The pavilions at the World Showcase in Epcot are a wonderful place to explore. I love immersing myself in a country without having to buy a plane ticket. My favorite pavilion is Morocco. This is a country I hope to someday see in person but until then I love exploring the shops and admiring the tile work around the buildings. I also love the food and I am excited to hear that a new restaurant is coming to the lagoon in front of the Morocco Pavilion.
The current restaurant in the Morocco Pavilion, Restaurant Marrakesh, is a wonderful restaurant filled with great flavors, but it is table service and when you are in the restaurant you can’t see any of the pavilion. The new restaurant, Spice Road Table, will have lots of outdoor seating, perfect for enjoying the flavors of Morocco while you watch IllumiNations. I love that they are providing more seating for this wonderful show. I often skip it because I can’t find a good place to wait for and watch the display. I look forward to enjoying great food and a great evening extravaganza. Happiness squared.
Goofy Tip: A cool souvenir to buy in the Morocco Pavilion is a necklace that has your name written on the shell in Arabic. However, if you don’t want the necklace you can ask one of the Cast Members in the pavilion, who are all from Morocco, to write your name in Arabic in your autograph book. It is beautiful to see and a great free keepsake. Maybe while you are waiting you could ask them what their favorite Moroccan food is. Then you could try it at the Spice Road Table when it opens.
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Everyone loves the Food and Wine Festival
No one who knows me would say I am an adult. Well, I guess I am an adult because of my age, but I am definitely not grown-up. So how can I write a series on adult things to do in the Disney parks? I know a lot of adults and if I was visiting the parks with them I would recommend these ideas. The fun part is that the five ideas I have listed work for both grown-ups and those of us who never grew up. My short list works for those adults who don’t want anything Mickey Mouse. Why would they go to a Disney park, you ask? Because the parks are for everyone. Today we’ll visit Epcot at Walt Disney World.
Epcot may be the most adult park at Walt Disney World and I don’t mean that as a bad thing. Epcot is awesome, but there are lots of attractions that would not be interesting to children. However, teenagers and adults can find lots of fantastic rides and restaurants to try out. I admit that my favorite attraction is Ellen’s Energy Adventure (which seems to be closed a lot) and it is not a very grown-up ride. However, for grown-ups there is a day’s worth of fun. The five ideas I have listed below barely scratch the surface.
5 fun activities that adults can enjoy at Epcot:
1) Don’t miss the pavilion that most matches your interest. Do you like outer space, or fast cars, or undersea animals? There is a pavilion for each of these interests. I do recommend visiting every pavilion, but if you are short on time pick the attraction that interests you the most.
2) Take lots of time to explore the World Showcase. World Showcase does not open until 11 a.m. so you can either sleep in and then explore this area or spend time in the Future World part of Epcot since it opens earlier. My family always visits Epcot over two days. We spend one day in Future World and one day in the World Showcase. There is much to see if you enter the pavilions and explore them indepth. Each country has created a wonderful world filled with great food, intriguing performances, and exhibits filled with cultural treasures.
3) Stop at the Club Cool. This is a fun place to stop as you leave Future World and head for the World Showcase, especially on hot days. You can try out different Coke products from around the world for free. They are not all tasty, but they are all worth a taste.
4) Enjoy a French pastry at Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie. This eatery as been expanded and I can attest that the pastries are amazing. It is a great way to get the taste and flavor of Paris without needing a passport.
5) Visit Epcot during the International Food and Wine Festival. Each fall the World Showcase becomes a smorgasbord of international cuisine and fine wines. You can buy a wrist card and try out snacks from around the world. This is a very popular event and I would suggest visiting during the week when the crowds are less dense.
I know lots of adults who’s favorite park is Epcot. If you are looking for a park to take an all adult group to I would visit Epcot first. All five senses will be impressed in this community of tomorrow and showcase of the world. Happiness squared.
Goofy Tip: If you are looking for a great place to eat exit the World Showcase at the International Gateway and either walk or take the boat to the BoardWalk. This river front area has delicious high-end restaurants, unique shops, and lively entertainment. It is a relaxing place to spend a balmy evening. You’ll feel like you entered another world.
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Today we observe Memorial Day by taking a day off from work (for some of us), shopping sales at the mall, and enjoying the start of summer (it’s raining at my house so I can’t say summer is off to a great start, but, oh well.) I think these are all good things to do. Life is busy and it’s nice to have some time off.
Along with enjoying the day off I hope we all take some time to remember the people who came before us and made it possible for us to have a day off. You may have known someone personally or it may just be a concept, but everyone can be thankful to the men and women who fought so we can be free.
I will be remembering my good friend, John Siler, who died on May 25 of this year. He was a World War II veteran involved in some of the worst battles in the Pacific. I’m grateful that he fought and I am grateful that he lived and I am grateful that I got to be his friend until the end. He will be missed by many.
So celebrate freedom today and remember those who died so you can celebrate. If we only do this one day a year it is a good start. I plan to remember John every day. Happiness squared.
Goofy Quote: Walt Disney believed in the following statement and that is why he brought happiness to so many people. I hope A Goofy Idea does the same thing. This quote is said during the American Adventure at Epcot. If you have not had a chance to see this 30 minute show you should plan to. It is a great way to remember the people and the history, good and bad, that made this country what it is today…a country I am proud to call home.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. – Declaration of Independence
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Image from www.spoonful.com
A mother loves anything she gets from her children or grandchildren because she is a mother, so why not have some fun when picking out her gift. A homemade frame, a lovely dessert, or a photo card are all great ways to say “I love you.” Add a dash of Disney whimsy and a nice gift becomes a present sure to make your mom smile.
There are so many fun Mother’s Day ideas from spoonful.com that they put out two articles. If you are looking for cards, crafts and other fun printables click here. I gave my mom a Sleeping Beauty card that colored myself (I love to color). She loved it and showed everyone the unique card she received.
If you are looking for a fun recipe or craft idea then click here for some tasty gifts. I love the Mommyland coupon book, frames that hold a special photo, and the strawberry rosebuds. Why not give your mom all three.
The nice part about these ideas is that a lot of them can be used for a birthday or just because. I’m sure Mom would appreciate a special gift any time of the year. Happiness squared.
Goofy Tip: You are going to be at Walt Disney World with your Mom on Mother’s Day and you want to do something magical for her then contact Disney Floral and Gifts. They have several Mother’s Day packages guaranteed to make your mom feel like a queen for a day. Check out the Disney Parks Blog for examples.
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An Epcot Puzzle
by Jennifer Vandenberg
Part 5
“One little spark,” Misty sang. “So we just have to find someone who is a spark or is named spark or something like that,” Jim said. “On the ride?” Grammy asked. “No, Grammy,” Gus said, turning back around. “After the ride.” The ride ended and everyone was humming the song. The entered ImageWorks and the adults started playing with the computers. The kids decided to split up to see if they could find a spark but ended up sending e-mails to their friends with funny pictures of themselves. They got so into the games that they forgot to look for someone with spark. After playing all the games everyone checked out the gift shop. Gus wanted something with Figment on it and decided to get an oversized mug that he could keep stuff in. He went up to the register and the Cast Member who rang him up was really bubbly. She treated him like he was a VIP. “You must really like your job,” Gus said as she handed him his bag. “Why thank you, I do. Everyone says I have lots of spark because of my name.” Gus was about to walk away, but paused. “What is your name?” She pointed at her badge. “Katie Flash.” Gus turned and waved Misty and Jim over. “So flash is like a spark.” “Sure.” She shrugged. “I mean it’s not exact. Figment is not going to sing ‘One Little Flash’.” “No. But they are still similar.” Jim and Misty joined him and they agreed that flash was a lot like spark. “Well there is one way to find out,” Jim said. He turned to Katie. “I’m Jim Basset and this is Gus and Misty. We were wondering if you were the spark we were supposed to find to get the secret.” Katie’s smile got even brighter. “Well I guess I am. Congratulations on solving the riddle. I have something for each of you.” “Another envelope?” Misty asked. “No sweetie,” Katie reassured her. “This secret doesn’t fit in an envelope.” She brought out three rolled up papers, each tied with a ribbon. With great flourish she handed a scroll to each of them. On the knot of each Ribbon was pin. “These pins are very rare. Only a few were made. I wouldn’t trade them if I were you.” The pins had Figment on them but they looked old. The kids took the ribbons off the paper and unrolled the scrolls. They each held a certificate with their name on it that declared them Super Secret Solvers. After thanking Katie they ran over to their parents and showed them the scrolls. “Aren’t these great,” Gus said as he showed the pin to Grammy. “They don’t look like the new Figment.” “Maybe they are a figment of your imagination,” Grammy said. Jim touched the point. “Nope, they’re real.” “Well you did a good job finding them. Those clues were tricky,” Dad said. “Did you make it up for us?” Gus asked. “I never saw these pins before in my life,” Grandpa said. Jim looked at Gus and Misty and shrugged. “Well, whoever did this; it was cool.” “Yeah. A lot of fun,” Misty said. “The best,” Gus said. “Is it lunch time yet?” Grammy asked. “How about Mexican food?” Mom asked. “Yum!” Misty said with a bounce. And with that the Basset family headed off to their next adventure at the World Showcase.To be continued…
Thanks for joining me and the Basset family on this adventure. I hope you enjoyed the story. I think it would be fun to do something like this with your family. All it takes is imagination. Happiness squared.
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An Epcot Puzzle
by Jennifer Vandenberg
Part 4
“Grammy, can you read this for me?” Misty asked. “Sure, honey pie, but you can read.” “I’d like you to read it. I need to hear it again.” Grammy read it slowly and Misty nodded. “I think I know the answer. It fits all three parts.” “How did you find it?” Grammy asked. “A Cast Member was talking to a guest. He said that an imagineer used his imagination to solve a problem and find the answer.” She pointed at the note. “That’s two of the clues. Plus, if Soarin’ is as good as it looks there will be lots of frowns turned upside down. Grammy looked at the note again. “It also says that you can find it with your feet on the ground. I guess that means you were meant to find the answer.” “I wish the ride would end. I want to tell Jim and Gus the answer.” Soon Gus, Jim, and the others came down the exit. Grammy asked them how the ride was. “It was awesome,” Jim said. “It was like being on a hang glider and flying over California.” “At one point you were on top of a snow-covered mountain and then you were at the ocean,” Gus gushed. “The aircraft carrier was the coolest,” Grandpa said. “I liked Disneyland at the end,” Mom said. “The fly fishing was neat, too,” Dad said. “But we didn’t find the answer to the note,” Jim said. Gus shook his head. “The show has no words.” “I found the answer,” Misty said. Everyone looked at her. “You did?” Jim asked. “Yep. I kept my feet on the ground and learned that imagination solved the problem of Soarin’ and helped the imagineers see the answer.” Jim read over the note. “She’s right. It answers all the clues.” “And once again it tells us where to go,” Gus said. “Good job,” Grandpa said. Everyone agreed. “So, where to next?” Dad asked. “Imagination!” Misty, Gus, and Jim replied. They spun through the gift shop again and bought some postcards before heading to the next pavilion. Imagination! had cool water features outside. The leap frog drops appeared to hop from pad to pad. The waterfall ran uphill which Gus thought was rather ingenious. Figment was standing by the door so they waited in line and got a picture of the kids with the crazy purple creature. Gus said he wanted to get a Figment item at the store. They finally went in but didn’t know what to do first. Jim thought that if they waited someone might hand them an envelope, but Dad nixed that idea. “That hasn’t happened before so it probably won’t happen now. Let’s just continue our day and let the envelopes come as they may. “Besides,” Mom said. “I want to go see Captain EO. I haven’t seen it since I was a teenager.” “You were a teenager?” Jim teased. Mom smiled. “You bet. And I went to Disneyland all the time. Captain EO was one of my favorite attractions.” “Well, let’s go see if Michael can still howl like he used to,” Grammy said. Everyone groaned. The Captain EO ride was in 3D which the kids loved. Misty especially liked the furry sidekick that flew into the audience. Leaving the auditorium they headed straight for Journey Into Imagination with Figment. Gus was excited to see Figment again. They were almost to the point where they could get on their buggies when the Cast Member who had asked them how many were in their party turned back to them and asked if one of them was Jim Basset. Jim said he was and she smiled and handed him an envelope. He thanked her, but didn’t have time to open it until they climbed into the cars; Misty and Gus in front, Jim and Grammy in back. The kids were so excited that they hardly watched the show. Instead they turned around and urged Jim to open the envelope. He pulled out the paper and read the ornate script. It was harder to read because it wasn’t in block letters and the buggy was swinging around. “Imagination brought you here, riding on a song. Find someone who shares that song, and the secret will be revealed.” “Well the song part shouldn’t be hard. We’ve been hearing it for the last ten minutes,” Gus said as the cars traveled through Figment’s imagination.Which song holds the answer? Find our in part 5 of An Epcot Puzzle.
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An Epcot Puzzle
by Jennifer Vandenberg
Part 3
“Excuse me. Are you Misty Basset?” Misty looked up at the Cast Member standing before her and nodded. He smiled. “Welcome to The Land. I hear you are good at finding clues.” “I am.” Gus and Jim joined her. “We all are.” “Well, I’m glad to hear it. Not just anyone can solve this secret.” He handed Misty an envelope similar to the last one. The last one was red and this one was blue with their names written on it. Misty took it and smiled big. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome. Keep smiling. You never know what will happen.” “I will.” She turned to Gus and Jim and showed them the envelope. “Well, don’t just stand there. Open it,” Jim said. Misty carefully removed the sticker from the back. This one had Simba on it. She took out a piece of paper and held it out to Jim. “Read what it says.” “This will solve any problem and turn any frown upside down. Whether you soar through the air or keep your feet on the ground you’ll find this in use whenever you see an answer.” Misty asked him to read it again and he did. “Well, that’s confusing.” “I agree,” Gus said. “What can turn a frown upside down?” “What are you asking?” Dad said as he joined them with the Fastpass tickets. “We got another secret message,” Misty said. She shook her head. “But we don’t understand it.” “We know that an upside-down frown is a smile, but what makes a smile?” Gus asked. “Laughing makes me smile,” Grandpa said. Jim read the note again. “No. That works for one clue, but laughter doesn’t solve problems or help see an answer.” “Maybe the answer is on a ride,” Dad said. “Like in Turtle Talk with Crush.” Mom and Grammy joined them then. They looked at the letter and agreed they didn’t have an answer although Grammy said that grandkids turn her frown upside down. Misty shook her head. “I don’t think that’s the answer, Grammy.” They flipped a coin and went on the boat ride, Living on the Land, first. Misty thought the gigantic squash were cool. Gus liked the hydroponics and Jim liked the fish ponds. They then watched the Circle of Life which was a movie about caring for the earth starring the characters from the Lion King. Everyone agreed it was sad and funny. Since they still had a half hour until their Fastpass time arrived they headed for Sunshine Seasons and had a mid-morning snack. After enjoying muffins, juice, and coffee it was finally time to go on Soarin’. Misty tried not to be unhappy as she stood aside with Grammy, but it was hard. Jim gave her the note to make her feel better, but she still wished she could go. “Let’s go over to the exit and wait for them there,” Grammy said. Misty nodded. They went over to the hallway and stood off to the side. Misty was bored and decided to wander around. She promised Grammy she would stay in view. By the entrance to Soarin’ a Cast Member was talking to a Guest. It was the same Cast Member who had given her the note. She wandered over and heard him telling the Guest a story about Soarin’. “This ride wouldn’t even exist if not for imagination. They were having problems designing it so an imagineer went home and pulled out his old erector set. Using his imagination he built a movable model very similar to what Soarin’ looks like today. Instead of having to explain what happens on Soarin’ he just brought in his toy and showed everyone. His imagination solved the problem and showed him the answer.” The guest nodded and got in line for Soarin’. Misty slowly walked back to Grammy. She looked down at the note in her hand. She could read a little, but some of the words were big.Did Misty find the answer? Find out in part 4 of An Epcot Puzzle!
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An Epcot Puzzle
by Jennifer Vandenberg
Part 2
The kids looked excited; perhaps they would find the secret after all. “Who says, ‘Dude’, Grammy?” Misty asked. “The boy on Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. It was on TV just the other night. It’s before your time, but I’m quite sure they said ‘Dude’ all the time.” Grandpa nodded in agreement, but Jim just shook his head. “Grammy, we’ve seen that movie. I don’t think Bill or Ted lived in the ocean. The note says this one does.” Grammy shrugged. “Made sense to me.” Misty hugged Grammy. “Don’t worry. The lady said that wrong questions lead to right questions.” Jim nodded. “She did say that. Good memory.” “You’re a bright one all right, but then Bassets always are,” Grandpa said. “Maybe we should look around and that will lead us to the right question,” Jim said. The others agreed so they started looking at the signs and the tanks to see what lived in the ocean and talked. Suddenly a voice filled the room. “Turtle Talk with Crush will be starting in five minutes. Please gather at the door to interact with Crush and ask him questions.” Gus turned to his parents. “That’s what I’ve been waiting for. I have no idea how they make Crush talk, but it is so cool.” Jim nudged Gus. “Gus, you goof. You knew the answer all along.” Gus shrugged. “What answer?” “A creature that lives in the sea and talks.” Gus looked blank for a moment and then grinned. “Oh. I forgot. Even the ‘Dude’ was a hint. How silly.” Misty bounced up and down. “Let’s go ask Crush what his favorite pastime is.” “It’s probably eating fish,” Mom said. “I hope not,” Jim said. “I like to look at fish, not eat them.” They hurried over to the door and when it opened they found an empty row that put them right on the aisle. Since it was Gus’s favorite attraction he was going to ask Crush the question. Misty wanted to ask, but settled for sitting on the floor with the other kids. The show started and everyone was amazed with Crush. The Aussie turtle swam on screen and talked to the audience. This was not a prerecorded show. Crush described kids in the audience and repeated Misty’s squeal when he pointed to her and asked what was on her head. Apparently he had never seen curly hair before. After a while he asked if any of the humans had questions for him. Gus raised his hand. A Cast Member came over with the microphone. “Hi, Crush. I’m Gus Basset. I want to know what your favorite pastime is.” “Well, hi there little dude Gus. I guess my favorite pastime is hanging with my little dude Squirt and soarin’ through the waves. Yeah. Soarin’. You’ve all seen birds soarin’ in the air, right? Well, us turtles can soar through the water just the same way. And when we hit the East Alstralian Current we really get some speed.” Crush moved on to other questions and soon the show was over. The Bassets exited the theater and the three kids turned to their parents. “Soarin’!” They said at the same time. “What about it?” Dad asked. “That is the answer,” Jim said. “Gus asked the right question and the answer is we need to go on Soarin’.” “I want to go on Soarin’,” Misty said. “You and I are going to do other things while the boys are on that ride, Sweetie,” Grammy said. Misty’s face fell. “That’s right. I’m too short.” “Don’t sweat it,” Jim said. “We’ll tell you what we learn.” “Sure,” Misty said. She wished she was taller, but her parents had explained the height problem before they arrived. Since Grammy Sammy got motion sickness she didn’t want to go on those rides anyway so she was more than willing to stay with her favorite granddaughter. They left The Seas and headed over to The Land. It was a very colorful building. Gus and Jim headed right to Soarin’ but there was a forty minute wait. “Gosh, that’s a long time,” Gus said. “Let’s get Fastpasses and come back. We can see the rest of this pavilion and then ride Soarin’, Dad suggested. “I wanted to know what we would find since this is where Crush sent us,” Gus said. “Well, who knows what will be discovered. We have all day to explore,” Mom said. Dad took their park cards up to the Fastpass machine. Grammy and Mom headed to the gift store. Gus and Jim were discussing whether to ride the Living with the Land greenhouse boat tour or see Timon and Pumba in The Circle of Life. Misty didn’t say anything. She was still wishing she was taller.Will Jim and Gus discover the secret on Soarin’?
Will there be more envelopes?
Find out in Part 3 of An Epcot Puzzle!
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Indigo is often the forgotten color of the rainbow. It is just easier to say green, blue, purple. But the blue is lighter and the indigo is truly different. I think Mulan is similar to indigo. It is a truly different Disney princess movie. Don’t get me wrong, I love this movie, but Mulan is not really a princess, and she fights like a man. That makes this movie unique. But the ending scene with the Emperor is one of my favorite scenes ever.
5 fun facts about Mulan:
1) This was the first full-length animated film completed produced at the Florida Disney studio.
2) Pat Morita (Mr. Miyagi from the Karate Kid) was the voice of the Emperor.
3) Mulan was the first Disney animated movie to deal with warfare.
4) Mulan was the first Asian Disney princess.
5) It took 700 people to bring this film to the public.
The one constant in Mulan’s life is change. Decisions are made and then things happen and those decisions don’t work out. This happens time and time again, but Mulan never loses her strong spirit. We all have to deal with change and I think Mulan is a great princess to study.
5 ways to learn to deal with change from Mulan:
1) Embrace change. When change happens that is out of your control you can react in many different ways. Anger or dispair is okay for a little while, but the change is probably not going away. If you can find a way to embrace change and find the good in it than it makes dealing with the change much easier.
2) Change your attitude. Is the glass half full or half empty. Change happens all the time. Whether it is good or not depends on your point of view. Consider if you would deal with the change better if your viewpoint changed.
3) Go looking for change. The only thing constant is change. If that is true than change is always on your doorstep. Instead of waiting for it to knock why not go looking for it. That way you have more control over how the change affects you.
4) Get advice. Some change, like job changes or health issues, are too big to handle by yourself. Find someone you can talk to you can help you deal with the change. You don’t have to go it alone.
5) Find the happy ending. Not all change is bad, even if it looks like it at the time. If you look closely you may see that the change is actually changing your life for the good. One of my favorite lines from a song says, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
Most people shy away from change, but it is happening every day whether we want it to or not. Why not use these ideas to make positive change in your life. Everyone deserves a happy ending. Happiness squared.
Goofy Tip: Would you like to meet Mulan? She can be found at the China Pavilion in Epcot. Mushu, her wise-cracking dragon, is sometimes there, too.
For great tips that you can take with you on your tablet or smart phone download the Kindle app and buy a copy of Goofy Tips for a Happy Disney Vacation
Image from www.disneyparksblog.com
Beet Lollipop. Ratatouille Tarte with Goat Cheese. Baked Goat’s Brie with Kumquat Chutney. Would you eat these items? Do you think a kid would want to eat these items? Disney thinks they will. More importantly, Disney wants to encourage kids to try new foods at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival by making them look fun and taste great. The program is called TRYit and is part of the Magic of Healthy Living initiative.
I rarely got the chance to try anything really exotic when I was growing up; I mostly ate American and Mexican food. But in high school we had international food fairs and I learned that I loved to try new foods. I hope this Disney program is a success and expands outside of the festival. A great way to connect with other cultures is through food.
It’s great that Disney is trying to get kids to eat new foods, but this program will only work if parents like to try new foods, too. What was your reaction to the foods I listed at the start of this post? Were you interested or grossed out? Kids will eat what they see adults eat and this openness starts at home. Why not follow Disney’s example and eat new foods in your house? There are tons of online recipes or you could go out to a new restaurant.
If I was going to make an exotic recommendation that appeals to kids, I’d recommend food from the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Flat breads are fun to eat and there are lots of great dipping sauces that can be tried. What child does not like kabobs? Kabobs are a great way to try something new. All food is fun when it’s on a stick. So TRYit when you visit the Disney parks and TRYit at your own home. Happiness squared.
Goofy Trivia: Have you ever met PUSH? This fun, talking, robotic trashcan was introduced to Tomorrowland on February 18, 1995. In honor of his birthday Disney is selling an IPhone 5 cover that looks like PUSH. I would laugh every time I picked up my phone.
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