disneyloveNY and mindystar thanks for keeping up with me. Knowing you guys are reading helps keep me motivated to continue. I can't believe this installment is only going to cover the third full day in the World.
Now first things first.
Installment disclaimer: The views related by "Where's K?" in this installment do not reflect those of the trip report writer or his family.
Tuesday, Dec 19th Epcot
This is the perfect time to introduce a new yet minor character to this report.
Maryanne- (pronounced Mari-Inn) this is our mousekeeper. She is a truely lovely person who took care of us through the entire trip. On Tuesday we were a little later leaving the room and I met her on the balcony. I thanked her for all the cute things she had been doing so far. I noticed she wasn't wearing a name tag and asked her what her name was. She gave me a little smile and apologized that she had forgotten her name tag that day and then reached into her pocket and produced one that said "Laura". This resulted in a little confusion through out the week as to what her name really was. We kept leaving her notes hoping she would sign a reply so we could get the proper spelling. This took until Thursday untill she finally did. Maryanne was a big part of our week. Leaving little notes back and forth and then "The Dwarves" wanting to run back to the hotel constantly to see what our "Domestic Artist" had done each day. Hense the reference to "towel oragami" in the title. Note to others: We did find that Maryanne seemed to leave us a little "gift" each day and I think this was because we had started a little correspondence with her each day.
"Magic Beckdom's" new thing for the day list was pretty long today. We would see the new FN ride and TTWC over at The Seas in EPCOT, and we had ADR's with a CP package.
Now onward. As I said we started aff a little later today because our breakfast ADR's were not until 9am at CM at the CR. "Sleepy" answered the call from Stitch, actually he just picked up the phone and then slammed it down. So much for last night's magic. We were all ready and to the bus stop by 8am. As we approached the stop a bus was waiting so we all began to run, just as we reached the roped area the bus took off. This would start off the day a little on the down side. While we waited for the next bus "Where's K?" lamented at length about how rude the driver was for not waiting, "I know he saw us.", "Antsy" made his first appearance of the day and alternated between swinging the rope into the people next to us in line and wandering over to sit on the big "R" in the All-Star Music sign. Finally the bus came and we headed over to MK. We had figured we could ride there and then walk over to the CR. Because the first bus didn't wait we were a little late getting to the MK so we had to really hustle (read: run like the Devil was after us) over to the CR to make our ADR's. We got there with just a few mins to spare and everything was going well. We almost lost "Where's K?" in the lobby when she tried to get on the wrong elevator but we were able to catch her in time. I did notice that today we had a straggler but it wasn't who you would expect. On the way over to the CR "Tinker Jo" kept lagging behind. Turns out today her feet were going to be the problem. I had had a long "discussion" (read: conjoled and threatened) "Middle Mermaid" this morning about wearing mole's skin and when she finally gave in I thought this complaint would not plague us today. Now the other one is starting and she will not suffer in silence like her sister did.
Anyway we made our ADR's and were shown to a nice corner table. We missed the directions about going for a family pic before we were seated so we didn't get that done. (Who needs another pic of "Where's K?" looking off in the wrong direction and "Sleepy" looking half dead on his feet anyway.)
We all ran up to the buffet line to get our food and get back before the characters started to come around. Almost all of us. I did see "Where's K?" and "Picky" at the buffet line contemplating the virtues of Mickey waffles but I just moved on. When I got back to the table and started to eat I realized that niether of them had returned for some time. This was good at first because it gave me time to tell the Waitress that it was "Picky's" birthday. I had heard that CM does a big deal for birthdays so that is really why we picked this one for today. Back at home we thought it would be great and "The Dwarves" would think it was fun. By now I knew he would enjoy it about as much as double root canal without novacain. Remembering the first wake up call that old sound track of demonic laughter was back. "Magic Beckdom" asked why I was smilling and I mumbled something about enjoying my sticky bun.
I was just about to send out a posse when our MIA's finally returned to the table. "Where's K?" seemed to have found quite a bit to eat, no "I'm starving. That pastry was so long ago." today. "Picky" was a different matter all together. With this huge buffet, filled with anything you could possibly want, he managed to find a microscopic serving of scrambled eggs and fruit, lots of fruit. He had melon in several colors, some peaches, a few slices off apple and some strawberries. This in itself is not really a problem, but the fact that the eggs got cold having never been touched and most of the fruit became art supplies for an edible Picasso I'm sure the kitchen staff had framed was a little frustrating. Then "Picky" went back to the line and returned with a sticky bun that he took a few bites out of and then dropped the rest in his juice glass with juice still in it. "Where's K?" tried to explain that he really doesn't try a lot of new things. At home he usually just eats boxed mac and cheese and instant potatoes. "He's a little finicky." (No kidding? I wish you had told me that before we paid for a meal plan. We could have just stolen some peanuts from the plane. I'm sure they would only have given me an extra year or two tacked on to the explosives charge and with good behavior...) If you have ever eaten at CM you know that during meals they periodically "Celebrate" special occassions with the whole rest getting involved. Every so often they play a certain song and everyone swings their napkin over their head and cheers, These special occassions include birthdays.
All is good.
The first time the song played "Picky" was mildly amused. He did smile and even raised his napkin but did not swing it. This is because he didn't realize that this was all partly in honor of his big day. It wasn't until our waitress gave the two little boys next to us their special placemats and birthday cupcakes and then came up to him that he caught on. Immediately "Picky" made for a quick retreat and "Bashful" made his world premier. He began to stammer and his ears became very red and I think he was contemplating committing hari kari with his butter knife. Now I have to tell you that I have spent a lot of time around young people. I have taught Sunday School, volunteered for Junior Achievment, directed numerous youth theater productions, was even Cub Master for five years and I do not enjoy nor condone humiliating young people, but I'm loving this!!:
After the initial shock wore off "Picky" returned and took a bite out of the bottom of the cupcake then stuck the rest, with the frosting into the juice glass!?
(What self-respecting kid doesn't at least eat the frosting?)
As we leave CM "Where's K?" says that she has been thinking and has now decided that she wants to get another autograph book for her younger grand daughter Lexi. (Great now we will have two books that we have to fill with nothing but princesses and one is already going to be missing the few we have already seen.) We run into the gift shop at the CR and find the new book. "Magic Beckdom" buys a souvineer for a friend at work and asks to have it sent back to our room and the CM cops a real attitude with her. "We don't do that here at the CR." she says as she looks down her nose. I take a little offense with the attitude not the message and ask for the manager. (Could all this stress be getting to me?) When the manager comes out she already knows who I am talking about before I even mention the CM's name. (Another ex-Disney CM/future Wal-Mart greeter in the making!) We are next planning on hopping the monorail over to the GF to check out the gingerbread house so we ride the elevator up to the monorail stop and get in line. There is noone else there so I decide to try and make a little magic to get rid of the Negative vibes left from our run in with the gift shop nazi. I pull the CM working the monrail stop aside and arrange it. When the next train came in "Middle Mermaid", "Tinker Jo", "where's K?" and "Antsy" are ushered to the front of the train. "Magic Beckdom" and I get on the second car. This is another little trick I learned here on the Dis Boards. They get to ride up front with the driver and then as they exit they each get a monorail driving license! "Tinker Jo" and "Middle Mermaid" are both excited, niether "Where's K?" nor "Antsy" seemed that impressed. Guess since they got to do it on their first ride on the monorail they thought it was an initiation ride that everyone gets to do. We exit at the GF and go in to see all the decorations. This is a hit with everyone. "Flashy" gets to take all the pics he wants and "Where's K?" is excited because this is the same one she saw "on that show with Samantha Brown on the travel channel". Next we jump back on the monorail and ride over to the PR to see their decorations. this time "Where's K?" and "Antsy" have to schlep in the rear with the rest of the riff raff. There is no gingerbread great hall this year so "Where's K?" begins to lose trust with Samantha Brown and Raven because they both said there would be one. This resort is beautiful but the decorations this year are really not that impressive. "Middle Mermaid" has an amusing little exchange with "Where's K?" here. All week so far "Where's K?" has been trying to find hidden Mickey's and has not found one. "Middle Mermaid" points out the huge hidden Mickey on the lobby floor as you enter the main entrance. "Where's K?" informs her that that is NOT a hidden Mickey as it is just the outline and he has no facial features!? (no wonder she hasn't found any yet!) After the PR we again take the monorail, this time over to the TTC. We are now headed for EPCOT. We have 3:45 ADR's at the CR with a CP package. Since we have arrived later and the park is pretty full already we decide to take it easy and try to find some attractions that maybe aren't as crowded. I remember reading on the Boards that WoL is scheduled to be open so we head there first. We always enjoyed this pavillion and were excited that it was going to be open. There is NOONE there! You could have shot off a shotgun in the place and not hit anyone. I suggest we try BW first. "Magic Beckdom" didn't like this when we were here for our honeymoon in the eighties so she decides to sit this one out. "Where's K?" says she will wait with her, I'll pay for this later. "Middle Mermaid" and "Tinker Jo" don't really remember this since it has been shut down for so long so they both agree to go. "Antsy" isn't totally sold until I tell him it is a motion simulator. "Can I take pictures?" I grit my teeth and say "Not on this one." In hind sight this was probably not the best pavillion to do first with "Where's K?". Since it has been shut down for sooo long it does look really rough around the edges. This is her first impression of Epcot and it isn't a good one. Jules the cruise director is going to have his work cut out for him today. While I am on the ride with the kids "Where's K?" is busy making her judgements on Epcot. She tells "Magic Beckdom" that she can see why Epcot isn't real crowded, "Who want's to be lectured to on vacation." (Welcome to Epcot Center cir. 1986.)
When we find "Where's K?" and "Magic Beckdom" after the ride "Magic Beckdom" has a look on her face that reminds me of steerage passenger on the Titanic who just a seat on the life boat.
Next we all do CC and then spend some time with the different things in the court yard there. I watch "Where's K?" very closely, remembering the episode with Cruella over at TMoDA yesterday. Nothing here insults her and she is doing OK. "Antsy" on the other hand spends some time inspecting a small frayed area in the carpet and dicovering which of the stations are no longer working.
After WoL we take a walk over to Energy. We are in luck the tip board said that this was temp down but it is now working. We enter in the middle of the pre show and don't have to wait long. "No they don't allow pictures in here either." We have also always liked this attraction, both the old and the new. "Magic Beckdom", "Middle Mermaid", "Tinker Jo" and I all enjoy the humor of the show and the sights of the ride portion. "Where's K?" is hard to read. I think she is turned off by the "lecturing". "The Dwarves" flip flop here, "Antsy" attends the Jeopardy section in the beginning, he is momentarily replaced by "Happy" during the ride section but then he returns for the finale.
By this time it is mid afternoon and we have to start thinking about our ADR's so we decide to wander over to that side of the park. "Antsy" is at an all time high because we are so close to MS and TT he can smell the exhaust. I do have a plan here, I realized that if he does all the "thrill" rides in the beginning we are going to all be miserable for the rest of the day so I am trying to pace ourselves and space these big pay offs out. On our way into the hub we run across the Jamitors performing. We stop to see the show and most of us enjoy it. "Antsy" teams up with "Lazy" and they find a nice comfortable section of curb to share. After the show we stop off at CS to try some soda. We can't wait to see the faces on "Where's K?" and especially "Picky" here. "Where's K?" prefers the one that tastes like watermelon, "Picky" likes the sample from ITALY! This is the one that noone ever likes unless they grew up in the shadow of the leaning tower! I now decide that the reason he is so "finicky" is because he was born with no taste buds and all food tastes like kibble to him.
We arrive on the other side of the park a few mins early so we take a few mins to watch the seagulls. "Tinker Jo" discovers a new talent here. Seems she is the Rich Little of sea fowl. Her impression is dead on. "Where's K?" and I grab a quick cigarette in the smoking area outside CR and we go into dinner. We only have to wait a few mins, which is good because "Antsy" is being really antsy. (Guess he can't wait to play with all that food.) We are shown to a table all the way to the left of the rest in the front row. Great view of the tank. Here we got a huge surprise. "Picky" actually ordered a prime rib and ate it!! However our regularly scheduled program of "Culinary Mine Field" was switched to another channel. This time it was starring "Where's K?". When the waiter gave us our menus she started to coment on just about all the choices. She couldn't eat this one because... , She couldn't eat that one because... . Finally she settled on a shrimp dish. When the waiter came back to take our order he mentioned the shrimp was cooked with Teriyaki sauce and she had a small melt down. "I can't eat THAT! Just bring me a shrimp cocktail." He ventured with, "That is prepared with teriyaki also.". At this point "Where's K?" went postal. She threw the menu across the table and announced, "There is nothing here I can eat!" The rest of us, even "The Dwarves" just stared at our menus. The waiter then offered that maybe he could bring her a shrimp cocktail with plain shrimp. I jumped in at this point and asked if he could maybe bring her two cocktails with plain shrimp. I figured if we were already going to throw the kitchen into an uproar we could at least try and get our moneys worth. I Usually don't worry about the price I'm paying for a meal, especialy with the dining plan, But I had paid $45 a pop for this meal to get the CP package and that seemed really expensive for four shrimp. Besides I had seen what happens to "Where's K?" an hour after she has a meal that doesn't fill her up. Remember those bakery breakfasts? The waiter agrees that he should be able to do this and everything is settled. "Happy" makes his first appearance at a meal and he enjoys his prime rib. "Where's K?" eats her $5.60 each shrimp and then fills up on rolls. Because it was "The Dwarves" birthday I had called ahead before we left home and ordered a cake from the CR to celebrate. After we finished our meals the cake appeared on cue. "Happy" did well this time, guess he was on a prime rib after glow. No appearance from "Bashful" this time. However as soon as the cake was served "Picky" returned and he just played with it until it looked like something Pumba had rutted through. At this point "Where's K?" disappeared from the table. I figured she was visiting the rest room but she was gone for almost 20 mins. Just as we were about to send "Tinker Jo" to look for her, hey people there was cake in front of us, she strolled back in. She had gone out to have a cigarette! Again I smoke but I would never leave a rest to smoke while people were still eating. We all enjoyed the cake, "Where's K?" had two pieces.
With dinner over we walked over to the next pavillion and rode JITI. I have to say This is OK but we did like the original version better. "Antsy" returned when he discovered the no pics rule. "Where's K?" thought it was cute. It was about this time that I started to get a little miffed. Like I said in the introduction of the trip report, Because of the previous trips with extended family, I tend to always be a few paces ahead of the group in any of the parks. This time, every time I turned around sensing someone at my elbow, it was "The Dwarves". That in of itself is not a problem but I was beginning to feal like I was on a completely different trip from my own family. "Magic Beckdom", "Middle Mermaid" and "Tinker Jo" always seemed to be at the rear without me!
After coming out of JITI we spent a few mins watching the jumping fountains and "Happy" enjoyed trying to get wet without his poncho on. Then we decided to start back to WS for the CP. We figured we could take our time and not have to hurry. All the way over there I kept trying to walk with "Magic Beckdom" and the girls but "Happy" kept getting in the way. As we passed people listening to Off Kilter he was there, as we strolled by the Eiffel Tower he was pasted to my elbow, as the smell of German pretzels wafted around us he was walking on my heels. By the time we found the end of the line just outside the American pavillion, It was the "end of the line". It was at that point that "Tinker Jo" decided she had to find the little pixie room again, I swear that girl has a pixie sized bladder. "Magic Beckdom" went off with her to find the facilities, "Middle Mermaid" wandered over and sat on a bench looking out over the lagoon and there I stood in line with "Where's K?" and "Antsy", steam starting to come out of my ears and my Santa Mickey hat twinkling gayly in the approaching dusk. I was at an all time low. I swear if that mouse had come skipping along right now I would have tripped him and looked the other way. Then the line started to move into the theater and "Magic Beckdom" and "Tinker Jo" weren't back yet. I had visions of sitting there between "Where's K?" and "Antsy" during this show that we had all been looking forward to and I started to hyperventilate. For one brief moment a thought crossed my mind. "Not only have we not converted them into Disney people but even worse they have converted me into not being one." (This as I'm sure you all understand caused my head to start spinning and my eyes glassed over.) What was I going to do? Then just as we were about to enter the theater "Magic Beckdom" and "Tinker Jo" materialized out of nowhere. They had seen that hat of mine twinkling and followed it right to me. I was now feeling a little calmer. We all went into the theater to find our seats and IT happened. When I moved into a row to sit I turned to see "Where's K?" and "Magic Beckdom" doing the old "You first, no you first" routine at the end of the row. Before I could say anything "Magic Beckdom" won and "Where's K?" headed for the seat next to me. I tried to get "Magic Beckdom" to move down next to me but I was being totally ineffective. I'm not sure why. It was either "Magic Beckdom's" good upbringing, she knows you should always cater to a guest even over your own needs, or I was so far gone I was speaking in tongues. Anyway, I had what I would classify as a "Magic Meltdown Moment". I stood up and marched to the far end of our little row of happy vacationers told "Tinker Jo" to slide over and plopped myself down next to "Magic Beckdom". Her look to me was not, I must say, very magical. I'm sure the look on my face, being haloed by the twinkling Santa Mickey hat, was not much better. I then proceeded to argue with "Magic Beckdom" over the fact that I was tired of her refusing to stay near me and forcing me to spend all my time with "THEM". Now, I can see the error of my ways. Then, not so much. I know I was being totally unreasonable, maybe it was radiation from those lights on my head, I was just tired of feeling like it was my responsibility to make sure every one was having a good time.
"Magic Beckdom" made a few attempts to calm me down but then I think she saw it was useless and she just ignored me and let me mumble occasionaly under my breath. In my defense, I really don't think anyone but perhaps the couple directly behind me knew I was upset. In fact I'm not even sure if "Clueless" knew. Anyway, I did it, I'm not proud of it, but I did it. I did realize that I was about to ruin the whole show if I didn't stop so I made a real effort to let it go. I hope I didn't ruin it for "anyone"
and if that "anyone" is reading this, because she reads it every other day, I'm sorry.
"Magic Beckdom", "Middle Mermaid" and I all enjoyed the CP. Neil Patrick Harris was the speaker that night. (remember the disclaimer at the front of this installment here) "Where's K?" was glad Disney had decided not to cancel him when he came out several weeks before our trip.
"Tinker Jo" really enjoyed the the horns since she plays the trumpet in school. "Sleepy" took another nap.
After the CP we really had no plans so we decided to walk out toward the front of WS and find a good seat for Illuminations. We made our way to the area between Canada and the bridge to FW across from the restrooms. (that way "Tinker Jo" wouldn't have to travel too far, and there was a designated smoking area right there also. Everyone's vices would be seen too.) We sat there on the ground for about an hour, longer than we normally would have waited but it had been a long day and we were contented to just sit. "Magic Beckdom" played several rounds of "Disney Alphabet Game" with "Tinker Jo" and "Antsy" each trying to come up with a Disney character for the next letter. "Middle Mermaid" went off to do a little shopping and then joined in when she returned. I sat mentally wrestling with the lady next to me over the 6 inches of curb we were both trying to lay claim to, Sorry not my fault you had to take your little princess to the restroom.
"Where's K?" sat at the other end ignoring all of us. I think the shrimp cocktail episode and then my moving down at CP had her in a bad mood. She said it was because the CP had really gotten to her. I decided to go with that. When Illuminations started we all really had a good time. "Happy" watched the whole thing through his viewfinder so he saw the whole thing in black and white but besides that all was going well. Tonight didn't have the same magic of the last two nights but looking back now it wasn't a bad night, there would be others that wouldn't measure up to even this level of serenity.
After Illuminations we tried to manuver our way to the front gate with the thousands of other tired guests. We waited at the bus stop for about 40 mins. (Did you ever notice that every bus stop seems to get buses in more frequently than the one you are waiting at.)
As we approached the hotel "Tinker Jo" asked if we could go in the pool since it was still kind of early. I told her sure I'd go in with her. "Where's K?" then proclaimed it too cold to swim tonight. Back at the room "Tinker Jo" and I changed for the pool while "Magic Beckdom" got some laundry together. It wasn't until the three of us all headed out together that "Middle Mermaid" realized she was being left in the room alone with "Where's K?" and "Sleepy". Funny how a person can suddenly get a hankerin' for doing some laundry. At the pool we found out that "Where's K?" was probably right tonight. The air was quite cool and the heater in the pool didn't seem to be working. "Tinker Jo" and I spent quite awhile trying to get up the courage to go in further than out waists. Finally we both took a quick plunge to get our hair wet and then, wrapped in our towels we beelined it back to the room. "How was the pool?" "Where's K?" asked. "Oh, it was really nice." I responded as I grabbed my fleece lounge pants and beat "Tinker Jo" into the bathroom to take a hot shower.
Next Installment: I become a knight on WS and "Magic Beckdom" slaps the c&*p out of "Antsy"
I'd like to go back to PT50's, the time we went I wasn't feeling well--too much sun ?--and we had "mom" so she was very nice to us since I wasn't feeling too awesome. It'd be fun to get a cousin though--and sounds like you had an awesome time with Nicole! Can't wait for more!! And thanks for the faces to put to the names, and in "the dwarfs" case--many names 
Have a safe trip taking middle mermaid back to her dorm grotto!
I have to leave for Rochester and it's a three hour drive. 
to you all.
It was at this point that my favorite statement from the entire trip was uttered. I noted that "Happy" was now walking a little like "Woozy". I asked him how he liked the ride and he said it was good. I'm sure he was trying to concentrate on not bouncing off the walls and couldn't give any more brain capacity to trivial things like talking or breathing. I have to say I thought it was much less intense than I remembered and didn't know why I had been so unsure. It was "Magic Beckdom" who said the words that will go down in our family's vacation history. I asked her what she thought and she responded with, "It wasn't as bad as I remember. My cheeks hurt and I cried the whole time, but it really wasn't that bad."!!
As they proceeded to tell the story they introduced Sir Galahad. It was obvious that this part was going to be played by an unsuspecting member of the crowd and that unsuspecting member turned out to be the guy with enough nerve to wear a hat that should be out-lawed. You guessed it. Me
Epcot has a way of stressing people out, I think. I really love Epcot, but it's pretty hard to make it all the way around WS without someone grumbling, or in Magic Beckdom's case - physically abusing! 
