12/09/06 Cruise Continued ~ Pirating Bananas DIS Geekorama Part 2 Part 15

[elaineteresa]

Well now, if you are going to Portugal, you might as well take the Magic back home!

LOL - I think cruising is a fun winter thing but I wouldn't do it in the summer. I think there are cruises from Lisbon to Morocco though which sound fun.

Vanessa - thanks for the heads up about the great Jan/Feb rates - we might look into that when the kids can sign themselves into the club.

 

[elaineteresa]

Did they take the character bus away?? We saw it in Sept of 05.

yes they did stop the character bus this year and replaced it with a character meet indoors with curtained backdrop - not the same thing at all and very sad. Just more evidence of cost cutting in my mind.

 

[MrsMork]

They ride nothing too fast or high & no 3D movies. Looking over the passporter I know that is why we didn't go there before. We will just have to tell the kids this isn't going to be MK. At MGM DD asked where the rides were...and there weren't any she would ride there. That's what they like about MK. All of the pavilions look really interesting though. This will just be a different WDW trip for us.

Lisa, I would not rule out Soarin'. Aaron will not do anything fast, scary or dark. A CM and I had to talk him into trying the Nemo ride which he liked after he rode it and wanted to do it again. Soarin' is his favorite. Luckily we got him on the one in California when he was 3 or 4 so he knows it is not scary. He will not get on a ride that he cannot see what it going to happen inside (thus the problem at Nemo). He will not ride any of the rides in Fantasyland that go inside a building (Snow White, etc) except Small World and again, it is because he remembers it from when he was 3. This frustrates his dad and grandpa, but I just really believe that Disney has something for EVERYONE and it is not just about thrill rides. If he has fun on the Tea Cups, Jungle Ride, Small World etc and won't ride Splash, Big Thunder and the Pirates that is ok.

 

[elaineteresa]

Lisa, there are quite a few rides at Epcot:

Soarin
Living with the Land
also for $12 you can tour the greenhouses...they give kids ladybugs to release at the end
Spaceship Earth
Test Track
Mission Space (with a "new" version)
boat ride in Mexico
boat ride in Norway MAELSTROM!

I bet they would really enjoy coloring the mask in each country....there are tables set up with loads of markers and the CM's add a stamp to the wooden handle, a token of their country and the kids sit and color it. If they get stamps from all the countries they get a special poster at the end. The mask changes throughout the year....some will have the Flower and Garden emblems, some Food and Wine Fest...I can't tell you how many of these suckers we have....and yet, I don't think we have but one fully completed.... Future World has a different version of the mask, sort of a lanyard backstage pass looking deal, but very cute!

Characters, we probably have seen the most characters at Epcot.....the "usual" is the fab five at the character connection, Brother Bear - Koda and someone else...not sure of their names, but got their autograph, in Canada. Alice, Mary Poppins, Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore in the UK, Belle, Beast, and Aurora in France, Aladdin, Genie, Jasmine in Morocco, Pinochio and Geppeto (butchered both those) in Italy, Snow White and dwarves in Germany, Mulan and Mushu in China, outside SE you'll find Mickey and Goofy decked out in astro gear, etc.....
and of all the parks this is where we've had the best interaction. We sat at the mask table with Alice alone and she colored a mask for Samantha, for a good 20 minutes over the 4th of July weekend. I think people mainly do not come to Epcot thinking characters so they aren't looking for them or aware they are there. In UK, France, China you would pass them by and not know they are out...the rest are out front where you can kind of see.

The Santas around the World are nice, the tree lighting each night is fun and the candlelight processional is awesome. We did the dinner package as I hate standing around waiting for stuff. Epcot has a lot to offer! For me....mainly it's much slower than MK and since the countries are more spread it really never seems that crowded to me. During the Food and wine fest it gets pretty crowded on weekends but still not too bad.

Very nice overview of Epcot!!

We usually do 2 parks on every trip - we alternate Epcot and AKL and MGM. Epcot is a beautiful park - the landscaping is lovely, it is really large and wide open unlike the MK. It is a much calmer park as someone mentioned - it is fun to be leisurely there. The entertainment in the world showcase is also a highlight - my kids like seeing the acrobats, drummers etc.


We also do not usually have park hoppers. But Epcot is usually open pretty late and you can see Future World - take a break and then see the World showcase before the fireworks. A lot of the characters wrap up around 6pm. though so you have to check the times.

I love the Living with the Land ride. The Circle of Life movie is very good. and Turtle talk with Crush is also fun. Figment is a pass in my book but the Kodak What if labs at the exit are really great. They have several fun photo things you can do like put your whole family into a poster with the characters - I think this would be a great souvenir for $25.

There are also some fun games and hands on stuff in both Innoventions pavilions - especially the plastics exhibit where you can make a robot to take home. You can make short movies to send to friends, e postcards etc.

The aquarium and living seas exhibits are all nice and there are several feedings each day that you can attend. You can bake cookies with Nestle at the Land exhibit while someone waits on the Soaring line or you wait for fast passes. Soarin' is basically like riding in a chair lift with a little motion.

Giona really loves Spaceship Earth - we usually have to ride this several times which is easy to do because the line moves fast.

I also introduce the rides pretty slowly but next trip we will try the tamer Mission Space and Test Track. The boat ride in Mexico is a very tame Small World type ride but cute - the kids also asked to ride this several times while we waited for food.

I know that they will enjoy the park when they understand that it just offers a different experience.

 

[elaineteresa]

Lisa, I would not rule out Soarin'. Aaron will not do anything fast, scary or dark. A CM and I had to talk him into trying the Nemo ride which he liked after he rode it and wanted to do it again. Soarin' is his favorite. Luckily we got him on the one in California when he was 3 or 4 so he knows it is not scary. He will not get on a ride that he cannot see what it going to happen inside (thus the problem at Nemo). He will not ride any of the rides in Fantasyland that go inside a building (Snow White, etc) except Small World and again, it is because he remembers it from when he was 3. This frustrates his dad and grandpa, but I just really believe that Disney has something for EVERYONE and it is not just about thrill rides. If he has fun on the Tea Cups, Jungle Ride, Small World etc and won't ride Splash, Big Thunder and the Pirates that is ok.

I actually don't usually push them onto rides because there isn't time to do it all anyway - so this is our natural selection process. A very nice CM did talk Giona into going on the safari ride at AK - somehow he got it into his head that the animals were going to jump on to the safari truck. Jaea still hates the 3D movies so we skip a lot of them. You are right Angie that they do a pretty good balance of ride types. And now that the tickets are so much cheaper buying multi-day you don't feel like they really have to experience it all.

 

[lillygator]

I think I just trained my girls early....they are pretty easy, Samantha LOVES Soarin'...Haley will have to wait quite a while before reaching the height requirement I am sure, poor thing.

Well the weather is awesome here today...a great beach day. We went to Publix and I got a bunch of stuff for a beach trip tomorrow...lots of fresh fruit, bottled water, etc.....got a pot roast, carrots and potatoes a la V in the crock pot for dinner, although it is really too hot for that. Samantha would like chocolatechip pancakes for breakfast with blueberry syrup, so we got all that too. I am now putting together a breakfast potato casserole....CRT style. John loves big breakfasts....well, I don't have to tell you guys, you saw how he eats.

 

[MrsMork]

Aaron would not even get on the Mexico ride because he could not see where it was going and if there were any dark places. Even though Grandpa and I both assured him it was just a floaty boat with nothing dark or scary.

 

[lbgraves]

Today was a big day for us here. I cleaned out the garage a bit and DD played with the 18 mo old next door. Before I knew it she was yelling at me that she was riding it. I looked out the door & she was on an 8 inch bike without training wheels!!! She worked on it for at least two hours and is getting pretty good at it. I didn't have to hold the bike seat or anything and she can start up on her own in the middle of the road. This was alot easier than it was with William.

 

[lbgraves]

I'm really happy for her but now I need to figure out what I am going to do for dinner....quickly!!!

 

[elaineteresa]

I'm really happy for her but now I need to figure out what I am going to do for dinner....quickly!!!

LOL - that is terrific!!! I was just in the shower thinking we need to get the kids new bikes and get them riding. They can probably do it on their own without us now that they are taller and older. We need to spend one afternoon somewhere that has sidewalks.

I remember going around in circles with my father in our tiny backyard - I think I fell more because it was hard making the sharp turns because the yard was so small.

That's the beginning of the end Mom when they start riding on their own

 

[elaineteresa]

Today is Ken's birthday - the kids are going to the Litle Gym for parent survival night and we are dunno - eating, shopping - something - no real plans.

Wed. is the kids birthdays. We are going to see a road show of Annie - I love that show, stay overnight in Albany and swim in the pool - then maybe a quick stop at Club Libby Lu before driving back for school.

 

[elaineteresa]

oh I forgot - the kids helped Ken paint some shelving for their rooms and I had them take their clothes off outside and run around naked - I took pictures - I thought they would be fun for the scrapbook - naked in January and in the 60's. I mean with the sun it was balmy.

 

[waltsgirl]

Aaron would not even get on the Mexico ride because he could not see where it was going and if there were any dark places. Even though Grandpa and I both assured him it was just a floaty boat with nothing dark or scary.

Sophia loves this ride.... makes us ride it 3-4 times!!

 

[waltsgirl]

Happy Birthday Ken!!!

 

[waltsgirl]

I love Epcot! I like to just take my time and roam around the countries. I find it much more relaxing than then the other parks, well as relaxing as a Disney park can be!!

Lisa, I think the kids would love Soar'n. It is not scary and does not go fast. Sophia would ride this over and over again if we could. This is the only ride she will wait in any sort of line for. She has waited 45 min to ride this because fastpasses were gone and she really wanted to ride!!

 

[lbgraves]

She will have to work on the kids in July. Maybe she can convince them.

 

[goofyforlife]

hi everyone

we just got back from chicago with autumn, things did not go the best.

Hugs to your family Jill. Sorry it did not go as expected.

 

[lillygator]

She will have to work on the kids in July. Maybe she can convince them.

July? I'm crashing the party!!!


Just kidding!! If you guys need a break away beach day, come see us...not that far from WDW......!!! Although I am really going to try and "surprise" John with a trip to Ohio this year...



look out Amy!!!

 

[bubbasmom99]

Mmmm... a trip to Disneyland with some fellow cruisers sounds tempting! We are trying to decide when to go to DL this year.. if not before December (for holiday decorations).... but I am trying to save up some $$$ as I know we will go all out on the 2008 cruise.

Jill - sorry to hear Autumn's surgery did not go as well as we had wished. I will be thinking and praying for her.

Lisa - Epcot is a fun place for the kids -- great to explore, very spread out. One of my kids' favorites there is Journey into Imagination, which is very mild and fun. Love Figment! Soarin is great too, as is Test Track. Sarah loves going around and coloring at all the Kidcot stations the best... she is not much of a daredevil and prefers the familiar.

 

[bubbasmom99]

Well, we're now one week post merger at work and everything is finally settling down! It's been a crazy ride and we still have a ton of new policies and procedures to get used to, but I am glad it went off mostly without a hitch!

I wonder how long it will take them to track down the # of clicks "disboards.com" gets a day... and if they'll shut down my access to the site