We wanted to get to Epcot before rope drop so we could walk right on Soarin'. We planned to leave the house at 8:00am.
Around 7:50, I went outside to see if everybody across the street was ready and I saw that mom had the kid's Beaches 'N Cream outfits. She told me to run back in the house and get Tessa's because we were going to BnC today. Yay! I got the outfit and we all waited for the rest of the family to get in their cars. We were on the road by 8:07- not bad (pathetic that I know the exact time, isn't it?)!
We made good time and pulled into the Epcot parking lot 25 minutes early!
I must admit that I wasn't all teary like I was at Magic Kingdom. Epcot is my least favorite park. That's not to say that I don't love it. But, it is at the bottom of my top 4 Disney parks list.
We were driving right behind my family when pulling into the parking lot when the guy directing traffic motions Henry and I into another parking area that was about a mile away (literally, I swear) from where the rest of our family parked. Henry got his grump on and just decided to park at the end of the next row next to Teresa and Brian. Another parking CM came and told us we had to park a mile away. Henry told him, in a very cordial voice
that the rest of our family was parked right there
and we weren't going to be seperated from them. We were NOT having a repeat of yesterday! So, they let us park right up front of Teresa's row in the "reserved" area. We were feeling very special while we unloaded the stroller.
We were parked right next to the monorail!
Here's Sawyer's first look at the BIG BALL!!
After this picture was taken, he started pointing and saying "BALL! BALL!!" He doesn't talk much, but when he saw his favorite toy in gargantuan form, he got REAL excited!
We didn't need to take a tram, so we just started walking. When we got to the entrance, Mom said she had to use the bathroom. Everyone decided they needed to use the bathroom before we went through the gates. Most of us were done quickly and we waited for Dad and David.
And we waited...
Fifteen minutes passed, and they still weren't out. So, we waited some more... Since we're waiting, please take note of our t-shirts. I made everyone in the family a matching t-shirt with their name on it, surrounded by Disney characters (I got the designs off the DISign board, but made most of the names myself because the woman didn't e-mail me back- it was fun!). Except Henry, that is. I had to do the 'ol sneak-attack
(buy a matching colored shirt and don't tell him he's going to match). He flat out refused to wear a shirt with his name on it, WHAT-ever!
We sent poor Corey in to check on them at one point. He only had a noxious odor to report.
Teresa suggested that most of us at least go through the turnstiles and wait for them on the other side to save a little time. We did that. Rope drop came and went. Then, Dad meandered out.
Sawyer ran around like a wild boy while Teresa and family got their photopass pic in front of the big ball.
A few minutes later, David came out, too. You see, the problem was that he only "kinda had to go". Too much information? Yes, I thought so, too...
That's why I felt the need to share this information with all of you, my dear friends!
I tried to drop my irritation as we headed over to Soarin'. I was doing a pretty good job of it, I think. After all, you gotta go when you gotta go (or even when you kinda have to go).
When we got to Soarin', it was a 20 minute wait. Not too bad, but not as good as 0 minutes (yeah, 2 months later and I'm totally over my irritation). We actually had a little fun waiting in line. Henry took Sawyer over to ride Living With the Land while we waited. Oooh, you are some lucky folks because I've got LINE PICTURES!!!!
Someone must have said something HEE-larious!
My arm on the left, Teresa on the right, Arminda smack in the middle.
I think I'm saying "KINDA had to go?!?"
Dad was being Goofy.
Soarin' was absolutely wonderful!!
The only other time I rode it, I was by myself (Tessa couldn't ride and mom stayed with her). It was fun, but I couldn't help but think "Is this it?" I had heard SO many people say they loved it, so I was dissapointed.
But, this time, I was sitting in between Teresa and Tessa, in the same row as a bunch of happy, squealing nieces. We had SO much fun!! We were loud, we were obnoxious, we waved and said "HI!" to Tinkerbell. Totally magical!! We giddily skipped off the ride.
Tessa exclaimed "I LOVED IT!!! I want to ride it 6 times in a row!!!" So, we grabbed some Fast Passes on our way out.
We met up with Henry and he told me he had seen some Disers! I asked how he knew and he said they were wearing lime green and had those "stupid little Mickey heads". People, I can NOT tell you how excited this made me! Teresa and I were practically beside ourselves, imagining meeting a whole group of "our kind". We were on our way over to The Seas, so we didn't see them. But, we would keep our eyes peeled!
I had never rode the Nemo ride and didn't realize it was the only way to get into The Seas. COOL! I thought it was really cute. It helped that I had heard so many people say it was lame. So, I wasn't expecting to be thrilled.
Jellyfish!
Look at how enthralled my family is!
Sawyer and Courtney were sitting next to me, their jaws slack with amazement!
Tessa couldn't believe her eyes! Look, her BBB hairdo is still concreted in place!
Do you sense a wee bit of sarcasm with my use of captions and explanation points? Perhaps a little...
We wanted to make it to the first showing of Turtle Talk, but since we didn't make it to rope drop, and had to wait 20 minutes for Soarin', we didn't make it to the first show (Bitter? Me? No!). We looked at the fishies and such while we waited in the HOT waiting area.
This was right before Sawyer started his day-long meltdown. He started getting whiny and anxious. But, we were in a cramped little room, waiting to be let in to see Crush, so there wasn't much we could do.
After 3 hours (or so it seemed), they let us in to the little benches to see Crush. I'd heard so much about this attraction and so many people LOVE it. So, I was excited. Yes, just setting myself up for a let down...
Tessa and the other girls seemed to be enjoying theirselves on the floor, where they were isntructed by a friendly CM to sit on the GREEN carpet, not the BLUE carpet, the GREEN carpet ONLY!! THE GREEN CARPET!!! Frankly, all the carpet looked blue to me.
Crush entertained us while Sawyer tried to squirm off my lap and run away. Oh such fun! I was busy trying to keep Sawyer calmed down when Crush asked us all to raise our fins. Mom, Teresa, and I were in the front row and didn't do it. So, Crush directed his gaze at us and said "Aren't you ladies in pink shirts going to raise your fins?" We sheepishly did so. How embarassing, called out by a TURTLE!
We exited Crush's turtle talk, which I found to be not so entertaining, but that's mostly because of trying to wrangle Sawyer.
Sawyer was happy for a while, looking at the manatees. But, then his melt-down continued as we moved on to other fish. The kid just wasn't happy. I assume it was because he hadn't slept so good the 2 previous nights.
Right around this time, we saw the last of Lydia's BBB bun.
So long, fair bun!
Tessa's bun was soon to follow. She had been complaining that it was itchy all day. So, once Teresa took out Lydia's, I took hers out, too. Tessa's hair was sticking up all crazy and she got really upset. She was whining and saying "I look stupid!"
Sawyer also went into TOTAL meltdown phase at this point. I was totally exhausted from wrangling him and I just sat on the floor with him while he cried. I think Henry then took him out and the rest of us soon followed.
Poor Henry took care of Sawyer again while we used our Fast Passes on Soarin'.
Up Next:
How DARE You Call Yourself a McDonalds!?
I can't wait for the next installment...
Love this latest edition. It looks like you guys had a marvelous time at 1900 Park Faire. That was too funny about Sawyer....my DD was the same way with the "live" characters!!! 
)
Sounds like you got the "magic" you were after 
Hehe, but I finally had a little time to dis and catch up on my reports and I must say I am glad I did! Your tr is so awesome and funny! Poor little Sawyer being teased and taunted by the evil step sister. That was a very funny picture and I think my favorite thus far. I also loved you teasing the stranger in line at pirates. Although you did lie to her...there is that drop. Lol. I bet she was rather suprised when that happened. I know it freaked me out as df had forgotten about it on my first ride. 
I love how you & teresa are so different but the same in your writing. I know you guys don't share your writing until it is posted so it just shows how close you are that you use some of the same phrases and such when you tell your story! But it still new and interesting to read it from another perspective! 
You are such a sweetie!!
I gave my little darlings kisses and hugs and went to bed, absolutely exhausted.
