Ohana Means Family (Vacation) - COMPLETE REPORT!! About This Page:

[lauren-roxy]

Doesn't sound like the day is going to good so far, except for that awesome breakfast!! Your pictures of POR are really beautiful!! Hope you didn't have to sit all day on that bench!

[DrDolphin]

Wow -- what great photos. Your breakfast looked YUMMY and now has made me hungry.... Hurry back!

[Tink and co.]

What a fantastic trip report! I love all your pics. We're thinking moderate for our next trip, and POR is so beautiful, that might be it! More please!

[iamgrumpy]

I just caught up on the whole report so far! Man I really want to go for MNSSHP now! Thanks for doing such a great job and I want MORE!

Amy

[Colexis Mom]

Fantastic update [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Love the pictures [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[PrincessSharon]

I brought my camera with me, but I don't have any pictures to share for this segment. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] Anyway, on with the report!

Day Five Part Two – Did They Ever Show Up?

Of course they did! But while I was waiting, I was kicking myself for not doing a park on my own in the morning. Because it was so late by now, they decided that they wanted to do Universal Studios, and then Halloween Horror Nights so they’d have time in both parks. The combo tickets cost them about $83 apiece, using my AP discount (one of the great perks for universal AP holders is discounts on tickets for friends and family). My HHN ticket cost about $27 with my AP discount. The regular price for HHN tickets was about $57.

By the time we got our tickets and went through security, it was 1:00. Luckily, the park wasn’t crowded. Jaws was closed, which DSIL really wanted to see. The first thing we came to was Shrek, which had a 20 minute wait listed. It turned out to be 30, and we had to listen to DB complain about Shrek being a kids movie and we shouldn’t be doing this since the boys aren’t with us. But as soon as I went looking for the tape for his mouth, he started cracking up at the film clips and saying how hilarious the movies were. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

I was the only one of us who’d seen it before. The movie was funny, and I’m probably the only person who feels this way, but I think the moving seats add nothing. Also, I didn’t like how sometimes we were moving from our own perspective and sometimes it was because what we were looking at was moving (which makes no sense when you think about it). I did like Shrek, though.

When we got out of Shrek, we saw Shrek doing a character meet and Donkey, who is an animatronic voiced by an actual person who sounds a lot like Eddie Murphy. He was pretty funny and we stopped to watch and listen for a few minutes.

We wanted to get Express Passes for the Mummy, so we started off in that direction. Well, we were approached by a timeshare salesperson! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] If you’ve never had the misfortune of running into one of the pushy salespeople, count your blessings. And I can understand them soliciting on I-Drive/192, but inside a theme park? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] Luckily, they were from Wyndham, so we said “that’s where we’re staying!” and got away. Major, major bad taste on Universal’s part!!

On the way to the Mummy, we saw that Twister had no wait, so we went to check that out. DF and I had seen it, but DB and DSIL hadn’t. Twister is one of DB’s favorite movies so I was sure he’d like it.

Is it me or is Bill Paxton the stiffest, least believable actor you’ve ever seen in a preshow film? And he’s a movie star? Oh, it is just me? OK, moving on. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/whistling2.gif[/img] The twister part is cool to see heading toward you, but the cow is the fakest looking thing I’ve ever seen! Oh, man! I’m a negative Nellie today! I like Universal, really!

Now, on to the Mummy! It’s my favorite ride at Universal Studios! We wanted to get EPs and then go have lunch, then come back and use our EPs to ride. Except for one glitch – no EPs were being handed out today! No big deal, the crowds were pretty light and the standby line was listed at 30 minutes.

DSIL checked the map and chose to eat at Mel’s. I got a burger and a shake and showed my AP for a 10% discount. Good. Then I put it on the tray, ate my food, and threw away the AP! Bad! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/foreheadslap.gif[/img] I didn’t even realize I did it until I got home. It’s a good thing I still had my HHN ticket! I even threw away my change! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cry.gif[/img]

DSIL bought the souvenir mug that you can get refilled for like $1. After lunch (we all ate at once! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img]), we headed over to the Mummy. As I said before, this is my favorite, so I was looking forward to this. The standby time was only 20 minutes now, so we all lined up. DSIL was nervous about it. I told her if she could do RNRC, she could definitely do the Mummy, because it doesn’t go upside down.

Unfortunately, none of us knew that you can’t carry anything with you on the ride. There are lockers at the entrance to store your stuff, but absolutely no items can be carried on the ride. They even made me put my camera in my pocket (it was on a neck strap). We didn’t find this out until we were halfway through the line, and rather than get off and go to the lockers and get back on, DSIL just threw it away. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

The queue for the Mummy ride is awesome and I tried to get some pictures, but with the flash, I thought they were too bright, and without, too dark. Everyone loved the ride, and our ride photo was pretty funny.

The next thing we came to was Earthquake. The standby was 30 minutes. The others wanted to ride, but I talked them into coming back later, when I was sure the line would be shorter.

We went to Men In Black next, which I love (and by the way am so much better at than Buzz). We saw the Fear Factor show, but DB was the only one who wanted to see it. I don’t find anything entertaining about watching people eat maggots or other gross stuff like that! There was a 4:00 show, so DSIL and I pretended we’d try to come back for it. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

MIB had a 40 minute wait, but the single riders line was listed at 10. We all decided that we would split up and do the single riders line. It was a walk on. I told DSIL that if the CM wanted two singles, I’d let her and DB ride together. It worked out that DB and DSIL did get to ride together, while DF and I each rode on our own.

This ride is so much fun! I scored 224,000 points, which really impressed the man sitting next to me. OK, I have a confession to make. I managed to hit a 100,000 point target somewhere, and then I hit the red button first, which gave me 100,000 bonus points, so outside of that, I didn’t really have that great of a score at all! But that can be our little secret, mmm-kay? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

We came out of MIB and then headed for Back to the Future. It’s DF’s favorite ride. I like it, but I also think it’s starting to show its age. The standby was listed as 20 minutes, but we were on within 10 minutes. We all enjoyed the ride.

None of us wanted to see the Animal Planet show, so we went to E.T. next. DB complained about it being a kiddie ride, but we managed to convince him to ride it, with promises of Terminator movies and Earthquakes afterwards. The standby line was 25 minutes, which isn’t bad, but I was really annoyed to spend all of them waiting outside in the heat while the air-conditioned queue area inside the building was completely empty. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

I hate to mention this because E.T. is such a cool ride and I’ve been doing a lot of complaining (which is so unlike me), but I was seated on the right side of the bicycle, and that side of the ride is so close to the safety platforms that at times when others felt like they were soaring in the air, I felt like I could stick my foot out and touch the floor (well, the platform, anyway). So my advice is when riding E.T., try to sit on the left side of the bike!

After E.T., we wanted to catch the T2-3D show. Our timing was good because just as we reached the theater, the earlier performance let out. We only waited about 10 minutes before we were let into the theater.

Everyone liked that one, especially DB. DB and I were the only ones who wanted another go on the Mummy, and we all wanted to go on Earthquake, so we walked back over to the other side of the park. We ran into the timeshare people again. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

Earthquake had no line and we walked right in! Told them! Anyway, we ended up being in the front of the train, which somehow I always get the back of the train, so it was sort of a new experience for me. DB and DSIL liked it.

At the Mummy, I didn’t check how long the standby line was because DB and I took the single riders line and walked right on. We weren’t in the same car, but I was in the back row for the first time. The back row is fast! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img]

DM called to tell us that Eric was sick and couldn’t drop the girls off for the rest of the week. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] DM decided that they would go to Tampa on Friday to visit them instead. DM asked me if I was OK with not going because they thought it would be easier without me. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zcry.gif[/img] Actually, it would work out much easier, and I was happy that the girls and I would have some time with the mouse in December.

It was nearly closing time for Universal Studios, and Halloween Horror Nights had officially started, so we headed over to Islands of Adventure. DSIL stopped and got a bottle of Diet Coke on the way.

Halloween Horror Nights are the exact opposite of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Universal rates the event PG-13 and there are very few kids in attendance. There are a lot of high school aged locals and college kids, though. Many of them drunk. This is more of an event for young adults rather than families/children.

When you enter the park, everyone has to go through a bag search, and then go through metal detectors. No costumes or masks are allowed. And guess what – no bottles of soda, either. DSIL had to throw away another drink after having taken two sips of it. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

I’d been to HHN before, and I remember it being pretty scary! In addition to the haunted houses, there are walk-through scare zones (just the regular pathways with scareactors) and the rides are open as well. Also, the lines for the haunted houses can get disgustingly long, and I don’t do long lines!

The scare zones are areas of the park where everything is very foggy and you can’t see in front of you, then suddenly a guy with a chainsaw comes running up behind you! It makes me wish I had eyes in the back of my head! I also tried not to look like I was afraid to walk! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]

The first haunted house we came to only had a 10 minute wait. I didn’t feel like going in and then DSIL decided that since I wasn’t doing it, she wasn’t either. DB and DF decided they didn’t want to either, especially two big guys on their own – who would scare them?!

So we headed for Spider-Man, which is my favorite ride in all of Universal! No Express Pass was offered (unless you paid for it [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]), and the single riders line wasn’t open tonight either. It wasn’t bad on the standby line. It took us about 20 minutes to get through, and I’d never been in the standby line on Spider-Man before, so I got to see some new parts of the queue, which is cool.

Everyone loved Spider-Man. We wanted to go on the Hulk next, well DB and I did anyway. We headed over there only to discover a 45 minute standby line. Yuck! I love the Hulk, but I don’t do long lines, remember? DB decided to wait it out. I joined DF and Jackie in the restaurant and got some pizza.

We ate and DB rode the Hulk, which took more like an hour. When DB came in, he wanted to eat ([img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]) so we had to wait for him to get his food and then eat it.

After that, we couldn’t agree on what to do – I was up for anything but no houses. I was willing to go on my own while they went in one of the houses but DSIL didn’t want to go either. So we decided to ride Spider-Man again.

This time, the line was a bit longer than before. It took us about 25 minutes to get on, but it was certainly worth it!

I had heard good things about Bill & Ted’s Halloween show, so I wanted to see that. We wandered around for a long time until we found it. I know my way around IOA just fine in the daytime, but at night, when many of the paths are blocked off, and many of the paths you do take are backstage areas, well, it was easy to get lost. Also, dark and foggy!

Our timing was good, and the show would be starting in 10 minutes, so we found some seats and sat down for the show. It was fun and funny, but also rated PG-13. I even heard a curse word or two! It was a celebrity impersonator show, but in a really crazy way – it didn’t have much of a plot. They had Willy Wonka, Zorro, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, the Dukes of Hazzard (and other characters from Universal movies). They even had “Britney Spears” singing a song with her new baby on her back! Too funny! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] They even had that weird Burger King guy fighting it out with Ronald McDonald!

After the show, we wanted to try to ride Dueling Dragons. It took us a while to make it over there between the exiting crowds and the difficulty navigating, so by the time we made it over there, the ride was closed. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] Most of the rides closed at 11:00.

I was getting kind of frustrated now, and by this time, most of the houses had a 40 minute wait or more, so I left it up to the rest of the group to decide what to do. They decided to call it a night, so we headed out, getting lost on the way. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

We stopped so DB and DSIL could get pictures with some of the scareactors on stilts on the way out. It was raining by now, though only a misty rain. I wouldn’t have worn a poncho if I’d had one. We took the long, long, long walk back to the van. It always seems so much further than the walk in lol!

At the time, I thought I had fun at Universal, but writing about it, it seemed kinda sucky! It wasn’t, though. I had fun!

We made it back to POR at 12:15. I had DF drop me off by the lobby because I was certain they’d get lost dropping me off at Parterre Place!

I set a wakeup call for 7:00 and turned in for the night.

Up Next: There’s a Method to My Madness!

[KandJluvdisney]

lol about your dad in MK
keep going- I love it

[Colexis Mom]

Great update Sharon [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Glad you enjoyed Universal. Thanks for the info on HHN [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[lauren-roxy]

Great update Sharon!!! I loved all the details about Universal and their Halloween party!! Can't wait to read more!!

[krisk11]

Great updates!!!!

[DawnDenise]

Sounds like you had a good day at Universal!!! Looking forward to more!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[KrisLuvsDisney]

I just caught up on your TR and it is so great! I love all your pictures. More please!

[PrincessSharon]

Day Six – Thursday, October 13
There’s a Method to My Madness!

I woke up before my wakeup call – at 6:20. I got up and showered and dressed before Stitch and Mickey finally called! It was still raining that misty rain off and on this morning, so I brought my poncho with me, but I didn’t wear it all day.

I discovered a crowd at the bus stop and when the Epcot bus arrived, it was crowded and I ended up standing. It’s a very short ride from POR to Epcot. In fact, I could see the ball at night from the pathway to Parterre Place.

At Epcot, there were, of course, long lines at the turnstiles. I went all the way over to the left and found some lines that were shorter. At about 8:55, we were let through the turnstiles up to SE. I snapped a few pictures of the F&WF topiaries.





I made my way to the ropes and waited there. The character bus drove up and there was a cute little countdown ceremony.



We were let through and it was remarkably similar to the EMH day – half of the crowd to Test Track and half to Soarin’. I was closer to the front of the pack this time and did a fast walk over to Soarin’. When I arrived, the standby time was only 15 minutes. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] I grabbed a FP for later, then got in the standby line.

It wasn’t even 15 minutes in the standby line, and I got the front row again! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] By the time I made it off, the standby was already up to 30 minutes! I decided to go on Living With the Land until my Soarin’ FP was active.

I enjoy the ride, but I find the line to be usually very long and always very slow moving, so I don’t ride it often. And I don’t like to use a FP for it so my timing has to be right. Today, there was no line (everyone was rushing over to Soarin’, I guess).

The CM was a little dull, but she was pleasant. I took quite a few pictures in the greenhouse, but I’ll only share a few.


I thought this tomato tree was cool


Mickey pumpkins

After LWTL, I used my FP and practically walked right on to Soarin’, which by now had a 45 minute standby. I got the front row again! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] The best thing about being solo on Soarin’ means they can fit you in anywhere, so I got the front row a lot!

I wanted to make sure the rest of my family got to ride Soarin’ (and the FPs were going fast), so I’d told them to try to make it as early a start as they could manage. I hadn’t heard from them yet, so I called DF.

They were still getting ready! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] I have to say, this was another reason I was happy to stay on my own at POR. No one else appreciates how important it is to get an early start! This way, I could hit the ground running as early as I wanted and they could catch up to me later.

I told them to get going as soon as possible because the Soarin’ FPs were going fast! DM is the only one who’d ridden it before, and she was looking forward to riding it again!

I knew it’d be a while before they caught up to me, so I decided to head over to Test Track. I took some pictures of the new Land pavilion before I went over. By the way, I’m so happy they still have the balloons!





Test Track had a 30 minute standby, which wasn’t bad, but the single riders line was only 10 minutes long! I got on line and was in a car in less than 10 minutes. Test Track is not one of my favorites, but it is growing on me. The fact that it hasn’t broken down while I was on it in the past 3 trips helps. Also, the single riders line helps, too. It still isn’t something I would wait very long for, though.

I made another call to DM to check their progress … they wanted breakfast. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] They were just being seated at Denny’s. I told her to call me back when they were on their way.

I couldn’t believe how crowded Epcot was at this point. So I decided to go hit Figment. There’s never a line for that! Well, except for today! Even though the standby sign read “0” minutes, there was quite a line inside, and I ended up waiting about 10 minutes to get on. I have to tell you, I wasn’t very happy! Figment isn’t my favorite ride by any stretch of the imagination, and I certainly didn’t want to have to wait for it! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] I made the best of it, though.

I didn’t spend much time in the Image Works, figuring we’d come back and do that later. I knew it was after 11:00, so I thought I’d head over to World Showcase to sample some of the offerings.

On the way, I saw a monorail that was just sitting on the track, so I took a picture, which is one of my favorites.



Before doing anything else, I wanted to get the Goofy F&WF pin, so I stopped at the F&WF gift shop to get one. Their registers were down, but they were ringing up things the old-fashioned way. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] The CM was delighted that I had exact change, and even happier that I didn’t need a receipt! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

My first stop was Greece. I was disappointed last year because when I visited, they were out of spanikopitta. This year they had it, and that’s what I got.


Spanikopitta - $2.75

It was good. I love spinach, so I figured I’d like it!

Canada is probably my favorite WS pavilion. So beautiful! I took lots of pictures.







At the Poland booth, I decided on the pierogies and kielbasa, which was very tasty! The pierogies were especially good! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]


Kielbasa & Pierogies - $3.50

At the New Zealand booth, I decided on the kiwi roll, which was light and tasty.


Custard Kiwi Roll - $1.25

The U.K. pavilion is another of my favorites for pictures.









I noticed that there was a seminar here, The Art of Making Tea, which sounded interesting. However, it was not being held today. I made a note to return on Friday or Saturday to try to attend.

My next stop was France. First I took some photos.









Then I hit the booth. They had the same stuff as last year. I don’t like quiche, and there was no way I was trying the escargot, so I had to “suffer” with the chocolate crème brulee.


Chocolate Crème Brulee - $2.50

This had been my favorite last year, so I wasn’t at all disappointed to get it again this year. The one I was served was a bit burnt, though. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

My next stop was the Turkey booth, where I tried the circassian chicken.


Circassian Chicken - $3.00

This was like chicken salad and had hazelnuts in it, and I love chicken salad and hazelnuts. I didn’t care for this dish too much, though. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

DM finally called to say that they were in the parking lot and she’d meet me at Spaceship Earth. I told her it would take me some time to get to them and that they shouldn’t wait for me. Head directly to Soarin’ and get FPs. Do not pass go, do not collect $200! We’d meet at Soarin’.

It seemed like it was about to start raining, so I decided to grab the Friendship back to the other side of the lagoon. A boat was waiting, so I got right on and headed back to Future World.



Once we arrived on the other side, the sprinkling had stopped and the sun came out. It was sunny for the remainder of our trip! By the time I made it to Soarin’, the FPs were gone for the day! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] My family was nowhere in sight, either. I went upstairs and sat down near the door so I could see them come in. After a few minutes, they found me. They managed to get two FPs for Soarin’ before they ran out for the day.

The standby was 80 minutes, so they decided not to wait for it. DM had ridden it before, so DF and DB were elected to be the lucky ones to get to ride it later. I reminded them that I’d made an early start and had ridden it twice this morning and could’ve ridden it even more than that. But only to let them know there was a method to my madness. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

For those of you who haven’t been paying attention (and shame on you!), I had ridden Soarin’ twice, Test Track, Living with the Land, Journey Into Imagination, and enjoyed many of the booths at the F&WF while they slept in and had a mediocre breakfast at Denny’s. And it had been a particularly crowded morning at Epcot!

Now that we were together, we decided on Test Track. I didn’t note the standby time, but it was long enough that we decided to get Fastpasses for it. We only had enough for 5, which worked out perfectly because DM volunteered to stay outside with D and Noah wanted to give it a try.

Our next stop was Mission Space. The standby time was 30 minutes, and the single riders line was pretty long too. I am always afraid that the spinning will make me sick, even though it never has, so I decided to skip it. The others didn't feel like waiting in the long line so they were going to skip it, too. DM and I tried to convince them to wait. As we were standing at the entrance, a CM overheard us and gave us an instant FP! It was good for up to six people and we could use it now! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] DM and the boys went to the playground and DF, DB, DSIL and I went on the FP line and got right on.

I didn’t get sick, and the ride was just as fantastic as ever! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] Made even better by that awesome CM! DM later told me that he was from NY and saw my I love NY t-shirt (where the “love” is actually a Mickey head) and decided to give us a little extra magic! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

DF loved it as usual, and DB did too. DSIL said that it was her favorite ride! We met up with DM and the boys and I figured the line for Spaceship Earth would have died down by now, so we headed for the front of the park.

Noah wanted to ride with me, and he just loved it! It was fun riding it with him. I even got a few good pictures without using the flash! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]









When we got off, Noah wanted to ride it again. I was a little tired from the heat and the crowds, so I decided to head back to POR for a short break. Our Test Track return time was 4:45 so we agreed to meet up at Test Track then. DM and DSIL took the boys on SE again, and I headed for the bus stop.

A bus was pulling out when I arrived. I tried to make a run for it, but the driver didn’t see me. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] A new bus arrived in less than 10 minutes, which was great.

Once back at POR, I watched television for a little bit (no Appliance Direct infomercial [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]). Normally, I get up early, hit the parks early, take a break when the parks are most hot and most crowded, then stay until they kick me out. Touring with my family had caused me to change my style a bit, so this was the first day I’d really stuck with my traditional touring plans. Epcot was having EMH this night, so I planned to stay until I was too tired to continue.

At 4:00, I headed for the bus stop. It didn’t take long to get there, but I took my time strolling over there and by the time I reached Test Track, it was 4:50. My family was nowhere in sight. I waited about 10 minutes and then they showed up – having just gotten off of Test Track. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] Now not only was I not going to get to ride it with them, I had to have them wait for me while I rode it by myself. I was kinda annoyed that they didn’t wait for me (they couldn’t wait 5 minutes!!!!), so when I saw a longish FP line, I decided to not even ride.

So I got off the line, rejoined the family and told them we were heading for World Showcase. I didn’t give them a chance to make an alternate suggestion! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] They were fine with WS, because they’d done much of FW while I was resting.

I’d gotten pretty far around WS this morning, so I decided to start at Mexico this time. I got the Quesadilla con Pollo y Chorizo, which was very good! I guess I forgot to get a picture of it, but I’m sure you know what a quesadilla looks like! It was $3.50.

DSIL bought the boys the swirl ice pops or whatever you call them. Well, we all wanted to get on El Rio del Tiempo and check out the stuff in Mexico, so DM figured she’d help D finish his up. She took a huge bite off the top of it and D had a mini meltdown! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] It was decided that she and D would stay out and the rest of us would go in and ride. Noah finished his much more quickly so in we went. Noah loved this, but mostly because of the “fireworks.” I let him sit on the end and had to explain why he had to keep his arms and legs inside the boat at all times. Then whenever he would hear the announcement, he would laugh hysterically! The things that amuse a 5-year-old! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

DSIL told me she loves Mexican food and would’ve loved to eat at San Angel Inn. Now she tells me! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] After all the planning stuff I gave her to look at, she never said anything. I did all the planning myself. I’ve never been with anyone who wanted to try SAI before, and I would’ve loved it! Oh well, next time.

DSIL wanted to get a pretzel and DM wanted fish and chips. DF & DB decided that they would just eat whatever caught his eye. I couldn’t believe I was stuck with a bunch of F&WF party poopers! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

After Mexico, we headed over to Norway. There was a short line for Maelstrom, which took us about 15 minutes to get through. Everyone liked it, especially the boys! Noah loved the giant polar bears.

In China, only DB got something. He got the beer, which he said was the best of all the ones he tried. I’m not a beer drinker, or a wine drinker, so I didn’t sample any of them. I wished that I was, but with no knowledge, I was sure I wouldn’t know good from bad!

We headed to Germany to get a pretzel, but the man in front of us on line bought the last one! It would be about 15 minutes for more, so DSIL decided not to wait.

We went to Italy next. Italy had the same issue as last year with their everyday run-of-the-mill offerings. Instead, DM and I decided to split a chocolate mousse, which was really good.

I noticed that the Eat to the Beat concert would be starting in about 15 minutes, so we grabbed some seats to see Kool & the Gang. DB got a beer from Sam Adams, but I don’t know which one he got. DSIL decided that the boys wouldn’t sit still for the concert, so she took them into the Liberty Inn so they could get dinner. I think DB also got a turkey leg here, if that’s possible. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] I remember every time I turned around he was gnawing on one of those things!

We all enjoyed K&TG and Jackie managed to find us after they’d eaten. The two Soarin’ FPs the guys had were good now, so they headed back to use them. We agreed to meet up with them at the Friendship dock.

DM and I both got kaki goris. I had strawberry and she had cherry. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] I just love kaki goris!

DSIL wanted to do some shopping in Mitsukoshi. DM and I were still eating our treats, so we stayed outside with the boys. Jackie’s SIL is Japanese, so she called her up and asked her what kind of things she should buy for her. Jackie had a little trouble communicating to the CM, so she put Namiko (her SIL) on the phone with the CM, which worked out great. The CM was able to suggest some things for her and Namiko got everything she wanted and couldn’t wait for DSIL to get home! I’ve been warned that Namiko is sending a list with me for my December trip, as well as her number so I can put her on the phone with the CM if necessary (which I’m sure it will be!).

As you can imagine, this took a little while. DB has a habit of saying to Noah “today!” when he’s taking a long time, which irritates Noah so much (he’s a little anal [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]). Anyway, I told Noah to say “today!” when his Mom came out, which he thought was the best idea! Both boys shouted “today!” when she came out and she started cracking up. I’m not a bad influence on them, am I? Don’t answer that!

DSIL was really looking forward to the Tea Caddy in the U.K. and it was close to our meeting time, so we sped over to the U.K. so she could check it out. She loves Twinings tea and has a friend who does as well. There was a repeat of her experience in Japan, though without the language barrier. She got her friend some tea and some chocolate.

The line for the fish and chips was hideously long (and I know from experience that it is slow-moving as well). DM decided not to get any, and I felt bad that she did. She insisted that she was fine and would get something else.

We headed over to the Friendship dock, which wasn’t a bad spot for Illuminations. The guys found us without a problem and they gave Soarin’ two thumbs up! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

As I said before, any fireworks show was something Noah loved, so he was so excited for Illuminations to begin. When it finally started, he was spellbound! It was his favorite fireworks display of the trip! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] D watched, but covered his ears.

We hadn’t really spent as much time at Epcot as I’d planned, and I’d planned for tomorrow, their last park day, to be a MK day. I gave them the option of MK or Epcot. DSIL and DM really wanted Epcot, but they decided that everyone would have the most fun at MK, so that was our plan for the morning.

The rest of my family headed for the exit (learning nothing from the other night), while I stuck around to enjoy EMH. I forgot to get a wristband before EMH started, so I had to pick one up on the way to Soarin’, fighting exiting crowds the entire way. The last time I’d been at evening EMH, things were handled differently. You just showed the CM your key and got a wristband. Now, they actually scan your key to make sure you’re not getting extra wristbands. When I finally made it in there, the standby line was 45 minutes and FPs were not being distributed. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

I figured even if the standby line for Test Track was long, I’d be able to do the single riders line, so I quickly made my way over there. The standby line was 30 minutes, but luckily the single riders line was only 10 minutes long.

The CM at the preshow told us to walk right through and skip the movie, and the CM on the other side yelled at us for walking right through and skipping the movie. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] In less than the 10 minutes advertised, I was zipping around on the track. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

When I got off, I got right back on again. This time, we stopped to watch the preshow movie and the door opened (thinking back, I think the kid next to the door pushed it open), so those of us near the door went out. It closed again almost immediately, but everyone else in the room pushed their way out. There wasn’t enough room for anyone to stand and it was pretty crowded waiting to be assigned seats.

Finally, I got in a car and went for a ride. After those two experiences, I decided to call it a night. On the way out, I had to take a spin on Spaceship Earth. I came out and decided to take one more spin before leaving. During the second ride, we got stuck and I must’ve listened to the same recorded announcement 30 times, interrupted only by a live CM giving the same announcement, which I have to say was kind of annoying.

After about 15 minutes, the ride began to move again, and we didn’t stop anymore after that. I slowly made my way to the bus stop to see a bus pulling out as I arrived. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] I decided to have a seat until the next bus came, which took about 10 minutes. The bus wasn’t full and everyone waiting got a seat.

By the time I made it back to POR, it was after 11:00. Tomorrow was our family breakfast at Kona Café, but not until 10:40, so I didn’t bother to set a wakeup call before turning in for the night.

Up Next: You Call That Sleeping In?

[lauren-roxy]

What a busy day you had at Epcot!!! I am a firm believer in getting an early start! We usually go in the summer and it is amazing how much you can get done in the morning while everyone else sleeps!! All the food looked so good from the Festival!! Can't wait to read more!!!

[Caldercup]

So glad to see that your family's "slow-going" didn't impact your own ability to take in the early-morning offerings at Epcot. 2x on Soarin' [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img]

But... how could they go on TT without you! Ooooh, that's sucky behavior! I had my Grand Gathering group do that to me a couple of times and I got pretty steamed!

I can't wait for more!
Eileen