Day 7 The final chapter.
We manage to get packed and drop off our bags at the magical express desk in front of our hotel by 10:30 am and were ready to head off to Epcot. We hop on the monorail and after a change at the TTC, we arrive at Epcot. My oldest daughter cant wait to start pin trading since its her last day. I end up spending $$$ on trading pins since we are going home today. I dont know how it happened, but it did! She was so charming and sweet and conned me out of my money
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After that we headed over to the Land pavilion to eat lunch at the Garden Grill which is one of my favorite places for character interaction. We arrived a little early and they were nice enough to work us in earlier than our reservations. When I had made the ADR originally, I had made it for the night before. But after all the problems with others in our party not wanting to do what we had planned, I had changed them so we wouldnt be under as much pressure. So thankfully, the Garden Grill worked us in and I, the dinner nazi, made my kids stop coloring at the kid station outside the restaurant and come eat lunch. Im such a mean mom.
We really enjoy eating at the GG.
The characters came by to see us around 4 or 5 different times and spent a lot of time interacting with all the kids. Im sure most of you already know this but, it is best to sit your kids on the outside of the table closest to the aisle. The characters interact with them so much more when you do. One example of this is when my oldest daughter is eating and not paying attention to anything going on around her. Chip sneaks up behind her and slams his fist down on the table.
As you can see she is minding her own business eating her dinner.
She jumped out of her seat and we all couldnt stop laughing for awhile. She didnt let anyone sneak up on her again after that!
After scaring her, he takes time to play with her little sister!
A shook up Snow White.
My dh and I celebrated our anniversary while we were at the GG because I couldnt think of any place else I would have rather celebrated it. This is where my dad celebrated his birthday when he went with us to WDW so there are a lot of memories there. The CM was very nice and even brought us out a little cake which was very good.
My husband and I celebrating our anniversary. Notice my Bloom Gloom Eeyore shirt!
After all the laughter and celebrating we decided to try and ride Soarin again. This time I let my dh go on the ride and I stayed with our little girl. I told him hed have a great time
While I was waiting, a very nice older English couple came up and we started up a conversation and I asked them about coming to WDW. They said the loved to come and tried to get here every year. They stay in a condo outside the park and try to arrive in before it opens. Uggghhhh. I said, Wow, you must get up really early. They laughed and said, We get up early, but our kids dont want to get up early so we always end up coming to the park later than wed like. This couple was in their late 60s or 70s and the kids they were referring to had to be in their late 30s or early 40s. I had to laugh because our generation as a whole seem not to be morning people. I asked them if they stayed for a week and they said no. They always stayed for a minimum of two weeks and after WDW they would go to Sea World and other parts of Florida before returning home. They said the airplane ticket was the most expensive part of the trip so they always tried to do quite a bit while they were over here. I thought they were very interesting people and I was glad to have someone to sit and talk to since Soarin seemed to be taking a very long time. I found out after everyone came back, that it had broken down and they moved everyone over to the FP side.
As I was talking to this nice couple my family finally showed up off the ride. My dh joined in the conversation with this couple as I went to take my turn to ride with child swap. I didnt get to ask my dh how or if he liked the ride before I left so I had to wait until I came back out. My two oldest girls wanted to go with me on the ride again. They loved it. The only thing they didnt like was seeing other peoples feet over their head when they were in the last row. I didnt care. I just loved this ride. Someone else on this forum, no names mentioned, has said that this is there 2nd favorite ride after EE. Well, since EE was broke when we tried to ride it, I wouldnt know
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After I got off this ride I finally located my left behind not too happy daughter. She wanted to ride it so bad. She loves to fly. I felt so bad for her. This is the only time she cried when she couldnt ride a ride. She had heard us say it was like flying and she wanted to go. Well I finally got to ask my dh if he liked the ride and he said, Well it was okay. What??!! He was being all macho manly on me not wanting to admit that he absolutely loved it. I know because if he had hated it, I would not have heard the end of it! Well after riding soaring we walked around a little more before having to leave and go back to the hotel. Bummer. The time has come for us to go home. Were all a little sad as we head back to the monorail. Well at least most of us are sad as we head back to the hotel. When we arrive back at the GF we head over to the grill to use up the rest of our CS credits and pick up some sandwiches to take to the airport with us. We pick up the food, and a few more trading pins at the gift shop on the way back. I let my kids go in to the bathroom at the front of the hotel and change into the tshirts they had autographed by the characters we met on this trip.
After they finish up we all meet up out front and picked up our non checked bags and sat down to wait for the magical express bus. We were all a bit melancholy at this point just wishing we had more time to spend at Disney. My daughter, not wanting to miss any opportunities took off to see if any of the bellman had any trading pins so she could trade up to the very last minute of her vacation. Unfortunately for her, nobody did. But while she was walking around asking everyone, one of the bellman asked her what was all over her shirt. She laughed and said, Autographs from the characters we saw. He laughed and said, Can I sign your shirt too? She laughed back and since she was wearing the tshirt she said , No, but you can sign my autograph book! His smile was so big! He started yelling at all his friends standing out front of the hotel, Hey she wants my autograph. By the way, his name was John! We know because we have his autograph! My dh looked at me and said, Snow white just made his day and maybe his whole week. I bet no ones ever asked for his autograph before. My dh was so proud of her for thinking on her feet and making this guys day. Then, the bus came
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It was so quiet on the bus going back to the airport compared to the bus we had arrived on to WDW. Just a whole different atmosphere. We make it through security and sit down to eat our dinner in the airport. Its so sad to realize that its over already and that its time to head back to the real world.
All the kids at the Garden Grill
Donald, Snow white and Cinderella play with Pluto.
Cinderella tackles Pluto.
Yes, Snow white comes by her sarcastic wit honestly. 
And thank you, I thought I had lost it and forgot how after 3 kids.... 
Yes, we have received the Envelope of Doom..... 
I was looking forward to reading your trip report when I got back and there wasnt anything on your TR. 
My trip was ummmm, interesting. 
She is at least developing some of my personality..... Hopefully the good part! 
I just said Thank you again and we went to our room. I couldnt believe that just a simple thank you would do something like that. It was very special.
She did make a lot of people smile though, which I am very proud of her for. 
So I'm glad we could make her feel better and it was nice to receive the credit, but I wasn't expecting it. 
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YA!
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