Epcot's World Showcase

Our first stop in the morning was Akershus in Norway where we were treated to a very grand breakfast buffet (one of the best we'd have) with true Norwegian foods! (Lots of cheese!) It was definitely the best princess breakfast we attended and it only cost ONE meal on the dining plan, with free photos of you and Belle, . . . and Annie got to see Snow White AGAIN (and Mamma was floored that it was the SAME Snow White as the day before! The resident Snow White! Wow!)
I love how my flash makes it look like Annie's wand is doing something truly magical! : )

But for some reason, Annie HATED Aurora today! It took everything she had to NOT scowl! Ha!

And I just love how Annie is doing the face that Snow White always does when she isn't talking! : ) Funny story, right at the end of Snow White's visit, she told us to tell Ariel something, . . . and Leia and I looked at each other so strangely because it REALLY sounded like Snow White said, "tag a cheese-it." We kept asking each other what kind of code the word "cheese-it" was, . . . until Brian leaned over and said, "I think she means 'Tag and she's it.'" Ha!

AND we finally got to meet Ariel! First time EVER at the parks!

Now here is the highlight of Leia Rose's trip to World Showcase: our stop in Japan! She was thinking of her pen pal, Yukino, the entire time. We were very excited to have reservations at the wonderful Japanese restaurant.

While we were waiting, I snapped a few prize photos of Annie waiting on Daddy's lap. : )

Then it was time to eat! We had a wonderful chef, . . . and unfortunately, I only took videos of him. (Ha!)

I was SO proud of Leia Rose, . . . she was the only person at our table who ate her entire meal with chopsticks! (Even I was too tired to do so!) Yukino would be proud!

Another day, we at the Nine Dragons in China.

Here is Leia Rose holding Mulan (very appropriate) and drawing the great wall of China (also very appropriate). : )

But in Epcot, this is what occupied most of our time: finding Kidcot stations. I must say that this is a wonderful addition to the Epcot World Showcase! Finally something for little kids to do (and how INGENIOUS for Disney to have everything paid for by Sharpie and then have the kids all use sharpie markers)! Basically, you obtain a mask at the first country you go to. Then at each country you visit, you get a paper "charm" to hang on the mask with a significance for each country. A few memorable ones were an origami butterfly from Japan, a rocking horse from America (because it was the first place one was invented), a teddy bear from Germany (the home of the first stuffed bear), a dreamcatcher from Canada, and a henna tattooed hand from Morocco. They also got a cool passport stamp from each country as well as their name written in the language! Love it! A really cool way for even the smallest of children to learn about the country in question!

"Mamma, take a picture of me with my mask in front of the cuckoo clocks!"

And let's not forget the glory and excitment that is Illuminations. In my opinion, not as wonderful as it once was when each separate country was the focus, but still a great spectacle coordinating lights, water, and music along with the huge globe LED display.