April 2nd, 2014

Our trip began with a visit to Orlando to celebrate "someone's" 60th birthday - to be able to go to all the theme parks we had to do something we had never done - hire a dog nanny!  It felt so silly but it was a good idea - the dogs got relief and TLC from a lovely lady, Tracy.  As for the parks, well, I never ever need to go to the Magic Kingdom again - didn't feel too magical.  Disneyland is soooo much better.  EPCOT was lovely, more an educational park than ride oriented.

Butterfly exhibit

small example of amazing landscaping

After a short while we were walking around EPCOT as the exhibits are stationed around a "lake".  I stated that it appeared what one did at EPCOT was just eat and drink since we had no interest in the touristy knick knacks for sale.  Well, a young woman turned around and said that's exactly what one did, especially today.  She was amazed our ticket supplier had not informed us about the special activity going on that day.  It was an "around the world" experience where each "country" provided food and drink from that country - not for free of course  :( .  She immediately turned us around and introduced us to the first beverage and food of the afternoon.  Brandy was a young mom from the Tampa area who had left her husband and toddler back in the hotel so she could have a day off -  pretty cool.  She was fun to hang out with and seemed to have fun with us.  Later, as a treat she bought us tequila, $84 dollar a glass tequila - it was very smooth and we were blown away that she did that but she said she had had fun with us and we had made her day so it was her treat - wow.

Al & Paul waiting in line for food.

Also a special exhibition of  topiary art.

Ibis waiting for the concert to begin!

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