1/10/13 – Epcot Update – New My Heritage Book Booth, Disney Visa Character Photo Place
Hi everyone!
We were at Epcot on January 8th for a couple of hours, and I took some photos along the way. I am SO looking forward to the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival – this is our 7th year of covering it! It is just weeks before Epcot starts blooming.
Before I share today’s article, here are Epcot Flower and Garden Festival articles from previous years:
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2007
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2008
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2009
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2010
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2011
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2012
Whew! And this year looks like it will be amazing as well!
Christmas was partially up on Tuesday, but all of the topiaries were gone. The flowers that are in place should be there until just before the opening day of Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival (March 6th). Jeff took a photo with the vintage-inspired background that often has Daisy in front of it.
Christmas garland was still in the shops, and around World Showcase.
New 2013 nightgown:
Crowds are much lighter now, it was such a lovely walk around World Showcase!
In the United Kingdom, there are still quite a few different Dr. Who t-shirts available!
The garden here is one of my favorite places in World Showcase, especially when the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival begins!
We stopped to look at the prices and menu for the new Monsieur Paul, but I said I’d rather save the money for the real France. It’s been over 5 years since I’ve been to Paris, it’s about time to return! At this time, the Boulangerie Patisserie was not moved into it’s new location, but it is now – and we will stop there very soon!
There are a few areas that look like they are starting prep for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival.
We noticed that the shop outside of the American Adventure is no longer selling t-shirts and such, but there is now an outside vendor taking over the spot. The company is kidsHeritage, Inc. and they sell My Heritage Book. It is a great fit for World Showcase! We were told that a personalized children’s book complete with photo, heritage and a name woven throughout can be created in just a half hour! Deanna Bufo Novak is the founder of the company, and is a huge Disney fan as well. We were told that she should be at the location a couple of times per week. Up to 4 different heritages can be chosen. Puzzles and coloring books are also available.
Work seems to already have started along the walkway between World Showcase and the Imagination Pavilion for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival.
Jeff had signed up for the Disney Visa in October, but we hadn’t stopped by the Disney’s Visa Photo Place yet. I know it’s been around for many years, but I had no idea what a great meet & greet this was, and the 5×7 included is very nice! Guests with the Disney Chase Visa can stop by once per day, and it’s limited in time – between 1:30 and 4:30pm. Disney California Adventure also has a Disney Visa character location. We didn’t have to wait too long, and it felt like a private meet & greet.
Mickey and Pluto were available to meet when we arrived. The background has some wonderful Disney tributes, including to 20K Leagues!
If you have a Disney Visa, definitely make this location part of your day! It took about a half hour for the Photo Pass photos to be available to look at, and even a border is free on the 5×7 photo. It’s a wonderful perk for cardholders! I know it’s been around for years, but it is new to me – and a lot of fun.
Mickey head behind Spaceship Earth:
It’s Disney Marathon time at Walt Disney World, and porta potties are set up in the Epcot parking lot.
The weather has been warm this week – really, we’ve not had much cold weather, it’s felt like spring for much of the winter season! I can’t wait to share the 2013 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival with you as it develops and opens.