Mar 11
25
Epcot Spring Break 2011 – An Overview!
As everyone knows, last week the whole Illuminating Epcot crew was down at Walt Disney World, and we all have an AMAZING time and you can expect everything from trip reports, dining reviews, attraction reviews and such. With that being said lets kick things off with an overview of Epcot and some of the highlights that stuck out around our favorite park!
Future World held many “Firsts” for me and I finally got to experience rides and attractions that I’ve been waiting years to see. Mission: Space was better than I expected and the wait for it each time we rode was pretty low as well. We did the “Green” version since it was our first time and we were really impressed with how the experience was even though it was the ‘tamer’ version, and our friend Sarah Holodick who has experienced the Orange version of the ride, really commented on that she was still very impressed with the Green version as well.
Mission Space
Captain EO is an “old” show, however it was very new to me as I never saw it when it was in Epcot originally, and I have to say that I enjoyed it, however you can tell it was made for the 80’s/90’s era and it does show it age. For someone who has never seen it before, I have to say I really did enjoy it and I would encourage anyone to check it out!
Other highlights from Future World were going through the revamped Innoventions and seeing the new games, exhibits and taking a spin on “The Sum of All Thrills”, which everyone in the family loved! Not just the ride however, but the hands on part of creating your own rollercoaster was done really well! My son also loved the Great Piggy Bank Adventure and he really picked up on what was being taught to him about money during the experience and has been asking to play the “home” version that you email to yourself after you finish the main game in the park.
We wrap up the Future World highlights with Elizabeth and Tim experiencing Beverly for their first time. Elizabeth had heard plenty and knew that it wasn’t going to be pretty, but I think it’s safe to say that it didn’t prepare her for the taste that she got! Our son however had no clue what he was about to drink and he thought it was Sprite, and boy was he mistaken. Here’s his reaction to the Beverly!
A 6 year old discovers Beverly
Most of the highlights in World Showcase were centered on the food, however this is not to say that the various countries of World Showcase were lacking, quite the opposite! We caught performances by Off Kilter, World Showcase Players, Serveur Amusant , British Invasion, and the Voices of Liberty and all were incredible! We also spent time touring each pavilion and checking out the small changes to the big changes and seeing things we hadn’t seen in years (Impressions de France, The American Adventure) and we will go in depth later on with all these!
Serveur Amusant Performing
The Food around Epcot was incredible! Le Cellier Lunch, Teppan Edo and Les Chefs de France for dinner, and a couple of stops at Sunshine Seasons topped the food experience at Epcot, and we went to The Yacht Club (An Epcot Resort) for dinner one night as well and ate at Yachtsman Steakhouse, and now I have to decide where the better steak was.. Le Cellier or Yachtsman! We also used the Disney Dining Plan for this trip and I have to say it really paid off and let us eat at many places that we might not normally be able to.
New York Strip Steak from Le Cellier
The Flower and Garden Festival was AMAZING as usual this year. Topiary displays were full of color and extremely well done, the headliner display at the front of Epcot featuring Toy Story 3 was very detailed and you could smell the strawberry from Lotso all around the entrance area! The Wonders of Life Pavilion opened up for the festival and featured the main stage where HGTV personalities were presenting, along with other events and displays about gardening that were aimed at kids and adults. Also located inside was the main Flower and Garden Festival shop which had everything from Mickey Yard Gnomes, to the Festival Vinylmation and various other gardening tools, books and the like.
Flower and Garden Festival inside WoL
Overall it was a great trip and I personally cannot wait for Food and Wine in the fall! Anywho, stay tuned over the next few weeks and we’ll have plenty of reviews for you!
-A quick personal note: Thank you to everyone for the condolences and thoughts during the rough time before we left. My grandfather was a wonderful man, and it was a very difficult few days, and I appreciate everyone’s understanding with the lack of updates and such. You guys are awesome and thank you so much for all the thoughts and prayers!-
