Epcot, Space, and Egg Rolls (and now pictures!) *UPDATED* About This Page:

[Colexis Mom]

Great report Cindy [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img] Thanks for sharing your pictures too!! Looking forward to Epcot!!

[tikibird]

I'm with Russ - I think I would be entirely happy just spending a weekend on the WL grounds! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

Sounds like a lot of fun, and glad you escaped the hurricane!

More, please... [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Sunrayherosgirl]

Great report! I will be seeing mickey next week i will say hi for you [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

[angelina]

Wow, what a cool view from your room! Can't wait to read more [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[DisneyNutMary]

Great report so far. Sounds like your room was a highlight of this trip.
Can't wait to read more.
That picture of you and Russ outside you room. I know it's an illusion, but it kind of looks like he has his head bent to avoid hitting it on the light fixture [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[kpgriffin]

Great trip report. I love the view from the room into the lobby. Can't wait to read the next installment. [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[DrDolphin]

Great report so far -- I am getting SO SPOILED living in JAX and being able to hop in the car and head to WDW less than 3 hours away!!! We are staying at WL in January and have no idea what room to request - we will pay for standard -- since you seem to stay there lots can you recommend a location to ask for???

[luvnwdwgal]

Loving every word Cindy!! Keep it coming!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[TiggGrrrl]

Really enjoying your report Cindy! Can't wait for more! We just ADORE WL also - I don't know anyone who doesn't once they see it...pure magic!

I know what you mean about those come out of nowhere monsoons! Shane and I got quite a few of 'em on our June trip [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Never let it put a damper on the day though [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[iloverags2]

More firsts at Epcot!

Saturday morning found Russ and me up with all the early birds. Even when we’re on vacation, we just can’t seem to sleep in. No matter how much noise we made, the girls didn’t flinch so we decided to hit Roaring Forks for an early breakfast. I’m so thrilled I decided on the croissant…it was quite delicious. Russ stuck with the standard eggs, bacon, and hash browns along with a couple of milks while I filled up my WL mug with Coke (my morning caffeine fix). Total came out to around $10 (for those counting). Upon leaving our table we were happy with our choice of an early breakfast…the line was snaking out of Roaring Forks. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Yikes!

The girls were still dead to the world when we returned to the room…an opportunity to enjoy our rocking chairs just outside. [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] Fun to watch all the early risers scamper about, rushing their families around in hopes of beating crowds to the parks. I was beginning to wonder just why I had always done that in the past now that I was seeing it from a different perspective. Those chairs and our view were just so inviting we could’ve stayed there all day. It’s a shame the girls finally woke up! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] When they got to the point of heading downstairs themselves for breakfast, the line had dwindled down (according to them) and they munched on croissants and eggs themselves. Not sure of the total, but would imagine it was somewhere along the lines of what we spent earlier.

My plan for the day was to take the boat over to MK and hop the monorail to TTC for a quick change to the Epcot line. Russ agreed this was a perfect idea, and wanted to add a stop to the Contemporary since Cori and Gina had never been inside it before and he thought they’d get a kick out of the monorail line running through it. Off we went to the boat dock around 11 a.m., where we waited just a few minutes before heading off. It was a gorgeous morning…sun peeking through the clouds, warm but not unbearably hot, and we were at Disney. Could it not get any better than this? Arriving at MK, the lines at the security checkpoints were quite long which I took as a good sign…maybe things are beginning to turn around in the tourism department. Luckily we wouldn’t have to wait, and just made our way to the monorail station where we were whisked away to CR. Wouldn’t you know Cori and Gina were totally oblivious to entering the resort at first, as they weren’t paying attention to what was going on outside the monorail. When Russ finally got them to look out the window towards the rooms we were speeding past, their jaws dropped for a moment before Cori let out a squeal. They were even more enthusiastic about getting off here when they spotted the small array of stores on the level below. After browsing a bit, and taking a peek around we headed back to the monorail only to find a few people in front of us. No biggie. I was more interested in riding shotgun on the Epcot line, as I had never done that before. When we got to the TTC, what a disappointment it was to see a couple sitting on the purple bench. Russ asked the CM anyway if it were possible to wait for the front cab. She smiled and said to have a seat on the bench, so we figured they were going to let us wait it out for the following monorail. It was only seconds before the first one pulled up, and the couple quickly jumped off the bench as it approached. Cori and Gina took their spots on the bench, and the CM came down and told us to sit there until the driver came and got us. Turns out the couple were just taking a break and weren’t going to ride in the front after all. Another first for me finally! Shotgun to Epcot. Woo! And boy were the girls beside themselves when they found out we were riding up front. Very cool for them. Our driver (lack of name, once again) was awesome as he told us about both WDW and DL. He used to live in CA and has spent much time there still even since moving to FL. His wife also drives on the monorail line and we passed her going in the other direction. Very cute to see the two of them react with huge smiles as they passed. [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

Finally, we arrived at our destination, Epcot, with high hopes of egg rolls, Test Track, and Mission:Space. Russ and I bought FL resident Play 4 Days passes from his work, and had to get them exchanged at the ticket window. Once again, we had an excellent CM and this one I’m really sorry I didn’t get her name, as I would love to write Disney about her. Think I still will, and will add our pass numbers to the letter…maybe they can look up who handled the transaction. She is originally from Buenos Aires, and had such an enthusiastic personality. As we left, she whispered to us to stop by Space after 4 as “she heard” it would be previewing then. Woo!

As always, our first order of business in Epcot is to find our picture on Leave a Legacy. (You can find Russ and me at West 4-F-16-5-12.) No sooner had we done that when Cori and Gina insisted on hitting Test Track. No problem. Passing by Mission:Space, we noticed a long line forming, but it was not open. Are these people seriously going to wait four hours in line??? [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Test Track had a 60-minute stand-by, so we decided on FP’s, which were already at the 6:15 to 7:15 window. Ack! But it sure beats waiting in line! Next up was another first for me. I’ve been wanting to see Universe of Energy for years, but have never been able to convince anyone to check it out. This trip I told everyone way in advance we were going on this even if it means waiting two hours…and I wasn’t kidding. Russ was actually enthused himself after I gave him the scoop of the attraction. He loves science and I knew he would get into this. As luck would have it, we walked right into Universe and had no wait at all. Ellen is a riot (as usual) and I totally love the Jeopardy theme they use. The ride portion is cute, but I can’t imagine how some younger kids might react to it! Wasn't expecting those dinosaurs to be so, ummmm, big! Very cool indeed, although I think Russ and I were the only ones in our group who enjoyed it. By now, the girls have had three years of high school science and they would rather get to the shopping in World Showcase.

I was all prepared to hit Body Wars when we exited, when what to my wandering eyes should appear but no lines ahead and Mission:Space in full gear. OMG! I nearly lost the rest of the gang as I bolted towards the entrance. Were they really open? Was it just a quick peek inside? Was the ride working? OMG! OMG! OMG! I was going on Space. I had already mentioned to everyone we would be going on this no matter what. If they didn’t want to wait, I’d meet up with them elsewhere. FP’s were being given out even, but since we had just gotten TT ones, we weren’t able to get Space ones. No biggie. The stand-by line was a mere 40 minutes! OMG! We were going on! And everyone else agreed from what they heard, 40 minutes was nothing.

SPOILER WARNING!!!!! I’m going into details about the queue and the ride here. If you don’t want to know what anything is for Mission:Space, don’t read the rest of this post, as I’ll make this the last of this portion of my trip report.

Ok, so here we go……

LAST SPOILER WARNING!!!!

Mission:Space!

The queue for this ride is awesome! There is a replica of a moon buggy, which is on loan from the Smithsonian. At first we thought it was an actual one that had been used in Space, but alas not so. Still, very cool Disney was able to display this. There is also a giant wheel type thing that has different rooms in it. Not a replica of anything as far as I know, but very neat to look at. The queue area is quite large and keeps lines moving well, which in my opinion makes the wait for a ride much easier. Pictures of different astronauts and cosmonauts are displayed, and really a neat thing to look at. There is also an area that at first I thought was supposed to be a replica of mission control, but Russ didn’t think it looked too much like it. Maybe they don’t want to give too much away! By the time we got to the end of the queue I hadn’t noticed how much time had passed and thought it all went rather quick. Looking at my watch, I could not believe my eyes. We waited a mere 15 minutes in line before getting on! Talk about our luck. How totally awesome was that…and very unexpected. A definite magical moment. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

This ride worked perfect for us as four people ride in a capsule. We lined up not knowing what position we would be sitting in. My only necessity…that I would be on an end, as I’m claustrophobic (to the extreme) and didn’t want to be sitting between two people. I had heard this was a very enclosed ride. It was just a matter of seconds before we loaded into our capsule, finding out Cori was our pilot, Gina the navigator, Russ the commander, and I was the engineer (Russ was thrilled he didn’t get that spot since he is an engineer for real!). I should mention prior to us getting on the ride, there is a short film starring Gary Sinise…he goes over what we have to do (basically push buttons at his command). We sat in our seats, and yes the capsule is small! I pulled down my shoulder harness and thought, “I can get through this. Tight squeeze inside here, but nothing I can’t handle.” The doors closed and then it happened! The control panel in front of us moved towards us, so that it was practically in our laps. OMG! OMG! OMG! No room! OMG! Managing not to panic (I really wanted to enjoy this journey), I screamed, “What am I doing?” Again, the girls were quite amused. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] About the only comforting thing at that moment was the fact Russ was sitting next to me. (Don’t worry all you claustrophobics out there…it does get better!) The monitors in front of us went on and suddenly the capsule tilted back. We were in what felt like a lying position and the screen in front of us provided the view a shuttle would see as it is getting ready to take off. The countdown began and then the thundering of our capsule as it rocketed along the track before lifting off! Oh my goodness, the force against my face! How incredible! And to think astronauts feel that at even a greater force. I later found out Gina had went to grab her shoulder harness as we were blasting off into space, but had some trouble as she had difficulty even raising her arms up! She said it was such a cool feeling. As we shot into space, my silly fears of being closed in returned, and I quite honestly can’t remember too much of what happened. Seriously, it may have just been the exhilaration of it all as I really can’t remember of being scared either. Just a neat ride. Oh yes, I do remember seeing earth from Space, which was a totally awesome experience. What I do remember next was closing in on Mars when orders started getting yelled at us, and the lights on our control panels began to light up. With my hearing (or lack of, I should say), I didn’t quite catch what Gary was shouting, but I must have missed him say something to me…next thing I know Russ is nudging me, and laughing as he says, “the girls say you’re going to make us crash!” I imagine you don’t really need to push the buttons, but boy did I start hitting those things. There is also a joystick on the panel, which gives you the feeling you are steering the shuttle during the Mars landing. The capsule heads through canyons and towards mountainous rock formations at top speed. Way cool! The landing is awesome, and really makes you want to experience the trip back to earth too. Maybe that’s an idea for Epcot’s next ride?

Upon exiting the ride area, we were queued into an area with a virtual reality game, but it was quite crowded and no one was really up to forgetting our experience on Space just yet. We wanted to send an email postcard, but there are only three kiosks to do so, and they were very busy so we skipped that too. The store (what Disney attraction doesn’t have a store attached to it at the end?) had some very cute plush characters and of course Space pins.

Definitely an excellent adventure and even Russ (who isn’t easily impressed) enjoyed the ride. I would recommend this ride to everyone. And next time (two weeks from now!) I will be more prepared for the very closed in space! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Next up: Day number 24 of rain in July for Florida

[ProChristo]

What an awesome time you are having! WL must be just beautiful. I would love to visit there. Glad you made it through M:S alright. Glad you conquered your claustrophobia and lived to tell about it! Can't wait for more...

[DrDolphin]

I can not wait to ride Mission Space!!! October will not get here soon enough!!!!!!

[luvnwdwgal]

Thanks for the info on Mission Space! Can't wait to try it out myself someday!! Looking forward to more!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[iloverags2]

Originally posted by DrDolphin:
Great report so far -- I am getting SO SPOILED living in JAX and being able to hop in the car and head to WDW less than 3 hours away!!! We are staying at WL in January and have no idea what room to request - we will pay for standard -- since you seem to stay there lots can you recommend a location to ask for???

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Hey Terri! Just realized I forgot to answer your question here. I've only been in two different room locations at WL so far...courtyard and the lobby area, which was a woods view. There are plus sides to both...really more of what you are interested in. If you'd rather sit on your balcony outside, taking in the view of the lake and courtyard, then definitely try for a CY upgrade. If you'd rather enjoy that gorgeous lobby at WL, see if they can get you something in that area. Honestly, there isn't a bad place to be in WL. And I know what you mean about being spoiled in Jax...I'd sure miss these weekend trips if we ever moved!

[tikibird]

Loved the detail on Mission Space - thanks!

Now about those egg rolls.... [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]