epcot

We added a visit to Epcot at the last minute, when we figured out that our JetBlue vacation package had scheduled our day in Legoland on a day that it was actually closed!  Thank goodness we caught that detail BEFORE we showed up at the closed gates with two very excited lego lovers and we still had time to fit in Legoland before our flight home.

I'm so, so glad that we ended up at Epcot.   They were hosting the Flower and Garden Festival which meant there were extra beautiful flower displays everywhere.  And Epcot has the Disney magic I expected and craved at our somewhat lackluster Magic Kingdom day.  I highly recommend Epcot with kids, especially kids that like interactive museums.  The Sea was probably our favorite area overall. We got to see researchers show off how smart the dolphins are in a matching game, feed the manatees, real sea turtles, and beautiful fish. The Nemo theme was a big hit and Aiden was especially excited by Crush the Turtle calling on him to ask a question.  Crush likes to say Dude all the time, so Aiden asked why he thought turtles like to say Duuuude?  Above is a snippet.

Figment and Captain EO are classics and it was fun seeing how excited Aiden was by one of my favorite memories of Epcot.  They still have the jumping water fountain outside Captain EO, and even though it wasn't that hot, J continued the tradition by letting it splash the top of his head.   Speaking of classic Epcot treats, I found my Kakigori shaved ice in Japan.  Easily the biggest treat for Aiden was the spy adventure they have set up on cell phones that they give you to control all sorts of hidden Disney magic.  Agent A was on the case in five countries.

Here was our day plan that unfolded so easily and fulfilled my expectations for a charmed Disney day:

Spaceship Earth

Epcot Character Spot with the trio of Mickey, Goofy, and Minnie

The Seas with Nemo and Friends

Turtle Talk with Crush

Journey into the Imagination with Figment

ImageWorks

Captain EO

Butterfly Garden

United Kingdom Rose and Crown Pub for Lunch

Maelstrom in Norway

World Showcase Adventure with Agent A - checkin with cell phone clue adventure

Norway (adventure finds: hidden robot troll, poster with hidden sword)

China drum show in plaza, (adventure finds: lion paw eyeball, gong, pretend hotel entrance)

Germany (adventure finds: dancing steins, coo coo clock, laser window)

Italy for gelato break

Liberty Chorus

The American Adventure

Japan Kabuki Cafe for Kakigori shaved ice, (adventure finds: rushing waterfall, monkey emerged from water, wind chimes)

Morocco Tangierine Cafe shawarma for dinner

France (adventure finds: bookstore hidden books)

Boat cruise back to main Plaza

Monsters Inc Playground

Living with the Land boat cruise through the green houses full of nine pound lemons

The Circle of Life Lion King show

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros

IllumiNations: Reflections of the Earth - fireworks and laser light show

More coming soon...