Your own topiary – Epcot

It is so much fun to run around Epcot and try to find all the different pieces of topiary but sometimes as I mentioned this week it is hard to get pictures of your favorites without other people in the shot. A way to combat this is to 1) wait until your favorite piece is people free (sometimes this is just a few minute but if it is Cinderellabration at the main gate you may be waiting for a long time) 2) search for pieces that are not that popular (like Bambi and Stitch) or 3) buy your own topiary for your home! There are several pieces that you can buy at any of the outdoor booths. Here is a list of prices of the pieces available…



Some of my favorites are the Bears and the large Mouse. If you have a garden with Disney topiary in it I would love to see the pictures. Have a magical weekend!

Stitch – Epcot

Today is another piece of topiary that is not listed on the map. In fact if you look at the map in the Mission Space area you will see that there are no markings for anything special. Located to the right of the Mission Space entrance is Stitch. Surrounded by a cluster of red flowers Stitch is very impressive. Look at his teeth! This Disney Character topiary is another that is overlooked and you can spend a lot of time with him taking photos at many different angles.

Characters of Bambi – Epcot

Today’s Disney Character hunt characters are not on the map. I was surprised to find in Canada Bambi, Thumper and Flower from Disney’s Bambi. Set right in the middle of Canada you will find the three stars. They are not a popular stop on the topiary scavenger hunt, in fact many people almost miss them while they are taking pictures of Canada. While I was taking my shots I heard a little girl tell her mother after she spotted me leaning over the little fence to take photos… “Oh… there is Bambi!” If you want to get a good shot without many people of Disney Character topiary this spot is your best bet. A lot of people walk by but there are not many stoppers.

Let’s Get Moving –Epcot

Another great place to find Disney Characters depicted in topiary is in the Imagination Walkway. Here you will find Goofy, Donald, Pluto , Minnie and Mickey all playing their favorite sports. This is not just a place where you can see classic Disney characters doing their favorite outdoor activities it is also a place where little ones can also play. There are structures to climb on and outdoor work out equipment. One of the favorites that I saw a line for was the mini stair steppers perfect for children 2-5 years old. The space is small so for the photo hunters it might be best to take your shot and then move on.

Simba’s Birthday Celebration – Epcot

Brand new to the International Flower and Garden Festival there is a character topiary scavenger hunt for families. At the festival information center cast members will hand you a list of the items to find on your scavenger. This week I thought I would take you on a character topiary hunt around Epcot. First up this week a little lion whose birthday celebration was depicted in topiary. Simba’s Birthday Celebration is a beautiful collection of several pieces of topiary located in the World Showcase Plaza. Directly in the middle (as you are walking into the World Showcase) is the main scene. Rafiki holds up samba while Mufasa and Sarabi watch. Then to the left Scar and Zazu sit and to the right Timon delivers the birthday feast while Pumba rocks a cool hair do…



This collection of Lion King topiary is not hard to spot and is a popular destination for many Disney Character Topiary Scavenger Hunters.

Fragrance Garden- Epcot

What a great week I have had. It was truly a celebration. Well before we all go and have fantastic weekends I thought I would take you to another of my favorite places in Epcot during the International Flower and Garden Festival. Normally I am not a perfume type of girl but right now the fragrance garden in France is a fantastic place for the nose. Look at the lovely topiary shaped as beautiful perfume bottles. As soon as you get to this point in France you can smell the plants and flowers. From citrus to vanilla there are so many smells that will intoxicate you. Way in the back there is a large field of flowers that smells wonderful …



I have to admit not only do these flowers smell wonderful but they look so soft and delicate that I can imagine laying in the midst of them on a breezy Florida evening. I wonder when they will add that attraction to Epcot? As if the smell of the flowers was not lovely enough there are also perfume samples (made from the flowers and plants in the garden) all around. Just look for little displays like this one…



The one above is a perfume made from Magnolias. Lift the little door and you can smell the perfume and then read about it to the right.

Hope you had as much fun as I have celebrating my birthday at Epcot this week. Have a wonderful weekend!

English Tea Garden- Epcot

I thought since it is my birthday week that I would share with you one of my favorite places during the International Flower and Garden Festival… the UK. I love the tea garden. Many of the photos of flowers last week were from the tea garden. Now I know many of my readers are well aware that I am an avid coffee drinker but they may not know how much I also like herbal teas. My favorite is peppermint tea which they just happened to have in the English Tea Garden…



The smell of peppermint is absolutely lovely. If I am ever reported lost at Epcot look for me in the English tea garden somewhere near the peppermint, chances are I will be there. :) Not only is the tea garden a lovely place for fragrance and flowers but there is of course entertainment. Here is a video of one of my favorite songs on just another perfect night at Epcot….

Free Admission on Your Birthday- Disney World

So I am sure by now that you have all heard the commercials that you can have free admission on your birthday to any Disney World or Disneyland theme park. Well since Monday was I birthday I registered and printed out my certificate and headed to my favorite Disney World theme park. Since I already have an annual pass I was offered alternative birthday gifts. The first thing that offer you is a fast pass that ride goers would love. If you are not a ride goer then you are offered a birthday gift card worth the price of one basic Magic Your Way Ticket ($75). The card is good at any of the Disney theme park shopping area and at Downtown Disney on merchandise only (it is not good at any of the restaurants and not all shops in the park are participants… for example China and Morocco are not owned by Disney World so your gift card is not valid there). It has no expiration date. Some places that take the card are Mouse Gears in Epcot, Island Mercantile in Animal Kingdom and the Emporium in Magic Kingdom (though this is not the only stores you can use the card at). In addition to getting a gift card you are also given a button with your name on it that tells everyone you are celebrating your birthday and another button (one for each person in your party) that tells everyone you are all celebrating.

For my alternative gift I chose the gift card and spent my money on some fantastic Mickey polos. After walking around Epcot and having lots of people tell me “Happy Birthday” Norwood and I headed over to Magic Kingdom where we had a birthday cinnamon roll and frozen Cappuccino at Main Street Bakery. It was a great way to celebrate old age… I mean my birthday :).

Herman’s Hermits – Epcot

My birthday celebration at Epcot started on the day before my birthday. Norwood and I joined two friends that we had meet through Mouse Beat for the very exciting Herman’s Hermits concert and (see the video above… yes indeed that is Norwood and I singing along) then we went to my favorite Disney eatery… Kimonos (shocker I know :)). If you have never seen the Herman’s Hermits play Epcot add it to your to do list. They were awesome. If you have already watched the video above you can see how much fun we had and that was just one song. To top off the humor and the great music Peter Noone had CDs that he walked around and handed out to lucky fans sitting close to the stage. The concert was a blast and the perfect start to my birthday celebration week. Tomorrow come back and I will tell you about the “Free admission on your birthday” fun.

Birthday Celebration Week at Epcot

This week is a very special week at Mouse Beat… it is my birthday week! Today is actually my birthday and yes I am very old (31 to be exact). When I was asked how I wanted to spend my birthday there was only one thing I could think of doing… spend it at Epcot my favorite Disney World theme park. All this week I will share with you my birthday celebration at Epcot, after all it is the year of Celebrations! There are so many things I have done and plan to do this week, it will be a blast. Tomorrow I will tell you about meeting friends at the Herman’s Hermits concert yesterday and then on Wednesday I will tell you about my experience with the “Free Admission on your Birthday” deal that they have a Disney World (which I am headed out to redeem today). Then the rest of the week I will tell you about my favorite two places to visit at Epcot during the International Flower and Garden Festival. But now since it is my birthday today I am going to grab my camera and head out to Epcot…

Bonsai Collection- Epcot

During the International Flower and Garden Festival Japan is home to an impressive bonsai collection. The miniature trees are delicate and surprising old. The large Bald Cypress in the middle of the gold fish pond that is 150 years old. Psst Hidden Mickey fans… if you have not found the Hidden Mickey yet in Japan that is close to the gold fish pond here is a hint…



Anyway back to the bonsai collection in Japan. There are several different types of Bonsai on display. I had no idea there were such intricate rules to the maintaining of bonsai nor that there were so many varieties. In Japan you can view several different varieties of bonsai as well as learn the history and purchase your own bonsai for home. I hear they are a very relaxing hobby.

Amore nel Giardino – Epcot

One of the best Disney movies has got to be Lady and the Tramp. The romance, suspense and the cute dogs… what could make a better movie? In Italy they celebrate the 1955 Disney movie in topiary with their Love in the Garden (Amore nel Giardino) exhibit. I absolutely love the Lady piece. Look at her ears it is amazing that it actually looks like fur. Besides looking and marveling that the work of the Disney artists here you can also find out about using plants and flowers to create drama in your garden. There are tips on using color and textures … like Lady’s ears for example they designers could not have picked a better plant to depict the texture of her ears. This is a popular spot in the World Showcase for people to stop and have their pictures taken in front of, in fact I had to wait in a small line for a couple of quick shot without anyone in front and then for my photo in Italy I walked over to the bridge which surprisingly was less crowded…



I guess the allure of amore was too much for people so they were drawn to Lady and the Tramp and not the bridge that overlooked the gondolas and the rest of the World Showcase.

Flowers at the International Flower and Garden Festival- Epcot

I thought we would spend today admiring the real stars of the Spring Celebration the flowers! Disney World is a fantastic place to take photos of flowers on a daily basis, but during the Flower and Garden Festival Epcot becomes the place where people who love taking photos flowers flock with their cameras and all day long you can see people bent over trying to capture the color and delicate petals and leaves. I am one of those people. From the collage above you can see just a few (yes there are many, many more) of the flower photos that I have taken and continue to take each time we go to Epcot. There are just so many and if you pay attention you can find little cards and signs that will tell what the flower is that you are looking at and during the complimentary tours they will also tell you how you can you can grow those flowers in your own gardens or like they do in Italy give you tips on how to arrange the flowers so they make a stunning presentation. I will tell you more about Italy tomorrow… now let’s admire the lovely flowers. :)

Pirate Adventure Zone- Epcot

Well the adults are rocking out in the America Gardens Theatre kids with the adventurous spirit can be found in the Pirate Adventure Zone. Located next to Germany the Pirate Adventure Zone is just a place off to the side where jungle gym is set up to passersby. But dare to venture off the sidewalk and into the cushy ground that is the land of pirates and you will be taken into the scenes of Peter Pan.



While we took photos of the topiary and flowers the children all around us are shouting and laughing while they all try to make it to the top of the ship while evading the fellow pirates (other children). I have to admit they all sounded like they were having so much fun that I was I tempted to try and make it to the top myself… but just before I got up the nerve to rush over I heard another adult tell another adult that the Flower and Garden Festival specifically says that the Pirate Zone play equipment is strictly for children and that he was well beyond any age that could be mistaken as a child… well at least we can go and sing and dance at the Flower Power Concerts. :)

Paul Revere and the Raiders-Epcot

Welcome to our continued celebration of the International Flower and Garden Festival happening right now in Disney World’s Epcot. The International Flower and Garden Festival is full of flowers, topiary, events and music. It is happening now and ends on May 31, 2009. Last week we started walking around the world together checking out the Flower and Garden Festival one exhibit at a time before we head out this week I want to stop and tell you about last weekend’s Flower Power Concert. Readers of this blog will often hear this line… “I never knew this until I found out about it at Disney World…” It seems that not only I am having a fantastic daily vacation at Disney World I am also being educated on the “World” and so many bands. So here we go with my weekly confession of “not knowing…”

Last weekend we made our way to Epcot specially for the purpose of seeing the Flower Power Concert Series (concerts for all events at Epcot this year are now only on weekends). Before heading out we looked at the schedule to see who was playing after reading it I looked and asked… “Who is Paul Revere and the Raiders?” Assured by almost everyone person I asked the question to I was told that although I did not know the name or the people I would no doubt know the music when I heard it and would definitely like at least one song that was played. Well… everyone was right! Ask me today to recall the names of the songs and I will have them in my head, know the tune but tell you to wait while I google them. But like the many people who told me I will tell you if you cannot draw a recollection from the mere name of the band… trust me, you have heard them and you will most definitely like at least one of their songs. And the show! I have never laughed so much. From the props to the music it was one of the best concerts I have seen at Disney World. Besides singing some great songs there were jokes… many, many jokes. One of the crowd favorites was when Paul Revere told the audience that they became rich because they were paid to put on the tights and then proudly he held up what the tights looked like before they put them. Let me just say a small doll could not fit into the tights he held up. It was great.

Come back tomorrow and we will continue our tour of Epcot during the International Flower and Garden Festival…

Bromeliad Dragon- Epcot

Have you ever been in Epcot and seen some part of the landscape that made you say… “I would like to have one of those in my back yard?” Well each time I go to Epcot during the 2009 Flower and Garden festival I find myself saying that about the pond in front of the Temple of Heaven. Normally the entire area is beautiful but right now during the Flower Festival right in the middle is the Bromeliad Dragon. Bromeliad are a type of tropical plants that are often found in Latin American and the Caribbean and sometimes in the Southern US states. A typical Bromeliad is the pineapple. For China’s topiary exhibit the Dragon is created from different Bromeliad plants. It is amazing to see the detail in this topiary exhibit.

So here we are at the end of another week I still have not told you about everything that is at the International Flower and Garden Festival 2009. Next week I will continue the tour, including an interlude for some musical entertainment.

Sand Sculpture from Disney Earth – Epcot

Perhaps many of you already know this but until I went to the International Flower and Garden Festival knew nothing about Disneynature. For those of you not in the know, Disneynature is a film studio that is dedicated to producing at least one film a year that celebrates the wonders of nature. It was inspired by the 1948 series that Walt created about wildlife. The films are designed to show the fragility and beauty of the Earth. This year’s film is called EARTH and it will premier on April 22, 2009 (Earth Day). The above photo is one of the exhibits that is sponsored by Disneynature. It is completely made out for sand and it depicts many different animals. It is like the Tree of Life except with sand. If you are going to the International Flower and Garden Festival this year you can find this exhibit behind Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden on your way to the World Showcase.

We took many more photos of the sand sculpture check them out in our Sand Sculpture.

Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden- Epcot

Yesterday we talked about fairies and today we will talk about another tiny creature… butterflies. Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden is also located on the Test Track Walkway right next door to Pixie Hollow. This was by far one of my favorite exhibits. There were so many butterflies flying around it was truly magnificent. Norwood and I spent awhile inside trying to get a few shots when different butterflies would land. We got a few really nice shots. Here is my favorite…



This is the Zebra Longwing Butterfly. It was one of the butterflies that would often land on the flowers so if you go to our photo album you will see many different shots of the Zebra Longwing Butterfly. In Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden there are seven types of butterflies. As we go back to Epcot this Spring I am going to try and capture at least one shot of all the different butterflies… wish me luck. :)

Beside the delicate butterflies that are so hard to get photos of there is also an easier subject in Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden…



The flowers of course! Above is my favorite topiary piece. Can you guess why?

Pixie Hollow – Epcot

Tinker Bell and her friends are celebrated in Pixie Hollow. Located in the Test Track Walkway is a lush little garden where Tinker Bell and the other Fairies from the new Tinker Bell movie are depicted in topiary. As you enter through the gate a Disney cast member will hand you your honorary Fairy badge…



For the kiddies you can run around the garden, climb on the outdoor playground or tinker at Tinker’s Nook Workshop or participate in the Fairy and Princess Procession (2pm daily).

For Norwood and I (because of course we passed through the gate to see the world of fairies) we took photos...





We spent awhile taking photos of the flowers and topiary but then we had camera war and began trying to take funny photos of each other. Strange enough each time we turned to take a photo of the other there was a camera in the way...hmmmm. :)

If you want to see more photos of Pixie Hollow check out our Pixie Hollow Photo Album.

Celebrate the Art and Music of Fantasia

Welcome to week two of our Celebration of the 2009 International Flower and Garden Festival. To kick of this week we will begin with a Celebration of the Art and Music of Fantasia. The garden behind Spaceship Earth has been turned into scenes from the Disney movie Fantasia. While you stand there and take photographs of the impressive flowers and topiary the music from Fantasia plays in the background. The main scene is one very similar to the topiary exhibit in Hollywood Studios. Mickey with the Soccer’s Hat Stands in the middle of the display and directs the magical brooms who have buckets of fragrant flowers.

It is really a pretty scene, and just the first this week of great photo opportunities so break out your cameras!



If you want to see more of Norwood and my photos of the Celebrate the Art and Music of Fantasia check out our Music and Art of Fantasia photo album.

Flowers and Topiary in Epcot

Before I share with you the tons of photos I have taken of the International Flower and Garden Festival I wanted to share with you some of my favorite flowers and topiary that you can find most of the year at Epcot. First up the Three Caballeros …



I know what you are thinking… “Amanda… did you know that this is part of the International Flower and Garden Festival?” When I took the photo in June 2008 I did not know that it was a leftover from the International and Garden Festival that has just ended a couple of days before the shot. This shot was taken in the early summer of 2008 right when we arrived in Florida and on one of our first trips to Epcot after five years. I can still remember that visit. Everything felt so new and I could barely put my camera down. I remembered none of what I saw, especially these neat little bushes. Then a month later I looked for the same bushes and to my surprise they were gone, that is when I realized what we had just missed by a few days. I cannot wait to share some of my photos and experiences from the actual festival. Get ready there are so photos that I will start to share … tomorrow. But before I leave you today here is one more photo from the last years International Flower and Garden Festival…



Come on back tomorrow for more from the 2009 International Flower and Garden Festival .

Disney Details- Epcot

Epcot is a detail hunter’s paradise. There are so many little things to find in both Futureworld and in the World Showcase. My favorite place to hunt for details is in the World Showcase. Picking out my favorite detail for this week was really difficult I could put up tons of albums of all the Disney Details I have taken photographs of and find to be my favorites. But I have narrowed it down to one that I found early in the summer last year….



After I saw this blue glass bottle tree I wanted one for my own yard. It is stunning and when the light hits it look at there are great shadows on the sidewalk. So if you have not seen this yourself you are probably asking by now where to find it. Well in between France and Morocco there is a wonderful little getaway spot located next to a play ground. In the getaway spot there are many glass sculptures (this area may change depending on the special event for example during the International Food and Wine Festival Louisiana can be found near here. And, although I have not yet found it I am told there is a Hidden Mickey somewhere in the area… just look down.

Tomorrow I will share my favorite Disney Detail from Magic Kingdom.

Characters Greetings in Epcot

Although Epcot is often seen as the park geared more towards adults and learning there are still Disney characters around the park marking Epcot uniquely Disney. Norwood and I have seen a few characters in Epcot but I have to admit I have not stopped to take photos with any in Epcot yet (usually we are running across the world to make it in time for a concert). Below is a list of who you can find where…

Futureworld:This is an easy one just head to the Character Spot and there you can often find Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy. It is a popular spot to meet and take photos with the characters and there is often a long line (it is all indoors). The hours to spot Mickey and friends are 9am to 5:30pm daily.

World Showcase:There are a couple of countries in the World Showcase where you can find characters under signs that look like this…



United Kingdom:Although I have been told that Winnie the Pooh might show up in the UK I have not yet seen him but I have often seen Mary Poppins and Alice from Alice and Wonderland right across from the Rose & Crown Pub. They appear in the UK usually around 1-3:55 pm and then again 4:35 to 8:30pm.

France:Occasionally people have spotted Aurora in France 12:45 to 6pm. You will also see daily Beauty and the Beast from 12:45 to 6pm. I have often seen the Beast and sometimes I have seen Beauty and the Beast.

Morocco:There are two places in Morocco that I have seen Aladdin, Genie and Jasmine (sometimes all three at once but more than often I have encountered Genie). Next to the gift shop that is next to the stage where Mo Rockin perform I have seen Aladdin and the gang hanging out under the character greeting sign and then in the back of the gift shop that is between Resturant Marrakesh and Tangierine Café is a place that has a nice background from the movie Aladdin where you can take photos with Aladdin and Jasmine. You will be able to find them daily from 12:15 to 7:30pm.

Germany:I have not yet seen characters in Germany but I have been told that you may find Snow White and Dopey here from 11:30 am to 6:30 pm.

China:Inside the temple and occasionally outside the temple I have seen both Mushu and Mulan. You will find them (or sometimes just one) in China daily from 12:35- 6:pm.

Mexico:I have not yet seen Donald from the Three Caballeros but outside the temple in Mexico many have found him daily (although intermittently) 1:30pm – 6pm.

There are so many more characters that people have been to meet and take photos with but the list above are the characters most often spotted in the locations mentioned. Good luck character hunting! Tomorrow I will tell you about who you can find in Animal Kingdom.

France and United Kingdom and Canada - Epcot

Our week celebrating Epcot’s World Showcase has come to an end but not before we visit three countries together, France, United Kingdom and Canada. Our first stop France which is home to some lovely gardens and absolutely wonderful deserts. Really if you do nothing else at France make sure you have at least one yummy treat. But there is more to do in France. I have to admit that there are many films in the World Showcases that do not interest me. Like some of the little ones I will pass on the films but the France film (Impressions de France) is beautiful. I love the French country side and recommend this film (but kids may still be bored) to all. My favorite memory in France happened while I was taking photos of the French posters… I really love those posters. I am shooting away getting close-ups of my favorites zooming out to get the whole pole when suddenly I notice this little pair of Mickey Ears in the bottom of my shot...



Without knowing it I captured a cute little hidden Mickey in France! Let’s now move on to another set of fantastic gardens across the bridge in the UK. I love the gardens in the UK and it is even better when Marry Poppins shows up for photos! For this country my must see and my favorite moment are one in the same … The British Invasion! I just cannot get enough of these guys. Not only do they perform flawlessly the best songs of the Beatles up they also have some very cool costumes. You must see them at least once (they are there all week check the times guide for show times). And occasionally if you catch them at the right time you can get a nice shot with them to make a fantastic vacation memory…



Trust me you will have a great time if you see the British Invasion in the UK just like you will have a fun time being goofy in Canada. Canada is home to a great steak house (if you are of the meat persuasion I hear Le Cellier is a place not to miss) and some primo maple syrup. But there is also a really neat cutout that you must stick your face in and make faces for the camera…



It is so much fun to play around with the cutout that you will find all over the world. I am building quite a collection of my funny face behind Disney cutouts it is almost as fun as taking pictures with the characters.

Well I hope you have had a great time this week touring the World Showcase with me. I am so excited about the upcoming International Flower and Garden Festival and this week just helped me to realize how many good times I have had at Epcot. I would love to hear about your magical memories and must sees at Epcot.

Japan and Morocco – Epcot

Today we are going to explore Japan and Morocco together. Both are beautiful countries in Epcot’s World Showcase. Way back in time I told you about a secret in Japan the not so often visited Tin Toy Museum. It is a definite must see on your Japan list. Also make sure to see the drummers that perform at the front of Japan they are fantastic entertainers. My absolute favorite thing about Japan is the gardens. The peace lake with fish and the delicate trees and bushes are the subject of many of my Epcot photos. My favorite memory in Japan occurred during another perfect Epcot day when Norwood I were hanging out after eating at Teppan Edo (add this restaurant to your must try list). We walked out onto the large porch and watched the rain pour down as people scurried to get anywhere inside. Although the rain was causing a bit of chaos for those running through it the evening was peaceful and we stood there people watching for a long time.

Speaking of water did you know there was a water wheel in Morocco? I missed it the first couple of times that I walked through and then one day when trying to get closer to a pretty yellow flower I suddenly noticed it…



Again Disney goes all out when it comes to details. Morocco has fantastic shopping. I love their bags. If you have not yet browsed through the shops in Morocco put it on your to do list for Epcot. Even if you do not buy anything you will appreciate the color and the detail. There are so many things to do in Morocco so really just make sure you put the country on your to do list. You can meet Aladdin, Jasmine and the Genie, browse the museum with some of the most gorgeous pots and vases you will ever see and hear live music with belly dancers. My favorite moment in Morocco occurred way back in time to the first month that we began our year at Disney. The World Showcase just opened and Norwood and I were looking around in the museum when we ran into Luis an Epcot security guard who was so friendly and had so much information to share with us about the World Showcase. If I was not already hooked on Epcot I think that Luis’s excitement would have hooked me.

Italy and America – Epcot

Yesterday we talked about the wonderful details in China and how much fun it is just to walk around and take photos of the beauty today our first stop is another place that is fun to take photos of the details… Italy. Italy is home to my favorite photo spot in the World Showcase. Each time we visit Epcot I have to have Norwood take of photo of me in front of Neptune. It all started in 2000 and now a visit to Italy is not complete without a photo in front of Neptune. Neptune is a must see in Italy. Another must see in Italy are the jugglers. They are truly amazing. My favorite memory in Italy happened last year during Christmas. We walked into one of the gift shops there for the first time and I was taken aback by all the beautiful perfume bottles so I began taking photos of them…



While taking photos of the perfume bottles a sudden commotion happened so I looked up from my camera to find that someone had just proposed to a woman in the middle of the gift shop. They were speaking what sounded like Italian and although I could not understand the words the sentiment was clear she had said yes.



Let us make one more stop today on our celebration of Epcot’s World Showcase… America (The American Adventure). America is home to some pretty tasty funnel cakes, The American Adventure Show and the America Gardens. Must sees here are the American Adventure Show and one of the many concerts that happen at the America Gardens theatre throughout the year. My favorite memory from America is when I had a second chance to get my photo take with Bono! During the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series last year we went to almost every show that 2U a Tribute to U2 put on. While performing one of the early shows Paul (Bono) walked off the stage put his hat on Norwood’s head and I snapped the shot. I was so jealous and later after the show Paul was taking photos with people and Norwood grabbed a picture of me but my eyes were closed! The next day we went to the show again and once again he took pictures with fans and this time I had my eyes open!

Tomorrow we will continue our journey around the World Showcase together.

China and Germany- Epcot

Yesterday we started our walk around the World Showcase together in celebration of the upcoming International Flower and Garden Festival. Each day this week I will be sharing the things I think you must see in each country and my favorite memories from each. Today we have two countries to hit on our trip so I hope you brought your walking shoes. First on our stop is my favorite country in the World Showcase China…



As I have mentioned many times throughout our last nine months together here at Mouse Beat I love China for its beauty. One of my favorite things to do is take my camera and spend on the day there taking photos of the flowers, structures the gift shop… pretty much everything. On the top of the must see list in China is all the art. Take time to slowly browse the country. Like all the countries there are so many little details. My favorite memory in China happened one night when we in the gift shop looking for a large Happy Buddha. One of the cast members told us the story behind Happy Buddha which is the larger the belly the more happiness he will bring to your home. To obtain the happiness from Happy Buddha some rub his belly. I jokingly rubbed Norwood’s belly and then to my surprise the cast member reaches over and rubs Norwood’s belly too! We all laughed… it appeared that Norwood’s brought us all a lot of happiness that night.

Speaking of happy bellies let’s walk down to Germany for Oktoberfest…


Germany is home to a place that celebrates Oktoberfest all year long… Biergarten. Put this place on your must see list. Even if you are not a fan of German food you should see this place once in your Disney travels. It is a joyous place where you will want to get up and dance when the band comes out. Dance, eat and do not forget to try the deserts. The Biergarten has a great desert selection. My favorite memory in Germany actually takes place in the Biergarten. Norwood and I went there last year when we went to see Neil Patrick Harris narrate the Christmas Story for the Candlelight Processional. It was our first experience there and we could not have asked for a better group of people. And to make the night even more memorable we had no idea you had to get tickets for the Candlelight Processional but our waiter made sure we got two tickets. We could not have asked for better service.

Tomorrow let’s continue our journey around the World Showcase with a stop in Italy and America.

Mexico and Norway- Epcot

While enjoying a nice Valentine’s Day with Norwood I began to think about the upcoming Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. This year will be my first Flower and Garden Festival (it runs from March 18- May 31) and I cannot wait! My camera and I will drag Norwood to as many events as he can stand and I will share those photos and experiences here. But sadly it is only February 16 so we have about a month to wait! In the meantime though I thought we would spend this week walking through the World Showcase together before the blooms.

Let’s begin our journey in Mexico…


Mexico’s main attraction is the Mayan pyramid that houses a festive little boat ride with the Three Cabelleros and the San Angel Restaurant. I remember the first time I walked into Mexico I felt like I was entering another world where time suddenly had no meaning. Walking back out into the sunshine and heat later on was a shock. My favorite memory in Mexico is meeting for the first time Jackie and her family there for dinner. The one thing you must do while in Mexico is… have lunch or dinner in San Angel (try to get a table toward the water so you can wave to the people on the Gran Fiesta Tour) and then after a delicious meal walk right over to help find Donald Duck on the Gran Fiesta Tour.



After a meal and a pleasant little boat ride that end in fireworks trek the world again and head on over to Norway. Back in 2003 (which was the last time we had been to Disney World before 2008) Norway was our favorite place to eat. I liked the traditional Norwegian Food that you could get at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. When we went back in 2008 we were not disappointed but surprised by the changes. Now it truly is Royal with all the Princesses joining you in your meal and the food is slightly different. My favorite Norway moment is that first dinner back in Norway after five years. We were so shocked to see all the Princesses there and I will never forget how embarrassed Norwood was when we took a photo with Belle. But now he is an old pro at taking photos with the characters.

If you have not yet eaten at Akershus I do recommend trying to at least once but be sure no matter how many times you have been there to check out Maelstrom. I really like the scenery on this boat ride and I have to admit that each time I ride it I prepare for the trip over the falls. It is mellow but fun.

Tomorrow let’s continue our look around the World Showcase and dream of the Flower and Garden Festival that is soon to come.