I agree! That would totally make sense! I wish they could install screens before and after the greenhouses, so they could keep them updated with current methods and stuff!
Ok, you are seriously the best at Selfies! I suck so much - I need to take a class in how you manage it!
It says "NON-SCENTS"
Love those little touches!
An obligatory annual selfie where we were married:
We sauntered (I’m learning from @Steppesister!) back toward Future World, taking photos along the way.
Welcome back! And I agree....love this ride, and great idea to add a climate change angle. Looking forward to the rest of your TR (as much as you can remember anyway!).
I love the ride and would want it to keep its original purpose and vibe, but a little facelift with some new innovations would be exciting 
Welcome back!
Sounds like a great morning and evening at Epcot! That was a sweet idea to celebrate your anniversary in the place you got married! I'm sorry the meal was so lackluster though.
Yay, you're back...again!
Loving the way you spent your anniversary. I am definitely thinking about a GG early a.m. breakfast for our trip in December just to do this very type of park touring day. Sounds like it worked out very well for you!
It's one of my favourite little fun facts about us, and it really makes visiting this part of EPCOT extra special.
Thanks so much! I never feel that way, but we're our own worst critics. I think the secret is that I just take SO many that there are bound to be a few good ones, and the terrible ones don't usually make it to the trip report. I'm trying to get better and better at positioning my head in a flattering non-double-chin kinda way where you can't see up my nose, and looking into the camera. It's easy to smile nicely when you're in the happiest place on earth 
Dark, dark indeed. But then there sprang a pink haired light....Hey friends! Remember that time that your good Disfriend Meghan disappeared from the face of the Dis for three months?It was a truly dark time in trip reporting history, I know. Let’s not talk about it. I’m home now—that’s what matters.
Cause what parent doesn't say that at least 10 times a day“I’m Gonna Beat Him With a Stick!”
Aug. 17—Part 2
Yeah…I have no idea what the context was for that quote, or when it was said, except that I remember it was said by a parent.
You look amazing no matter what they hair, but I rememberer last summer Casey caught a look at our hair on facebook and has been petitioning for pink hair ever since
Oh my goodness, I forgot how cool it was to have pink hair!I miss it very much these days.
Yes everything is set by me and the world better just accept it
How have I never seen this on the millions of trips Casey has been us take on this ride. I'll totally have to be "cool" Mom and point this out next time
It says "NON-SCENTS"
I have never been on 192 but it looks like such horrible cheesy gloriness that I would adore how bad/good it really is(Passing several of the classic 192 gift shops that look like they should be adult entertainment stores to get there.)
Dinner of champions!!!
Sorry your anniversary experience didn't live up to past ones. So often a meal can have so much influence its hard to have it stand the test of time.
Hi, Space Jesus! (Thank you so much for bringing this into my life, @pepperandchips!)
[/QUOTE
Yes, we all thank you!
I find as I get older, I like EPCOT more, but you're not old like me.
Yep. I'm not pleased. The rumour is that it will be replaced with a beer garden. Last time I checked, there were plenty of pretty places to drink alcohol in EPCOT without tearing down an integral part of its history.
Wow, I feel famous!
But it was a lot of fun. *waves from the other side of Canada *
Following along!
I’ve never actually eaten at Le Cellier, I’ve looked at the menu a couple times but the idea that I’m paying extra for my meat to fly down and meet me in Florida always makes me give it a pass
Have you tried the GF churros at Nomad lounge? They are my GF must do at WDW
I think there are a lot of contributing factors. But having been married there certainly helps 
But what do I know? 
You already were famous.
But... You are the only people I know that have been married there.
On the few occasions where we've passed by the gazebo at Beach Club, I also always mention Fallon and Luke's wedding, since they're the only people I know who were married there.
Totally. That sounds like the Walt I've heard so much about. I'll stay off my soap box today, (no promises for tomorrow, or the next day!) But my main thought on this, other than that it's a pretty fountain that should stick around, is that at a time when we're seeing so much division in the world, it would be pretty cool for Disney to continue to value symbols of togetherness and multiculturalism, especially when they play such an important role in a park's history.
So... that whole "staying off your soap box"...
(but I agree with you)
By now you should know that I can never keep my mouth shut!
We were on our way to the beautiful paradise that is Discovery Cove, and I was still sleepy because we had to leave shortly after 6am, so I dozed while N drove with the help of his GPS...until I awoke to this sight:
"So....is this it?" N asked, forgetting what the entrance to the park looked like. I assured him that this was certainly NOT "it." ("PRETTY SURE WHEN YOU GO TO DISCOVERY COVE THERE'S A BIG SIGN AT THE FRONT THAT SAYS 'DISCOVERY COVE,' HONEY!" was briefly going to be the name of the trip report, for the record. ) We turned around, got our bearings, and shortly after found ourselves pulling in here, instead:
I was admiring how my pretty rose gold vacation nails were glittering under the water...
I will say that N and I are both very fortunate to live our lives with a huge amount of privilege. We're comfortably middle-class folks, childless and in the process of becoming well-educated, N works at a job he enjoys that typically pays the bills, and we are able to put money aside for some pretty awesome vacations. These are luxuries that many people don't get to enjoy, and I don't take that for granted. But woah... For the rest of the trip, whenever we did something extravagant that felt a little bougie, whether it was a Disney tour, or just ordering a fancy dessert, we'd make sure nobody around us was listening, then look down our noses at each other, guffaw, and croon, "Makes you wonder what the poor people are doing!" 
Sounds like N had the same GPS as @Steppesister uber driver."Sorry, I Don't Work Here."
AKA: "Makes You Wonder What the Poor People Are Doing..."
Aug. 18—Part 1
I promise you that we were not the ones who said that second quote. But it was so surprising and appalling that we kept going back to it again and again during the trip! I will explain...
So this day actually began with a little unplanned field trip! ...to, I believe, a fire station.
Somehow N had managed to take us...here?
Much better!
I wish every morning looked like this...
It was going to be a beautiful day!
We arrived at Discovery Cove at 6:35am because we had signed up for an extra experience that took place first thing in the morning before the rest of the park opened. But when we got inside there was nobody there! We hung out for a few minutes, and then checked in. We were supposed to be doing ray feeding, which was supposed to start at 7am, and we were told to arrive early. 7:00 came and went, and I was beginning to get nervous. We tried to enjoy the view while we waited—not difficult to do in a place like this!—and N had a cup of complimentary coffee.
A few other people were beginning to gather at this time, and they all looked like the kinda folks who would also feed rays, so I figured at least we were in the right place. There was a parent with a small child waiting around close to where we were, and the child kept trying to get all up in their grill and tell them things. The parent (I think it was a mom? Seems right in my head...) said, "Yes. I understand that. But personal space!" I also considered this as a trip report title...and also maybe just the title of my life in general. Finally, at 7:20, a DC employee came to meet us all for our ray feeding.
We were given wetsuits, and we took them to the bathrooms to change.
Then they fit us for the proper size gloves, and gave us some direction about what to expect that morning. I don't have any photos of this because cameras aren't allowed, and because we wanted to just participate and enjoy the moment without worrying about documenting it. First we observed a southern ray feeding, and we were able to pet the ray as it swam by. These rays are super large—5 to 6ft wide. Then we fed little silver fish to the smaller rays. Their teeth aren't like ours, and they didn't "bite" us with them, but their mouths/jaws are still very strong! They suck the fish into their mouths, so we were taught to make a fist holding the fish, so that half the fish stuck up out of our hand. Then when the ray sucked the fish into its mouth, we would let go. It was a super neat experience, and one that I'm so glad we decided to try! Afterwards we also fed some of the fish with a mix that they called "fish jello." It contained shrimp, fish, and a nutrient-rich gel of some sort.
After the marine animals had their breakfast, it was time for us to do the same. N went to get in the line, which now was snaking through the whole queue around and a fair distance outside the building.
At the same time, I went to talk to the chef about my allergies. Chef Renee was absolutely super (better than the chef who had helped me the previous year by far,) and she went out back to get me eggs, bacon, sausage, and some fruit. For the first time ever on vacation, I actually had my allergy-safe food before N got his regular food!! I was almost feeling bad about it while everyone else had to wait in a long line, but then N reminded me of how I have to wait an extra 15-20 minutes at most every quick service place at Disney while everyone else gets their food in minutes, and then I decided that it was more than fair.
In the five minutes or less that I was waiting for Renee for my food, I stood in the area at the end of the food line, waiting around in my black and yellow DC wetsuit. I had my lanyard around my neck that showed I was a guest of the park. And I don't think I looked particularly professional. And yet...four different people, on four separate occasions, asked me to do things for them as if I worked there. The napkins were gone, could I refill them? Sorry, I don't work here, I don't know where anything is. Can you get me a cup of juice? Sorry, I don't work here, but you're welcome to get some yourself at the pop machine just outside these doors. I need a fork! Sorry, I don't work here. I'd like a coffee. I'm sure you would, but sorry, I don't work here.
At first I assumed this was just because I was the only one in the area in a wetsuit, but it happened again later a couple of times throughout the day. And also, most of the people in the area who DID work there were not wearing a wetsuit. And you'd think that even if I DID work there, if I was wearing a wetsuit I probably would be working in the water with animals and might not be the first person you'd want to call on to get your juice anyway! What if I'd just given medicine to a shark or something and hadn't washed my hands!? Anyway, maybe people who have pink hair just seem like the kinda spunky people who would work in marine biology? Or maybe I just look super at home in a soggy clingy wetsuit? Or maybe people are just demanding and I just always happened to be in front of them when they decided they wanted something. Some of them were quite rude, too. It gave me a new appreciation for employees at Discovery Cove and other theme parks. And it also lends a bit of clarity to the attitude of the gentleman we'd meet later who was responsible for that horrendous quote...but, I digress. Either way, it was kinda funny, and for the rest of the day we joked about my new job at DC. (Also, I joke...but if Discovery Cove wants to hire me and sponsor my Visa, I'm SO IN!)
Chef Renee came back with my breakfast and asked where my family was sitting. I told her that N was still in line, so she WENT AND GOT HIS BREAKFAST TOO SO WE COULD EAT TOGETHER!! Above and beyond, I tell you! When I told her we were fine without special treatment, she replied that "it's not special treatment; it's fair treatment." She told me how she knew that allergy diners almost always have to wait for each other's food to get cold, or eat separately, so if she can help people avoid that at DC then she's happy to. I found N in the line—he'd barely moved inside the building at that point—and we joined Renee outside where she was putting both our breakfasts on a table.
After breakfast, we hit the aviary. This is our typical plan of attack at Discovery Cove: eat early, do the aviary (before the water opens up, before it gets too hot to be out of the water anyway, and while the birds are still hungry,) and then go get wet.
There we got what my notes referred to as a "shoulder bird." She's one of the older birds at DC, and has become quite fond of people, partly due to how she was hand-raised. She wasn't even in it for the little cups of peas and mush the other birds were eating. According to my notes: "She was a carnivore, but just liked to cuddle."
Then it was time to hit the lazy river. We started out, not tooooo "lazy," by swimming a lap without noodles while we still had the energy. Parts of the lazy river reach a depth of 8ft though, so by the time we came around for a second lap, we were ready to take up some noodles and go for a leisurely float.
I took a break for my first of many ICEEs. My philosophy is that if it's included, I'll drink my ICEE fill.
We did go snorkeling in the Grand Reef next, but of course I don't have any decent pictures of actual marine life. It was lovely, albeit chilly, and the fish were mesmerizing.
Since we'd been up so early, we decided on an early lunch around 11:00. N managed to end up with a little bit of everything, which turned out to be a good thing since some of the food items were better/worse than others.
After Chef Renee gave me a list of options, I asked her to make me a pulled pork sandwich on a gluten free bun with some veggies. N snagged me some fruit from the line as he went through.
This wasn't anything special, but it was fine, and it gave us some energy to set out once more into the water. We saw the marmosets, though naturally, I have no pictures. We did a bit more of the lazy river, and then I went to the freshwater oasis to lounge in the shallow water for a bit. I have no recollection what N did at that time, just that I hung out there for a bit while I waited for him, and eventually he joined me there. He may have been doing a bit more snorkelling at the Grand Reef, but I'm not sure.
The oasis really was...well...an oasis! I could have hung out there for quite some time.
But eventually N returned, and we were both starting to feel a little played out with our early morning and all the swimming we'd done. We decided to take some showers and change, and then grab a few more snacks and drinks before leaving. We found some nice chairs back in the shade where we could enjoy this view:
I swear, I'll never get tired of languorous palm trees and azure skies as long as I live.
I grabbed a bag of chips and an ICEE. N doesn't drink often, partly because it usually doesn't really appeal to him, and I think partly because he knows I'm perpetually sober and he wants to support me. But he does, however, occasionally enjoy a nice stereotypically "girly" drink. Since I know this about him, I pressured him only slightly until he decided to try the mango daquiri and the pina colada. They're just pre-made slush drinks from a machine, but he liked both, and I think he preferred the pina colada slightly. (In case you're curious, he also likes getting caught in the rain.)
While we were sitting relaxing, an older gentleman working there sweeping the sand struck up a conversation with us. (P.S. when I retire, I definitely want to work as a sand sweeper at DC! None of that Walmart greeting for me! I want to spend my days in the sun with after-work-access to bottomless ICEEs!) He was chatting with us about where we were from, whether we'd been to DC before, etc. The usual stuff. It started getting weird though when he made repeated comments about how nice and relaxed we looked, sitting in the shade with our drinks, nothing but time to kill, must be nice, etc. Then he sighed and said, "...makes you wonder what the poor people are doing."
Ummm...
How does one even respond to that!?!
It was so strange. We couldn't quite tell whether he felt like we were part of his in-group, or the out-group. Like, did he feel like we three were all wealthy people, and we were speculating about the difficult lives of the underprivileged? Was he expressing that he was of a lower SES than us, and thinking that N and I are made of money, he was trying to subtly shame us for having an extravagant vacation? Was it supposed to be a joke? Or serious? Either way, his comment clearly seemed to indicate that N and I were the opposite of "the poor people." In my shock, I managed to make some kind of comment to clarify that N and I don't get to live like this very often. The whole thing just felt very uncomfortable. Maybe, like I saw earlier at the breakfast line, this gentleman had a little too much experience with entitled park guests, and now assumed that everyone at DC was wealthy and entitled and deserved to be called out about it. I really don't know.
We finished up at Discovery Cove, made a couple of small souvenir purchases, and headed back to the resort for a short rest.
While at the resort, I dyed my hair a slightly darker and more obnoxious shade of cotton candy pink, in prep for my MNSSHP costume the following week. And after some R&R, we were getting to hit the Disney parks again that evening.
N reminded me of how I have to wait an extra 15-20 minutes at most every quick service place at Disney while everyone else gets their food in minutes, and then I decided that it was more than fair.
I bet! I would too!I was admiring how my pretty rose gold vacation nails were glittering under the water...
I swear, I'll never get tired of languorous palm trees and azure skies as long as I live.
"I'd like to work here?"
Though on the issue of having half a brain...I won't comment on that one...Just love the taste of pineapple and coconut and it being cold. I don't drink much and still good without the alcohol. So, I guess...I like pineapple/coconut slurpees.
As you should! It's a good flavour combo.
But in the words of Stitch: Still good, yeah, still good! You had me going for a second there. And I would have been inclined to believe you because I know nothing about sharks because I do NOT work at Discovery Cove.
"Here's your apron. Go peel shrimp. Don't come out until you've done 800lbs. See you next week."
I didn't notice this at all until now!
No firehall.
Ah!And here I thought I'd forgotten to take pictures of this bit, but somehow you managed to find this actual photo of the actual fish jello!
