Disney again

So, the international wine/food festival is now going on at disney. Erin took me again (probably going to be getting that annual pass. It's $300, but if I were to pay per trip, it's $60 a pop!)


This time we were at Epcot. In addition to the regular mileau of rides and such, they have a lake that is surrounded by a village. Each new building is a different country. For the festival, there are additional booths and each country has little gourmet foods to try and wine/beer. Since it was hot and we were doing lots of walking, we passed on the liquor. But the food rocked! We had potatoe pancakes from Ireland, brats and kraut from Germany, quiche from France and my favorite...the manti from Turkey. It is a meat ravioli (not pasta, more like a potsticker) and it was covered in a yogurt sauce...I went back for seconds at the end of the night.

Here's a pic of "Germany"


There was quite a bit of entertainment too. In "China" they had acrobats:


In addition to gorging ourselves on the food, we also hit up a few rides. First off, we did Mission Space before we ate. It simulates a takeoff in a spaceship and you head in to land on mars. I have to admit, I did feel pretty sick just like the warning said. (Not to mention the lady that exited before us did indeed get sick....)

After that, we headed to Finding Nemo. Out front they had a few seagulls that would say "Mine" as you walked by. Inside you enter into a ride where you pass windows that look into the simulated ocean that Disney created. Then, projected into the viewing areas you get to see characters from finding nemo!!


The jellyfish forest was pretty cool too! (They were actual objects, not images.)


Soarin was probably my favorite ride though. You feel like you are hang gliding since the ride actually lifts you off of the ground, leaving your feet dangling. As you fly over mountains, through valleys and over the ocean you get a full sensory trip. They have little vents over each seat where they blow "wind" at you and when you pass over pine trees, you actually get a pine scent. (The orange grove was my favorite!)

I like heading there with E too because she takes me to the less exciting be equally cool parts. For example, in the US portion, there is a show with animatronics (life like robots, like the president exhibit from my first trip). It starts off with Mark Twain and Ben Franklin talking about the development of the US. There is movie screen behind them that shows portayals of all that our country has endured and more animatronics pop up. Native Americans, Susan B. Anthony, Civil War Soldiers. Then at the end, they have a montage of faces that soar across the screen. It's quite moving to see all of our American heroes and photos of momentous occasions. I was coping pretty well until they had JFK with a voic over for "Ask not what your country can do for you..." followed by his flag covered casket and JFK Jr. saluting it. Man. That little boy gets me everytime.

At the end of the night, we were pretty exhausted, but E convinced me to stick around for the fireworks show (each park has one). It is shot out over the lake and they have boats/barges that they detonate the fireworks from. Perhaps the coolest part is the spinning, light up globe that coasts out halfway through the show. In the finale, it opens up and more fireworks shoot out of it. Hope you have all had an exciting last few days. I know I'm lagging in this bloggin thing, but I'm working on it.