Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Trip Report Tuesday - WDW Day 11 Part 1 // Epcot Fun and Scrumptiousness + a Sweet Surprise!

Happy Trip Report Tuesday, friends!  Let's get right to the good stuff!

Day 11 - Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Our morning began under cloudy skies, but our outlook on the day couldn't have been brighter as we boarded a monorail to Epcot.



I always love passing through the passholder line.



We kicked off our park time with the darling Remi's Ratatouille Adventure.



In queue artwork

We exited this adorable ride and opted to linger in the France pavilion for breakfast at Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie.  A meal here is an absolute must for us each trip.  Allow me the pleasure of taking you inside for a snapshot style stroll by their cases of scrumptiousness and you'll see exactly why we love this place oh so much.










You cannot go wrong here.  Each and every option is well worth ordering and offers guests the opportunity to savor the flavor of France right here in Epcot!



These are some of the best chocolate chip cookies I've tasted in my life!


Jason and I enjoyed one of these apple filled pastries on our daughter's birthday.  Yum!



Their chocolate and hazelnut filled beignets and créme brûlées are both amazing options.  We'll take one of each, please and thank you!




This visit Jason and I went with the croissant jambon fromage (ham, cheese, and béchamel in a croissant).  It's always a winner!  Our oldest chose a big beautiful beignet while our youngest enjoyed the simple staple she can never resist, a half baguette fresh from the oven.




Dessert at breakfast is a sweet reminder that this is vacation!






We made our way out of the France pavilion fully satisfied and ready to move after a big, filling breakfast.  I absolutely love walking through World Showcase in the morning before the hustle and bustle of the crowds pick up and the entire area is hopping.


We popped into The American Adventure building to enjoy some of the artwork and The Soul of Jazz exhibit that celebrates the genre, featuring instruments and photos of some of our favorites like Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. 























A rainy day at Disney is better than a dry one elsewhere. :)

Gran Fiesta Tour time!




I always smile seeing Donald smitten and smooched as we float on by.












While in Mexico we stopped into La Princesa de Cristal to appreciate all the masterfully created glass blown art pieces.




Soon we were passing under the banners of Arendelle to visit Anna, Elsa, and friends at Frozen Ever After.  



  
As we exited the ride we were in for the sweetest surprise!  If you've been following along with the adventures of this trip you may remember that on day 2 I shared about how my aunt and uncle were also vacationing at WDW on this same week in Mid-October.  We had the joy of spending part of our first night in the parks catching up with them as we chatted and rode our way through the amazing attractions of The Land pavilion.  On this, the final morning of their vacation, my aunt texted inquiring of our whereabouts.  As we departed the ride that lets out into a gift shop (naturally) we found the friendliest faces there greeting us!  No, I'm not talking about the giant "Forgetful Troll" that resides in the shop and the tiny trolls for sale that surround him.  Far better yet, we were greeted by the sweet smiles of my aunt and uncle!  What a treat it was to see two of my favorite people in the world once again in our mutual happy place!  It meant so much to us that they took time out of their final morning at WDW to meet up with us once again to exchange a few more stories and hugs before they finished off their time in the parks and boarded a flight homeward.  When we parted ways my heart was so full!  It was yet another highlight from this trip that I will forever cherish.  

Next we made our way to the Disney Vacation Club lounge, just up the stairs from the Journey Into Imagination with Figment attraction.  Here DVC members enjoy the fun perk of a comfortable, air conditioned seating area where they can enjoy complimentary Coke freestyle beverages and snacks.  My favorite part of this lounge is the unique view of the park's icon out of the big beautiful windows. 

I tried the flavor that my aunt was obsessed with that week, ginger Diet Coke.  It's always fun to try something new from the freestyle selections.  It was pretty tasty!





There she is in all her beauty, Spaceship Earth!


We were able to get into the virtual queue for a time slot to ride on Guardians of the Galaxy.


As you can see, my silly sweeties were beyond excited to experience this ride again!


The second time on this ride was every bit as fun as the first!  This time around we rode to the sounds of Gloria Estefan's Conga!  So fun!


On this particular day our family would be pairing off for lunch dates.  As the girls headed one way for some sister time, Jason and I made our way toward the Italy pavilion.  It was nearly time for our lunch reservation, but whenever we spot Mariachi Cobre performing we must stop and enjoy a bit of their beautiful musicianship!  


My favorite date spot in Epcot is hands down, Via Napoli!  Bring on the pizza pie and time alone with my favorite guy!  






We were sitting near windows that looked out at statues of well dressed animals.  I inquired with our server about the story behind them.  She told us that they represent different professions in Italy of the past.  I love that so much thought and attention is given to spaces within these pavilions that could simply be left bare, but instead are enriched by cultural details.










I had the best views in the place, both across the table and on it!

Our favorite pizza order is half quattro formaggi, half pepperoni.  It's perfection!


A snapshot to show the scale of this massive pizza masterpiece!  We didn't finish it but we made a good dent and it was money well spent!







We met back up with the girls and grabbed a monorail together back to our home sweet vacation home for the week.

On vacation time

After some rest and relaxation my youngest love decided that a cupcake sounded fantastic.  The two of us bopped on down to the quick service spot here to check out their selection.




Can't go wrong with a sprinkle topped, Mickey ear sporting, cute confection.



Thanks so much for being here today!  I look forward to sharing the second half of this sweet day with you next Trip Report Tuesday.  Meanwhile, have yourself a wonderful week!


3 comments:

  1. Gotta love Epcot and the Disney details!

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  2. I just love that you were able to meet up with your aunt and uncle again! What a special surprise! And that cupcake looks especially delicious after that pizza! My mouth is watering! :)

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  3. Les nourritures à l’air merveilleuses et délicieuses! France is my favorite place to dine at EPCOT! You are right that every choice there is a good choice! Seeing all of you on our last vacation day made for a perfect ending to a perfect trip!

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