Epcot - More Food and Fun Than You Can Shake A Stick At

I think it probably goes without saying that the World Showcase at Disney's EPCOT Center is my most favorite part of the Disney experience. With places like Mexico, China, Morocco, and even Canada there's so much to do and see there that it really deserves a two day stint. One day for the World Showcase and another day for Futureworld located at the front of the park.

According to Josh's research, Walt Disney's father was a construction worker for the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 and so that was Disney's inspiration for this park. In fact, Disney wanted EPCOT (which is actually an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) to be the main point of entry for Disney World as a whole. It was the board of directors who decided that Magic Kingdom should hold that title. In the end though, Disney's dream of a perfect "city" came true and 18 years after debuting four pavillions at the New York World's Fair in 1964, EPCOT opened to the public. Even though the EPCOT that opened was a slightly revised one of Walt's original plan, the basic premise of a World's Fair is still there and, boy, does it show! There is everything imaginable here.

Futureworld has a couple of great rides like Test Track and Soarin. For the kids there is Under the Sea with Nemo and Friends, Turtle Talk with Crush, and the 3-D movie Honey, I Shrank the Audience. You can also tool around the Innoventions, Imagination!, and Imageworks Pavillions for some hands on fun and glimpses into the future.

Even though the World Pavillion is a bit of an exercise in stereotypes it gets the point across and I was actually quite amazed at the authenticity of the architecture of each country. The replica of China's Temple of Heaven was actually really good. Even the restaurant in the Mexico showcase had real deal Mexican food complete with mole (pronounced mol-ay) sauce. I dont think there was one taco to be found on the menu! My favorite showcase is France and I especially loved the 360* movie Portraits of France (though admittedly because of the GORGEOUS music they used for it).

All in all, there is a good time to be had by all at EPCOT. As I said before, a good two full days is needed to enjoy everything so be sure to plan your time wisely. Oh, and be sure to plan ahead to eat at one of the world showcase restaurants so you can enjoy all the glorious yummy ethnic food. MMMMMM so good.

We're back!

Whew, Disney does take it out of you which is why I didnt post after that first day. Every day after that we were up early and back late and I just didnt have posting in me. So where did I leave off? Ahh yes, dork paradise!

There's few things in this world that make me literally squeal with girlish glee. One of them is Hostess Sno-Balls. Another is anything with star in the title. Ever since I saw haley's comet growing up...oh and that movie classic Space Camp...I've loved space and astronomy. So, for me, Kennedy Space Center was AWESOME. When we finally got to where I could see the launch pads from the road I clapped my hands and in a high pitched voice went "oh! Oh! There they are!!!!" The Center is a bit on the pricey side but TOTALLY worth it for the space enthusiast. There's an actual orbiter that you can walk through, a gallery of Hubble images, chances to meet and speak with real astronauts, a shuttle launch simulator, and, of course, the launch pads. The picture above is me about a mile away from Launch Pad A complete with Endeavour and its solid and liquid rocket boosters. I was in absolute heaven. The Apollo/Saturn V center at the end of the tour was awesome. They had a full on Saturn V rocket suspended from the ceiling that was also broken out into it's stages. Maya took this awesome picture of me in front of it.


You can't really tell but Im actually slightly crazy eyed in this photo. I thought she was just taking a goofy photo. I had no idea she had me perfectly lined up under the engine cones. Awesome. Later I'll fill everyone in on the rest of Disney!

Disney is for Fairies!!!

Well the Young family has finally descended upon the greater Orlando area. Watch out for fairies!!! We went to the Magic Kingdom yesterday and Maya spent the whole day dressed up like Tinkerbell which was a big hit. Sure, there were lots of little girls dressed up as princesses but not one was dressed up as Tinkerbell complete with wings! It was kind of funny sometimes. Id have to help her adjust her wings every now and then so she could fit on a ride. Overall, she loved it and, despite my disdain for the mouse, I had a good time too. And we made it out only spending $25! Wow!

Today is the part of the trip I've been desperately waiting for. The Kennedy Space Center! I.cannot.wait!!!! I need mroe exclamation points! I have loved space since I was a kid. When I started at my current job I assisted someone who worked on NASA issues and ate it up like Thanksgiving dinner. I love NASA. The history, the technology, the science. I love it all. This, for me, is seriously a dream come true. I have always, ALWAYS, wanted to go to Cape Canaveral and now Im going! SQUEEEEEE!

Me and Mr. Mouse

Well the countdown has begun to our big vacation in Orlando. If you've been reading this blog for a while you may know of my disdain for the mouse. I know, I know, my daughter loves it so that should be enough. I just can't get past the $25 mouse ears and $10 hot dogs. OK, maybe the hot dogs aren't that much but the mouse ears are!

I have to admit, though, Epcot looks pretty cool. I mean really who doesn't love seeing a mariachi band and then walking a few minutes to chomp down on Chinese food. It looks like they've also got a lot of cool stuff about energy and natural resources conservation which we're trying to teach Maya about. She already gets onto me when I leave the faucet on because I once told her about how there are people in other countries that don't have access to clean water. "Mommy, your wasting water for the people in Egypt!" Oh dear!

I'm definitely looking forward to dorking out at the Kennedy Space Center. There's a tour you can take there that lets you go out to the Saturn launch pads. I gets the shakes just thinking about it! Oh yes and the lunch with an astronaut, and seeing the Titan missles, ooh and maybe we can catch a glimpse of Atlantis! OK I'm way too excited now.

Oh yes and there's always the being lazy at the resort. MMM lazy. I so rarely get to be lazy just like all the other moms out there. There is no lazy time when you're a mom. Something ALWAYS needs to be done. Hmmmm I feel a spa treatment coming on. I'll get the cucumber slices.

We Have A Launch!

SQUEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, Josh has convinced me to go down to Florida in November to do Disney...again. I'm not sure why, but I just haven't been looking forward to the trip. Maybe it's because we just went to Disneyland not that long ago but, for Maya's sake, I'm willing to suck it up and go. Anyway, Josh was looking around at other places to go while we are there and said "You know, I've always wanted to go to Kennedy Space Center. I wonder how far away it is." Whu...what? Did you just say Kennedy Space Center? As in THE Kennedy Space Center? As in the place I've wanted to go to since I was like 6 and saw the movie Space Camp? My nerd heart skipped several beats! I love, love, love space stuff. Anything to do with space. NASA, space shuttles, the International Space Station, deep space satellites, space telescopes, any show with the word "star" in it. You get the drift.

As it turns out, Kennedy is only about an hour from Orlando. Awesome. Oh and for $60 you can have dinner with an actual astronaut. Even more awesome! Oh and Discovery is set to launch while we're there. SOMEONE GET THE SMELLING SALTS CUZ I'M GONNA PASS OUT!!!!!!!! Now given NASA's track record on launches it will probably be delayed but still, even if I could see it on the launch pad...I just don't even have words. If we get to be there to see the launch I think I will actually squeal with delight. That would be even more awesome than the World Cup and that's sayin something!

I'm not so sure Maya will like it. I think I'm going to have to work on her a bit. When I told her about it she thought we were going to get in the space ship and go see aliens. I tried to explain that we would just be watching astronauts go up and that they wouldn't be seeing any aliens but she still didn't like the idea. I don't know what I would do if she were too scared to watch it. With the shuttle program being phased out in just 2 years I don't think we'd ever have another chance to see one launch. Quick, someone tell me how to make her think aliens are cool!