Epcot Festival of the Arts

 

Hello Lovely Readers,

This year, the festival is from January 17th to February 24th

It's pretty cool, lots of photo ops, where you become part of the painting, festival booths with colorful food, and Disney on Broadway concert series

"Teatime with Penguins" 

"Washington Crossing the Delaware"

by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze

"Mona Lisa"

by Leonardo da Vinci

"The Scream"

by Edvard Munch

Each festival has a passport, and this one is interactive with puzzle pages, a Figment flipbook

They also had a display of props from Disney on Broadway shows. I've personally only seen Beauty & the Beast and The Lion King, both in Los Angeles 

 

Unfortunately, the day I went it poured on and of while I was there, and on my drive to and from the parks. Plus, during the concert 

The colorful food

Pop Eats!

Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese

The Craftsman's Courtyatd

Beef Wellington-inspired Croissant Supreme

with creamed spinach croissant pinwheel, mushroom-gorgonzola rag out, mustard-grilled flank steak, red wine sauce and pickled mustard seeds

L'Arte di Mangiare

Italy

Tricolor

cheese-filled ravioloni, pomodoro, cream, and pesto sauces

The Artist's Table

The American Adventure

Hummingbird Cake

banana and pecan cake dipped in cream cheese icing with caramel sauce and warm pineapple compote

Opening Bites

Enchanted Rose

milk chocolate rose with raspberry and rose center

Some festival only magic shots 

Because of the rain, I wasn't able to participate in the mural painting, nor see the chalk paintings...there's always next year

Until next time

Magic Kingdom

Hello Lovely Readers,

I have been really enjoying having a Disney annual pass. I've been to Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and briefly Hollywood Studios, but this week I finally made it to the Magic Kingdom for the very first time!

This was also my first solo outing to Walt Disney World. 

I was there for about 10 hours and for a day in June, I went on most of the rides that have a counterpart in California

Unfortunately, I shattered my phone, so I only have photopass photos of the day.

Comparing Walt Disney World to Disneyland 

• It's a Small World
• The line is completely inside at WDW

• Pirate's of the Caribbean 
• You don't go through the bayou 
• There's only one drop
• It's shorter

• The Haunted Mansion 
• It's a completely different house
• The stretching room rises
• Madame Leota is on the ride
• WDW does have some added elements
• Peter Pan's Flight 
• Basically the same

• Space Mountain
• You sit tandem not side by side
• A two track ride

• The castle 
• Sleeping Beauty vs. Cinderella 
• WDW's is impressive 

Most of the tides at WDW have indoor lines

I didn't go on the Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder & Splash Mountain is in the process of being converted to Tiana's Bayou

WDW has a Snow White Roller Coaster, Little Mermaid Ride & Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse

Although, I miss Mr. Toads, Casey Jr., Storybook Land Canal Books & Toon Town

Some rides/lands are in the other parks so there really isn't a true comparison because you have to go to Hollywood Studios for Galaxy's Edge & Animal Kingdom for their mountain roller coaster, and the ride that's similar to Indiana Jones.

I had a coconut dole whip  mini corn dogs with plastic cheese & fries 

There's a cool Tangled photo op that's only available at night

And the Beast's Castle

All in all, a pretty magical solo trip to the Magic Kingdom

Epcot Flower & Garden

 

Hello Lovely Readers,

Wow! This is my first Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot. The park is very spring like and beautiful! 

There are flowers and topiaries all over the park. Some of my favorites from my visits on May 6 & May 21

Thumper 

Bambi

Pumbaa & Timon

Lady & the Tramp

Beauty & the Beast

Cogsworth & Luminere

Pluto

Peter Pan & Captain Hook

The Croc

Anna & Elsa

Snow White & Dopey

Six Dwarves

Silly me, I forgot to take pics of the festival foods I ate, or the reward I earned

Next year, I'll be better 😊

Walt Disney World Annual Passholder

Hi, lovely readers

This native California Girl, that has only lived in California until four months ago, is a Disney Passholder for the very first time...in Florida. 

When I was younger & single I would go all the time. The discounts were very generous for Southern California residents. Once California Adventure came into play, the prices got crazy, and I couldn't justify the price especially when I became we, a party of three. 

I'm older & single now,, plus I'm living with people  that have passes, so I broke down and bought one. Of course I also have a photo pass because, why not? 

It takes about two and a half hours to get there so not a quick day trip, but the parking is free & I have my MagicBand so we'll see... 

My first use was at Epcot for their International Flower & Garden Festival.  The park was gorgeous with all the floral displays and topiaries of several my favorite movies/ characters. Check out the recap.

It also coincided with their V.I.Passholder Days where we each picked up a free button and Stitch magnet. There was also an exclusive lounge inside the Moroccan Pavillion where I met Genie.

The festival ends at the end of the month so I'll try and make it back since we didn't see everything and I didn't complete my passport for a free treat.

I downloaded the app the day before so I didn’t know a whole lot, especially Magic Shots

They're too cute!

The Everglades

Spring Break Fun in the Everglades 🐊🐍🌿🚤

My son is only un Florida for a week, and the Everglades are just 3 hours away, so we had to make time to go during the dry season

We visited Shark Valley. We got a bit of a late start so we were in line for over an hour, then we drove a few miles east of that & took an airboat ride

There's a gator among the lily pads, and our first sighting 

Yes, we were that close, and no there wasn't a fence

This one kinda scared us

On an airboat 

Just basking in the sun

Alligator sightings while gliding through the grass

A fun day with my favorite person learning about my adopted state's infamous wildlife.