Opening Day at Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival 2013

DaddyDisneyMan · Apr 9, 2013

This is one of the BEST trip reports I've read. I'm heading down with the family next week and can not wait to see all of this.

GatorAsh · Apr 9, 2013

openendedsky said:
Did you have to ask for the passholder booklet? I didn't get one for some reason. Also, I saw the same cat prints, but was kind of drunk at that point, and I lost it while I was looking through them. I couldn't stop laughing. If I happen to find it again I'll post it.

They were handing out the booklets at the entrance/exit of the Odyssey Center-

I was a bit boozy the first time I saw the cat paintings too, and HAD to stop by to take a sober look. Yep, still funky. As I was taking that picture, the artist came up and was chatty- I told her it was very unique. Yes, if you find it, please post. Ha I can just imagine you cracking up...

GatorAsh · Apr 9, 2013

DaddyDisneyMan said:
This is one of the BEST trip reports I've read. I'm heading down with the family next week and can not wait to see all of this.

Wow, thanks SO much!! You made my day! I'm so glad you're enjoying it- it's been really fun to write. I mean, twist my arm, I HAVE to go to Epcot and try all this yummy food and take pictures and such. It's tough, but somebody's gotta do it!

Have a wonderful time with your family!

openendedsky · Apr 9, 2013

GatorAsh said:
They were handing out the booklets at the entrance/exit of the Odyssey Center-

I was a bit boozy the first time I saw the cat paintings too, and HAD to stop by to take a sober look. Yep, still funky. As I was taking that picture, the artist came up and was chatty- I told her it was very unique. Yes, if you find it, please post. Ha I can just imagine you cracking up...

I probably lost mine or something. I'll be at Epcot tomorrow evening so I'll have to take a look to see if the particular print is still there. Do you remember which country that stand was by? It's been a few weeks since I was at Epcot.

BoarderPhreak · Apr 9, 2013

The cat paintings are AWESOME. Plan to buy at least one, probably several... I have the contact info if anyone needs it. Especially cool to talk to the artist herself at the booth.

GatorAsh; the festival is really sweet this year... The new food/booze carts are a wonderful touch for browsing the 'Showcase. Probably a pretty good cash cow for Disney, too.

You'll have a great time.

BoarderPhreak · Apr 9, 2013

Even the lil' train village had a F&GF!

GatorAsh · Apr 9, 2013

BoarderPhreak said:
The cat paintings are AWESOME. Plan to buy at least one, probably several... I have the contact info if anyone needs it. Especially cool to talk to the artist herself at the booth.

GatorAsh; the festival is really sweet this year... The new food/booze carts are a wonderful touch for browsing the 'Showcase. Probably a pretty good cash cow for Disney, too. You'll have a great time.

i agree, it's brought me back more than once- several times in March alone! I can say that I am contributing to the cash flow from the new food/bev. carts!!!

openendedsky · Apr 11, 2013

GatorAsh said:
i agree, it's brought me back more than once- several times in March alone! I can say that I am contributing to the cash flow from the new food/bev. carts!!!

!!!! I found it

BoarderPhreak · Apr 11, 2013

The "cat lady" is called Heather, and she goes under "Whiskers and Wine" (among others). Call her at (407) 232-0431 or email her at heather@haf2paint.com.

GatorAsh · Apr 11, 2013

openendedsky said:
!!!! I found it

lolololololololololololol

GatorAsh · Apr 12, 2013

Snacks in hand, I headed into the Wonders of Life pavilion (Festival Center). Turns out I arrived just after this presentation had started.

I took a seat in the back and happily munched my popcorn while learning about what goes into decorating Walt Disney World for the holidays.

And then... it started to rain. And rain. It was coming down. The guest speaker even made a remark about it. THEN... we all heard a knocking sound. Every head turned to look up at the glass windowed ceiling to see where the noise was coming from.

It was hail hitting the roof! One of the CM's sitting in the back by me got on his walkie talkie to confirm, and they were discussing if they needed to move people out of the area. Then another CM told him that she heard there was a tornado warning, and a tree had gone over near Animal Kingdom. It was all very dramatic! But I just kept on eating my delicious Disney popcorn and listening to Christmas tales. La de da.

In typical Florida storm fashion, the hail ended after a few minutes but it was still pouring rain. The presentation ended and the speaker invited us up to take photos, touch stuff, etc. There were also Christmas cactuses, canvas market totes and a create-your-own pinecone decoration set out on the tables, but I had come in late and didn't have an 'official' spot at a table with these goodies, so I left empty handed.

Following are gratuitous Christmas decoration pictures, so if you're not into that, be prepared to scroll and I'll meet ya on the other side...

Donald tree. Favorite!

Assorted ribbons they use throughout the parks and resorts:

Go team. These are from either WWOS or AS-Sports:

AKL:

Go Gators!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92113941@N05/8592881776/

Beach Club, natch:

[URL='http://www.flickr.com/photos/92113941@N05/8591780387/']

Wilderness Lodge? Fort Wilderness? Help me out, people!

A whole slew 'a stuff!

Several varieties of pinecone decorations.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92113941@N05/8591778167/

A lady was admiring one and asking the speaker a lot of question about it- he told her to wait a minute till the crowd thinned, then asked her which she liked best. She pointed to the dark green one in the middle on the upper left corner, with the red cars and ornaments; he picked it up and gave it to her, but told her to quickly put in into her bag so no one would get upset! HA! Scandalous Disney!! Actually though, it was pretty neat. I might have been a tad jealous.

It was still raining, so I continued around Festival Center.

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GatorAsh · Apr 12, 2013

BoarderPhreak said:
Even the lil' train village had a F&GF!

Ok now you're just showin' off

Beautiful photos- I haven't noticed the F&G in the little train village. Something to look for on my next visit!

BoarderPhreak · Apr 12, 2013

GatorAsh said:
Ok now you're just showin' off Beautiful photos- I haven't noticed the F&G in the little train village. Something to look for on my next visit!

Thank you sir!

They regularly change the scenery in the town to reflect the rest of Epcot. For example, from the holidays:

GatorAsh · Apr 12, 2013

One of my main reasons for visiting Festival Center was to see the Vera Bradley designs. I'm very excited!

I spy my new park bag!

Ye olde giftshop (Sorry, for a minute there I thought I was in Liberty Square)

Hello my happy little friend!

I especially like the vintage version of the Don on these popcorn bags

You too can own your own bottle of Hot Sun tomato wine!

There's a food and drink (mostly drink, featuring all of the wines show in the previous photo and then some) booth in Festival Center that I bet a lot of people don't know about. I didn't know it was there until I stumbled upon it. I ordered a $.99 beet lollipop and a glass of the mango wine.

At first I though, "Hey, this has got to be one of the best deals in Disney- $.99!!" And then I saw it. Here's a picture to scale:

Yep, folks, that's it. Smaller than my pointer finger. And kind of um, awkward to eat. But tasty! Yes, tasty.

Before eating, I had walked over to yet another seminar. I stopped into this one only because I saw that the presenter was from the University of Florida! The Gator nation is truly everywhere, and we're highly obnoxious! She and I did the Gator chomp to each other, then I moved on because this was about to start:

Would you believe it was still raining?! Me too. And not just a little rain, but still pouring. People were walking in with and without ponchos and were equally soaked. My phone was low on battery, so I scoped out a power source and ended up finding one just inside the doorway to the old The Making of Me theater.

I plugged and and was entertained with HGTV footage and an awesome video about the making of this year's F&G Festival, all while Facebooking with my old boss about the importance of developmentally appropriate Kindergarten curriculum and how far we've gotten away from that here in Florida public schools. But I digress. Just one moment while I step down off my soapbox...

After almost an hour and a half of being in Festival Center (but thoroughly entertained and slightly productive the whole time), the rain stopped and the sun emerged. I walked toward the exit and was amazed at this living plant wall.

Um, I want one in my house.

Festival Center from the entrance/exit landing:

I was about to re-enter the World, and it may or may not have been a bit like Dorothy opening the door to Oz after she landed in the twister...

GatorAsh · Apr 12, 2013

BoarderPhreak said:
Thank you sir!

They regularly change the scenery in the town to reflect the rest of Epcot. For example, from the holidays:

P.S- I'm a ma'am, sir!

BoarderPhreak · Apr 12, 2013

GatorAsh said:
P.S- I'm a ma'am, sir!

Thank you, ma'am!

openendedsky · Apr 13, 2013

Great update! And as much as I've rebelled against the Gators over the years, I think they're finally starting to grow on me. It's inevitable. Can't wait to see the next part.

GatorAsh · Apr 13, 2013

openendedsky said:
Great update! And as much as I've rebelled against the Gators over the years, I think they're finally starting to grow on me. It's inevitable. Can't wait to see the next part.

Thanks! Rebelled, why? Too band-wagony? I can see that... it's true though, orange and blue does kind of get into your blood if you're not careful (or a FSU fan!)

openendedsky · Apr 13, 2013

GatorAsh said:
Thanks! Rebelled, why? Too band-wagony? I can see that... it's true though, orange and blue does kind of get into your blood if you're not careful (or a FSU fan!)

I think that's mostly it. When I was younger it was because it seemed like everybody I knew was a Gators fan. But never actually went to school there. Now that I'm older I've realized it doesn't really matter one way or another and I think being a lifetime Florida resident is slowly bringing me around.

GatorAsh · Apr 13, 2013

So the automatic doors of Festival Center opened and I stepped out to find this happy sight:

Wah-wahhhh.

Then I noticed the plants had also taken a beating:

THEN I looked down and noticed the ground was littered with debris:

Still, the sun was shining through for the first time all day; even these guys were happy about it.

Blue skies, smilin' at me...

Nothin' but blue skies (with some big fluffy grey clouds), do I see...

I made my way over to Test Track to see about jumping in the Single Rider line, but the ride was shut down and they didn't know when it would be back up.

So, I decided to leave, but was thoroughly entertained by:

CAST MEMBERS SWEEPING LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER!!

When the yellow boots come out, you know they mean business

As I was leaving, I found my first one of these:

I call this, "Survey Marker Under Water." (as you can see on my Instagram account, DisneyfiedAsh)

Even the poor palm trees were still a bit droopy- but still pretty as ever

Opening Day at Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival 2013

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