I love diners like that.

 

[thecapells]

ohh now I'm curious where you are headed for dinner!

My husband & I finally (on our 3rd trip together) made it to the Boardwalk for the first time, we had ADR at the Cape May Cafe for dinner. We took the time out to walk around the boardwalk and like you, were very impressed. I love everything about the YC & BC resorts, especially it's proximity to Epcot! It's definitely on our list of places that we must stay at on a disney vacation!

I cannot wait to eat at Beaches and Cream, there will be a kitchen sink with my family's name on it in Fall of 2013 (hey it's never too early to plan a Disney vacation in your mind)

Oooh - a Kitchen Sink.
We might have to try that one day.
I'm actually considering Beaches and Cream for our upcoming trip.

Great pictures, but I too have no clue what the deal is with the spider. I can't even think of any Disney movies with a spider in it that would deserve that kind of attention. Now I'll have to find out when I go down in December.

Now, where'd you go for dinner???

Yeah, someone has to figure out what that topiary is.
It's just so random!
As for dinner, stay tuned...

Beautiful pics of the Epcot resort area! That whole area is so lovely and the BC is tops on my "someday" list

Yeah, the Poly and the Beach Club are the two deluxes that we would love to stay at.
But since we tend to barely spend time at the resort, we usually go value and spend the money elsewhere...

As a Northeastern Native I should probably take offense to that....but that was TOO FUNNY.

Looks to me like they might have been trying to go for a Butterfly with that topiary??? I don't know, I wonder if it will still be there for my August trip...

Ah I can't believe you passed up Beaches and Cream! If we have time during my vacation I am forcing my family to the Beach Club just to try it....I'm DYING to give it a shot. I love diners like that.

Sorry but I couldn't resist.
It's just so stereotypical when you walk in.
As for Beaches, I think the prime deterrent was that I was honestly not very hungry yet.
It was a really hot day so I was more thirsty than hungry.
And I promised myself I would try a certain counter service so I could report home to the family about it...

 

[WrightFamily06]

Mexico Donald does seem to have a little more fun.
Maybe it's just being out in EPCOT - I'm not sure.
I also hear he has a new Meet and Greet area that they constructed for him.
I can't wait to see it next year!

I did not know that he was suppose to get his own meet & greet I will def be on the lookout for this ! Thanks Mike

the angle of the Rafiki & Simba pic , one I have never noticed before either .

Great picture of the Friendship Boats , I never knew of this area till just recently , I always thought it was for preferred guests lol

We will def have to take one of these boats over & checkout the BC & BW , they look very beautiful from your pictures !

 

[Princess Sarah]

These definitely seem to be great resorts to stay in and the walking distance to the World Showcase is incredible.

And this is why we are strictly EPCOT Resort people now. Walking distance to two parks can't be beat. There's nothing like having an afternoon nap and dinner at the hotel and then strolling over for a walk around World Showcase and some dessert and people watching.

 

[praisehisname]

My little cruise took me all the way to the International Gateway and I noticed this landscaping and thought it was for Flower and Garden.
But I noticed it again when we came back in November.
And you know what? I still have no friggin’ clue what it is.
Any guesses?

The first thing that came to mind is some sort of fleur de lis (sp?)...

 

[thecapells]

I did not know that he was suppose to get his own meet & greet I will def be on the lookout for this ! Thanks Mike

the angle of the Rafiki & Simba pic , one I have never noticed before either .

Great picture of the Friendship Boats , I never knew of this area till just recently , I always thought it was for preferred guests lol

We will def have to take one of these boats over & checkout the BC & BW , they look very beautiful from your pictures !

I believe a little backdrop was built next to Mexico for Mexico Donald.
And, yeah, I really liked that angle of Rafiki and Spaceship Earth.

As for the Friendship Boats, they go to several destinations.
Some go across the World Showcase Lagoon to other countries.
This is a nice way to have the kids relax their feet a bit.
And the little ones love the additional mode of transportation.

There's also a boat that goes to the International Gateway and lets you off at the "back" entrance of Epcot.
From there you can walk to the Beach Club or Boardwalk.
Alternatively, you can take a boat to the Beach Club, Boardwalk, Dolphin, Swan, and Hollywood Studios.

 

[thecapells]

And this is why we are strictly EPCOT Resort people now. Walking distance to two parks can't be beat. There's nothing like having an afternoon nap and dinner at the hotel and then strolling over for a walk around World Showcase and some dessert and people watching.

Yeah, if we had DVC like you guys, we'd be at the Beach Club Villas every time.

The first thing that came to mind is some sort of fleur de lis (sp?)...

Could be - maybe Disney bought the Boy Scouts of America!

 

[WrightFamily06]

I believe a little backdrop was built next to Mexico for Mexico Donald.
And, yeah, I really liked that angle of Rafiki and Spaceship Earth.

As for the Friendship Boats, they go to several destinations.
Some go across the World Showcase Lagoon to other countries.
This is a nice way to have the kids relax their feet a bit.
And the little ones love the additional mode of transportation.

There's also a boat that goes to the International Gateway and lets you off at the "back" entrance of Epcot.
From there you can walk to the Beach Club or Boardwalk.
Alternatively, you can take a boat to the Beach Club, Boardwalk, Dolphin, Swan, and Hollywood Studios.

Thanks Mike for all the great information on the Epcot boats we will def be using it in September !

 

[thecapells]

Thanks Mike for all the great information on the Epcot boats we will def be using it in September !

No prob!
Enjoy your adventures on the high seas!

 

[thecapells]

I headed back toward the International Gateway or, as I like to call it, the English Channel.
After all, it’s the waterway that splits England and France, isn’t it?
On the British side of the Channel, I was delighted to find some friends hanging out in the United Kingdom.
No Photopass photographers were present but Mary Poppins herself was greeting fans with perfect manners.
I asked her handler to take a picture of me (the one drawback from being alone – noone to take your pictures without Photopass).
But this is Disney so the handler was only happy to oblige.

Next to her young Alice was captivated by something other than a white rabbit for a change.
Must’ve been the flashbulbs going off all around her.

After meeting and greeting with the lovely ladies, I headed back across the English Channel.
And here I found a friendly Photopass photographer.
Actually, I was looking for them as this is one of my favorite places in all of Epcot for a Photopass shot.
I try to get one every time we come by – there’s never a line and the scenery is gorgeous!
Take a look for yourself!

In the other direction, you could plainly see the new Characters In Flight attraction at Downtown Disney.
I had debated trying it this trip but decided that $16 for a ride straight up seemed silly.
Especially when the views didn’t seem that spectacular from the pictures and video I’ve seen online.
So you will just have to settle with my picture of the attraction as opposed to from the attraction:

Across the bridge, I once again entered the French metropolis of Paris.

I decided to have some fun and found a CM willing to be my personal photographer.
He snapped off several shots and even posed me here and there.
The end results: The “Peter Pan” pose in front of the French kiosk

It was then on to dinner.
I wasn't too hungry yet as it was insanely hot and sticky and my appetite tends to be less in the heat.
But I was very excited to try another counter service gem hidden in the World Showcase.
Any guesses?

 

[praisehisname]

Great pictures! We love the photopass on the bridge, also!

Did you go eat at the French bakery?

 

[dtr_angel]

great shots! You always have great photopass pics from Epcot. We've never been lucky enough to find photopass photographers in Epcot! The only ones we have are from the meets with Aladdin in Morroco, Belle, and Aurora in France. I've love some of the scenic shots from around WS, I guess I need to try harder next trip!

Still curious where you are eating at, maybe the Tangierine Cafe?

 

[dawnbu40]

Nice update! It's always fun meeting Mary and Alice in England

Since you've wandered into France I'm going to guess you're grabbing a bite to eat at the Boulangerie Patisserie?

 

[thecapells]

Nice update! It's always fun meeting Mary and Alice in England

Since you've wandered into France I'm going to guess you're grabbing a bite to eat at the Boulangerie Patisserie?

Nice guess but I've eaten there before.
I just stopped in to check out the kiosk - it's actually something I never took a photo of before...

great shots! You always have great photopass pics from Epcot. We've never been lucky enough to find photopass photographers in Epcot! The only ones we have are from the meets with Aladdin in Morroco, Belle, and Aurora in France. I've love some of the scenic shots from around WS, I guess I need to try harder next trip!

Still curious where you are eating at, maybe the Tangierine Cafe?

Always got to keep that radar searching for those khaki vests!!
As for Tangierine Cafe, I tried that for lunch during my last circle of the World Showcase earlier today.
Yes, that was the same.
Yes, I am that insane.
And yes, you can walk alot farther without little ones.

Great pictures! We love the photopass on the bridge, also!

Did you go eat at the French bakery?

Once again, not a bad assumption.
Apparently the stop at the kiosk threw everyone off.
Any other guesses?
I won't be too coy this time...

 

[praisehisname]

Apparently the stop at the kiosk threw everyone off.
Any other guesses?
I won't be too coy this time...

Must be Japan!

 

[thecapells]

Must be Japan!

You think so?

 

[praisehisname]

You think so?

Because of the koi pond...not that you got your snack out of there, though...

 

[thecapells]

Because of the koi pond...not that you got your snack out of there, though...

Ahhhh.
You caught that little hint, did ya?