Basking in the Glow of the (not so) Creepy Clown -2/11-Pictures, Final Thoughts, PTR!

[brookelizabeth]

Continued from previous post

We went into the World Showcase via Mexico

Little boy, big ball!

The new Mexico place hadn't opened yet, so I tried to snag pictures of what I could - the beautiful roof.

Outside eating

CS cash register area

Someone must have mentioned wanting a sweet - probably Joe - because my next pic is:

Norway yummies.

The floor inside the Norway bakery

Joe's selection

Mine, mine, mine!

Henry is at that age where he wants his OWN. I recall a moment when he wanted his own treat, his own drink, his own, own, own. And their ain't no way I'm A) Paying for him to have his own, because B) That much sweet would make him sick! After a few tears and an apple juice, he was quite satisfied...and thankfully enjoyed Joe's school bread more than mine.

He kept asking who this guy was and why he had a sword. Explaining the Vikings to a 3 year old is an interesting task.

Let's keep rollin'...

Either I was an oinker this day, or there was a time gap, without pictures, because up next is:

I just ate a Sweet Pretzel, but I KNOW this was mine. And Henry's.

All well, we are on vacation, right?

This was the first time I had tried Kaki Gori, and yummmmmmmmmmmm, yum, yum! That is not your ordinary snow-cone! Very tasty and refreshing on this hot day.

We sat up near the CS and Henry ran around - he loved that he could easily crawl around on the stools and since it was near empty up there, I allowed it.

I think he thought he was busted - I normally don't let him do this kind of thing!

Pretty, pretty.

It had started to rain-and we didn't have our ponchos, so we decided to head onwards toward the Boardwalk. We were beat. We had been in Epcot for 9 hours. Pizza and a movie back in the villa sounded like a perfect activity for that evening.

Heading out...

I took a few minutes to look at the details of these various paintings. I love these little details that Disney adds in!

While looking at the paintings, I saw this little dude. Maybe he was trying to stay dry???

Continued in next post

 

[brookelizabeth]

Continued from previous post

Joe and Henry ordered the pizza while I ran up to the room to grab our refillable mugs, which can be filled at the pizza window.

When the pizza was ready, Joe and Henry went to the room with it. Since Joe can't push a stroller, hold a pizza, and 2 mugs, I took the mugs with me in search of Community Hall, where the video rental is.

I first went to the front desk to ask where Community Hall was. The woman kinda looked at me with a blank stare (Clue #1), grabbed a map (Clue #2), and looked at it for a moment and circled a gray building. She then spoke over her shoulder to another CM, "Community Hall is over by the quiet pool, right?" (Clue #3), "Yep", was his response without looking at what she had circled. I thanked her and went on my merry way.

Well.........here is the map.

The Boardwalk is huge.

You see the circle in the upper right, kinda near the conference center? That is where the CM sent me. And yes, there is a quiet pool over there. I walked clear over there, after walking 9 hours in Epcot and carrying 2 mugs and could NOT figure out how to get to that quiet pool, or see ANY signs for Community Hall. It seemed awfully odd that it would be over here too being this is where the regular hotel rooms are. I walked and walked and walked. I ran into a few dead-end or CM Only paths, I walked through the conference center.

Oh, and did I tell you it was still raining?

I finally gave up. I set one of the sodas down and called Joe on my cell. I was wet. I was tired. I was sticky from the soda sloshing. I was mad that my soda was no longer cold because the ice had melted. My feet hurt. I couldn't find this stinkin' Community Hall if someone paid me! I was near tears and completely melting down.

Joe said to just come back. He was disappointed, but he didn't want me a complete wreck.

I made the trek back to the room and showed Joe the map. We sat down and ate the pizza without the movie.

The pizza was alright. Nothing spectacular, but edible.

After we ate, I was calm again and we decided to venture out again, together, to find this allusive Community Hall. Joe had an idea to walk through the hotel hallways instead of outside. He's WAY better with maps, so I followed his lead.

Onward, ho!

And we walked, and walked, and walked.

We found the quiet pool on the map. It was lovely. Surrounded by these cute little cottages (they are conceriage level rooms). But there was NO Community Hall. Joe was baffled and frustrated. He knows he is good with maps and has a superb sense of direction. (I think because he is legally blind, his other senses are heightened-including a sense of direction.) Near the pool was a house phone, so I picked it up...but it wasn't working. Thankfully I had my cell with me and just called a Disney number listed on the phone. I was connected with some main switchboard, who, after hearing my drama, switched me to the Boardwalk. I explained to them again, and then ANOTHER CM and FINALLY got someone who knew where the stink Community Hall was!

I'll refer you again to the map:

You see the lower left where I have drawn arrows around another building? YES, THAT is Community Hall. CLEAR on the other side of the complex, and quite close to our room.

So, back we went. We found it with ease.

Community Hall was great! Henry immediately found the toys and had a wonderful time playing, playing, playing while Joe and I looked through movies and watched Camp Rock on TV. I'll admit...it was kinda entertaining.

We selected "A Bugs Life", Henry had never seen it. We peeled him away from the toys with the lure of a movie and went back to the room.

I decided I would go to the gift shop and get us some snacks and then hit up one of the stands with refills for the mugs.

Dun-dun-dun...

I get to the gift shop and pile my arms full of snacks. I'm going full-boar baby. Bag of chips, licorice, jelly beans...and then I realize I forgot my Annual Pass. No 10% off for me. Which, in my money saving ways, really irked me.

But then it got worse. I didn't have my room key or ANY cash with.

GAH!

Back to the room. I grumpily grab my $25 Disney Gift Card and go back to the gift shop. The CM re-rings me.

The-gift-card-was-EMPTY.



I had used it on our previous trip apparently and kept it in my wallet for some crazy reason.

I almost lost it (again) folks. I was tired and crabby. My feet hurt.

Back to the room. I didn't even bother to get refills, I was done.

Joe pauses the movie and goes to get the snacks and refills. Only he comes back without refills, the line was 99393 people long due to Epcot closing. He searches out the soda machines. Comes back to the room without sodas-he never found the machines. So back to the gift shop AGAIN. I volunteer again for the gift shop because I feel so bad for him, but he tells me I'm not allowed to leave the room for the rest of the night.

In between all the trips we do enjoy Illuminations from our balcony, none of the pictures came out very good, you can only see the very top ones, but it's still fun! And eventually we have soda, snacks and the movie. We enjoy it and the beautiful view from our balcony before crashing after a very, very long day!

 

[vamassey1]

Thank you so much for the Christmas in New York pictures. I've never been but now I want to watch Home Alone 2 Lost in New York. It's just to pretty and Christmasy.

You're really putting out those updates now, and I'm loving it. The photopass pictures are sooooo cute. I too like the Goofy picture and all the special pictures. I think my favorite is the Simba one. Henry looks so precious. Hopefully someday when he has a baby brother or sister he'll look that way at them.

I'm so sorry Henry shrunk and couldn't ride Soarin'. He really took it well, or course at that age distraction really works well.

What a great time y'all had in Innoventions and on SSE. Love the additions they added to SSE.

I'm so sorry you had such a bad time looking for the Community Hall and getting your drinks refilled. I can just feel that frustration with you.

 

[tinacaplan]

Another great update! There are few feelings more frustrating (for me, at least) than feeling helplessly lost, particularly when you're in a situation where it seems like getting where you want to go should be so easy.

I'm glad your night was redeemed, though, and impressed that Henry made it through nine hours at EPCOT.

 

[tiggrbaby]

Fab pics of the city and adorable photopass pics! I think my fav is the one of Henry with Goofy.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Finally, the elusive meltdown is explained! And honey, let me tell ya, I'd have been the same exact way! Sheesh, it sounds like you walked more AFTER you left Epcot than while you were in Epcot! You poor thing, and it was raining? Ugh, tired, sore feet, can't locate the stupid Community Hall, carrying flat sodas = a recipe for meltdown. Then to have forgotten the GC only to find out it was empty? I'm sure tears would have been coming if it were me!

I love the sweet shots of Henry with the jumping water! So darling! My 3DD's loved that area of Epcot the 1st time we went to Disney, it ranked right up there with swimming in the resort pool!

The Norway pic is cute, with the statue of the viking. When we were there last Oct., my middle DD asked me to take her pic with that viking. I thought ok, whatever. Then she hopped up under his sword and made a face like she was dead! People walking by were laughing!

I'm glad your night settled down, you finally had some sort of beverage too!

 

[thewesterberg]

Wasn't Captain EO a bit of a hoot?! What a trip back to the 80s! Totally see the Star Wars influence of George Lucas in the creatures, which is probably why N LOVED it! (Huge Star Wars fan) He spent some time with my parents at Epcot our second day there and he made sure to bring them to it!

I'd never noticed the tiles on the floor at the bakery in Norway- thanks for pointing that out! I had to laugh when I saw you picked the Sweet Almond Pretzel and Joe got the School Bread... that's exactly how we picked them out last Thursday morning for breakfast!

When it rains, it pours, doesn't it?! Wow, what an evening of wild goose chases for you! I hate it when the world seems against you... especially at Disney! Tears are perfectly acceptable in a situation like that! I would have pitched a fit! Had one of those days yesterday... went to the store to buy the last of the Christmas presents and a new laptop (stores are about a 15 minute drive from our house). Got to the check out at Walmart with the elusive Penguin Pillow Pet N wants, only to find that my wallet wasn't in my purse. Then I remembered I had ordered things from Amazon the night before and it was sitting on the footstool in the livingroom. Grrrr.. I had planned on going to Best Buy to purchase the laptop that I couldn't get anyone to sell me the previous day (the store was uber busy at 10am on a Monday). Went home, ate a late lunch and I picked N up from school and went back to get the laptop... got half-way to the mall and guess what? I remembered I hadn't grabbed my wallet when I went home for lunch!! Double GRRRRRR with capital letters!! Turn around, went home, got the wallet, FINALLY purchased the laptop ! Thank goodness when I went to Walgreens a few blocks from our house today to pick up a prescription, I found the Penguin there. Yeah, when those chain of events keep piling up, it's hard not to lose it!

And just to let you know, your pictures of NYC at Christmas are awesome! Makes me want to plan a trip there over the holidays!!

 

[KatMark]

Great updates, Brook. First, I can totally understand the meltdown...I would have been the same way, probably worse...I probably would have had a crying meltdown. I love the detailed photos you got in World Showcase and the photos of Henry are always welcome. I skipped Captain EO (not a Michael Jackson fan at all), but Mark saw it and said it was a little corny...but he had seen it when it was originally there.

 

[bellebookworm9]

I have to admit, I was both chuckling and groaning while reading this last update! You and Joe with the map sounds like me and my mom, respectively. Then I saw your picture of the map, and I was thinking...Hmmm, all the maps I've seen of the Boardwalk have nice little pictures and labels. So I went to allears. Wouldn't this map have been so much nicer?

http://allears.net/acc/boardwalkmap.jpg

Community Hall neatly labeled number 20.

I'm glad you found it alright in the end though! We liked Community Hall at Kidani and wish we could have spent more time there. Camp Rock is not a bad movie, though the "villain" is a bit nastier than in other Disney channel movies. (High School Musical, for example, has a villain that's more funny than anything else).

I'm hoping we get a view of Epcot at BCV next year to see IllumiNations. Ya know, the one night we'll be in our room. The other two we'll be in the park, and the third we'll be watching Hallowishes!

Oh, and that picture of Henry next to that giant ball made me giggle, because I believe my mom wanted to buy one and bring it home. I said something to her like, "Good luck getting that on the plane!"

Looking forward to the next update!

 

[glennbo123]

Oh my gosh, all that walking and searching and retracing of steps! You poor people! I'll bet you slept well that night, unless you aching feet and legs kept you awake.

 

[blessedby3]

I must say...WOW...you have much more stamina than me!! I would have surely melted down and given up after just a few problems. That is one crazy evening. I hope you got a good nights rest after that

 

[Poolrat]

Trip #1 Joe and Henry ordered the pizza while I ran up to the room to grab our refillable mugs, which can be filled at the pizza window.

Trip #2 I took the mugs with me in search of Community Hall, where the video rental is. I walked clear over there, after walking 9 hours in Epcot and carrying 2 mugs and could NOT figure out how to get to that quiet pool, or see ANY signs for Community Hall.

Oh, and did I tell you it was still raining?

Trip #2.5 I finally gave up. I made the trek back to the room and showed Joe the map. We sat down and ate the pizza without the movie.

Trip #3 After we ate, I was calm again and we decided to venture out again, together, to find this allusive Community Hall.
And we walked, and walked, and walked.

Trip #4 So, back we went. We found it with ease.

Trip #5 I decided I would go to the gift shop and get us some snacks and then hit up one of the stands with refills for the mugs.

Trip #6 Back to the room. I grumpily grab my $25 Disney Gift Card and go back to the gift shop. The CM re-rings me.

Trip #6 Back to the room. I didn't even bother to get refills, I was done.

Trip#7 Joe pauses the movie and goes to get the snacks and refills.
Comes back to the room without sodas-he never found the machines.

Trip #8 So back to the gift shop AGAIN. I volunteer again for the gift shop because I feel so bad for him, but he tells me I'm not allowed to leave the room for the rest of the night.

You would have found me sitting in a chair on the porch by the entrance, either crying or growling at everyone until I was able to calm down. Either that or the bar. That CM at the front desk who sent you in the wrong direction may have been a casualty too.

Trip#5 out I would have lost it right in the store!!!!! I would have been so mad at myself, so mad for getting lost and so mad because it was raining. Yup, totally irrational and mad.


I had to count the trips so I could get the full effect.

8 trips in search of something simple like a movie and to refill mugs? Oh yes I would have flipped out.

You need

 

[Poolrat]

Oh yes the other 9 hours at EPCOT? Fabulous. So glad to see a little boy play by the fountains to his hearts content.
Great snack choices in Norway. How do you explain Vikings to a 3 year old? How stinkin cute.

 

[claryche]

It's so nice to know that other moms have meltdowns at Disney too. My DH and I have had similar problems with maps at Disney World and going the wrong way.

Funny how Henry wasn't interested in the velcro frog, my DS loved it. He also loved those fountains outside Captain EO, just like Henry. It's amazing how they love the small things.

I continue to love the updates. On a side note, with Henry's love for fire trucks, I'm sure you have already gone here, but I wanted to suggest the Fire Museum in NYC. That is if it is still there. I went there back in 2005, my one and only time to NY. Again, I'm sure you know about it, but thought I would mention it to maybe remind you, in case you have forgotten.

 

[that's nice]

Just playing my normal game of DIS catchup! or is it ketchup? Well whatever it is, I am posting here- then going to bed.

I'm glad Henry liked the Piggy Bank Adventure. I wanted to do this but we just ran out of time. What else is new?

I feel so bad for Henry that he wasn't able to ride Soarin'... You gotta teach that kid to stand taller!

Nice try trying to get everyone to drink the Beverly. Juliana drinks water and milk. That's it. So I didn't get her to drink any... but I did get Melody and a pic to prove it!

WOW what drama at the end of your epcot day.. I think you guys walked more getting movies, snacks, drinks, and food, than you did in Epcot! LOL Glad your hubby was trying to help you out.. what a guy!



BTW... we saw cookie monster and elmo in times square last month... what is up with them? Do they think this is LA or something?

 

[All7OfUs]

I think I might have curled up into the fetal position and rocked some. What a horrible ending to an otherwise pretty wonderful day. I love your pix of WS! I never even considered Kaki to be more than just a sno-cone- now I know otherwise. Hmmm....

I like the dancing fountains over there too, and I'm not even 4. Henry knows quality water works when he sees 'em!

 

[Charleston Princess]

You lasted longer than I did, Brook! I probably would have lost it about halfway through! Glad Joe "grounded" you for the rest of the night in the room. You needed to get off your feet.

 

[crzy4mickey]

your struggles with the gift shop reminds me of my attempt to do laundry on our last trip! I gathered up our dirty clothes to bring down to the laundry room but realized i forgot to pack a laundry sack! So i stuffed them in a bag i had and headed down. I got all the way down there and forgot the soap! Tried to call the room but the ones that were going to go swimming were already on their way down and the others were already napping! So I went back to the room to get the soap and realized i did not have my room key. Banged on the door and no one answered. A few seconds later my son and neice come walking around the bend with their mugs in hand! THANK GOD! Got the soap and made it all the way back down and was 1 stinking quarter short!! I think the poor guy in the laundry room felt so bad for me he gave me a quarter! I thanked him again and again put the laundry in and sat by the pool sipping a wonderful rumrunner drink!

 

[harleyquinn]

Ugh, what a rough end to a good day!

We're leaving for BWV tomorrow!!

 

[LoveMyTwoPrincesses]

Sounds like a well deserved melt-down to me!

What a bummer that Henry didn't get to ride Soarin' again. Sounds like he handled it like a trooper.

Adorable pictures of Henry playing at the fountain!