Springtime is the Best Time- Flower & Garden, a taste of Dapper Days and Earth Day -April 2024- Side Trip to Epic Opening Day

[vamassey1]

Glad to hop in and hear how this trip went.

Pat! Happy to have you here for another report.

I am with you about the changes on Southwest. I have always loved flying them but now I might as well fly one of the others. Boo!

I've only every used Southwest to get to Disney. Have you used anyone else? I don't even know where to start.

I love friend trips and mother daughter trips! Now reminiscing about this trip will help you get excited for this year!

Yes it will. I'm already thinking about the things I want to repeat and what I want to do different.

I know I never post anymore, but I just wanted to pop in and say that I'm reading and following along!

Alicia! You're here just in time since you'll be making an appearance on our first park day. Did you see where Danielle is working now?

 

[vamassey1]

I found you here! Looking like a fun little girls' trip! Great photo of you 3 too.

Liesa! So glad you found me!

No, that'd be a tough discount to pass up.

I don't know what I'm going to do when she does come home and we won't have it anymore.

At least some consolation for such a boondoggle.

I'll take my wins where I can.

A small price to pay! At least you got on it.

My thoughts exactly.

A great sign no matter what time of day!

Yes!!!!

 

[vamassey1]

Epcot- In All It's Beautiful Glory
Friday, April 19th.
Today was our first park day and we wanted to start with Epcot so we could dive right into Flower and Garden. The park was open 9-9 with Early Entry at 8:30. I'm a rope dropper but after our late night that just wasn't going to happen, plus we had Danielle with us and she wasn't up for rope drop either. We also had a little complication which I'll explain in a bit.

Our original plan was to try to get to Epcot as early as possible. We didn't purchase Genie + for this day since rides weren't our priority. We didn't even try for Guardian's since Danielle was the only one who likes to rides it and she has plenty of chances to do that with her friends. We did not have an ADR for this day in hopes of eating lots of Festival Food. There were a few characters we would try to meet and we would try to ride a few rides. We had one Dis Meet planned that I was excited for and I always like to try to catch some entertainment too. We really wanted to get see as much of Flower & Garden as we could. Let's see how we did.

It was a beautiful morning as we made our way to the buses.


Before I go forward I need to remind you that I have already stated that "I'm a little Extra". I'm also very awkward when I take photos. I still haven't figured out my go to poise or my best side.

We were in line for our bust at 9:28 am, but it wasn't the bus to Epcot. Danielle and Robin had to scan into another park first. When Danielle went to make park reservations she couldn't get one for Epcot. CMs work on a pool of reservations. They are blocked out when the crowds are high like holidays and they have a limited number of reservations at certain parks. We started our day on a bus to Studios.


Any guesses on my outfit?

So we got off at Studios.

I hung back near the Skyliner while they scanned in to Studios and exited.


The Skyliner is a ride, so we had to do 1st Ride Selfies.




While we were on our way to Epcot, Danielle mentioned that they had a list of restaurants that CMs could get 40% off for a limited time. She went over the list and we decided to try for an ADR for Trattoria that night since it was so close. I have only had breakfast here back in 2017 when it was a character meal and Robin had never eaten there. Danielle had had dinner here and really liked it. We were able to get a 7 pm ADR. I know this was really going to cut into our Festival food but I can't pass up a bargain.
We entered at the International Gateway and right away the beauty that is Epcot during Flower and Garden was on display.

We headed to the left first and passed through the United Kingdom. I was snapping pictures as we made our way to Future World ( I don't care that they have renamed the front of the park, it will always be FW to me.) I wanted to catch as many Gardens and topiaries as I could.



Continued in next post.

 

[vamassey1]

Alice was meeting in the Tea Garden. We didn't stop for a photo. We were enjoying looking around the Tea Garden.


We did take a turn in the shops after walking through the Tea Garden. I saw a set of tea timers for different types of teas on a trip and thought it would made a great gift for Jimmy ( Michelle's husband). He drinks lots of tea. I didn't get it when I had the chance so I keep checking to see if they would have it again.

We looked around for the topiaries and found Mickey, Dumbo, Pooh, Rabbit, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet.





The UK was pretty deserted this early in the morning. I knew it wouldn't look like this later in the day. This area always make me miss the World Showcase Players and the King Arthur show they performed.


We used the ladies room and then left some Pixie Dust in the phone booth. We did hang around from a distance to see a young pre-teen find it.

We found Tick-tock, Captain Hook, Peter Pan, Flower, Thumper and Bambi before leaving the UK.




It wasn't 11 yet so we still had some time to kill before we start eating from the Food Booths.

 

[pkondz]

Today was our first park day and we wanted to start with Epcot so we could dive right into Flower and Garden.

You could do worse.

plus we had Danielle with us and she wasn't up for rope drop either.

We didn't even try for Guardian's since Danielle was the only one who likes to rides it

Motion sickness?

It was a beautiful morning as we made our way to the buses.

Look at that blue sky! Not a cloud in sight.

I still haven't figured out my go to poise or my best side.

I'll reserve judgment until you post a photo...

Danielle and Robin had to scan into another park first. When Danielle went to make park reservations she couldn't get one for Epcot. CMs work on a pool of reservations. They are blocked out when the crowds are high like holidays and they have a limited number of reservations at certain parks. We started our day on a bus to Studios.

Slight detour, but not too bad.

Any guesses on my outfit?

You know I don't do well at these things! But based off of Danielle's outfit... I'm going to go with Eeyore... or Piglet?

The Skyliner is a ride, so we had to do 1st Ride Selfies.

Hey look! You've figured out your best side!

Lovely shot of mama and DD.

I know this was really going to cut into our Festival food but I can't pass up a bargain.

You'd fit right in up here.

I was snapping pictures as we made our way to Future World ( I don't care that they have renamed the front of the park, it will always be FW to me.)

I had no idea there'd been a name change!
What is it called now????

I saw a set of tea timers for different types of teas on a trip and thought it would made a great gift for Jimmy ( Michelle's husband). He drinks lots of tea.

Nice. Thoughtful, too.

The UK was pretty deserted this early in the morning. I knew it wouldn't look like this later in the day.

This area always make me miss the World Showcase Players and the King Arthur show they performed.

I don't remember that.
Maybe never saw them?

left some Pixie Dust in the phone booth. We did hang around from a distance to see a young pre-teen find it.

What did you leave? Can't quite make it out. And how did the person react?

 

[Jones1978]

View attachment 948627

Any guesses on my outfit?

Is it Mulan???

 

[amazingact21]

Did you see where Danielle is working now?

I did! I'm so happy for her and hope she's settling into her new role. I'm sure she's busy right now with F&G season.


The Skyliner definitely counts as a first attraction.
I love seeing all your topiary photos. Reminds me of how gorgeous Epcot is in the springtime. This will be the first time in 3 years I haven't visited during the spring, and I'll miss experiencing the festival.
The tea timers sound like a great gift idea. I hope you can find them again one day.

 

[vamassey1]

Motion sickness?

Very much so for me. I rode it once. I'm not sure if it really made me sick or if it was just my nerves being worried it would make me sick.

Look at that blue sky! Not a cloud in sight.

It was perfect!

You know I don't do well at these things! But based off of Danielle's outfit... I'm going to go with Eeyore... or Piglet?

I'm sorry but that's not it.

Lovely shot of mama and DD.

Thank you!

You'd fit right in up here.

I'm glad to hear that.

I had no idea there'd been a name change!
What is it called now????

World something. Each area has a different name. Doesn't matter cause it's still Future World.

I don't remember that.
Maybe never saw them?

I'm trying to remember the last time we saw them. I think it was on our Mardi Gras 2012 trip.

This is from All Ears.


I found this too.

World Showcase Players

What did you leave? Can't quite make it out. And how did the person react?

I wish I had taken a photo of them. I was a little tag with a key attached that had a Mickey head. The key is a bottle opener. The front of the card looked like this.

 

[vamassey1]

Is it Mulan???

Ding Ding Ding we have a winner.

Thanks for joining in!

 

[vamassey1]

I did! I'm so happy for her and hope she's settling into her new role. I'm sure she's busy right now with F&G season.

She is really liking it so far. I think she has found her element.

The Skyliner definitely counts as a first attraction.
I love seeing all your topiary photos. Reminds me of how gorgeous Epcot is in the springtime. This will be the first time in 3 years I haven't visited during the spring, and I'll miss experiencing the festival.
The tea timers sound like a great gift idea. I hope you can find them again one day.

I'm sorry you won't make it this year. It really is so pretty for F&G.

I'm going to keep looking for that Tea Timer.

 

[disneyAndi14]

I was going to pick Mulan for your Dis bound outfit, yay
Andi use to try and help me pose for pictures haha she has the best smile and always looks good for pictures, she says I have resting B face and need some practice to smile better, to funny
Your pictures are very nice!

 

[pkondz]

Very much so for me. I rode it once. I'm not sure if it really made me sick or if it was just my nerves being worried it would make me sick.

I can only ride it once... it's pretty motion-sickness-inducing.

I'm sorry but that's not it.

Dang. But I did tell you I'm not good at that.
No way in heck I'd ever have guessed Mulan.

World something. Each area has a different name. Doesn't matter cause it's still Future World.

I'm trying to remember the last time we saw them. I think it was on our Mardi Gras 2012 trip.

This is from All Ears.

Nope. Not a clue.

I wish I had taken a photo of them. I was a little tag with a key attached that had a Mickey head. The key is a bottle opener. The front of the card looked like this.

That's really nice. I bet the kids who found them were thrilled.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Epcot in Springtime is so pretty. I love the flower and garden festival though we don’t often make it there.
You obviously figured out your best side as the photo of you and Danielle is gorgeous and yes the Skyliner is definitely a ride!
I remember the World Showcase players and I miss them too. The King Arthur show was fun and they also used to have castmembers playing games of hopscotch and the like with the kids which was good craic. My kids really enjoyed it when they were wee.
So nice you left some pixie dust and made some magic in your trip.
Strolling through WS with nothing in particular planned is my favourite thing to do so I’m more than a wee bit envious of your plans for the day

 

[vamassey1]

I was going to pick Mulan for your Dis bound outfit, yay

And you would have been right!

Andi use to try and help me pose for pictures haha she has the best smile and always looks good for pictures, she says I have resting B face and need some practice to smile better, to funny

I have the same problem. My girls are experts, but I just can't get it right.

Your pictures are very nice!

Thank you!

 

[vamassey1]

I can only ride it once... it's pretty motion-sickness-inducing.

I'm glad I'm not the only one.

Dang. But I did tell you I'm not good at that.
No way in heck I'd ever have guessed Mulan.

It makes more sense when you see the whole outfit.

Nope. Not a clue.

You missed a good one. I loved this show and tried to catch it every trip. Dennis was always scared he would get picked so he hung out in the stores.

That's really nice. I bet the kids who found them were thrilled.

We did have some really good reactions. Not sure if we're doing it again this trip. We had some that had Thank You stamped on the back for the CMs.

 

[vamassey1]

Epcot in Springtime is so pretty. I love the flower and garden festival though we don’t often make it there.

It's my favorite! I hope you make it back for the festival again soon.

You obviously figured out your best side as the photo of you and Danielle is gorgeous and yes the Skyliner is definitely a ride!

I'm getting better at selfies thanks to the kids but still terrible when it's a full photo. I think the Skyliner is one of our favorite rides.

I remember the World Showcase players and I miss them too. The King Arthur show was fun and they also used to have castmembers playing games of hopscotch and the like with the kids which was good craic. My kids really enjoyed it when they were wee.
So nice you left some pixie dust and made some magic in your trip.

They were the best! I'm happy someone else really enjoyed them too.

We enjoyed sharing a little magic.

Strolling through WS with nothing in particular planned is my favourite thing to do so I’m more than a wee bit envious of your plans for the day

It really was the best.

 

[pkondz]

I'm glad I'm not the only one.

I strongly suspect that we are not the only ones.

It makes more sense when you see the whole outfit.

Yes, that’s it. I was handicapped by not being able to see the whole outfit.
Yes. That’s definitely what it is.

Absolutely.

Yup

You missed a good one. I loved this show and tried to catch it every trip. Dennis was always scared he would get picked so he hung out in the stores.

We had some that had Thank You stamped on the back for the CMs.

 

[missjackiemcg]

Hi, I'm here!!!!

We were flying Southwest our of New Orleans (boy and I going to miss this).

I'm soooo annoyed at the changes Southwest is making!!!!!! And then yesterday, I read that they're doing away with Wanna Get Away fares altogether. I'm going to have to start shopping around airlines again, which I hate! We have loved flying Southwest, but I don't think it will make sense for us anymore.

Any guesses on my outfit?

Mulan!! Love those ears!

Your pixie dust is super cute!! Su-Lynn gave those out on our Epic trip. Your tag is so cute!

 

[vamassey1]

I strongly suspect that we are not the only ones.

But there are so many people who love it.

Yes, that’s it. I was handicapped by not being able to see the whole outfit.
Yes. That’s definitely what it is.

Absolutely.

Yup

I'm sure that is the reason.

 

[vamassey1]

Hi, I'm here!!!!

Jackie!!! It wouldn't be the same without you.

I'm soooo annoyed at the changes Southwest is making!!!!!! And then yesterday, I read that they're doing away with Wanna Get Away fares altogether. I'm going to have to start shopping around airlines again, which I hate! We have loved flying Southwest, but I don't think it will make sense for us anymore.

I'm really not looking forward to having to shop for flights. I still have some flight credit money I need to use.

Mulan!! Love those ears!

Thank you! I got them on Etsy.

Your pixie dust is super cute!! Su-Lynn gave those out on our Epic trip. Your tag is so cute!

Thank you! I think we still have few we can give out this trip.