Disney Trip Part 7: Fantastic Flowers

This is the 7th blog about our 2 day trip to Disney World during the last week of Feb. This blog focuses on some of the fantastic flower displays that were there. Epcot was to be the site for the Disney Flower and Garden Festival from March 4 through the 17 and the grounds were so loaded with flowers that we could actually smell pansies. (I didn't know they had a smell!). 
Learn more about it here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events

Flowers inset near an Epcot lake

 AMAZING TOPIARIES - The first topiary we encountered was of Mickey and Minnie Mouse just inside the gate of Epcot. The figures were about 9 feet high and beautiful. Jeff decided to pose for a picture with Tom near them by grabbing onto his neck.

Jeff taking his time

 

Rob and Tom enjoying the flowers at Epcot

The characters from Frozen as topiaries

Disney Trip Part 5: Tobie's Wacky Adventure, Ride the Pony!

Jeff, Tobie, Tom, Rob on a Disney Ferry

This is the 5th blog about our 2 day trip to Disney World during the last week of Feb. This blog focuses on our wacky, no-shame, fun-loving old friend Tobie. 

Tobie took the reigns of the wooden pony

WHO IS TOBIE? -  Tobie has worked for Disney for many, many years, and he is a Disney-holic. In 1995 when I (Rob) lived in Orlando for a year, I was Tobie's roommate. He's easy to love, energetic like a puppy on crack, has a great sense of humor, no shame and laughs a lot and loudly. He's from southern Louisiana originally, so I've always thought of him as a "crazy cajun."   He's a lot of fun and he was on our day in the Magic Kingdom!

Tobie Whooping it up through the restaurant on the pony

RIDE THE PONY - Tobie insisted we have lunch at the Disney Wilderness Lodge, and we took a ferry there. During lunch, Tobie arranged with the waiter to bring out a wooden pony - that they ask Birthday guests (we were celebrating Jeff's 50th) to ride through the restaurant. Jeff was embarrassed and convinced Tobie himself to do it. (Remember I said Tobie has no shame).  
   Of course, all in fun, Tobie took the horse and galloped with it through the entire restaurant (during the packed lunch hour) with his arm in the air, whooping and hollering as everyone laughed. It was hysterical and so memorable!!

Jeff and Tobie strike a pose at Thunder Mountain

STRIKE A POSE FOR A LAUGH- It took about half an hour for all of us to stop laughing after the restaurant, but Tobie was just getting started. He wore a tee-shirt with a picture of a woman on the back striking a pose with her hands in the air- and he wanted to replicate that at Thunder Mountain- so he convinced Jeff to accompany him. They stood facing the ride and posed with their arms outstretched for a picture. Again, hysterical!  

Rob, Jeff, Tobie and Tom

EEEEEK! - Tobie came back to the hotel with us for an hour so he and Jeff could take a swim in the pool (it was 86F and very humid). After their swim Tobie went into a small room outside the bathroom to change while Tom was in the bathroom. Tom came out and saw Tobie in his birthday suit, and Jeff and I heard a screech from Tobie followed by a laugh. Tom was laughing, too, but now he's in therapy.

Disney Trip Part 2: Coronado, Architecture Check, "Made for Each Other"

Rob and Tom's Breakfast

 This is the second blog about our two day Disney adventure that will highlight the Coronado Resort, the Architecture Checks, and "Made for Each Other"
 
EASY TO GET AROUND - During this trip we stayed on the Disney property to make it easier, and ensure that we could get around by Disney transportation and not rent a car. That worked well, and buses come often. However, sometimes at the parks, certain buses don't go to certain resorts, but you just have to ask. 
 

The Coronado on our first foggy morning

CORONADO RESORT - This was a Mexican and Spanish themed resort and it was nice. I liked how the walls were well insulated and it was quiet at night. There was also a ceiling fan in the bedroom, which helped, since the humidity was near 100% (yes, in late February).

Tom bringing coffee and tea

BREAKFAST - I know that Disney needs to make money, and confirmed it with my (Rob) breakfast. All I eat for breakfast are pop tarts and coffee, and I got that for breakfast at the Coronado's breakfast place. At home, I pay $2.50 for a box of 8 poptarts, and at Disney it was $2.50 for a package of two.Tom had a muffin and tea every morning - yes, we're creatures of habit, and not big eaters. :)

Tom at Main Street

Jeff in a pastry shop on Main Street

 MAGIC KINGDOM MAIN STREET - We went to the Magic Kingdom on the first of two days. The rain had stopped that day, and it was just cloudy, humid and about 85F (which is hot for that time of year).  Since there's not mu

Jeff and Tom doing an Architecture Check!

ARCHITECTURE CHECK!!  - Wherever we go, Tom loves to check out the architecture and construction as well as the materials used to build structures. Tom had a field day at Disney, tapping walls, studying floors, windows, etc.

Rob and Tom plotting the day, Jeff in back

MADE FOR EACH OTHER - 

Rob and Tom wearing the same tee shirt- unplanned!

 Jeff said that Tom and I are made for each other because we have the same habits, likes and dislikes - and he's so right. Not only that, but this time we inadvertantly even dressed alike!  **We packed our bags at different times before we left, so neither of us saw what the other was packing. On the morning of day one, while Tom took a shower I put on a tee shirt in the other room. Tom dressed in the bathroom and came out wearing the SAME EXACT TEE SHIRT!  It said "Keep Calm and Hug a Weimaraner." (Our dog Dolly).
  It's even more strange because we only have a couple of tee shirts that are identical. Even funnier is that Tom doesn't usually like to wear the same shirt as me.
  We noticed that we were wearing the same shirt just before we left the room to go to The Magic Kingdom, and I told him that we were "Made for Each Other" and that was the perfect way to show it. :)