Stop and Smell the Roses But Watch Out for the Bees! July '12 It's a Wrap Folks! 2.23

[TinksThree]

OMG! Your experience at AS Sports sounds so much like ours! Those kids running around that resort were so incredibly loud at unreal hours of the night. I wanted to beat whoever was supposed to be chaperoning them. I was in cheerleading in middle school & high school. We would not have been allowed to run around in the middle of the night like that.

To make matters worse, our room was nasty & pretty much falling apart. And it was for the hearing impaired so it had some unique touches.

I'm really hoping you like POP better. One of my best friends loves POP. That's the only place her family stays. So, I think it will be ok. I just think we'll need to stick to a value when we go around the cruise to help the budget.

Glad to know we weren't "singled" out but sad any of us had to deal with that. I think the running and yelling in the wee morning hours just made it was worse!

 

[TinksThree]

Great report! I definitely want to try POP for DS9 surprise birthday trip. He really loves the theming so I think I just may give him his wish to stay there We are going Aug 2013 and again in November for DS birthday, so I am sure DH pockets would very much appreciate us staying at POP!

Thank you and glad you're reading along! I hope you can give your DS a trip for his bday! I am excited for mine! I do love the theming at POP!

 

[TinksThree]

So when I left off last we were just arriving at Epcot. So here we go into Epcot....

The bag check line was so long!! This seemed to be the case a lot! The longest lines I stood in all week were to get my bag checked! After that little task was over we went to the ticket window to activate our tickets. This took about 10 minutes and soon we were on our way to fun in the sun!!! Let’s do a recap to see how we did!! Up at 6am and by 9:15am we have dressed, eaten breakfast, checked in at POFQ, unloaded our belongings into the room, gone through a long bag check line, activated our 4 day Park Hopper Military tickets and now we are heading to the land to get Soarin’ Fast Passes!! Pretty good I do believe!!

Chris and Madison actually head off to get the FPs while Keith and I go a little more leisurely. Along the way I snap a few pictures….

On our way Keith and I discuss what we can do today. He lets it out that he doesn’t really like the ride that you do picture things at the end….that would be Figment’s Imagination….so that attraction is vetoed! I am so neutral on that one that I will ride if someone wants but it is no shirt off my back if I miss it!

Once we reach The Land we decide to ride Living with the Land. I had discussed the Behind the Seeds tour with Keith but he nixed that idea. I will have to sneak it in since he tends to veto things and then will ask “why have we never done this? “ when we do finally try it….”uhm, because you have said you aren’t interested?!!?” Yes, this happened several times so I am just going to start springing new things on him!!

Living with the Land


A few pictures: For those that go repetitive pictures can be a bore but since I may have people who are planning first time trips I am posting all that I took!

Not a great picture but somehow I thought it was cool...

Dragonfruit:

I told these fish “I may be eating you Tuesday night”…and I just may have!!

Alligators!!

Remember I was saying I had read a book on Disney's Hidden secrets? Well, this is the first notable picture I have. This is probably known by most (or maybe not) but

These four balloons actually show the four seasons-summer, winter, fall and spring. Thus Sunshine Seasons is below the balloons!

Continued in next post....

 

[TinksThree]

After The Land we make our way to Mission Space so the kids could ride the orange side.

I chose to sit out with Keith.

While we waited in the air conditioned “Control Room” Keith played Words with Friends

and I looked over my Liners app!!

The kids make it back from Mars in one piece (whew!) and then we play a game in the Control Room.

My screen was in a language I did not understand and Madison’s was in Japanese. We couldn’t figure out how to get it to English so needless to say we didn’t think we had done too well. Well someone in our section must have because we won!!

That excursion was over so we went back into the bright sunshine

and I followed my nose to one of my all-time favorite flowers…..the Gardenia!!

So I stopped and smelled the roses...I mean gardenias but no bees!! So where to now?!?!?! Oh yeah! We have Fast Passes and I think they may be ready! And then....the changes begin full force!!!

 

[shan23877]

I love all of the Living With the Land photos, in fact I like seeing photos of it better than the actual ride.

You got some beautiful photos, and I can't wait to hear what happened next!

 

[amandaw]

Sounds like a very good start to the day!

Love the Living with the Land ride, it's just so neat!

UGH - Mission Space. I can ride pretty much anything....except that.

Can't wait to hear about the changes that are about to be made.

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Hey Tisa! I'm joining in for this one. We are booked at POFQ for next year, so seeing your pics gets me excited!

So cool that you get to go again in October! Yall are going to love Pop! It's where we always stay (a part of me is even wanting to change from POFQ to Pop again) and it's such a fun, happy place!

 

[TinksThree]

I love all of the Living With the Land photos, in fact I like seeing photos of it better than the actual ride.

You got some beautiful photos, and I can't wait to hear what happened next!

Thanks! We actually enjoy riding LWTL and sometimes I wonder why because I have a very black thumb and it definitely has little thrills and frills but somehow it is one of those that we just have to do! Glad you enjoyed the pictures and didn't have to ride this time!!

Sounds like a very good start to the day!

Love the Living with the Land ride, it's just so neat!

UGH - Mission Space. I can ride pretty much anything....except that.

Can't wait to hear about the changes that are about to be made.

It had been a great start to the day! We do enjoy LWTL and I have gone on MS but the green side. Keith cannot deal with the motion at all so I chose to sit out with him. that ride is one I consider "Been there, Done that, Moving on!"

Oh most of the rest of the day doesn't involve anything from my PTR!

Hey Tisa! I'm joining in for this one. We are booked at POFQ for next year, so seeing your pics gets me excited!

So cool that you get to go again in October! Yall are going to love Pop! It's where we always stay (a part of me is even wanting to change from POFQ to Pop again) and it's such a fun, happy place!

Hello!!! I am so glad you are joining in!! I have lots and lots of POFQ pictures coming up! I am glad to hear you like POP so much! That makes me feel much more comfortable with the decision! I am definitely seeking fun and happy for the October trip!

 

[burly]

Jumping in. fun.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I can never get enough pictures of Living With The Land nor do I ever tire of seeing them. I just love that attraction for some reason. If you ever do get a chance to "spring" something new on Keith, I'd suggest the Behind the Seeds tour. It's really neat to see things up close and it's not very expensive either.

 

[TinksThree]

Jumping in. fun.

So glad to have you joining in!!!

I can never get enough pictures of Living With The Land nor do I ever tire of seeing them. I just love that attraction for some reason. If you ever do get a chance to "spring" something new on Keith, I'd suggest the Behind the Seeds tour. It's really neat to see things up close and it's not very expensive either.

We love it too!! I am really thinking to make this something we do in October. We will be at Epcot so much and it would be something different! I remember you guys enjoying it last year! I am trying to find "different" things to make this trip not so "Disney" like the past trips...only to show him we haven't scratched the surface of things to do!

 

[Angies1274]

Joining in! You were there the same week we were. I'm really enjoying your TR. But, especially all your pictures of POFQ! It looks like such a beautiful resort! We usually stay at Pop Century and love it, but have decided to try a moderate resort next trip so I've been researching all our options.

Can't wait to read more about your trip!

 

[TinksThree]

Joining in! You were there the same week we were. I'm really enjoying your TR. But, especially all your pictures of POFQ! It looks like such a beautiful resort! We usually stay at Pop Century and love it, but have decided to try a moderate resort next trip so I've been researching all our options.

Can't wait to read more about your trip!

So happy to have you reading along!! POFQ is so beautiful! I will have lots and lots of POFQ and POR in a few more posts. We really have loved staying there! We will be at POP for the first time in October and I am looking forward to it! Glad to hear more positive comments on POP!! We stayed at Coronado two years ago and it was okay--the pool was great!! But CBR looks beautiful too! I have enjoyed the mods--hadn't been spoiled by the Deluxe resorts yet!

 

[solana131]

Great pictures of LWTL. I know it gets a bad rep sometimes, but to me that is what Epcot is all about. Learning new ways to farm and new technology. My little guy loves going on that ride!

I can't believe I didn't know that about the balloons in The Land But Sunshine Seasons is yummy! Have you ever tried their breakfast panini?? OMG! To die for!

 

[TinksThree]

Great pictures of LWTL. I know it gets a bad rep sometimes, but to me that is what Epcot is all about. Learning new ways to farm and new technology. My little guy loves going on that ride!

I can't believe I didn't know that about the balloons in The Land But Sunshine Seasons is yummy! Have you ever tried their breakfast panini?? OMG! To die for!

Thanks! I really like LWTL!! I miss the "old" Epcot! I really liked the Horizon pavilion and The World of Motion....that is what I remember from my 1st trip to Disney!

I have not had the panini! Okay...going on my list of things to try! Thanks for that tip!! I am about to reveal a little more on those balloons!

 

[TinksThree]

Then we went back to The Land to ride Soarin’.

As we enter The Land I snapped another picture of the balloons (evidently forgetting the previous!) but for more Of the Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World (by Susan Veness)

The balloons actually represent earth and as I said before the seasons with the green balloon being spring, the yellow balloon is summer, the orange balloon is fall and the blue balloon is winter!! And have you noticed the characters on the balloons before? Those represent cultures from around the world. So now you know!!

A brief break by some in our party meant time to browse the little shop area by Soarin':

Then it was time to ride!!!

FastPass is the only way I will go now unless the wait is very short! In March I had to wait 60 minutes and that was tough on the feet!! This time we breezed right through!

I asked for the front row so we stepped to the side for a few seconds and then we were told "Row 1"!! I love sitting on the front row for the full effect!

Keith attempted this time around and did well…no motion sickness! I have heard a lot about the quality of the film on this ride and it really is true! There are all of these little fleck things floating around….but I didn’t let that keep me from enjoying my flight! No way!! I inhale the lovely aromas of oranges and pine and let me feet swing into the water…..does anyone else feel like you should be able to dip your feet in the water?! I always find it a surreal moment when you think your feet will be going into the river but they do not! I wear flip flops so bare feet in water would be okay. I suppose it wouldn’t be prudent to have that effect for those that wear socks and tennis shoes!

With trips to Mars and California now behind us, we decide to head for some lunch!!

Along the way to World Showcase we have some Kodak moments!

In March there was an awesome sand sculpture for the Chimpanzee movie that was showing in April. This trip the sand sculpture was for Brave which had just opened!! Again, very amazing!!!

We head into Canada...

Since we have BIG plans for an early dinner tonight, I had jotted down eating here….

We get there and a debate goes on if the Fish and Chips have real chips or French Fries. I ask a CM and he says it is fries (which actually is what we all would want anyhow) but Keith comes up with other plans….other plans that affect the entire rest of the day. I tell him fine whatever as long as we make it to the Polynesian by 5pm!


Now my very loose “plan” since this isn’t really a trip about planning was 1)Epcot until 1pm or so, 2) unpack at resort when room is ready, 3) dinner at Ohana at 5:15pm and 4) Kids to Magic Kingdom for PM EMH and Keith and I back to Epcot and then to Boardwalk and Jellyrolls.

Well, you can see that numbers 1 and 2 have been pretty much mixed up and now here we are at lunch with our day becoming this: 1) Check-in and unload belongings in room, 2) Epcot, 3) lunch at Yorkshire Fish Shop nixed and we choose to go to……oh and 4) the afternoon plans are diverted thanks to a brilliant idea by Keith but I will get to that later!!


So we head deeper into World Showcase

and Keith decides maybe Italian. We decide to check and see if Via Napoli has any openings. I had an ADR for later in the week at VN and we decide that one will be cancelled if we can get lunch there today!

My view just before the next story happens....

We sit on a bench next to some beautiful flowers to check the menu before going on to Italy when for no reason at all….nothing provokes this…..it just came out of the blue…..a bee decides to sting me!! I heard the buzz….I felt the sharp piercing sting….I screamed and threw my phone and whatever else was in my lap…and this all happened so quickly! A couple come over and said they saw the vicious beast fly away and comment that if it makes me feel better he probably won’t be flying much longer! (Of note, only the honey bee dies after stinging. Wasps and hornets live on! I found this out last Friday!) They are Boy Scout leaders and tell me what to watch for since I do not know if I am allergic to bees…thankfully my lips never went numb so I must be fine with bees!

My neck felt as though it had a boulder on it though! I kept imagining my neck looking like Will Ferrell’s back in “Land of the Lost”….thankfully when I looked in the mirror I realized it was just a small red lump and my hair covered it nicely!!

Thus the title of my report because just prior to the bee sting, a comment was made about how sometimes it is nice to enjoy the moment…stop and smell the roses…soak up your time because soon it is flying past you….then BAM! a bee stings someone in your party!!

Next up...Can we get in mid-July for a last minute ADR?

 

[TinksThree]

And I thought I would share the following picture. This hornet was on the sidewalk at my work last Friday...it was dead and a guy that I work with was brave enough to pick it up. Dead or not I am not into bugs! Check this guy out! I have my pencil next to it for scale!

That was how I discovered what stinging bugs die and which do not!

 

[NCDisneyMom]

Ouch on the sting! When I saw the title of your report and saw you stayed at POFQ, I thought it had to do with the resort. On one of our last days there, we went to the pool and there were swarms of bees all around the chairs closest to the bar area! We, luckily, escaped any stings. Enjoying your report and can't wait to read more!

 

[shan23877]

I always wish that I could dip my toes in the water on Soarin'! It's so immersive that it seems like you should be able to!

Love the note about the balloons! I did read that book, it was great! Thanks for recommending it!

I'm so sorry about the bee sting! I hope that it didn't affect the rest of the trip too badly.

Can't wait to hear how the plans changed!

 

[amandaw]

What a nice day............until that darn bee!

I get so terrified anytime I see a bee or wasp or anything that can sting me. Thank goodness you were okay! I sure hope that bee sting didn't keep you from eating at 'Ohana that night. But, I have a bad feeling that it just might have.