Karamell Kuche.

Ready for some sticky fun? Sticky caramel fun! This picturesque background features various German towns and villages.  The newest addition or latest changes to the pavilion is the Karamell Kuche candy, treats, and sweets shop on the left of this photo. Sock Monkey thought he recognized the shop facade, it's from the Werther's Original candy commercial.

Vrrooooom. Vrrroooooomm.

We have now entered into Test Track, Disney World's version of an automobile proving ground, a place for component testing and review. Here there are a lot of moving parts and you're surrounded by heavy machinery that is being inspected for safety. The Imagineers visited GM's various proving grounds to give us the dramatic hill climbing, winding, bumpy, hot/cold, speeding, fast breaking ride we have today. Sock Monkey didn't have the patience to wait on line, so he just hung around the fence.

Bing ma yong.

No visit to the China pavilion in Epcot would be complete without seeing the Terracotta Warriors that are on display inside.  Sock Monkey made sure to stop by and admire the miniature replicas of the Terracotta Army.  Also, below are two photos from my travel to Xian, China at the actual site where the Terracotta Soldiers resides.  This is from a few years ago, but you can tell Sock Monkey and I are connected as we're both sporting similar colors.

Horizons.

On my first trip to Epcot the ride that stuck out most in my mind was Horizons.  It was the interactive ending that I remember about this attraction.  According to the timeline that's posted inside the back area of the Electric Umbrella, the show opened up in October of 1983. And a little over 15 years later, it was replaced with plans for Mission Space.  Sock Monkey decided to pay tribute to one of my first memory of Disney World.

Buon giorno!

We've made it to Italy, where the gondolas pass by, the pasta is fresh, and the entertainment is juggling away.  This is Epcot's replication of Doge's Palace and St Mark's Square in Venice.  As you walk around the pavilion and enter further into the piazza, you discover a statue of the sea god Neptune presiding over a handsome fountain.  While here you can also sit outside and dine on some fresh mozzarella. Sock Monkey had himself some gelato.  

Hey, batter batter!

America's favorite pastime? Baseball. Sock Monkey is out of the dugout on Main Street, USA at Casey's Corner getting ready to swing, to swing a piece of fry into his mouth. A great place to get a snack and some good ol' fashion stadium food, jumbo sized hot dogs! A favorite pastime of our family is sitting outside at the tables, eating, and watching the parade go by.

The sword in the stone.

He who pulleth the sword from the stone shall be king.  All hail King Sock Monkey. Like all boys and girls who visit Disney World, Sock Monkey too had to try and lift the fable Excalibur sword out of the anvil stone. Unfortunately for him, his paws were not big enough to even grip the handle. Better luck next time. We'll make it up to him by getting on Cinderella's Golden Carousel.

"Under New Management" no more???

"In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, room. In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, room. All the birds sing words and the flowers croon. In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, room." When we were down there in March it was still closed because of the fire. Now it seems like Disney is planning to refurbish the attraction back to its more original form. I never saw that version, but I'll be looking forward to it on the next trip! This is Sock Monkey with the family. Guess we didn't know it, but it's the last time we'd see this Enchanted Tiki Room sign.

Bright light, big city.

Or white light, small world. Sock Monkey is taking you along with him on the "It's a Small World" queue. Here he is by the back wall where the line now wraps around. I'm going to assume the attraction was closed last summer because they were refurbishing this area. In the past the exit ramp was here. I thought it was going to get updated with the Disney movie characters. Oh well, we'll have Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland to see that version.

Next stop Magic Kingdom.

Finally, we are heading out of the Grand Floridian resort, felt like forever we were meandering around the grounds.  It was time to have some real fun, back to Magic Kingdom! Sock Monkey is patiently waiting to board the next monorail.  We surely do miss being able to sit in the front car. It was pretty cool, at least we still have the memories.

Look ma, no hands.

Where did Sock Monkey end up, beneath the faberge lamp table.  He was swinging through what looks like strings on a harp.  Sock Monkey is ready to head back into the parks. Seems like forever since we've been in the Magic Kingdom. Surely do miss the place.

"Don't turn out the lights."

What a pretty lamp. Sock Monkey stopped all over the Grand Floridian resort and was soaking in every piece of nice-looking furniture. Here he is under the shade of a table lamp that looks like a Faberge egg. Where will he end up next?

Half and half.

Part chaise lounge, part side table. These are the kind of unique furniture you'll probably only find in a place like Grand Floridian. So Victorian, yet so chic. Sock Monkey took this time to rest and possibly write a post card back home. The hubby picked up some postcards and mailed a few to his office colleagues. I'm sure he'd help Sock Monkey mail his out too.

The backside of water.

Backside of a water fountain. Those of you who have gone on the Jungle Cruise know what I'm talking about. And those who don't, you're not missing out on too much. Good times! In this photo, Sock Monkey is by the water fountain that's on the poolside of the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Looking at this picture really makes me wish I was back already. Oh well, till next time.

Benchmark.

Benchmark, defined by Merriam Webster, something that serves as a standard by which others may be measured or judged. Or bench mark, such as the intricate designs that have been molded into the steel as the backing of the bench pictured here. Sock Monkey has standards for vacations, and according to his travel benchmarks, this trip definitely earned high scores. Our mini stop at the Grand Floridian made me realize we really were having a great time!

Riding in style.

We spent a few minutes walking around the grounds of the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. It's a nice reminder of the richness during the turn of the century, a sense of how high society lived during the period. Sock Monkey is living the life. Here he is riding into the wind, free as a bird on the hood ornament of a Cadillac. Isn't he classy.