Having gotten my fill of Future World, I started to make tracks towards World Showcase. I’d gotten my AP Festival Pin, eaten some yummy goodies, and visited the Butterflies. It was already the start of a gorgeous day and more relaxation and garden visits were still go come.

At the entrance to the WS area, I stopped to take in this massive topiary collection of Moana. Dunno, it seemed odd to me that they were there and not over by the new(ish) MoanaLand but, as it was so huge maybe this is where they could fit it.

Still full, I passed on the dishes at the Honey Bee-stro, but I did want to see it as this little kiosk area has always been a fave of mine since coming to the Flower and Garden Festival years ago. So, before making tracks for Canada and the UK, I wrapped around to check out that area a bit.

I also love how they rotate sponsors and themes in this area by Swirled Showcase and Honey Bee-stro. This year, for the 2nd in a row, The Playalong Bay was sponsored by Smuckers. I didn’t know this at the time, but on select days (W, Th, Sat, Sun) during the Festival, you can pick up a free Uncrustable. No, I wouldn’t waste my stomach space on that, but kinda cool for the kiddos. Of note, the main Smuckers Uncrustables factory is located about 30 minutes from my house. So yeah, let’s add that to Bowling Green’s claims to fame along with Corvettes and Bourbon, as well as the world’s largest underwear manufacturer’s headquarters. Tighty whities and tasty sammies. Yep, that’s us.

Now, I’m not one to pass up an intriguing mystery or Disney theming and Easter Eggs. They are ubiquitous in the parks and they really fire me up. Remember the maritime flags at the Dockside Diner on Echo Lake at Hollywood Studios? I tried to decipher those and was a bit stumped. (I will try again to satisfy my “completist” self.) Here, at Playalong Bay, was another opportunity to see the clever Imagineers do what they do best.

So, I quickly sent off for my 1940’s Speed-o-Meter Decoder Pin to decipher this incredibly important message. I waited for over 2 weeks checking the mailbox every day. It *finally* arrived and I snuck off the bathroom to solve this super important, probably life changing, message….


“Almost done, MOM!!!”


P…. L…….A…Y….


“COMING!!!!!”


A…L……O….N…


“HANG ON, Almost done!”


G…..B…A…..Y …B….Y


S…. <wait a minute> M….U…..<Oh, come on, really?> C…K….<I wasted my time for this?>….E…R…..S

Can I have some Ovaltine with that Uncrustable???

I felt as bitterly disappointed as Ralphie and moved on to Canada. I needed a drink.

But, first I had to backtrack a few steps to get Spike in the sunflowers, also in FW. See how hard he was to find?!!! This one took WAY too long.

OK, now let’s go…

Coming into Canada I found Kermit and Miss Piggy out for a visit to the Festival. After a day of eating all the things at a festival this is exactly how I look and feel too. <burp>

As I was just wandering and had a while to myself, I spent some extra time going deeper into the Pavilions exploring for more little details that I hadn’t noticed before. I took the path along the replica Butchart Gardens which are extra stunning during the Festival.

Hoping for a “hike” along a Canadian Cascades waterfall, I was sadly disappointed that they were all dried up again for my 3rd trip in a row. Stupid Florida drought! I swear, the waterfall sprites are against me. Ah well, I came out on the upper terrace of the pavilion and found a mostly empty area to take a few portraits of the lovely Canadian Chateaux-style “hotel”. Fashioned after the massive Canadian railroad hotels like in Banff, Ottawa, and Victoria, I think this one is exceptionally well done.

Here is the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa for comparison:

For those of you who are my DVC Friendlies, there is a nice (from what I see online) Lounge for you inside of this. Go, enjoy, and invite me sometime!

Still dejected over the pathetic maritime flag message, it was time for a beer.

EPCOT was shockingly not very busy this day and I have never seen the Rose and Crown without a massive crowd or line hanging out the door. This, THIS was my chance to finally get a look and even order something!

Some of you who are friends with me on FB know that I have been on a Learn-to-Like-Beer Quest since Winter. I’m headed to Prague, Czechia tomorrow (TOMORROW!!!!!!) and it would simply be a crime to go to the country that drinks more beer per capita than anywhere else in the world and not have a beer. Maybe it’s just me, but I’d kind of like to ENJOY the beer that I intend to order with my goulash. You might be asking how I fared having tried a bunch now over the last months…? Well, I can, in all honesty, say I actually LIKE the wheat beers and lagers I’ve tried. The darker ones, stouts, IPAs, not so much. My (extensive) research tells me that all Pilsners are Lagers, but not all Lagers are Pilsners. The IBUs, for those who care, are lower between 30-45, which is about half of what an IPA is.

Alright, enough beer science, let’s get to some day drinking, shall we? Still being a beer-lover-in-training, the obvious choice here was the Imperial Sampler.

Trust me, it was MORE than enough beer. The place was almost empty, so after chatting it up with my bar fellows for a few, I took my lode to one of the many empty tables. But I didn’t like that table, so I moved to another table. Mind you, every time I moved, I had to take 3 trips. I think the family who was sitting nearby thought I was a real whack-job when I moved yet a 3rd time. I mean I had to. A piano player was just starting a set of classic British stuff and I wanted to watch and sing along.

I slowly worked on my beers from light to dark while belting out Beatles tunes. More folks started to fill up tables and it soon became such a fun way to spend the next half hour. He asked for requests and the obvious Piano Man got everyone doing a group karaoke over their P’s and Q’s. Yes, we minded them.

With still my darks to go, I wanted some quiet and some waterside views. The Fish and Chips place has some exceptionally lovely seating right down by the water where I found a perfect table to relax at.

By the time I’d answered some emails and diddled around a bit, I was antsy to get moving again. I also had to admit to myself that I just don’t care for the darker Stouts or Malts. I tossed the last few sips of both in the trash and took an, umm, merry stroll through the English Gardens.

I think the UK’s gardens truly are the prettiest all year-round and even better during the F&G Festival. It’s hard to not take excessive amounts of photos, but here are a few to share:

I found another Spike gathering some Camelia pollen and then worked my way to France.

I didn’t spend a ton of time here, as this pavilion has become a bit of a cluster since Remy opened. I snapped a few photos including this ceiling I’d never noticed before. Very Art Nouveau- my favey! In fact, I’m really hoping that I can see at least a little of the Alphonse Mucha works in Prague- a true Master and best known Art Nouveau artist of his time.

Beast and Belle still grace France’s entrance: (But Cogsworth and Lumiere are better)

And my Spirit Guide still sips her wine in elegance undoubtedly living her best life. I imagine her gliding up the Monsieur Paul stairs for her nightly repast and raiding the ice cream bins in des Glace when no one’s looking.

Morocco hoved into view, and I quickly found Spike in the “Spice Garden”. This one hasn’t changed much in quite a few years, but I still like it well enough. Time was marching on now, so a deeper dive into the recesses of this nice, but waning, pavilion would have to wait. Instead, I chose to move along to the Japan Pavilion where I spent quite a bit more time taking in the lovely Festival offerings.

So, stay tuned! I’ll pick it up in a few weeks after I get back from my Big Fat Balkans Bonanza. Until then, live big and be safe!