EPCOT'S Preparations for the 2023 International Flower and Garden Festival

 By Nick 

Even as the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is wrapping up, (the last day is today, 2/20, actually), preparations are well underway for the Flower & Garden Festival, which begins on March 1st and runs through July 5, 2023. Many gardens, displays, and topiary's have been springing up recently.

 Elsa and Anna at EPCOT's World Showcase Norway Pavilion 

 Lady and the Tramp at EPCOT's World Showcase Italy Pavilion 

 Flower, Thumper, and Bambi can be found by the Canada Pavilion.

 Peter Pan, Hook, Tick-Tock, Tigger, Eeyore, Rabbit, and Pooh

can all be found at the United Kingdom Pavilion

 Woody, Bo Peep, and this lovely butterfly are between The Seas with Nemo and Friends and The Land Pavilion in EPCOT's World Nature section.

 When you see these flower beds located in World Celebration, 

you know the Flower and Garden Festival and Spring are just around the corner.

Will you be attending this year's EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival?

Alternative Fireworks Viewing Spots: Gasparilla Island Grill at the Grand Floridian Resort

 By: Nick

If you want to enjoy fireworks, but don't want to deal with the crowds, there are many places from which to view them, and you may even be able to hear the music as well. As an added bonus, you can also avoid the hoard rushing to get out of the park. 

 The spot we're looking at here is a lovely seating area outside of Gasparilla Island Grill, the counter service restaurant at the Grand Floridian Resort.

As you can see,  it has a fabulous view of Cinderella Castle. I have, however, heard people expressing dissatisfaction that the fireworks aren't directly over the castle. 

 I actually love the dynamic of the in park pyrotechnics with the larger aerial fireworks, and the reflection off of Seven Seas Lagoon. 

Also, there is usually music pumped through speakers, but the evening we were there, music was not playing due to the lines feeding the speakers being cut by construction. If the wind is blowing right, you can still sometimes hear the soundtrack all the way from Magic Kingdom.

So, there are pros and cons, but if you aren't interested in dealing with a swirling mass of humanity at the end of the day and still want to experience the magic of a Disney Nighttime Spectacular, this is a great alternative. I'll be sharing more in the future, so please come back, and invite your friends!

Construction at Epcot Update

Video: Nick - Photos: courtesy of Brian Charles Kohn 

I'm excited for the new additions coming to EPCOT's... I still call it Future World. 

Yes, I know there are now "neighborhoods," which are World Discovery, World Showcase, World Celebration and World Nature, but I can barely remember what day it is, never mind all of THAT!

It's very fortunate that I have a friend who is on top of these things, and he put together these reference photos to share on the Facebook group he is a moderator on, Walt Disney World Tips and Tricks, which shows where the new additions will be located.

 Video I took 2/12/2023:

 

Completion of these various projects is tentatively scheduled for later in 2023.

The Many Moods of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

 By: Nick

 Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a complex attraction.

To begin with, as of the time I'm writing this, you either need to get a virtual queue spot, or buy an individual lightning lane just to experience it. 

There are 6 different songs you may get when riding:

• “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire.
• “Disco Inferno” by the Trammps.
• “Conga” by Miami Sound Machine.
• “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears.
• “I Ran” by A Flock of Seagulls.
• “One Way or Another” by Blondie. 

For the holiday season, there was a holiday remix including bits from several Christmas standards, which neither Barbie or I were fond of.

As locals, we have been on at least a dozen times, and each time is a different. 

The mood you're in can influence just how your ride goes.

Have I eaten enough? Not enough? I don't think you want to eat too much before, but DON'T go on an empty stomach.

Alcohol or maaaybeee CBD? If you get the timing right, this can be an almost religious experience, and I'm not even kidding. 

The first time I rode was a Disney Vacation Club preview and I was too excited/anxious to truly focus on specifics. We were in the front row, and the song was "I Ran" by Flock of Seagulls, but I honestly didn't even recall, Barbie had to tell me. 

We re-rode and got "Everybody Wants to Rule the World.'

Full disclosure... I was on CBD, and it was the most perfect timing to get this lovely melodic and harmonious song. Following the ride, the friends we had just ridden with looked at Barbie and I with an expression of awe, and we all agreed it was next level spectacular. I'm not going to lie... I was on the verge of tears. It was THAT amazing. 

Since that first day, we've gotten all of the songs.

The songs have a huge influence on the overall perception. 2 examples from recently, I was with friends, and in the front row, and we got Everybody Wants to Rule the World, in the front row, and I was at a very harmonious place on CBD. 

                                            

Then, just the other night, we got "September." Barbie and I had gotten it previously, and it became Barbie's favorite, while I thought it was just okay. 

But this particular night, "September" wound up hitting the mood PERFECTLY, and has moved up as a contender of favorite. 

What I'm trying to say, after all this, is Guardians is NOT just an attraction, it is AN EXPERIENCE that can be enjoyed on many repeat visits!

Enjoy the ride!

Epcot in the Evening

 Photos by Nick and Barbie

A few photos from a spectacular evening in Epcot, 2/9/23 in no particular order.

Tron: Lightcycle Run at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

 By: Nick Maglio

 

My wife and I went to a Cast Member Preview of Tron: Lightcycle Run at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom a few days ago, and here are my thoughts.

Spoilers!

I really like the Tron films, so I've been excited to ride this attraction for several years. 

Approaching the queue with the ride vehicles going overhead amps up the excitement!

 

 

Before a new attraction opens, I actively avoid reviews, and that was no different in this case; I'm glad I did, because the queue has a really awesome reveal as you approach the load area, which I won't reveal here!

 

Then there is the launch, which is now one of my favorite things ever. 

 

I'm going to be honest here, overall the ride is no more exciting than Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, but that launch to the outside was just amazing. It's a short ride... which may be a blessing, because...

...the big downside to this is the very convoluted ride vehicle contraption. Of course there is a fit issue, and I'm not sure how some people with mobility issues are going to get into it. As a very big boy, I was actually concerned about this, but had zero issues the first time I rode. Seating is similar to Flight of Passage.

The second ride, both my wife and I both felt like our calves were not seated as comfortably as they had been the first time, which we both found irritating.  

Overall it's a good solid ride, not on the scale of Guardians of the Galaxy by any means in my opinion, but I'm sure riding at night with the lights on and the cycles having a more dramatic glow may make the overall experience more immersive, and perhaps gets it closer to that high bar.