A DISNEY ADVENTURE

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning.”
Lamentations 3:22-23

We really needed to get away after all our home renovations and attempted this Disney adventure a couple other times, but this week we did it!  We intended to explore all four of the Disney parks in Orlando, but due to weather issues, we only made it to two plus the new Disney Springs.  More to explore this fall!!

Epcot

The annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is always a must – we’ve been to every one for the last several years.  We always head for all the “NEW” features – topiaries, gardens and food!

As you enter the Main Entrance, each year there is a topiary display of the theme and this one featured Donald, Daisy, Huey, Dewey and Louie with fresh food, fun & flowers!

Minnie Mouse & Pluto at the entrance to the World Showcase

Ranger Mickey ready to help find the closest National Park

The flower displays are always amazing and this year’s star flowers were no exception.

At Butterflies on the Go, the larger than life butterflies were beautifully displayed from both sides

The Urban Farm Eats are always one of my favorites for great inspiration . . .

outdoor entertaining

for the bees

veggie gardening!

These Japanese Mini Gardens are fun too - such detail!

Although it’s not "new," the Frushi is my favorite food – fresh pineapple, strawberry and melon rolled with raspberry coconut rice and sprinkled with toasted coconut.  Yum!

This year, passholders received a special treat – special edition prints by “Ducky” Williams each month of the festival, but when we went to get ours for May, we received all three – Donald Duck, Goofy and Mickey.  What a blessing!

Magic Kingdom

This week there were a lot of evening thunderstorms as well as daytime ones too, but one night was perfect for fireworks.  We headed to Main Street USA by ferryboat from the parking lot and passed this shiny icon!

We arrived in time to catch the Main Street Electrical Parade, but my nighttime pictures didn’t turn out with the camera we purchased since I left mine at home – oh well, at least I got a half decent one of the castle and the Wishes fireworks!!

We watched the fireworks from the ferryboat dock across the lake – great view and we could head for home without waiting.  It was magical!!

Disney Springs

Formerly Downtown Disney, Disney Springs has an expanded array of dining, shopping and entertainment in four areas – the Marketplace, the Town Center, the Landing and the West Side.  We love to park on the West Side and take the ferryboat to the Marketplace and work our way back.  A lot of new places are opening this summer, especially in the new Town Center.

Hubby started the day with a Ghirardelli mint chocolate chip sundae and then after some shopping including a citrus salt at the Spice & Tea Exchange, we picked up a couple of our favorite sandwiches at the Earl of Sandwich and set off to find a special treat – cupcakes.  

After much searching, we finally found Sprinkles in the Town Center, but the infamous cupcake ATM was empty and wouldn’t be filled for half an hour plus the clouds were already getting dark.   Next time!

                                                                                                   Joyce