4 + 1 = happy memories? I hope so! NEW: Final thoughts!

[carissanboys]

Those are some great and funny pics! I especially love the ones of them sucking the straw!

 

[Liz]

December 20

Having just finished our Segway tour we were starving and in need of a place to sit down! We found ourselves at Electric Umbrella where we indulged in burgers and chicken. It was nice to rest for a bit.

Since we had done most of Future World on our prior Epcot day, today we would be touring . . .

And it was a gorgeous day for it.

We started with Mexico and tried out the new boat ride. Loved it! The old version was nice but I thought this was great! Who doesn't love Donald?

We sent video postcards in the area by the Kidcot station. It has some hilarious choices and I recommend checking it out! For instance I sent a video postcard with my head on the body of a male (only option) cliff diver!

More silly hat pictures!

Laura and I went outside the pavilion while waiting for the others and I saw somebody usually only seen in Canada! The bagpipe player from Off Kilter! I'm not sure where he came from but he walked down the little walkway to the side of Mexico and went backstage. He looked so different (and cute!) in regular clothes! I had my camera out but was afraid to take a picture since he wasn't "working" and I didn't want to bother him.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

I am just loving all of your photos!

 

[klj27]

More, more, more!

 

[carissanboys]

We had such a great time in the World Showcase on this visit Sounds like you started on the opposite end of where we started

 

[winkers]

I love the pics you took by the pyramid from below! Great idea.............I'm filing that away to steal!

 

[Liz]

Looks like they were having fun with the camera!

Ya think?! They definitely take pics that I wouldn't have thought to take but its fun!

I love the two little doggies in your signature!

Those are some great and funny pics! I especially love the ones of them sucking the straw!

I like those too! I came out when they were taking them and I was like "what are you guys doing?!" I also like the one with the crown on Jeff's head from Norway!

I am just loving all of your photos!

I'm so glad! It gets discouraging sometimes seeing how few people have any interest in my trippie but I'm very grateful for every one who is here!

More, more, more!

Give me about 5 minutes! Thanks for being here!!!

We had such a great time in the World Showcase on this visit Sounds like you started on the opposite end of where we started

I love World Showcase too! We never really spent much time there when the kids were little. This was before the days of Kidcot stations.

I love the pics you took by the pyramid from below! Great idea.............I'm filing that away to steal!

Steal all ya want! I think they came out kinda interesting too!

 

[Liz]

I said it was fine if we skipped the Norway ride because everyone else had already gone on it the night I was in line for the Candlelight Processional but everyone wanted to go on it again. This is a fun ride but way too short. We skipped the movie at the end, looked through the stores and gasped at the prices of some of the clothing! Before leaving the Norway pavilion we took a few more photos!

 

[Liz]

In China . . . .

we were lucky enough to run into Mulan with a very short line! I gave the CM my camera and I guess they only took a picture of Jeff & Kelsee with mine and the group photo is only on Photopass. While waiting in line I noticed Mulan being especially sweet with the children. When I had a chance to speak to her I let her know I appreciated how kind she was to them. She looked at me kinda strange like my comment was unexpected.

Moving right along we elected to skip the China movie. Half the fun of a ride/attraction is being able to sit down and rest your feet for awhile! I guess they didn't take that into consideration when they decided these standing room only movies would be good for World Showcase. France got their movie right since its in a theater with seats!

Jeff can't pass up the drums at the African Outpost. He entertained passersby with his talent! He's been playing the drums since 4th grade!

Paul had to get in on the fun . . . . he'd been playing the drums for about 5 minutes!

And Laura in Africa . . .

Nearby there was this man sculpting the most fantastic things out of wood!

 

[Liz]

We looked around briefly in Germany . . . .

. . . but didn't spend a lot of time because we would be having dinner here this evening and I knew we'd probably have time to look around then. Jeff asked this German girl to explain the pickle tree. This picture cracks me up! Separated at birth!

Before leaving home I had carefully mapped out our World Showcase itinerary to enable us to see the most live entertainment possible. However that was Monday's itinerary (which we switched with today due to the cold weather). And Monday we didn't do Segways. Anyway, we were off schedule and I was desperately trying to figure out how to get us back on track! I was walking along chanting "must stick to the schedule, must stick to the schedule". Laura said "I think Mom's cracked up."

We got to the USA pavilion in time to see a little bit of the Voices of Liberty. I love them!

I meant for us to take a look at the National Treasures exhibit. We were just about to go up the stairs that would take us to the theater and I looked in the window and saw Abraham Lincoln's hat. So cool and I thought we've gotta come back in here and check this out. But as often happens, we never got back so I'll have to be happy with a distant peek through the glass.

Paul and sometimes Jeff can't seem to stay awake during the American Adventure! Doesn't matter what time of day we go, Paul will definitely fall asleep. Although I can see how it can be a bit sleep inducing I always enjoy it. I've always been patriotic from the time I was a little girl. I can remember hearing my parents clock radio going off in the morning and it would always be tuned to a radio station that played the Star Spangled Banner as it began broadcast for the day. I would stand up in my bed with my hand over my heart till the song was over then I'd lay down and go back to sleep. I always cry at parades too when the flag passes by. So natch' the American Adventure is one of my favorites.

 

[Donald is #1]

Jeff asked this German girl to explain the pickle tree.

OK, so I have to ask. What is the explanation of the pickle tree?

 

[klj27]

World Showcase is our favorite! Thanks for shaing all the pics. I can't wait to hear your review of Biergarten. We are eating there next month for the first time. We are trying to eat around the world, but so far we have only had Canada, England, Norway, and Mexico.

 

[Liz]

OK, so I have to ask. What is the explanation of the pickle tree?

One pickle ornament is hung on the tree and on Christmas morning the children run to the tree to try and be the first one to find the pickle. Whoever finds it first gets a special present!

 

[Liz]

World Showcase is our favorite! Thanks for shaing all the pics. I can't wait to hear your review of Biergarten. We are eating there next month for the first time. We are trying to eat around the world, but so far we have only had Canada, England, Norway, and Mexico.

I think you'll like it!

 

[Donald is #1]

One pickle ornament is hung on the tree and on Christmas morning the children run to the tree to try and be the first one to find the pickle. Whoever finds it first gets a special present!

Cool! I have never heard of that before.

 

[carissanboys]

Great pictures as usual Liz! I didn't even realize there was a National Treasure exhibit there!

 

[Liz]

We didn't plan on seeing Sergio, the performer in Italy, because he didn't fit in with our original schedule. But since the schedule was now hopelessly off track, Sergio fit perfectly into our plans. We backtracked to Italy and got there just in time for the start of his show. We've never seen him before and it was fun. I probably wouldn't make a special effort to see his show again but I'm glad we saw it once.

We hurried over to Japan and caught Miyuki (already in progress). What an extremely talented and entertaining artist! Last year Laura was fortunate enough to be chosen and Miyuki made a candy penguin for her (which she still has). We didn't try to get chosen this time so others could have a chance.

As soon as Miyuki was done the Japanese drummers started. Paul, Laura and I were looking across the water because a CM had told Paul earlier in the day that a space shuttle was going off and to watch for it in the sky above Mission Space. It was time for it (2:00 I think) but we never saw anything.

 

[Liz]

Still looking at my itinerary and the Epcot WS entertainment schedule to see where we should go next and I saw Server Amusant was scheduled to start in France soon. This was another performer that I didn't have on my itinerary but it looked like we would be able to fit in. We told Jeff and Kelsee we were going to head over there and they should come as quickly as they could when the drummers finished.

When we got to France the performance should have already started and we couldn't see anything. I looked at the Epcot time chart and realized my mistake. It said "Tues only"! DORK! I was embarrassed to tell everyone my mistake. Oh well.

About the only thing in the area that was coming up next was Off Kilter so we went that way and stopped for awhile to listen to the United Kingdom Santa.

We were early for Off Kilter but wanted to get seats so Paul, Laura and I headed over and sat down while Jeff and Kelsee looked around in the UK.

The weather was perfect. I sat there gazing across the lagoon looking at how beautiful World Showcase is and tried to burn that image into my mind so when I'm sitting at work in a basement with no windows I could remember this moment and be back at the place I love with the people I love.

I looked at the Epcot schedule again and saw the World Showcase players were performing in the UK right after Off Kilter so I thought that would be a great place to go next. Jeff and Kelsee showed up and said "guess what we just saw? Some performers over in the UK that were so funny!" YIKES, they had just seen the WS players. Back to the drawing board.

Hey, here's that Server Amusant listed again. We aren't far from France so we could go back there after Off Kilter and try to catch the later show. We had a plan. Now time to enjoy OFF KILTER BABY!!!!!!!!!!

We walked all the way back to France (okay not that far really) but far considering what happened next. We got to France and I looked at the times chart again and realized I had dragged us half way around the world (when you're coming from Canada) to a show that was once again TUESDAY ONLY. If I was embarrassed the first time I was doubly more so now. How could I be so stupid??? The notations for "Tuesday only" were small and not very standoutish (or maybe I was just tired!) Who knows! But it was ridiculous! Getting off schedule really threw me off my game!!!!

 

[klj27]

You know, I have still never taken the time to see Off Kilter.

 

[Liz]

Great pictures as usual Liz! I didn't even realize there was a National Treasure exhibit there!

I remember reading about it on Deb's site. I wish we had gone in there because I'll probably never be that close to Abraham Lincoln's hat or the other things like that again!

You know, I have still never taken the time to see Off Kilter.

For a long time when we went to Epcot we didn't see them either. Now that we have we always make sure we see them at least once and we've bought two of their cds!