A Mickey Mouse Birthday (Day 3 – Epcot)

GO2209

Mouseketeer
Joined
Aug 10, 2002
Messages
271
Woke up around 8am. Had decided on Epcot today and knowing it would be a long day we chose to arrive there for 10.30.

Stopped off at Crossroads area for breakfast - today was Denny's! 2x OJ, French toast, American slam, coffee - $18 +tip.

Had to stop off at hotel en route to Epcot to pick up extra memory card for camera.

Parked three rows from the front at Epcot... Everything was a walk on!
Mission:Space - I was the engineer, performed my job with finesse. I was impressed by this ride in so many ways. I was amazed how smooth and well engineered the whole experience was. The G-forces were effective and the video was sharp and detailed. Neither of us suffered any ill effects and I made a note to ride again later in the holiday.

Test track - seems slower than I remember. Doing this straight after Mission:Space – TT feels clunky and dated. Constantly being jerked around and enduring a GM advert.

Ellen’s World of Energy. I remember this ride from 1985 (I think) and several trips since. Maybe my mind is playing tricks, but I am sure it was darker and more atmospheric in years gone by. I am convinced that there used to be a musty, dinosaury smell…???

Early lunch at Electric Umbrella - just burgers.. $15ish

HISTA and JIYI after lunch (bring back the orginal!), then over to world showcase. Pausing to purchase a toll-house cookie ice cream...

Country hopped - watched British Invasion. Putting aside the fact that they neither look like nor sound like the Beatles they put on a very enjoyable show.

Another highlight of the performers around the Lagoon was the brilliant statue outside Italy. She stood so incredibly still and then would make lightning quick but smooth movements. Extracting one gentleman’s beer from his hand (without spilling a drop). Although the pinnacle was when she scooped up a slightly cranky baby from its Father’s arms. It stopped crying instantly and was transfixed by this strange alabaster lady.

Candy modelling at Japan occupied my attention for several minutes.

I really do love Epcot. I used to prefer Future World, but as I have grown up (and I use that sentence in it’s loosest possible sense) Showcase has become a firm favourite. I could spend day upon day there. It really isn’t possible to experience everything it has to offer in three days, let alone a few hours.

Returned to UK area and peeled off to the International Gateway. Caught ‘friendship’ to Boardwalk. First time for this mode of travel… Another big thumbs up. The Boardwalk is growing on me more by the day. Had an okayish tapas at Spoodles. Not very good value and the combination of flavours just wasn’t quite right.

Returned to Epcot in time to ride Spaceship Earth – another must do! It is getting old now and rumour has it that it is soon to be replaced. I hope they don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. This is my ‘flagship’ ride – the one most deeply routed in my memories of Disney from years long gone.

Headed back to the Lagoon to get a good view of ‘Illuminations – Reflections of Earth’. This is where I must have a rant about digital cameras. Why wont they take pictures when you press the button? Why the pause? Argh. At least you are able to shoot a hundred pictures and delete the 90 useless ones! Film is not dead yet, but I am concerned about the growing enthusiasm for digital. I have a suitcase of old photographs. They are left-overs from albums etc, but I still have them. They still contain memories – memories that if I had used digital to capture them I would probably have deleted. I wonder if people are losing fond memories due to computer crashes, accidental deletions or even intentional deletions. Sometimes a poor photograph can become a treasured one…

Back to hotel for 9.35. Unconscious by 10!
 
Wonderful trip report ~ Thanx for sharing.
 
I am convinced that there used to be a musty, dinosaury smell…???

Yep! And there still is, it can't have wafted your way :teeth:

I love Epcot too :)
 

I am really enjoying these reports, sounds like a wonderful day!!!

Off to to the next one!!!

Eda
 














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