2belles'mom
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2000
- Messages
- 406
PART THREE--December 28--Wilderness Lodge and Epcot (Day 3)
The Cast:
Me, 36, Disney Addict
David, DH, 36 Disney Addict NOT
Katja, DD, 7
Annika, DD 4
Mumu, Mom of DH
Tuta, Dad of DH
Today we would leave Marriott World Center, and head to the Villas at Wilderness Lodge for five nights. We awoke a bit before 8 and finished up our packing. We spent some time debating whether or not we should check in at WL first, or head to Epcot. After much indecision (while already in the van and headed .somewhere) we decided to check in at WL first. Our PS for the Princess Breakfast at the castle was for 10:20, and it wasnt yet 9:00. In addition, we really wanted to get our requests for the Villa room which our owner (we were renting) had requested for us (thank you owner!): close to main lobby, non-smoking, close to pool. We had been told that the earlier we checked in, the more likely we were to get our requests. Last year, when we stayed in the main Lodge, it seemed we were a million miles from everything, and I really wanted to be closer. We arrived at the Lodge and checked in, but our room was not yet ready. We got room keys and a card with a phone number to call and check if the room was ready.
Then back in Mumu and Tutas van, and on our way to Epcot. We parked at Boardwalk and used the International Gateway Entrance to Epcot, thinking it was closer to Norway. Wrong! It would have been faster to come in through Future World, but it was a pleasant walk in a practically deserted World Showcase (which opens later than Future World and officially was not open yet). Mumu enjoyed the beautiful landscaping and Disney attention to detail. The brisk morning walk did us all good, and we got a lesson to boot: always consult your map ahead of time! No matter, we still strolled up to the Castle just in time for our 10:20 P.S. We were seated right away. The restaurant was not at all crowded. We were visited by Belle, Snow White, Jasmine, Aurora and Mulan. Mumu and Tuta, having never experienced a character breakfast (and also being of very serious and subdued Finnish stock) didnt know quite what to think. Breakfast was served all-you-can-eat family style and consisted of fruit and pastries, and a mixed skillet of eggs, bacon, sausage and pancakes. Our group went through two skillets and lots of strawberries before heading off to explore World Showcase.
We dinked around a bit in China, and the girls made masks at the Kidcot Station. Shortly thereafter, Katja started whining about Mission Space. Puuuulleeeeeze can we go on Mission Space NOW .. when can we do Mission Space my legs are tired of walking I cant walk anymore can we do Mission Space YET??? Her incessant whining about Mission Space was beginning to wear on me, so I told David that I would take Katja to get Fast Passes for MS (knowing that there wasnt a snowballs chance in you-know-where that we would be able to get on now with less than an hours wait) while he, Annika and his parents spent some more time exploring World Showcase. We tuned our radios to the same channel so we could stay in contact during the separation, and Katja and I wenton our way (and her legs were magically re-energized! Imagine that!). The crowds were significantly thicker in Future World, and in fact, we found ourselves going against the flow as hordes of humanity streamed into a now open World Showcase.
As we battled the crowds past Test Track (Wait Time: 90 minutes) we saw Mission Space looming above us. I had seen pictures, but the actual building was a sight to behold! We saw a very long line snaking its way out of the MS building. Wait Time: 140 minutes! Fast Pass Return Time was listed as between 6:35 and 7:35. EEK. Well, I knew it would be later. OK. I steered clear of the line, looking for the Fast Pass distribution kiosk. Slowly, it dawned on me that the long line was actually the line for Fast Passes! A Cast Member confirmed this, but assured us that the wait was only about 12 minutes. I wasnt sure I believed it, but figured if we didnt get Fast Passes know, it wasnt going to happen, period. So we jumped in line. And it moved at an unbelievably swift pace. The reason was soon apparent: A CM was distributing FPs from his hand--no machines, no inserting of tickets. Get your FP from the man, and off you go. As we left with Mission Space FPs in hand, I realized that, since we had never had our tickets read, we would not be restricted by FP time limits and would be able to immediately get a FP for Test Track! We scooted over to Test Track, but saw that the return time was between 9:15 and 10:15. I decided that that was way too late we were scheduled to for an early arrival at the Magic Kingdom the next morning, so (much to Katjas outrage!) we skipped the Test Track Fast Passes.
Using our handy-dandy radios, we established contact with the rest of the crew, who were just debarking on a Friendship Boat from Morroco. We hooked up and headed back into Future World, to Innoventions, where we spent an hour or so looking around (the girls LOVED the computers for kids, and Davids folks enjoyed the home stereo show). We then headed over to the LAND, hoping to go on the boat ride (watch a hydroponic fish farm in action!), but the wait was 30 minutes and everyone was about ready to leave Epcot--the crowds had grown big and unruly by this time. Plus, Mumu and Tuta were starting to worry about making sure they had daylight for their return trip to West Palm Beach (it was early still, but remember Tuta only goes 40 MPH). So we made our way back to International Gateway to retrieve the van and go back to Wilderness Lodge for rest and relaxtion prior to returning to Epcot For MS Fastpass, and the Candlelight Processional...
The Cast:
Me, 36, Disney Addict
David, DH, 36 Disney Addict NOT
Katja, DD, 7
Annika, DD 4
Mumu, Mom of DH
Tuta, Dad of DH
Today we would leave Marriott World Center, and head to the Villas at Wilderness Lodge for five nights. We awoke a bit before 8 and finished up our packing. We spent some time debating whether or not we should check in at WL first, or head to Epcot. After much indecision (while already in the van and headed .somewhere) we decided to check in at WL first. Our PS for the Princess Breakfast at the castle was for 10:20, and it wasnt yet 9:00. In addition, we really wanted to get our requests for the Villa room which our owner (we were renting) had requested for us (thank you owner!): close to main lobby, non-smoking, close to pool. We had been told that the earlier we checked in, the more likely we were to get our requests. Last year, when we stayed in the main Lodge, it seemed we were a million miles from everything, and I really wanted to be closer. We arrived at the Lodge and checked in, but our room was not yet ready. We got room keys and a card with a phone number to call and check if the room was ready.
Then back in Mumu and Tutas van, and on our way to Epcot. We parked at Boardwalk and used the International Gateway Entrance to Epcot, thinking it was closer to Norway. Wrong! It would have been faster to come in through Future World, but it was a pleasant walk in a practically deserted World Showcase (which opens later than Future World and officially was not open yet). Mumu enjoyed the beautiful landscaping and Disney attention to detail. The brisk morning walk did us all good, and we got a lesson to boot: always consult your map ahead of time! No matter, we still strolled up to the Castle just in time for our 10:20 P.S. We were seated right away. The restaurant was not at all crowded. We were visited by Belle, Snow White, Jasmine, Aurora and Mulan. Mumu and Tuta, having never experienced a character breakfast (and also being of very serious and subdued Finnish stock) didnt know quite what to think. Breakfast was served all-you-can-eat family style and consisted of fruit and pastries, and a mixed skillet of eggs, bacon, sausage and pancakes. Our group went through two skillets and lots of strawberries before heading off to explore World Showcase.
We dinked around a bit in China, and the girls made masks at the Kidcot Station. Shortly thereafter, Katja started whining about Mission Space. Puuuulleeeeeze can we go on Mission Space NOW .. when can we do Mission Space my legs are tired of walking I cant walk anymore can we do Mission Space YET??? Her incessant whining about Mission Space was beginning to wear on me, so I told David that I would take Katja to get Fast Passes for MS (knowing that there wasnt a snowballs chance in you-know-where that we would be able to get on now with less than an hours wait) while he, Annika and his parents spent some more time exploring World Showcase. We tuned our radios to the same channel so we could stay in contact during the separation, and Katja and I wenton our way (and her legs were magically re-energized! Imagine that!). The crowds were significantly thicker in Future World, and in fact, we found ourselves going against the flow as hordes of humanity streamed into a now open World Showcase.
As we battled the crowds past Test Track (Wait Time: 90 minutes) we saw Mission Space looming above us. I had seen pictures, but the actual building was a sight to behold! We saw a very long line snaking its way out of the MS building. Wait Time: 140 minutes! Fast Pass Return Time was listed as between 6:35 and 7:35. EEK. Well, I knew it would be later. OK. I steered clear of the line, looking for the Fast Pass distribution kiosk. Slowly, it dawned on me that the long line was actually the line for Fast Passes! A Cast Member confirmed this, but assured us that the wait was only about 12 minutes. I wasnt sure I believed it, but figured if we didnt get Fast Passes know, it wasnt going to happen, period. So we jumped in line. And it moved at an unbelievably swift pace. The reason was soon apparent: A CM was distributing FPs from his hand--no machines, no inserting of tickets. Get your FP from the man, and off you go. As we left with Mission Space FPs in hand, I realized that, since we had never had our tickets read, we would not be restricted by FP time limits and would be able to immediately get a FP for Test Track! We scooted over to Test Track, but saw that the return time was between 9:15 and 10:15. I decided that that was way too late we were scheduled to for an early arrival at the Magic Kingdom the next morning, so (much to Katjas outrage!) we skipped the Test Track Fast Passes.
Using our handy-dandy radios, we established contact with the rest of the crew, who were just debarking on a Friendship Boat from Morroco. We hooked up and headed back into Future World, to Innoventions, where we spent an hour or so looking around (the girls LOVED the computers for kids, and Davids folks enjoyed the home stereo show). We then headed over to the LAND, hoping to go on the boat ride (watch a hydroponic fish farm in action!), but the wait was 30 minutes and everyone was about ready to leave Epcot--the crowds had grown big and unruly by this time. Plus, Mumu and Tuta were starting to worry about making sure they had daylight for their return trip to West Palm Beach (it was early still, but remember Tuta only goes 40 MPH). So we made our way back to International Gateway to retrieve the van and go back to Wilderness Lodge for rest and relaxtion prior to returning to Epcot For MS Fastpass, and the Candlelight Processional...
