Delicious Indeed!

[RachelNinja]

I hate parking in the theme parks. I guess it's necessary to direct traffic like that, but it always seems like it'd be better to just find your own spot.

We've actually never made it to rope drop before, but that is one of my goals for October. I've always wondered what you'd do if you got there thirty minutes early. Just stand around?

I wonder if there ever was a time when people just found their own spots. Maybe they realized it was too chaotic? I'm curious to know how that'd work because obviously people would park closer to the walkway if they got there earlier.

Haha yes, we did stand around. For Epcot, we really didn't have to get there that early considering we didn't need the tram or anything like that. MK is a bit harder to plan because I feel you either have to get there really early OR get there when it gets more crowded and you have to wait longer. For MK, I think it's worth it because I really loved watching the opening show!!! It was worth it, in my opinion. This is the first time we were there for rope drop that I remember. My mom said we apparently did it when I was really young.

I don't remember everything from my childhood WDW days. I mean, my mom told me that once we went to MK on July 4th because the family we were with wanted to go! It was crazy!

 

[JenAusty]

Yeah, I usually always check orders, but because I wasn't the one who charged it, I didn't have the bag. If only we knew! The catfish was still good although I would've liked tartar sauce. I can't watch Despicable Me without seeing Michael Scott from The Office!

I LOVE MICHAEL SCOTT! and I love the Office. It's one of my favorite shows.. DH and I have mugs from the show! He has #1 boss Mug and I have one that just says Dunder Miflin. hehehe But yes, I do see your point.

 

[JenAusty]

I also LOVE Epcot. It's my 2nd favorite park but also one of the most relaxing for me. I feel this way about Animal Kingdom to a point. With MK, there is always sooo much to do and its always crowded. When I go there I feel like I'm on a marathon all day.. with Epcot.. it's soo much slower. On our last trip, we visited Epcot several times and by like the 3rd visit during a EMH day, we just casually walked around- in and out of stores, watching a belly dancer act of some sort, listen to a band play, tried a few drinks from different countries.. and it was soo nice. I felt so happy and content. But I felt that way because 1. Epcot always feels somewhat laid back but also because we had visited soo much, so most of our "list to do" was finished.

I don't know how sleep the night before your first day. I can NEVER sleep when I am going to disney world on day 1. Actually, I take that back- last time we went to Disney- we flew in at night- so we arrived at 12am and by the time we got to the hotel-I passed out in about 10 minutes and was tired when I woke up. It didn't help the beds were soo comfy. But usually when I fly in the morning and then go to disney- I can't sleep at all.

 

[RachelNinja]

I LOVE MICHAEL SCOTT! and I love the Office. It's one of my favorite shows.. DH and I have mugs from the show! He has #1 boss Mug and I have one that just says Dunder Miflin. hehehe But yes, I do see your point.

I can't believe that Michael Scott won't be on the show anymore!!! Howard has a mug from The Office. I forgot what it says. He also has a Dwight bobblehead, I think! Haha, I don't exactly know where that's going to go when we move in together ...

I also LOVE Epcot. It's my 2nd favorite park but also one of the most relaxing for me. I feel this way about Animal Kingdom to a point. With MK, there is always sooo much to do and its always crowded. When I go there I feel like I'm on a marathon all day.. with Epcot.. it's soo much slower. On our last trip, we visited Epcot several times and by like the 3rd visit during a EMH day, we just casually walked around- in and out of stores, watching a belly dancer act of some sort, listen to a band play, tried a few drinks from different countries.. and it was soo nice. I felt so happy and content. But I felt that way because 1. Epcot always feels somewhat laid back but also because we had visited soo much, so most of our "list to do" was finished.

I don't know how sleep the night before your first day. I can NEVER sleep when I am going to disney world on day 1. Actually, I take that back- last time we went to Disney- we flew in at night- so we arrived at 12am and by the time we got to the hotel-I passed out in about 10 minutes and was tired when I woke up. It didn't help the beds were soo comfy. But usually when I fly in the morning and then go to disney- I can't sleep at all.

It's funny that as a kid, I absolutely loved the hustle and bustle of MK! I mean, I still do. But it might be too stressful for the first park because you're kind of thrown into it. Just from these past 2 trips, I'm very used to Epcot being our first park now! I would love to be able to visit more than once because there really is no way to do everything in one day.

I think we were all able to fall asleep because we all missed lying flat in a bed!

 

[Nermel9]

Yay, you're finally at Epcot! Sometimes parking is so annoying, it's a lot easier when you go to the parks late and they let you park where you want! I don't think we have ever made it to rope drop at Epcot...actually, no, we haven't...only MK, and the first time that ever happened was last November! I'd like to try Epcot rope drop and see everyone rush to Soarin!

 

[RachelNinja]

Yay, you're finally at Epcot! Sometimes parking is so annoying, it's a lot easier when you go to the parks late and they let you park where you want! I don't think we have ever made it to rope drop at Epcot...actually, no, we haven't...only MK, and the first time that ever happened was last November! I'd like to try Epcot rope drop and see everyone rush to Soarin!

Yeah, we'll never get there later because we don't hop. We'll always do the "get there as early as possible and stay as late as possible." I guess it's "easier" that way in that we don't have to make decisions! Once we're at a park, we are AT a park!

I really did enjoy the rush to Soarin'. I know people don't like the crowds, but since it was the first park day, I still felt all the excitement pumping through me! Plus, it helped that they played really fun music!

 

[RachelNinja]

Just posting an update to let you know that I've gone back to updating my April 2010 trip report as well! I'll hopefully keep both up and running at the same time. I do have to finish it since the plan right now is to go back in April 2012 (with my family) and in May 2012 (Disneymoon!).

Click here. (You know you want to!)

 

[YukiPhnx]

Hooray! I'll be right over.

 

[kathleen27]

I can't believe how wrong they got your Cracker Barrell order. Glad they offered to make up for it later in the week. Its fun to see all the different candy & stuff in the store. I love Necco wafers! They are one of my favorites. I did buy the fruit stripe gum there last time for my kids to try, since It was from my childhood.

Yay for an Epcot day!

 

[RachelNinja]

Hooray! I'll be right over.

I can't believe how wrong they got your Cracker Barrell order. Glad they offered to make up for it later in the week. Its fun to see all the different candy & stuff in the store. I love Necco wafers! They are one of my favorites. I did buy the fruit stripe gum there last time for my kids to try, since It was from my childhood.

Yay for an Epcot day!

I think it's such a great way to share candy from your youth with your kids! I saw something else when we went back that I remember from my childhood. I think it's hilarious that I can actually say "childhood" and have it actually be a good amount of time in the past! It cracks me up when little kids say stuff like, "When I was little ..."

 

[jane2073]

I really enjoy the characters from afar. I do get very excited seeing them around or reading stories about their interactions with others.

That is me exactly! I love them but I let my husband take my daughter for the meet and greets!

 

[RachelNinja]

That is me exactly! I love them but I let my husband take my daughter for the meet and greets!

I get very excited seeing all the characters during Fantasmic! I truly "believe" that it's Mickey up there controlling the fireworks. However, up close, I can't help but "see" the person inside!

 

[RachelNinja]

Monday, February 21: Movin' with the Masses

I had never been there early enough to see the family open the park. Well, in actuality, I still haven’t been there early enough to SEE the family open the park because we couldn’t see over people’s heads! We had an opportunity to take some pics though, and I just stood there with anticipation and bounced.

Does anyone know exactly what these things are for? Are they merely decorative?

Crowds! I didn't mind though because I knew we were at an advantage being there that early. Even with the huge group of people congregated in that area at that moment, I knew it was nothing compared to what it might be a few hours from that point.

You can see that Goofy's up front greeting some people.

You can see back here that we've got some excited kiddies waiting for their first park!

The Soarin' cast members were walking to the rope. I have read in so many other trip reports that they walk at a good pace and that no one is allowed to pass them. I thought it was so cool that I could SEE THEM! Haha, it's like seeing celebrities or something.

Before we knew it, it was time for the countdown! I was expecting a louder cheer than the one you can hear on the video!



Finally, the park was officially opened, and the masses headed towards The Land! While walking in that direction, I heard "Celebrate You" by Corbin Bleu, which is a song I love since Sarah (wdwgirl03) mentioned it on her previous TR! It gets me so excited and pumped to be in the parks. It makes the walk way more fun! I recorded it just to remember this first walk experience and so I could upload it and "show" Sarah!



When we were almost there, I looked off to the left and saw a dad holding his son's hand walking off to Journey to Imagination (haha, or Captain EO?!). It was just so cute! It looked like something out of a Disney ad. Look! Even the monorail is passing by at that exact time!

Is that a bird's nest? If so, I'd like to be that bird who lives right there! Although if I were that bird, I guess I wouldn't have to head towards Soarin' and wait on the FP line and then the regular line! I could fly whenever I wanted!

Next update, we'll be on the ride, I promise. Haha, or at least we'll be waiting on the LINE for the ride

 

[wdwgirl03]

YEAH, love the shout-out! And heck yeah I like the Celebrate You song! My sister and I were kind of bummed though because they took it out of the resort TV show. Boo!

Yay for making it to Epcot! Can't wait to hear where you go first.

Oh, and PS, just started my new TR. If you hurry maybe you can be the first to post.

 

[YukiPhnx]

I know that song! I remember knowing it from the commercials and then being surprised that Corbin Bleu sang it. Love listening to that song.

Walking with the Soarin' mob!

Yeah, I've always wondered about those triangle things up there too.

Awwww, it's so nice to see that they're not following the path of everybody else. And yes, it's like a picture out of an ad!

 

[klacey1]

I LOVE that picture of the father and son-- clearly going with the flow, not rushing to the "E" rides. Adorable!!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Just wanted to subscribe to this one and join in! I'm busy catching up on your other TR too. I love all of the detail you go into. That pic of you in the bright sun cracks me up!

Can't wait to read more and good luck with the wedding plans! It sounds stressful . Hope it's getting better

 

[LilAnn]

aw, I really do love that song. It just gives me that Disney feeling, like I want to be at Disney right now! So happy when I hear that!

Love that pic of the father and son. It does look like an ad for the parks, especially with the little boy wearing the mouse ears. Adorable.

 

[PirateKate]

I like that song, too. I didn't know they played it at Epcot.

I was always under the impression that these things

were meant to provide a bit of shade on hot Epcot days. Could be wrong, though.

 

[Cat0727]

I had to google the Corbin Bleu song and it sounds vaguely familiar. I haven't done the Soarin' rope drop in a while. I've been heading to Test Track first the past couple of years.

The picture of the father and son walking off in the distance with the monorail going by is great, it's a perfect Disney moment