Orlando Day 7

Tuesday, May 12
Epcot center
And per usual...it rained! Tony and I have been to Orlando 4 time and no matter what time of year we go, it rains on the day we go to Epcot. Crazy! But knowing this, we at least were smart and packed our rain gear for our trip.

Mommy why is the golf ball so big?

We woke up early (as usual) and got to Epcot with time to spare. We were able to get a group photo and after we entered the park we headed straight back to The Land to ride on Soarin' over California. Nana gets motion sickness so she stayed behind with Taylor and did some touring of The Land. Tony got us rider switch tickets and fast passes while we stayed in line. After the ride was over we went on The Land boat ride to kill some time before our fast pass time. Then Aunt Dinah, Tony and I went back to Soarin' using the rider switch and rode it again.

We then over to The Living Seas and rode on the Nemo ride and got some great pictures of the kids in the shark's mouths.

Entrance to The Seas with Nana, Aunt Rosie and the 3 kids. Anthony is hiding in there somewhere.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh, Bruce swalled my kids! Hee hee, this is false front and the kids stand in the back and everyone is able to get a picture of them in the Shark's mouth. Everyone has to take turns. With this line being self monitored, it's surprisingly organized!

Then Back to The Land so we could take the behind the scenes tour. I now want to learn how to garden using hydroponics!!!! Our tour guide was awesome and since our kids were the only little ones on the tour, she involved them a lot while we were on the tour.

Each kid received a vial of cold ladybugs. They had to warm the vial between their hands so the ladybugs become active. Then when our tour guide prompted them, they were able to release the lady bugs onto the plants in growing inside The Land.

Some of the ladybugs the kids released are going to work, fighting off the disease and helping the plants.

This is a wilting plant. Part of it's self defense mechanism is that the leaves wilt after they are touched. Then a few hours later they'll perk up and reopen. It was crazy seeing how you can barely brush up against this plant and the leaves droop.

This is a hydroponically grown dragon fruit! No harsh chemicals and no pesticides. Hydroponics allow the fruits and vegetables grow quickly and about 2.5 times (or more) their normal size.

There was even live alligators on this tour. We are in Florida afterall so it would be crazy NOT to see a Gator or two or 20!

A Cinderella Pumpkin earning it's "ears". The growers in The Land stimulate the pumpking plants and place the gourd into a mould training it to grow into the shape of a Mickey Mouse Head just in time for Halloween.

This is a mould for a cucumber. All of the fruits and vegetables grown in The Land are harvested and used in the restaurants in all of the Disney properties.

After our tour was over, we went into The World Showcase and ate Japanese food in Japan. We chose to eat at the Hibatchi bar because Nana and Aunt Rosie had never eaten there before. It's a great show and the food is delicious.


Then we went to the store underneath the restaurant and purchased cultured pearls for the kids. Jackson got picked by only female candy maker from Japan to get a candy treat made for him and his brother and sister to share.

The green porcupine that was made for Jackson out of taffy. Once this candy hardens, it's very difficult to break into smaller size pieces.