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Day Two, Monday 11/29/04 </font>
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Part 2 </font>
We got back to the hotel around 3:00pm. I really wanted Savannah to take a nap but ever since we checked in yesterday she has been begging us to go on the dragon water slide at the pool at French Quarter. So we all put on our swimsuits and went down to the pool for about 30 minutes. We had a great time playing on the slide.
After swimming, we went back to the room to change and get ready for our evening at Epcot. We had reservations for the 5:00pm Candlelight Processional and at 4:45pm we were just parking the car at Epcot!
Now it was a question of how fast can we run? We hustled and actually made it over to the America pavilion at 5:00!! We were out of breath, but we made it.
We showed our priority seating badges and got seats in the front row. Now for a concert, these would have been awesome seats. But next time we do CP, I will sit farther back. The problem with sitting right in front is you're looking up at the stage, not straight out so you don't get the view of the entire stage. Later after dinner we walked past the pavilion again while the show was going on and all the lights and colors were so pretty - you really miss a lot of the beauty of the show by sitting in front. Heather Headley was our narrator and she did a great job. This was her first time narrating CP and towards the end she started to get choked up with the emotion of it all. A few times I saw her wiping her eyes with a tissue. At the end she gave a very heartfelt thanks to the audience for letting her be a part of the show and saying how much she enjoyed it.
After the show we got some coffee and walked over to Norway. Savannah wanted to ride Maelstrom. She loved it so much that as we were getting out of the boat she turned to the cast member who was working the ride and said "I want to go again." The CM was so sweet, she said "You do, huh?" and she let us through some ropes that led us right back to the loading area for the ride! We got to get right on and go again!
(Magic Moment) After the second ride we headed over to Restaurant Marrakesh in Morocco for our 7:00pm dinner PS. This was a beautiful restaurant. The musicians were playing and the belly dancer was performing as we arrived at our table. The belly dancer was a great performer and the music & atmosphere in the restaurant felt very authentic. Shortly after we were seated the dancer & musicians took a break, but they came back about 30 minutes later. For an appetizer we ordered the combination platter which came with beef brewat rolls, chicken bastilla, and Jasmina salad. For entrees, Lee ordered the chicken couscous, I had the lemon chicken, and Savannah (surprise surprise) had a hamburger and fries. For dessert we had the Crepes Atlas (apple crepes with ice cream and almonds). The food was very good. I would eat here again, but there are so many other restaurants in Epcot we have yet to try that I would rather try some of those first.
Restaurant Marrakesh
Lee & belly dancer
After dinner Savannah wanted to go on Maelstrom again so we did that one more time. Afterwards, we found a spot to watch Illuminations. It wasn't the greatest spot but we could see everything okay. We were past Mexico, heading toward the gateway that leads back over to Future World (near where they put up the giant Christmas tree). Shortly after Illuminations started, a few people standing in front of us left so we took their spot right along the fence which made for a really good view. Illuminations was great as always. They added a special holiday ending with the music "Let There Be Peace on Earth". There were red & green lasers, pictures of doves and children and the word "Peace" written in all different languages on the globe. It was VERY moving and very beautiful. The fireworks that accompanied the special ending were great!
As we made our way to the front of the park to leave for the night, there were cast members waving good night to everyone. They were holding up signs in different languages and smiling and waving, telling everyone to have a good night. Lee smiled and said "See, that's one of the reasons why I love Disney so much".
I made him repeat what he had said just to make sure my ears weren't playing tricks on me. Sure enough, he said he loves Disney!!!! (cue the Angel choir singing choruses of Hallelujah)
Finally, he's converted!!
The more we go to Disney, the more I see him enjoying it. I don't know if he'll ever love Disney as much as I do, but at least now I know he definitely enjoys our trips there and that makes me really happy
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The best thing today was </font> watching the holiday version of Illuminations
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The worst thing today was </font>having to rush through Epcot to get to the Candlelight Processional on time
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The funniest thing today was </font> Savannah going on Dinosaur and being so scared but then begging to go on it again
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Firsts for today: </font> Meeting Flik, Savannah going on Dinosaur and Kali River Rapids, me riding Primeval Whirl, Candlelight Processional, dinner at Restaurant Marrakesh
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The most magical moment today was </font> leaving Epcot for the night and hearing Lee say how much he has come to love our trips to Disney
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Coming up.....Day Three - Not a creature was stirring, except Mickey Mouse </font>