Epcot with Elizabeth

  WALT DISNEY WAS A DREAMER AND SO AM I!

     Taking each of our grandchildren to Disney for a couple of days has been one of my dreams! 

       So, when my nephew, Brian decided to get married in April in Orlando where he lives and works

at Disney is seemed the perfect time to start the tradition!  

So a few days before the wedding we took off to make our wishes come true!!!

Getting settled in our plane seats..
Elizabeth is 8.. the perfect age to go to WDW!  

Rob and Michelle's kids didn't know it but they were also coming to Disney.  They didn't know for a couple more days.. SO  because they were coming we rented this great house.. 5 minutes from the entrance to Disney..A GREAT DEAL.

It turned out to be nicer than we even dreamed.

Elizabeth claimed this room for her and Wyatt.... Video dream land.

Picture for Daddy...   a big Mario fan.

Another bedroom.. for Henry and Oscar.

Even a garage converted into a game room! 

The living room, kitchen and dining area.

A pool right outside the door 

And our little red car!

We got settled in the house and went to grab a bite and some groceries. 

Headed to Outback for a sandwich...and then a "moment" happened. 

There was a man sitting across the room that looked vaguely familiar..

no totally familiar.. but he couldn't be here in Florida. 

Bruce and I had had Thanksgiving dinner with him in KIGLAI, RWANDA

and he had just been at our church last week in Africa. 

Could it possibly be Kelly?  He had come in with 2 other men.. 

So, on the way out I was going to just keep walking but decided to take one 

more look and when i did... Kelly said.  "Margie it is you...." 

He then introduced us to his brother and father.  They were in Orlando for a missions conference. 

None of us could believe this "coincedence".

The world is indeed getting smaller....

Kelly- not from Florida, nor I, yet here we were--- both from Africa  

  eating at an Outback in Orlando!   "WE GO NO WHERE BY ACCIDENT, 

WHEREEVER WE GO GOD IS SENDING US."

Elizabeth and I left, laughing that something like that could even happen. 

Maybe we were really dreaming, being at Disney World.

Tomorrow we will go to Epcot.... so tonight.. sweet dreams....

Our first picture inside the park.

 The International Flower Show was on this month so the displays and flower beds
were totally amazing.  Mickey, Minnie and Goofy.

all of the above with Elizabeth!!

 Amazing work.

.

Magnificant flower beds! 

Only made prettier by a magnificant grand daughter.
(that's a hair hanging down... in case you are wondering)

Yep, it's Floral Tinkerbell!

more fairies!

Lion King!   Roarrrrrrrr!!

'Mator

 and his side kick!

 This was the ride through "THE LAND"...  an agricultural ride showing waves of the future..
And this is a 10 lb. lemon.

Hanging gardens growing everywhere.

 Cucumbers growing down from the plants.

Heading over to another part of the park.

Did you know this?  Me either! 

Beauty all around. The poppies are glass!

Time to head across the lake on the ferry to visit all the different countries.

Looking at Norway from across the lake.

Checking out France, i think.

 America on the left...  Independance Hall.

Elizabeth checking out the French Fountain.

The Beast and 2 Beauties.

This man is really topping off his day..

Higher and 

                                                                        higher....

 and then up and away!

Totally amazing! Note the chairs are balancing
on 4 wine bottles.  
What some people will do for a living! 

Elizabeth meeting her first princess!

Princess Aurora, right? 

Elizabeth is dreaming about when she will come to Disney and
be a princess and talk to little kids all day long! 

and then there was Belle..before she became a princess.

Taking about favorite books!

Still dreaming!

Adorable.  She got all their autographs!

On to Independacne Hall and the Presidents Hall!  Great show.

But first these fabulous
singers...
Singing all kinds of American
Songs....

But at one point they asked if anyone in the audience was 8..... Guess who popped her hand up?  You got it..

There she is talking and singing with them... in that bright green shirt!

t

This ensemble was tremendous and the hall
just added to the great sound.   I think there is a movie
at the end of the blog so you can hear them! 

And then when they were done the director came
over to talk to Elizabeth and have a personal photo made! 

Then Snow White appeared but her time was
up for autographs and photo shoots so we
just had to settle for pictures from afar.  

But not to worry....
Muilan was just down the way...

These two talked for a long time... 

On into China!  

And then 2nd to last we headed to Norway.
Grampa's country of origin!
At each place they had deco stations for kids to get stamps and
color their paper bear puppets.  E did a great job getting
almost every country in Epcot... and it was relaxing to
stop and sit a bit from country to country.
And Norway was no different. 

Plus pictures with the natives in their country costumes!
And check it out.....she even stood like a Norwegian, right?
( oh, but there's a bit of Irish, there too)

Last but not least we headed for England and besides

       thousands of Beatles paraphernalia.... we found 

Christopher Robin's bedroom... with Tigger and Pooh!

We were tuckered out but decided that we might not 

get to see the fireworks the next night so we found 

a spot a wall to sit near the lake.  WHAT a show it was! 

Can't even describe it really... But it was a great ending 

to a super sunny day!   It was a day filled with great memories for me 
and hope for Elizabeth, too.

Walked back to the car and headed back 
to our little house! 

Now we just have to wake up when Rob and Michelle and the boys
arrive in the middle of the night!   

Because tomorrow is another big day, as Papa would say! 

love,
gramma!  

Tomorrow might just be a Magical Day.