we did it.  Five years later we have caved succumbed relented taken the plunge and purchased annual passes for all the magic that is Walt Disney World.  We often say, if we only had a pass we would head out for the evening or afternoon and not feel like we had to spend all day to get our monies worth.  We would often like to just go for dinner or a walk and a ride or three.  So, last night we did it.  We kicked off this year of adventuring with a slow noshing stroll through the Epcot (formerly known as Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow) Flower and Garden Festival which this year also included some food kiosks celebrating and dedicated to sophisticated harvest inspired small plates where we sampled and shared small bites ranging from my two favorites – watermelon salad with pickled red onion, feta, arugula and balsamic drizzle and a pork carnitas taco with chicharrones to frushi (a fruit sushi with coconut rice and fruit).  The watermelon salad is my new favorite and I’m going to reproduce that at home.  Frushi harbored the Disney tax* and was overpriced and over-hyped everywhere I saw it online.  I loved the taco and could go back for that anytime.  We thought it would be dry but the meat was dense with flavor and I wish they had these amazing little tacos year round and not just developed what are really great small bites for special events.  So, all that said, we stayed two or three nicely paced hours tasting plates and looking at topiary for the garden event and then went home to a good nights sleep.  We also purchased the Tables in Wonderland option which includes 20% off in most of the eating establishments that we have been eating in anyhow.  We will see if it is worth the investment.  I’m looking forward to the coming year and the adventure and feeling more like I fit into all that Central Florida has to offer.  If you are an annual pass holder or just a lover of all things magical, I’d like to hear what your favorite thing to do at the parks is so that we can take it all in!

*KZ Definition:  Disney Tax:  noun:  a compulsory contribution to the coffers of that place which while is the happiest place on earth leaves the majority of visitors under 10 in tears and despite this fact I want to go there all the time to experience the magic that it can offer.