The ABCs of An EPIC Girls' Trip! May, 2019-Q is for: Quietly Sending this Trip Report off Into an Internet Sunset (8/25)

[Steppesister]

Your Alice painting is beautiful. I like all the details in the Thomas Kindade artwork. I like doing the Disney puzzles. Not near as nice as your artwork.

Thanks, Vanessa! I love the details too and I love that one really has to study it to see it all.

 

[Steppesister]

1.) This whole experience sounds terrific....most especially because it was within a normal price range!!! This is outstanding value for anything even sort of authentic at Disney!
2.) I love that he is wearing a Magic Band!!

I would consider it so much more than "buying a painting". I spent nearly an hour total in choosing it, waiting for my turn, talking to the artist, watching him sketch, etc... it was just great. And yes, something the average guest could swing.

LOL! Yes, we alll wondered (earlier posters) if maybe he needed it for a resort room or dining plan or something like that. ??

 

[pkondz]

Apparently, we are.

Okay, now I gotta know... favorite art genre?

<points> That one over there!

Yes, I think we actually ARE.

well... I am.

That is the problem with starving artists. Although I somehow doubt anyone at the Kincaid studio is doing so.

No. I would think not.

Oh sure, call me out.

You're welcome!

I like that one too, but I think it's smaller?

I have no clue! Maybe?

NO, it's true, I looked between my toes the other day. Granted I walked outside barefoot, but there is plausible evidence of old (as) dirt.

Nah, I'm not a shopper.

Your actions betray you.

I didn't like the Ariel one because Dude was in it. He's such a bore.

Yeah, he's a dud. And after my girl, too.

That's code for "well paid".

I believe that!

The answer to your question can be found by dialing 1-800-MY-THIGHS

HA!! I just told someone else that! The look on people's faces would be priceless!

You have! (Remember my last TR?)

That's right!

YES! And he was so, so nice. Easy conversation and so personable.

No really it was helpful. I could use it for process of elimination

**Not to be confused with a week of Disney food or Canadian border crossing.

 

[Steppesister]

Dear Liesa,

Once upon a time I was doing very well keeping up to date with your wonderful stories.
Then the evil overlords at my company requested my presence at some training in Houston the last week of May.
Never one to turn down travel (as if I had a choice) I went along to Houston, knowing full well that the most I would see of the city would be my hotel and a conference room - I was right. Although I did manage to get out for some very nice southern barbecue one night. (Luckily I had spent 5 weeks in Houston about 16 years ago, so I was able to get around the city and see the sights then, so I wasn't too disappointed).
Anyway, upon returning from that journey, despite being away for only 4 days, it seemed like 40 days of work had piled up while I was gone, and I've spent most of that time trying to catch up. That included your trip report which, as of today, I can finally say I have caught up on.
Sadly, the opportunity for any witty banter and replies is not in the cards.
I will say that I am glad to hear your mom was OK after that night.
I can only hope to reset from here on. Just wanted to let you know I am still reading along and enjoying it.

We've ALL been in your shoes at one time or another, Jeff. Don't worry at all about it. When I'm super behind, I too go with the "I've read and will try to do more when I can" card. We all understand and are just thankful when the MIA come back and check in!

 

[Steppesister]

<points> That one over there!

Oh thanks for that NON answer.

well... I am.

Does Ariel have a big butt?

Your actions betray you.

Shush you.

Yeah, he's a dud. And after my girl, too.

Do you have an extra dinglehopper laying around? You could use it for a well aimed eye poking on him.

 

[pkondz]

Oh thanks for that NON answer.

Okay.
I don't know if I have a genre. I just know that on occasion, I'll see something I like... in any medium.
One item that I really regret not getting (because it was $2,000) was a sculpture made out of a whale or walrus bone. It was so ugly that it was breathtakingly beautiful.

Does Ariel have a big butt?

I cannot lie.
I don't know. Hard to tell under those scales.

Shush you.

Do you have an extra dinglehopper laying around? You could use it for a well aimed eye poking on him.

Actually... I told her to do that.

 

[MeghanEmily]

My excursion through the flaming ruins was full of high drama as it always it. The pirates never seem to get the mayor to actually drown, the women never catch their men, and the prisoners are still trying to grasp the key to life. It's like a daytime drama called As the World Burns.

This is my new favourite thing!

Ask her what she sees.” I did, and she told me all about the Hidden Pascal Game. Well!!! That was perfect!!! I LOVE the Disney scavenger hunts around the properties and this was a brilliant way to use up the 30 minutes I had until my FP for HM, so I spent the next while finding 7 of the supposed 10 Pascals around the Tangled Tinkle Area. For those of you who don’t know about this cute little game, there are “10” (rumor is there are 10, but most websites/blogs I’ve looked at since returning show 7 or so in photos- the same number I found) camouflaged Pascals in the landscaping, on trees, lightposts, flowerboxes, etc.. Some are majorly hard!

Some ARE majorly hard! How fun that you got the chance to give it a try. You found a lot of them!

****SPOILER ALERT!!! IF YOU WANT TO PLAY THIS NEXT TIME YOU'RE THERE, SCROLL PAST!!!!!!****

I did scroll. I'm still looking for many of them and don't wanna cheat just yet.

Tiffins was too spendy this time around for Mom, but I knew we’d all want a sit down meal with air conditioning. I came close and found conditioned air. See?

This is always a nice choice for when Tiffins is too spendy.

Jenn ordered the Ahi Nachos. When it arrived, I think all 4 of us had a paroxysm at the size of it. It was enormous and I thought for SURE we’d not even make a small dent in it!

This is massive!! It's what Nathan likes to order, as well. And it's an entire meal in itself, and a very large one at that. I think the only thing that makes it slightly more manageable is that there's a fair portion of greens, which shrinks down after eating to take up less stomach space.

About the time we got our food, I turned around and noticed a lady and her 2 grown kids had stolen my other table and found a choice word in jest for them. I had literally just joked to the girls at my table, “XX stole my table!!!!” and I’m not even exaggerating, 2 seconds later, I realized …


IT WAS KELLY!!! @cinderkelly

This is hilarious!!

At some point, I made a comment that I loved the raw/seared ahi in the nachos and Jenn chimed in saying, “I don’t think so, I don’t do raw fish! I wouldn’t have ordered it if I thought so!”. “Ummm, that’s what seared ahi is, Jenn! LOL!”

That's definitely what seared ahi tuna is. But good that she enjoyed it! First stop, ahi nachos...soon enough, Jenn will be eating raw sushi like a pro!

Would I hurry back to Yuck and Yeti? Probably not as I've done it 3 times now and I have loads of other places on my radar. I know it's more expensive, but I think I'd head to Jiko again before I'd do Y&Y again.

Fair review! We do enjoy it, but don't feel like it's a Must Do every trip.

First off, I hate the new (far fewer!) color choices. I liked my trademark blue.

I'm not a fan either. Having a bit of trouble adjusting to the new Dis, to be honest. But I may have taken a screenshot of an old TR post on my own thread and checked the HEX code on a website in order to be able to keep close to the same colour. I'm sure there are much easier ways to do it, but that's the weird roundabout way I did it and now I have it.

It wasn’t long before it became apparent that Mom was indeed going to pass out, so a few of us eased her to the ground. She came around fairly quickly, and by the time she did, the EMTs showed up. THEY ARE FAST!!! Then again, all sense of time was lost on me and I have no idea how much time had passed by now. None. @disneyAndi14 , one of the other EPIC Nurses was also nearby and lent a professional hand as well. A collaborative effort is always better in circumstances like that!

Oh my goodness, scary indeed! I'm so glad that she was okay. If anything were to happen to me, medically, on a Disney trip though, I'd want it to be on that EPIC trip with all the Dis nurses who were in attendance! It sounds like she was well taken care of, between the EMTs and all the kind and knowledgeable friends.

in the end we speculated that a recent change of her blood pressure meds, combined with the oppressive Florida heat and humiditiy she isn’t used to, the cocktail she had, the excitement and lack of rest created a perfect $hit$torm that led to the Great Monorail Platform Spectacle of 2019.

This makes sense. But still scary! I have yet to pass out on a Disney trip *knock on wood!* but I feel I've come pretty close before on a really hot and humid day. Again, so glad she was okay.

I never spent very long in AoD, but one display caught my attention: A Thomas Kincaid Galleries collection with some small gallery-wrapped canvas works- not original paintings, but they sure look and feel real.

Beautiful! I love Thomas Kincaid. I have a calendar with images of his Disney paintings. We would love to buy a canvas or two someday! I really like the one you picked, too!

I like and identify with a lot of characters depending on my mood at the time, ranging from Sleeping Beauty every Monday morning, to Winnie the Pooh on Taco Tuesdays, to Ursula when my phone flips the camera to selfie accidently.

I thanked him profusely, then the CM snapped a few photos to commemorate the occasion. It was a BLAST!!

​

What an amazing experience! Totally worth the investment.

 

[tundra1]

Congratulations! It took me 56 years to finally break down and do the same thing! I purchased three beautiful framed (and signed by the artist day of purchase) 6x6 photos of purple flowers, which are proudly displayed in my office at work. Every day they bring a smile to my face! And drawing Tink on the back... what a special way to commemorate the event!

 

[Malia78]

Really enjoyed the Alice art story...didn't know you had picked that up.

You've taken the first steps down that path...be careful not to end up like me with a whole table 5 layers deep if art work waiting to be framed and hung (just waiting on that second house with additional wall space )

 

[Steppesister]

Okay.
I don't know if I have a genre. I just know that on occasion, I'll see something I like... in any medium.
One item that I really regret not getting (because it was $2,000) was a sculpture made out of a whale or walrus bone. It was so ugly that it was breathtakingly beautiful.

I"ve had those that "got away" too. I remember a REALLY nice painting in a galllery that I super liked of poppies but was just out of our price range. Made me sad.

I cannot lie.
I don't know. Hard to tell under those scales.

Well I hear if you telll her you love her she'll grow legs. Not sure how the magical kiss affects her derrier though.

Actually... I told her to do that.

OH!! Well there ya go!

 

[pkondz]

I"ve had those that "got away" too. I remember a REALLY nice painting in a galllery that I super liked of poppies but was just out of our price range. Made me sad.

I guess we can't always get that painting or sculpture that we really want.
Hmmm... does that mean we have good taste? Or expensive taste?

Well I hear if you telll her you love her she'll grow legs. Not sure how the magical kiss affects her derrier though.

 

[Poolrat]

Welcome to the new Boards, All! Happy getting used to it... LOL!

Another change... Peeking to in to see all the shenanigans !

 

[Steppesister]

This is my new favourite thing!

On your next episode of As the World Burns: A handsome ladie's man is seen browsing the dresses for his alter ego...

Some ARE majorly hard! How fun that you got the chance to give it a try. You found a lot of them!

I did scroll. I'm still looking for many of them and don't wanna cheat just yet.

Good hunting!

This is always a nice choice for when Tiffins is too spendy.

I guess in that park it comes down to:

1. Do you have time to leave the park and come back? If so? Sanaa or Jiko
If not, you are stuck with these:

Yuck and Yeti
Flame Tree
Nomad
Satuli
Harambe (not really very good IMHO)
Tusker
Tiffins
Pizzafari (gross)
and Tiffins

Like buffets? Tusker
Have some extra cash? Tiffins by a long shot
In a hurry and adults? Nomad
In a hurry and have kids and don't need AC? Flame Tree
Need 2 meals in that park? Satuli and Tiffins or Satuli and Y&Y depending on budget


Of course, snacking your way all day is also a VERY acceptable option; My picks: Egg rolls from Y&Y take out, Fried rice from I can't remember but it's there, 8 Spoons Mac n Cheese, a frozen chai latte from Anandapur Tea Company and the kids kale/chicken bowl at Satuli.

So there ya have it, a nice little algorithm fo y'all.... You're welcome.

This is massive!! It's what Nathan likes to order, as well. And it's an entire meal in itself, and a very large one at that. I think the only thing that makes it slightly more manageable is that there's a fair portion of greens, which shrinks down after eating to take up less stomach space.

Sooooooooo huge!!! And not bad at all!

This is hilarious!!

We certainly got quite a bit of laughter out of it!

That's definitely what seared ahi tuna is. But good that she enjoyed it! First stop, ahi nachos...soon enough, Jenn will be eating raw sushi like a pro!

I think most people get hung up on the thought of it or the texture- both valid issues. It's like pudding for me. blech!

Fair review! We do enjoy it, but don't feel like it's a Must Do every trip.

Yes! See ^^

I'm not a fan either. Having a bit of trouble adjusting to the new Dis, to be honest. But I may have taken a screenshot of an old TR post on my own thread and checked the HEX code on a website in order to be able to keep close to the same colour. I'm sure there are much easier ways to do it, but that's the weird roundabout way I did it and now I have it.

I had someone explain to me too on how to keep my color. I liked it and was sad to think I had like 8 colors to pick from.

Oh my goodness, scary indeed! I'm so glad that she was okay. If anything were to happen to me, medically, on a Disney trip though, I'd want it to be on that EPIC trip with all the Dis nurses who were in attendance! It sounds like she was well taken care of, between the EMTs and all the kind and knowledgeable friends.

I'm glad it was simply a memory we can look back on with a happy ending.

This makes sense. But still scary! I have yet to pass out on a Disney trip *knock on wood!* but I feel I've come pretty close before on a really hot and humid day. Again, so glad she was okay.

Thanks, Meghan!

Beautiful! I love Thomas Kincaid. I have a calendar with images of his Disney paintings. We would love to buy a canvas or two someday! I really like the one you picked, too!

I hope you can get one someday!! The price was right this day.

What an amazing experience! Totally worth the investment.

Made the purchase FAR more valuable than face value!

 

[Steppesister]

Congratulations! It took me 56 years to finally break down and do the same thing! I purchased three beautiful framed (and signed by the artist day of purchase) 6x6 photos of purple flowers, which are proudly displayed in my office at work. Every day they bring a smile to my face! And drawing Tink on the back... what a special way to commemorate the event!

Nice!! Art is such a personal thing and such a great reflection of not only the artist but the purchaser too. I never thought about that before!

I love the sketch on the back and have turned it over for a week of seeing that.

 

[Steppesister]

Really enjoyed the Alice art story...didn't know you had picked that up.

You've taken the first steps down that path...be careful not to end up like me with a whole table 5 layers deep if art work waiting to be framed and hung (just waiting on that second house with additional wall space )

I've SEEN that table!! You have some work to do, Girl!!

Have you seen the web-based companies that will make partially assembled frames to fit? WAY more affordable. You just give them dimensions and they send you the stuff and instructions to finish. Might be a more affordable option to get those done. Then you could hang them as rotating pieces.

 

[Steppesister]

I guess we can't always get that painting or sculpture that we really want.
Hmmm... does that mean we have good taste? Or expensive taste?

It means my bank account demands discrimination.

Another change... Peeking to in to see all the shenanigans !

Sigh... yes. But it's WAY more user friendly than the last update!

 

[Steppesister]

B is for: The Birds, Bees, Butterflies, Blooms and Hot Babes of EPCOT!​

I like birds, I like bees.
Give me more, if you please.

Heh, I got plenty this last trip… birds, bees, butterflies, and best of all BLOOMS! Let’s tiptoe through the tulips, so to speak, and take a romp through the gardens! Flowers and Gardens to be exact.

​

I spent several blocks of time at EPCOT’s Festival this trip and each one was unique as I focused on different things each saunter through. One stroll focused on topiaries, another on the food offerings, and yet another on the gardens and flowers. I LOVE this festival and never get tired of the colorful beauty of it all. I could wax on and on (and bore you to death) with prattling, so I’ll limit that and let the photos with brief comments do the talking. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. What they can’t portray are the luscious scents of the blooms or the sounds of the buzzing, tweeting, and happy music filling in the empty spaces of the senses. Use your imagination, Dear Reader, and feel the warm breeze on your face (Does it feel like you put a flame thrower to your face? Good you're almost there.), put on this sound track, and enjoy EPCOT’s F&G through my lens.

This is only the first of 3, or possibly 4, chapters from this year’s Flower and Garden Festival. I have enough photos of the topiaries, foods from the kiosks, and other misc. stuff to spread it out. So, without further blathering… I present to you the Birds and the Bees (and butterflies, blossoms and Babes) of EPCOT.

​

I didn’t get to spend NEARLY enough time in the Butterfly House- something I was really looking forward to spending my time in. Maybe next year…. I did come away with a few keepers though.

​

I equally enjoyed the panoramic views around the park as much as the close-ups. The striking quilted look of the water’s edge is always mind blowing. I could stare at these views for a very long time. Disney’s Monorail Schedule is directly correlative with how hot it is standing in the sun to get a shot of one.

​

Some of the more impressive flower displays were situated near the Food Kiosks. This was my favorite, by far: (at the Honey Beestro Kiosk)





I will almost always take time to stop and watch the birds around Disney. They are so different than the species we have around Oregon and it is such a calming, relaxing thing for me to just pause and be still when I do take time.



The Purple Martin Garden was a nice little path to cruise through and I learned a lot. I remember seeing these funky, towered "bird houses" last Fall and wondered what in the heck they were… now I know.





However, I enjoyed watching the other birds even more, especially this mama and her baby:





The 3 of us ladies did take time for a PP shoot and ended up being one of the very few we got together. If it hadn’t been so blazing hot (and I did read recently that this May was the hottest May on record in 100 years!!!! See, it wasn’t just me!) we probably would have gotten a few more, but Mom wasn’t in a wheelchair this day (yet) and was really feeling it. See? I told you, we were the Hot Babes of EPCOT that day!

​

Until next time, Folks... Meanwhile, take time to stop and smell the roses. Life's too short not to.

 

[pkondz]

It means my bank account demands discrimination.

 

[Chrystmasangel]

OY, I hate that they are phasing out straws. My teeth are pretty sensitive to cold and it does hurt to drink cold water or pop without. Yes, I could bring my own, but, umm.... this is vacation. Even something minor like that is something I don't wanna think about. Packing, bringing, washing, etc...

ME TOO! I hate paper straws and have the same issue with my teeth. I ALWAYS use a straw because I can't stand the cold on my front teeth. The back aren't a problem, but the front, it sends me through the roof. I am going to have to start packing one, I am afraid. Then there will be the issue of remembering to take it with me and cleaning it when I am done. Ugh.

Heh, I got plenty this last trip… birds, bees, butterflies, and best of all BLOOMS! Let’s tiptoe through the tulips, so to speak, and take a romp through the gardens! Flowers and Gardens to be exact.

I've been waiting for your picks of the butterfly house. Yeah!

I absolutely love this one. The sun shining through the wings of the butterfly, just amazing!

I too spent way to little time in the butterfly house, then again, I spent way to little time in the World, PERIOD! I know I will be going back during flower and garden again. It is so pretty and I just feel I missed so very much. I didn't even get to see all the topieries. Guess it will be reason 1 million to have to go back again.

 

[Steppesister]

ME TOO! I hate paper straws and have the same issue with my teeth. I ALWAYS use a straw because I can't stand the cold on my front teeth. The back aren't a problem, but the front, it sends me through the roof. I am going to have to start packing one, I am afraid. Then there will be the issue of remembering to take it with me and cleaning it when I am done. Ugh.

See? It's not just me! I think I'm going to just get one to bring and deal with it. Stupid for a vacation, but whatever.

I've been waiting for your picks of the butterfly house. Yeah!

Well, there ya have it! 5 that were worthy of posting.

I absolutely love this one. The sun shining through the wings of the butterfly, just amazing!

Thanks, Jenn! I loved this one too as the light was just right for it.

I too spent way to little time in the butterfly house, then again, I spent way to little time in the World, PERIOD! I know I will be going back during flower and garden again. It is so pretty and I just feel I missed so very much. I didn't even get to see all the topieries. Guess it will be reason 1 million to have to go back again.

I agree. I could have spend days wandering in EPCOT alone and taking in all the pretty colors and beauty of it. There will ALWAYS be enough reasons to go back again!