Japan Pavilion - EPCOT!

Are you a fan of Anime? Sushi? Beautiful Pagodas? The Japan Pavilion in EPCOT offers a look into Japanese culture, with an opportunity to purchase traditional and cutting edge Japanese merchandise.

Highlights:

Mitsukoshi is the prominent store in the Japan Pavilion. Here you will find all things Hello Kitty, Anime, a wide variety of beautifully crafted chopsticks and Japanese tableware and a wide selection of pearl jewelry where you can pick your own pearl.

Katsura Grill offers quick service dining indoors and outdoors.  (Right outside Katsura is a nice area for viewing Illuminations).

Tokyo Dining is over the Mitsukoshi shopping center. This is a traditional Japanese restaurant with a modern atmosphere. You will find traditional Japanese food served by Japanese wait staff.

Teppan Edo is also situated over Mitsukoshi shopping center. Here parties of up to eight guests are seated at counters, with a grill in the center, Hibachi style.

Contributed by Judy Dulberg

Beautifully Disney: Fabulous Yet Disappointing

When I got the first set of Beautifully Disney nail polish minis I adored them! The color palette was great and the Ariel inspired shade was my go to pedicure color all summer. When a new set came out I was stoked but got side tracked and didn't end up ordering the set of nail polish minis until after both the 2nd and 3rd color palettes had been released. These colors are gorgeous but the nail polish quality is not so good. I am pretty good at home mani and pedis and no how to make colors last but none off tricks worked on these polishes. I am lucky to get a manicure that lasts two days before chipping! I don't know if it was me getting a good batch last time or production getting cheaper but even the brushes were kinda hard and plasticky. And with a sticker price of $19.95 you are pay nearly $5 for each of these little bottles!

My recommendation: skip the minis! If you love a shade buy it but don't go crazy. This Disney girl is going to be using the Disney collaborations with OPI for future magical manicures!!

Beautifully Disney has released 5 color palettes so far:

Wickedly Beautiful: Princess & Villains

Unlock the Spell (the two Rapunzel inspired shades plus 2 & 4)

Fiery Spirit (1,3,5 above and a gorgeous Merida inspired shade)

Fantasy in Flight

Norway Pavilion - EPCOT!

The Norway Pavilion in EPCOT has always been a great attraction… Now add to it the character experience of Elsa and Anna from Disney’s new hit Frozen and Norway is booming!

Highlights:

Photos and autographs with Elsa and Anna

Princess Storybook Dining at the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall which always has 4-5 princesses circulating and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Make sure to have reservations – character meals are very popular.

Maelstrom is a ride, which takes you back to old-time, mythical Norway, aboard a passenger boat. The story takes you through a Viking town inhabited by trolls. This is a dark ride and may be intimidating to young children. It is also popular, so a fastpass is a good idea.

Kringla Bakeri og Kafe – A fabulous pastry shop, filled with desserts and sandwich options. You will have a hard time choosing, but you won’t be disappointed. Items include cream-filled pastries and sweet pretzels.

The Puffins Roost – A shop filled with items from Norway, including beautiful sweaters, Viking helmets (with or without braids), all kinds of items from the movie “Frozen” and a great photo-op with a large troll statue.

Stave Church – The building which inspired the movie “Frozen.”

Contributed by Judy Dulberg

Imagination Pavilion at EPCOT

One of my favorite things about the Imagination Pavilion in EPCOT is the way it brings me back to the retro time when the theme park first opened.  Maybe because I am a product of the 80s, not because I ever visited as a child, but this really appeals to me and with a rare crowd its a great little escape right adjacent to Future World.

The flagship ride here is Journey Into Imagination with Figment.  This ride went through a major overhaul in 1999 removing one of the fan favorite characters from the ride: DreamFinder.  But you can still find the adorable and lovable Figment, nods to famous Disney scientists, and some fun catchy tunes on this ride.  It dumps you out into the ImageWorks lab where you can sometimes catch Figment himself for a meet and greet! 

Currently, the only other attraction at the pavilion is Michael Jackson's Captain EO! This returned to Disney World after a big hiatus in 2010 after the King of Pop's untimely death.  This 3D adventure was produced by George Lucas and dreamed up by Disney Imagineering.  Very retro, with fun creatures and music, as well as a couple great 80s Michael style songs! If nothing else Captain EO is a fun reprieve on a hot day! 

Take a break and take a stroll to Imagination on your next visit to EPCOT!