Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

Afternoon at Epcot

Tuesday April 12, 2016                                                                              Most Recent Posts:
Epcot                                                                                    Surprise Visit to the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
Walt Disney World                                                                         Kilimanjaro Safari and The Lion King
Orlando, Florida

 

It took 14 hours for my previous post on our morning at the Flower and Garden Festival to show up on blog rolls.  So I’m not surprised if you didn’t see it.  There is a link above it you want this post to make more sense.

 

First stop over the bridge for our afternoon – well it’s already actually it’s almost 2:30 by now – is Britain where we find Tudor architecture.   Some of the very best part of the World Showcase is the authentic architecture. 

 

We also find  Peter Pan, and below him, Captain Hook facing off with Tick Tock the Crock.

IMG_5676

 

IMG_5678

 

Look up for Pan, David missed him.

 

IMG_5690

 

 

It’s for you David.  Seems the doctors and the pharmacy can find you anywhere.

 

IMG_5698

 

We head across the water to France where we find Cinderella and her prince.

IMG_5700

 

IMG_5701

The clock is striking midnight. 

 

Further on, it’s beauty and the beast.

IMG_5712

 

I have to say my favorite character in this story is the candelabra with its Maurice Chevalier voice.  It wasn’t Chevalier of course but it sounded like him.  I would definitely like to have been Maurice’s guest.

 

IMG_5713

 

At this point we think perhaps we’d better have dessert so we head back to Beaches and Cream Soda Shop our favorite spot located between Disney’s Beach and Yacht Clubs.

IMG_5726

 

It’s just the perfect soda shop but very small so don’t bother going if you don’t have a reservation.  It’s possible they will work you in but you’ll wait for the pleasure.

 

IMG_5729

 

 

Eat your heart out oh twin of mine, it’s No Way Jose.  Wish you were here.
And yup, I”m gonna eat the whole thing and call it dinner.

 

 

Pretty sad when it’s all gone.

IMG_5735

 

For a quarter you can listen to tunes from the juke box era.  Check these out.  Only one of TWELVE pages of choices.

 

If it weren’t for Winnona and Fort Wilderness, I’d have a hard time choosing between the Wilderness Lodge and the Beach Club Resort where in warm weather you can swim at the beach and play on the water slides into the pool.

IMG_5746

 

And all year you can do movies under the stars.  I’d like to do that some time.  Interesting, no movie on Friday this week

 

IMG_5750

 

From here we’re off to Morocco to absorb a little of the architecture and the creations of the Disney Imagineers.

IMG_5769

 

Doubt I’ll ever make it to Morocco but the feel of the bazaar is in the streets and makes me wish I could go.

 

 

IMG_5783

 

You really do have to take your time and look around to appreciate the authenticity.

 

 

And be sure to look up.  The architecture is simply stunning.  Hats off to Disney.

IMG_5792

 

 

When we leave Morocco we can hear the drums.  From previous visits we know if we hurry we can catch some of the performance of the fabulous Japanese Drummers.

 

 

IMG_5816

 

The castle gates are open and inside of course is the gift shop and a excellent museum of Japanese Culture.

 

Between the pagoda and the castle are Japanese gardens and pools complete with koi and bonsai.

IMG_5832

IMG_5822

 

This trained bald cypress is 65 years old.

 

From Japan we move on around the World Showcase Lagoon and run into Woody from Toy Story near the BBQ stands of the American Adventure.

 

IMG_5843

 

Lady and the Tramp welcome us to Italy.  I absolutely love her ears.  The topiary is simply amazing.

IMG_5849

 

IMG_5855

 

Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs are between Italy and Germany.

 

IMG_5858

 

 

 

 

IMG_5863

 

Between Germany and China we find the Lion King.

IMG_5873

 

Tiny Timon and huge Pumbaa are here too.

IMG_5874

 

In China, the courtyard is dominated by a replica of the Temple of Heaven, which contains the entrance to the Circle-Vision 360° movie exploring China's history and scenery.  It’s beautiful and well worth the visit. 

 

IMG_5879

 

The courtyard is bordered by shops selling Chinese merchandise, and two Chinese restaurants. The pavilion is decorated with ponds, crossed by bridges.

IMG_5898

 

 

IMG_5904

 

Today the bridge crosses water with a topiary dragon.

 

IMG_5889

 

 

 

It was quite a surprise to look down from the fabulous topiar dragon and see this little frog hiding out.

IMG_5882

 

When we entered the Chinese Pavillion through these spectacular gates we could see the performance area for the Chinese Acrobats.  Lucky for us, they were only a few minutes from beginning their show as we walk back toward the gate to leave.

 

 

 

 

You’d never know from seeing them here that these girls are made of rubber.

IMG_5920

 

 

IMG_5913

 

IMG_5915

 

 

 

IMG_5927

 

I thought this was amazing.  Such strength and balance.

 

And then I saw this.  How do they do it?  He’s balanced where?  On the back of the standing guy’s neck?
Look ma no hands?

 

Our day is drawing to a close as we head on around past Norway where we find Elsa and Anna of course.

IMG_5937

 

The sun sets behind the trees across the lagoon.  A beautiful ending to a wonderful day in Epcot.

IMG_5946

 

Although the Mexican Pavillion looks beautiful in the lights of evening and it’s Mesoamerican Pyramid steps beckon us, we have had a full day and are too tired to do even one more thing.  If you are more of a night owl than a morning bird, be sure to come to the World Showcase after dark and see it all lighted and stay for the fantastic fireworks display.  We have done it previously.  But too tired today.

 

IMG_5968

 

One nice thing about Epcot.  You can always be sure which way is out by looking for the round Spaceship Earth from anywhere.

IMG_5972

 

It’s our final picture as we head to the monorail which will take us to the boat back to Fort Wilderness. 
Another simply wonderful day in Walt Disney World.

IMG_5981

13 comments:

  1. I like the Tudor village and especially the red telephone booth. What in the world was that delectable looking dessert you polished off? You settled an argument I've been having with myself for the past week, and I'm going out for ice cream after supper!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow...the details and places you can experience at Disney...amazing! Those acrobats...so impressive!! Ice cream for dinner...that looked like a true feast! Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That does look like another wonderful day. Almost 20 years ago Eric and I went to Epcot and had a blast. Your photos bring back wonderful memories! I remember having dinner in Morocco while belly dancers entertained us. That ice cream sundae you had was enormous!! So glad you filled up on fun and ice cream. :-))

    ReplyDelete
  4. On one of our many trips to Orlando back in the day, we took it easy during the day to enjoy Epcot after dark ... that it was in December, we also got to enjoy the holiday decorations and festivities. One of our favorite memories.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Spectacular Day!!! Definitely going to find an opportunity to go to Disney during the Flower Festival...it adds a whole additional layer to a visit to EPCOT!!! Of course, the No Way Jose is the BOMB:o))) Just for that I must return!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Quite a lot to take in, and terrific shots!

    Blogger is unfortunately doing that with a number of blogs I follow- this one is dated for yesterday but didn't turn up in my blogroll until this morning, while other blogs I follow are routinely not posted until 24 hours after they went live. Add to that the nonsense of photo captchas, and it becomes bothersome.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh yum! Ice cream sundae sounds so good about now :) Those acrobatic performers must have been fun to watch.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Those Chinese acrobats were just demonstrating the stretching exercises you and David do before your kayak trips, right??? :cD

    ReplyDelete
  9. You made an excellent tour around the world. I have never had such a great seat for the acrobats. I do enjoy them a lot and they change acts / performers, so different things can be seen. We hope to spend a lot of time there this Winter.

    ReplyDelete
  10. We do love Epcot. Before we moved into our Airstream, we liked to stay at the Yacht Club. It's a bit quieter than Beach Club. It was fun to walk over to the park in the evening and stroll a lap around the World Showcase before walking back to the hotel and tucking ourselves in for the evening.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I don't know how one makes the decision of what to see and how long to stay in each country....it's just amazing! The topiaries are beautiful works of art - I agree Lady's ears are super cute! The drummers have to be energizing and the acrobats are certainly incredible - rubber girls indeed :-) Can't believe I almost missed this fabulous post - wonderful pics.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love it! I wonder if anyone have spent time as much as you do and really enjoyed the displays. If I were there I too would be too tired at the end of the day.
    Now I wanted to go to Epcot, the last time I was there was in 1990!
    You have captured everything that Disney has envisioned and created, and only Disney does such a fabulous job. I enjoyed this tour again and thank you for taking the time to take pictures of the topiaries and your narrations made me feel Im sitting next to you, Sherry.
    Now I wanted to go to Epcot, the last time I was there was in 1990!

    ReplyDelete
  13. You make Epcot look worth a visit, hard to say if we'll ever make the effort since we don't like crowds or the heat, but I'm tempted!

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are the best part of this blog for me.
I LOVE hearing from you!