Through Epcot to Beaches and Cream!!

Monday January 17, 2016                                                                               Most Recent Posts:
Fort Wilderness Campground                                                                          Sunday in Disney World
Walt Disney World                                                                                          The View From the River
Orlando, Florida

**warning, this is a picture intense post, get a snack.

Today is our first full day at Disney World.  Since it is Martin Luther King Monday and a holiday for most folks, we figure all the “Kingdoms” attractive to families and children will be teaming with people.  So we’ve elected to go to Epcot.  Our spot is in the 300 loop a lovely stroll down a sandy lane by the lake to the dock.  Bill and Nancy are in 1900 closer to the buses at the Outpost.  We agree that we’ll go separately in the morning and meet for lunch.
Our walk takes us to Fort Wilderness Landing and a short wait brings the boat to take us over to again pick up the Monorail.





We take the Monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center where we pick up another Monorail to Epcot.


Upon arrival at the park we head over to The Living Seas and spend the morning first on a clam shell ride with giant jellyfish.




And then seeing the acquariums some of which are large enough for rehabilitating manatee who this morning are snacking on heads of romain lettuce.


Of the smaller acquariums we see my favorites are the moray eels and the sea horses.  In this tank two spotted moray eels are swimming along the bottom.


In the tank along with the spotted eels is one very shy zebra moray eel.  We were really lucky to see her.









And of course there were many beautiful fish like ones we should have been able to see snorkeling in the Keys if we’d had decent weather for it at least once in our two months stay.   Just sayin……….


I don’t think we’d have seen any clown fish in the Keys even if the water hadn’t been turbid but they sure are cute.











Those who were following us in the Keys will remember that I saw a giant Spotted Eagle Ray fly by my kayak at Curry Hammock.  Unfortunately for one of his relatives he won’t be zooming by any kayakers but here’s a look at him in his tank.  The one I saw in the wild was at least twice this size.









Although I’m not a big fan of cell phones and would still have a hard wired phone with an answering machine so I could screen my calls if I were not full timing, they do come in handy when we want to connect up with Nancy and Bill for our trip to Beaches and Cream at Disney’s Beach Club Resort.
They find us at the Showcase Plaza and we wander around the Lagoon past Canada and the United Kingdom before our date with ice cream for lunch. It’s a bit chilly for ice cream with a high in the 50’s but we don’t care. It’s a bright blue sky day.
Notice the hill behind the parliament building in Canada?  Hawk eye Nancy spots just that sitting on top.




Bill’s just checking to see if the call is for him.



The two sherpas cross the bridge deep in conversation.




For me, Beaches and Cream is one of the highlights of our trips to Epcot.  We always come and I would for sure come more than once if we were going to be here longer.  The staff tell us that without reservations it will be a 20 minute wait.  Yes it is that popular.  We say fine, get the menu and see if we want to have something different than our usual.  Bill and David decide yes they do.  Nancy and I say “no way” we’re sticking with No Way Jose. 


When it’s our turn, we take the only 4 seats available, at the counter.



I’m surprised when David does not order the last thing on the mini menu.




Sitting at the counter enables us to watch our ice cream creations being made.  Those are two No Way Joses,  Bill’s Milky Way Sundae and David’s Old Fashioned Sundae.




Ok just bring those babies over here and the extra one too for that matter.




David’s sundae never melts.  It’s cookies and cream ice cream with peanut butter sauce rather than hot fudge.  Of course whipped cream, and toasted almonds on top.  He must have eaten the cherry before this picture was taken.





Bill has the Milky Way Sundae with three scoops of vanilla ice cream (the only ice cream flavor according to him), hot fudge, caramel and whipped cream with dark and white chocolate shavings and of course a cherry.
Nancy and I have the No Way Jose which has three scoops of ice cream, chocolate, vanilla or one of each.  It has both peanut butter and hot fudge toppings and peanut butter and chocolate morsels with whipped cream and a cherry.
David apparently doesn’t hear me tell him to look over.  Either that or he’s so into the sundae he’s paying no attention.


Yup we’re totally happy with this lunch.  Notice we also are having potatoes for some “real food”.


All too soon all the dishes are empty.  I guess  it was just so good I’m still smiling even though it’s gone.  If I could lick the glass I would.  Unlike last time, I didn’t ask David to help me with my ice cream.  I suspect that’s because last time it was the dessert for the meal. This time the ice cream is the main course.  Hope my mother isn’t watching.



But Nancy says Bill had to help her with hers.  Lucky Bill!


All over Disney World are “hidden mickeys”.  They are camouflaged images of Mickey Mouse concealed all around Disney World.  There is even a guidebook to them.  I later look at the guide and find that there are two here at Beaches and Cream.  I didn’t know that at the time and didn’t look for them.  Still I’m pretty sure these ice creams are one of the two.


Of course in Disney World Beaches and Cream looks exactly like the perfect ice cream parlor.


Outside is the pool and there are actually people swimming here (they must be visiting from Canada) and 4 life guards on duty.



The sherpas lead Nancy and I down the hall of the resort and back outside.




So what’s next we ask.  We’ve all been to Epcot before so we know what’s here and that you can do the various countries over and over again and enjoy them every time.  No one has an idea so David suggests that we visit all the outside entertainment.  He has the times guide so he is now our leader.  First we head over to see the Japanese drummers.


I love drumming and these three women are fantastic.




They bring out the BIG drum.  Notice they are playing with the heavy sticks over their heads.  My arms tire just watching.











Next door the Voices of Liberty a cappella group are starting so we grab a seat.



David and I vote this singer “best dressed”.


We really love his shoes.

All through Epcot the architecture is wonderful and specific to each country.  We’re now in Italy where we’re going to see Sbandieratori Di Sansepolcro which means The Flag Bearers.  Sansepolcro is a town in Tuscany.

Accompanied by their brass ensemble, The Flag Bearers march up to what I would call the square. except it’s round.


Their entertainment is described as “energetic choreographed flag throwing to live music”.



I’m really surprised that all the flags go up in the air and land where they are supposed to given that there is a serious pack of 20 something women who have clearly had too much to drink and are quite annoying in their “appreciation” of the men in tights.  The leader of the flag men handles it very well but the women should be embarrassed.


We pass by Germany where Bill stops to get pretzel as his dinner.   I’m going to return to Germany for a bratwurst but that will take too long now.  We want to catch the Chinese Acrobats.



A little beauty on our way.


 



We arrive in China and are only able to catch the very end of what looks like a great tumbling act.  While we wait for the next show, we go inside the Chinese pavilion and are again amazed by the Tomb Warriors.  They were created to guard the Emperor in death during the Qin Dynasty (221-210BC).  The originals are life size and because their faces are nearly all unique some archaeologists believe that they were modeled after real soldiers. 







Back outside, this time they aren’t tumbling. This acrobat is “juggling” a pottery pot on his head.  He tosses it up and catches it on his head.  He twirls it on his head.  This is a big pot.
How does he do this? 


Each time he tosses it up and it lands right back on his head even at this angle.







Then out comes little Miss Spaghetti bones. 





The audience moans ans she twists herself into these positions.


Are you kidding???





And finally we have two guys with pogo stick stilts sorts of things.  They are jumping 6 to 8 feet up in the air and doing flips and even jumping rope AND doing flips. 





From China we pass by Norway.  They are working on a new big “Frozen” exhibit.  Nancy and I want to check it out so we  go through these gorgeous doors to see what is coming up.  We both find this entry way is much more impressive than what is inside.  The detail work is just astounding.








Our last stop around the World Showcase is at Mexico where we listen to a Mariachi band.  They do traditional Mexican music and even bring up someone in the crowd to sing a Mexican Happy Birthday to her.



Love their music and the detailing on their jackets and pants.  Even their belts have the same theme.



By now David and I are hungry and so we head back toward Germany and France.  On the way Nancy and I stop in for a little dress up. 






The sky behind Epcot’s signature Spaceship Earth is aglow as the sun is setting.



For the three of us, Beaches and Cream is our favorite eatery here but for David it is the French bakery Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie.   Does he look French in the beret?


I stop back at Germany for my bratwurst and sauerkraut which I will have to say was very mediocre.  It was apparently made up ahead of time since it was barely warm.  The bun overwhelms the brat and the skimpy amount of kraut. 






That’s it for our day until on our way up to the exit Bill asks if we have ever done Mission: SPACE.  Well no we haven’t.  He insists that we must experience NASA style training with a simulated space launch to Mars.  We’re game. So in we go.



Luckily we don’t have to suit up but we are each assigned a job.  Bill is Navigator,  David is the Engineer who puts us into hypersleep, Nancy is the Pilot and they foolishly assign me to be the Commander.  What are they thinking??

So here we are, the crew ready to enter the capsule.

We do safely execute our trip to Mars and return to Earth with much laughter and sadly no weightlessness.
It’s completely dark outside when we are near enough to the Spaceship Earth for me to get this picture.  Looks great doesn’t it?








Nancy tries several times to get me to put my arm in the right position to hold it up.  She keeps saying “drop your arm”, “lower your arm”  but obviously I don’t get it.   Finally, with no success, she gives up.  David’s got his side well supported but my arm in every picture is just up in the air. Thanks for trying Nancy.  I really have to return to Epcot and try this again.  And also choose something else for dinner.  But I couldn’t have better company.


Two Monorails later we are back at the Magic Kingdom which is beautifully lit up.  We hop on the boat and in about 10 minutes are back at Fort Wilderness.  We say good-bye to Bill and Nancy.  It’s a chilly night, lows in the 30’s, and I don’t envy them their longer walk home.

We think our day of fun is over except for the nice walk back in the dark.  There is enough moonlight to see by as we walk along.  And then someone yells. 
Are you human?  
I think it’s kids playing around and don’t respond.  What a silly thing to say.  Then they yell it again so in the spirit of fun I yell back
“Yeah, how about you”.  
“Just making sure is the response”

How strange.   We walk a little further and then I tell David “Let’s step off to the side and see what’s up”.
I can hear them almost right away.  But this is the best picture I can get. 


When we cross the bridge, I use the flash which I’m sure is not appreciated by the folks in the back seat of the carriage.

Apparently our shadows or something spooked the horse and my voice and then when we stopped walking calmed him down.

I’m able to get this picture of Winnona and Ruby as the carriage turns right to continue on and we head inside to sleep.
What a fun ending to a wonderful day with great friends.

It’s the MAGIC KINGDOM tomorrow!  
Here we come Mickey!