06/01/2026 - EPCOT!
Alright, Ash and I are ready to go to help close out the Flower and Garden Festival! I'm wearing a Farmer Mickey t-shirt while Ash is in the Orange linen Disney Outfit from shop Disney. She fully decked out herself out with orange ears and an orange fruit stand bag.
We ordered a quick serve coffee from the Mara, who got our order wrong again. Sigh. Okay, moving on we made our way to the bus depot and waited for the ride to EPCOT. The wait felt a little extended, but we still were in the rope drop line by 7:45. Today's EPCOT trip was going to be far different than our previous visit.
This EPCOT experience is going to be slower, more intentional, and take in the Disney Magic in new ways. That being said, we rope dropped The Land. Different strategy for sure, but since Brian insisted that Garden Grill was his favorite breakfast experience on Disney property, we had to make it part of the plan.
Doors to the Land opened at 08:30 and we made our way to Soarin, getting onto one of the first flights. We were excited to see the update celebrating America's 250th birthday, and we were not disappointed. Flying past the Statue of Liberty, over the rolling the hills, seeing so many landmarks and treasures that are found in America is such a treat. When I was younger I was fortunate enough to travel a lot of America, spending time in the southwest when my grandparents lived in Phoenix, or driving through Colorado, Wyoming, falling in love with Yellowstone, fly fishing the Bitterroots of Montana, and traversing the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. Seeing so many of those areas again in a large dome with a massive screen made me yearn to return to those places. After Soarin we wandered over to Living with The Land, and did our usual ride through. I always find it to be so soothing to ride through the greenhouses. The slow moving water, the smells and the sounds, the atmosphere that helps you appreciate the fragile parts of life that keep everything moving along.
Breakfast
After Living With The Land I checked Ashley and I in for our Garden Grill reservation via the mobile app. We made a quick pit stop and then walked up to the host stand, being taking to our table right away. Per Brian's advice I requested a booth, ensuring we rotated our way around. The rotation is fun, nothing too fast, just slow enough to give you a different view of the restaurant, the Land, and Living With The Land as you pass overhead. They started us out with POG Juice (Pineapple, Orange, and Guava), which Samantha loves. The server was kind enough to tell us that while yes, it is a Disney treat, it can be bought online or at your local grocery store if they carry it.
Garden Grill is a family style meal. You're not going to order your own entree, as they're going to bring you a prepared skillet that everyone shares. They'll start you off with sticky cinnamon bread, which is absolutely delicious and could be it's own meal. In addition they'll have fresh fruit, some of which possibly comes from the Land greenhouses just below the restaurant! With that little appetizer out of the way the skillet will come with eggs, mickey waffles, bacon, skillet potatoes, and Backyard Grilled Steak that has a ranchero sauce on it. Ash and I made short work of the meal, and were so happy with everything.
The mickey waffles had that crisp outside but warm and fluffy inside that is perfect, and maybe someday I'll figure out how to replicate at home. The eggs were perfect, not too runny and not overdone, and the bacon, while a little thin, was done right. The potatoes were delicious, but what Ash loved was the steak with the ranchero sauce. It had a sweet spice to it, nothing too hot, but a wonderful flavor.
What's great about Garden Grill is that it is a character breakfast with Chip, Dale, Pluto, and Farmer Mickey! Hah! Now we know why Ash has me wearing a Farmer Mickey shirt! The girl is on her game. For a family experience, in EPCOT, meeting the characters, eating great food, I cannot deny Brian's opinion that Garden Grill is one of the best breakfast's on Disney Property. I understand why he and Sam flew down for a 24 hour Visit to have breakfast. I cannot wait to come back and enjoy this experience again.
Behind the Seeds
As part of this being a different EPCOT experience, Ash got us tickets to Behind the Seeds. For those of you that don't know, Behind the Seeds is an Enchanting Extra at EPCOT, where you will pay extra on top of your park ticket, to experience something else within Disney. Behind the Seeds is another $45 USD per ticket where you and a group are taken behind the scenes (I see what they did there...) of Living With The Land to get an even further in depth understanding of how fragile farming is, and how technology has helped us increase food production.
After getting the party together, you are taken back along Soarin's exit and through a set of double doors. We were given the tour instructions, and led into a room filled with enclosed plant samples. Our tour guide explained how the insects all around us play vital roles, not simply in pollination, but also in protecting plants from hazerdous insects that would destroy crops if they weren't kept in check. These bugs were small, like little gnats. A short video explained how some would lay eggs and the larva would eat their way through the plants, while others would find and feed on the larva, protecting the plants. A great visual of how the smallest creatures play such a huge role.
From there we were led through the Living With the Land tour in reverse, our guide taking time to explain in greater detail how the grow beds work, how a lot of what we see is for show on the ride, but also helping us appreciate how the farming community provides so much to us all. Some fun notes were being able to feed the fish and seeing how Mickey Shaped Watermelons are grown. At the end we had our picture taken and got back on track.
Do we suggest you take the tour? Well that depends. It's an hour long, and it was fun and informative, but if you're only coming to EPCOT once every few years, or even once in your life, we would suggest you use that time and money elsewhere. It's not that the tour was bad in any way, but there's so much to do at EPCOT, or any of the other parks, that you should consider maximizing that time elsewhere. Now for us, this having been our second time in EPCOT this year, it made sense to fit this in and see what the tour was about. Very glad we did the tour, and in a few years we might look to do it again. We shall see.
Mid Day Break
Now Ash had it planned that we would break off mid-day to go nap and change. We got out of Behind The Seeds at 11:30, made our way up to the World Pavillion and swung through the Pandora store to see if they possibly still had any Flower and Garden charms. They did not. With a defeated sigh Ash led me back down to the bus depot for us to head back over to Animal Kingdom. Our plan to nap was also dashed as we waited roughly twenty minutes for a bus to arrive. This is both good and bad. Us, and a few other resort goers, were frustrated from the heat and the wait, but we made the most of it, just talking about our days, our plans, and taking the time to connect.
I do love these moments. Talking to other park attendees and trading tips and tricks. The one group had a young girl who wanted to go to the pool, and I took the time to talk to them about the Kidani Pool over the Jambo House Pool. I'll be explaining the difference in a few days when I break down Kidani vs Jambo, just know that in my opinion, the Kidani Village pool area is better suited for kids versus Jambo House. Don't get me wrong, both are great, but at AKL I'd suggest taking the squad up to Kidani at least one day if you have the time.
Her Name Was Alice
What was supposed to be a nap turned into a quick dash. We got back to AKL around 12:45 and needed to be back at the World Pavillion to see Alice at 2 - normal Ash and I, trying to get too much done. Ash wanted us to wear Alice themed shirts and to meet her, and her original intent was that we would stay out of the Florida sun for awhile and then go back, but with the bus schedules we couldn't make it work. Definitely something to consider if you're staying at AKL and want to do a quick trip back to the room... the quick trip won't be that quick. Okay, new shirts and we're off. I have the White Rabbit shirt holding a clock (of course I picked the rabbit running around looking at the clock, I'm a day away from being 40), while Ash is wearing her Alice shirt and matching backpack.
Now Alice only comes out at 2pm, and isn't out for too long, so you have to plan out to see her. We got back into EPCOT and up to Great Britain fairly fast, and had about fifteen minutes to spare. A cast member will accompany her, and they will take pictures with your device, which feels a little weird. Feels like there should be a photopass setup for those that pay for photopass, but there wasn't. Oh well. Alright, Alice pictures in the bag.
Pavillion'ing
Joffrey's - There was a new drink at Joffrey's that Ash wanted. The Dubia Chocolate Capp, which had alcohol in it. Thankfully, it was located next to Alice. She grabbed it, loved it, and crushed it. Nice, one drink down and out.
Morrocco - I looked up and saw the sun disappear. I asked Ash if she felt that rain drop. She did. Okay, gotta make a decision real quick. Duck in somewhere to see if it's gonna downpour or keep pushing and hope it's nothing. Oh, that's the Spice Road Table Bar. I grabbed her by the hand and pulled her in to get a Moroccan Mule. A great cool drink on a hot summer day. And it's not raining. A win win in my book.
America -
You know I wasn't gonna pass this up. It's almost my birthday. It's EPCOT. I told the bartender he was helping me forget about my age, and he was a hero for it. Blackberry Moonshine Me!
Germany - It was hot that day. Mid-nineties, sunny, and EPCOT has no shade. I tried talking Ash out of the Pretzel Bread Pudding, but the glare I received for making such a suggestion will be held against me for five to ten business days. Okay, it's really good, just too heavy for a day like this, at least for me.
Mexico - We missed Gran Fiesta Tour last time, as we had so much crammed in. Honestly, this is my fourth time at EPCOT and the first time I'm riding Gran Fiesta! I didn't even realize there was a ride in Mexico until Ash told me! Is this ride going to change your life? Nope, but it's a fun boat ride through the Aztecan Pyramid that is a good chance to take a load off from the hot summer sun. If you're making your way through the World Showcase, make a quick stop to see Donald and his nephews!
Mexico/Dinner -
It was Mother's Day and Brian and I were going to his Grandma's house to celebrate his dad's birthday, as well as the mom's that make everything possible. As we were driving over, he told me that Ashley and I needed to have "our Disney thing." He explained that before the kids, every trip that he and my sister took, the night before they left they would go to California Grill for dinner. It was their thing, and they miss it. He's right, Ash and I need our thing. I texted her and told her about it, and then she went radio silent. She's scheming...
Well here we are, the Mexican Pavillion and we're about to have dinner at San Angel Inn Restaurante and Ashley lays it on me that this is now our thing. Every trip we take we are going to have a sit down meal at one of the restaurants in the World Showcase. Not a bad call. Keeps it fresh for sure. We're two trips deep this year and have hit up two of the three restuarants at Mexico, and San Angel Inn is delicious.
For starters they brought us chips and salsa, which I felt the salsa at La Hacienda De San Angel (across the street) was better. The let down was short lived as Ashley and I were introduced to the combination of Chicharrones and Guacomole, which is Pork Rinds and Guac. Now I've had pork rinds before, and I found them to be a decent snack, but adding in the guac with them was a new experience. We honestly couldn't stop eating it, and it was to the point we forgot about the chips and salsa (this is considered a sin for our meals)!
Now we had been having a few alcoholic beverages throughout the day and thought it would be best to simply share one during dinner. To that end, we ordered a Margarita Flight, choosing the El Diablo (My choice, and yes, I made this choice in my best Will Ferrell impression from Talledega Nights), The Cucumber, and The Classica, making sure to get a tajin rim where we could. The El Diablo was our favorite, as the Cucumber was a bit dry and off-tart for my taste, not sure how else to explain it. The Classic was decent too, but I think it was simply the spice behind the El Diablo made it the best.
For entrees Ash did the Queso Fundido, because... Ash and dip. I had the Shrimp Taco's, which were fantastic. The plantains on the side were a sweet treat to trade off against the spice of the taco's.
Food aside, the atmosphere of San Angel Inn was perfect. There's such low lighting that it gives a relaxed and romantic feel. For forty-five minutes to an hour you can forget that you're in a park with thousands of your closest friends, and breathe. The Temple is dark, cool, and soothing, all the while folks are jumping onto boats to ride Gran Fiesta Tour with the Three Caballeros. A volcano is softly erupting in the distance, and park shoppers are walking through, giving you a chance to people watch at leisure.
For me, both San Angel Inn and La Hacienda are great stops if you're in the mood for great Mexican food and a chance to give your feet a rest. It probably depends upon the day as to which one I'd choose, but neither will let you down.
China -
Okay, it's about four-thirty now, and we're going to start back tracking. Our first stop is in China to watch Reflections. It was a twenty-minute show where you are surrounded by screens and China is presented to you, from its long history, to a more modern view. It was a good show, and I have a lot of thoughts regarding this show, as well as a few others. I'm going to save them for a post coming in the next week or so. That being said, if you're looking to dodge that summer heat again, make a jump into the China to watch Reflections.
France (part 1) -
Next on our list was France Reflections. We couldn't find it, until I had a good idea and walked up to the Beauty and the Beast sing along. They explained that France Reflections starts after 7pm at the same location. So, quick tip, if you're looking to make it to the Beauty and the Beast sing along, get it on your itinerary before 7pm, but if you want to see France Reflections, you'll have to wait until the evening.
Canada -
So we moved on from France and hiked over to Canada to see Canada Far and Wide. We made our way into the pre-seated area and began waiting. I checked out the weather and saw there was a storm approaching. I did some quick math in my head and realized that when the show let out, we'd be hanging out waiting for the weather to pass. I made a quick suggestion to Ash - we bail on the Far and Wide for now, and make our way to Nemo and the Aquarium. By my math, it would start raining as we got to Nemo, we'd hit the ride and check out the aquarium as the storm passed over, then make our way back to the World Showcase. She thought it over and we made our escape.
The Seas with Nemo & Friends / Aquarium -
A great success! Hit it perfect. Rain drops started falling as we walked in to Nemo, and we heard some thunder from the line. We stayed dry as we danced along with Nemo, Dori, and turtles on their little adventure. I'm fine with being a forty year old kid.
I always enjoy the aquarium, as it's done so well. A hidden mickey to be found, while exotic fish stare at you, then down at the folks at Coral Reef that are chomping down on their brethren. I've eaten there before, and yeah, it's kind of weird to be eating fish while staring at fish.
Anyways, good time as always, as I don't see it in my future where I would be diving to see these wonders, but they are brought to me in an accessible way. Which I believe is the point of EPCOT all together!
Disney and PixarShort Film Festival -
I don't care if you are young or old, please make it a point to see the Short Film Festival. It's only twenty to thirty minutes, and the films are so good. It is located up the ramp from Figment, tucked kind of back and away from everything, so it's kind of easy to miss. Get a Horse is a story about Mickey and serves as a kind of culmination of Disney animation where it starts in black and white, then transitions to 3D, and has a fun atmosphere to it. Piper is about a little baby bird hilariously figuring out how to get food on its own, and its little adventure throughout. Feast is about a dog and its role in the family dynamic (I don't want to give much away, but it's one of my favorites!)
I have a few things to say regarding the experience, but I'll save that for my next post! Anyways, make it a point to duck out of the Florida mid-day heat, or escape a rain shower, and check out the short films. I think they're worth your time.
France (part 2) -
Okay, we hit up Nemo, the aquarium, and did the short film festival, which puts us a little later. We went the long way around to stop by Norway and get Ash her Viking Coffee. With a little fuel in the fire we made our way to France (deciding not to see Canada Far and Wide), and ducked into a showing of France Reflections. Good little show, nothing major. Can easily skip it if you want.
Now coming out of the show I wanted my birthday treat - Cinnamon Carmel Apple Ice Cream from L'Artisan Des Glaces. The air was hot, the line was long, Ash wanted to do something else, but I didn't care. I had this ice cream years ago and fell in love... Oh heartbreak, how I know thee well. No Cinnamon Carmel Apple. Okay, switching off to Caramel Fleur De Sel (Salted Carmel). Now there's a few other options here that you can choose from. First is having your ice cream in a cup, second is the waffle cone, third is having it in a brioche bun that is heated and pressed. I've never done it in a brioche, but I want to try it... it's different. Think of having your ice cream in a croissant, which really isn't for everyone. I should have just stuck with the waffle cone.
Luminous - The Symphony of Us
Ice Cream in hand, Ash is dragging me off to get a decent view of Luminous, which I haven't seen before. We got spots by the Pandora store right at the entrance of the World Showcase, and stoodby for a short period of time before the show began. The lights, the fireworks, and the accompanying music were put together so well. I was reminded that Ash and Benedict (our server from the night before), glowed about the previous show, EPCOT Forever. Wish I would have been able to compare the two, and I guess I'll take their word for it that the previous show was cooler. That being said, was happy with the show, and if you're sticking around till park close, make sure you check it out.
After Hours
Okay, we're staying at a deluxe resort, so we get after hours on top of early entry. It's been a long day, but we're still going. We checked the times for Guardians, which was around 90 minutes. We didn't get Lightning Lanes, with the hope that we would be able to use After Hours to our advantage. We made our way over to Guardians and saw the line. It was hot. It was sticky, and we were tired. With a big sigh we decided to make our way toward the park exit.
As we were walking past Spaceship Earth Ash made a left for us to do some pin shopping. As we went by we saw there wasn't a line for Spaceship Earth. I mean, why not, right? Let the crowds die down, let's catch the next bus. So we did our ride on Spaceship, Dame Judy Dench guiding us through history and into the future - it never gets old. After that we made our way to the pin store. While Ash shopped I made a pit stop, and pulled up the My Disney Experience app. A plan started forming.
I met her in the shop, and we stepped outside. "Ash, the line for Ratatouille is 30 minutes, the one for frozen is 45. We could make a hike up there, hit those two rides, then possibly squeeze in Guardians before the park close."
She looked at me, mulled it over, and we were off! Back to the World Showcase. On our way I stopped at the Canada Popcorn Stand and like Popeye getting spinach, I refueled... with an Ottawa Apple (my liver hates EPCOT). We got to Ratatouille a few minutes later,
and though the line said 25 minutes, we got on in fifteen. I always enjoy this ride.
Okay, now we need to make our way to Norway for Frozen...and... Well that's interesting. Keep this in mind, during After Hours you cannot walk around the World Showcase. They stop you at France, and if you want to go to Frozen you have to walk the whole way around.
I checked the time for Guardians, which was now two hours. Frozen was twenty-five. It's now 10:15, after hours ends at 11. It's time to call it a night. We started making our way back to the busses. I grabbed Ashley's hand and smiled. "We're officially done right?" I asked as we went over the bridge from France and down the ramp into Great Britain.
"Yup," She replied with a tired yawn.
Before she could react, I let go of her hand ran into the Rose & Crown. By the time she caught up with me I already had a Leaping Leprechaun in hand. She shook her head with a laugh, took a sip, and we calmly made our way through the park.
It was a long wait for the bus, and Ash fell asleep as we rode back. A great day, a different day, and one I wouldn't trade for anything. When we got to bed it was 11:55, and five minutes later Ash was the first one tell me happy birthday. Oh dear. I'm officially 40.
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