Tag Archives: World Showcase

Epcot Passport

Epcot is sometimes known as the Disney park that doesn’t have a lot to offer kids, but I couldn’t disagree more! In addition to the popular rides, Future World has Innoventions, which is a fun interactive play area that can keep kids entertained for a few hours!

One well known activity for kids in the World Showcase is the Kidcot stops, where kids can color a character on a wooden stick (Duffy Bear or Agent P) and then take their character to each country and get a stamp, along with a special hand-drawn symbol representing that country.

Kidcot Fun Stop at Epcot

Kidcot Fun Stop at Epcot

Agent P Epcot

Agent P Epcot

It’s fun for younger kids, but not always exciting enough to keep an older kid’s attention.  However, on our last trip, we stumbled upon a new fun way for kids to explore the World Showcase – the Epcot Passport.  For around $10, the stores sell an authentic-looking passport that comes with stickers that look like stamps – including the flag of each country and a few of the sights from each country of the World Showcase.

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Holidays Around the World at Epcot

One of my favorite Christmas holiday features at Disney World is the ‘Holidays Around the World’ at the World Showcase in Epcot.  I didn’t expect it when we went during Christmastime so it was quite an exciting surprise.  In college I majored in International Business and French, so I’ve always had an interest in other cultures and I think that is probably why Epcot is my favorite park (along with the food and drinks!)  So when I saw that each pavilion in the World Showcase had a short performance about that country’s holiday traditions, I wanted to see them all!  Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to the performance in every country because of the scheduling, but the ones we saw were perfect for getting in the Christmas spirit!  For a listing of the different holidays-around-the-world events, check out Disney’s website here.

In Germany, Helga tells a Christmas story about her first nutcracker, which *spoiler alert* comes to life during the show!

Holiday story with Helga in Germany pavilion at Epcot

Holiday story with Helga in Germany pavilion at Epcot

Holiday story with Helga in Germany pavilion at Epcot

Holiday story with Helga in Germany pavilion at Epcot

In Norway, there was a completely amazing performance that we came back to see a second time!  It’s the story of Sigrid and the Mischievous Christmas Gnome, Julenissen.
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Picture Gallery of Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival

I’ll admit it – I don’t have a green thumb.  I see my neighbors every weekend diligently pruning bushes, planting flowers, pulling weeds, but it seems like such an unforgiving hobby.  All you need is a bad storm, a local bunny or even the neighborhood kids to rip through and ruin hours of tedious labor!  My husband does 100% of the yard work at our house and for that I am so thankful!  Otherwise we’d be living in mile-high grass and the only flowers we’d have are the ones no gardener wants to see – dandelions!

I like enjoying the view of a beautiful landscape, I just don’t like doing the work.  And after seeing how much work goes into a small yard with modest landscaping, I can’t begin to imagine the hours that go into the amazing displays of horticulture at Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival – not to mention the sheer volume of plant life needed to pull off this magnificent display!

The event is sponsored by HGTV and it turns both Future World and the World Showcase into an amazing wonderland of perfectly manicured flowers, topiaries and Disney characters made from plants.  For those who love HGTV, the weekends have special events where personalities from HGTV and DIY have demos in the dome that’s in Future World over towards Ellen’s Energy Adventure.

Epcot Flower and Garden Sign

Epcot Flower and Garden Sign

Here are some of the HGTV celebrities who were there for the 2012 show.

HGTV Personalities at Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival 2012

HGTV Personalities at Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival 2012

The flowers throughout the park were amazing, with floating bouquets on the lake area by the Odyssey Center where you cross between Future World and the World Showcase.

Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival

Floating Flowers at Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival

But the most amazing part was the characters.  It was really incredible to look up close and see how the different colors were incorporated and everything was done with such precision – it was hard to believe that these were live plants!  To make it fun and engaging, there was a scavenger hunt throughout the park to locate all the different topiaries.

Epcot's Topiary Scavenger Hunt

Epcot’s Topiary Scavenger Hunt

I think we found most everything on the scavenger hunt – we may have missed a few photos, but not many!

Mickey & Minnie Topiary

Mickey & Minnie Topiary

Aurora & Prince Phillip

Aurora & Prince Phillip

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast

Cinderella & Prince Charming

Cinderella & Prince Charming

Snow White

Snow White

Fantasia Ostrich

Fantasia Ostrich

Pluto

Pluto

Daisy Duck

Daisy Duck

Lady & the Tramp

Lady & the Tramp

Woody

Woody

Magician Mickey

Magician Mickey

I have yet to see any garden outside the Disney bubble that matches the perfection of the Flower and Garden Festival in terms of amazing arrangements.  It’s definitely a must-see for everyone, whether you are an avid gardener or just the owner of a chia pet – prepare to be amazed!

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Epcot’s Keep Moving Forward Segway Tour

Holidays at Disney (Scary – and I’m not talking Halloween!)

No Passport Required!

I’ve always had an interest in world cultures.  I got my degree in International Business and French so I have a natural curiosity about how people in other countries live.  Maybe that’s one of the reasons Epcot is my very favorite of all the Disney parks.  The park is divided in a front and back half, more like a figure eight, with Future World in the front and the World Showcase in the back, made up of 11 different countries.  Walking through the World Showcase is like taking a whirlwind trip around the world, learning about the culture, meeting the people (all the Cast Members in the World Showcase countries are native to that country), and most importantly eating the food!!  With all the options (there are tons) I thought I’d share my ideal 3 course meal in Epcot.

Appetizer – Mexico

The Sopa Azteca at the San Angel Inn: this tortilla soup is served in a carafe along with a bowl full of avocado, cheese and tortilla strips. When you pour the piping hot soup over the ingredients they melt together into an unbelievably delicious sopa!

Main Entrée – Germany

The buffet dinner at the Biergarten Restaurant is one time when I wish I could put away a few platefuls of food in one sitting.  The schnitzel, mac and cheese, brats, German potato salad, sauerkraut, soft pretzels – there’s not a bad choice on this buffet!

Biergarten Buffet

Biergarten Buffet

Dessert – France

It’s not on the main walking path, which is probably why we missed going here until our most recent trip, but Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie is a hidden gem in the back of the France pavilion.  The crème brûlée is the perfect way to end the evening.  My husband and I made the mistake of thinking we’d share one – which ended with both of us stuffing our faces so we didn’t miss any.  How very French and sophisticated!

After dinner drink – Canada

If you’re going to dine at the expensive Canadian restaurant Le Cellier, you might as well go all out!  We ordered ice wine to finish off our fantastic steak dinners and it hit the spot!

Le Cellier Ice Wine

Le Cellier Ice Wine

This is just the tip of the iceberg – I can’t wait to discuss in more detail all the other delicious dining options in Epcot!

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A Typical Day at Epcot

Back From Disney!

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