"Well! After this, I shall think nothing of falling down the stairs!"
- Alice in Wonderland
While exiting the bus we some how managed to miss the instructions on checking what gate number to return to for pick up, which would hinder us later, but right then we were just excited to be at Epcot. Into the park we went, Aunt Pat had to go through bag check first. I'd been and would continue to trying to convince her to go bagless in the parks, but she never would. We gathered together again on the inside of the park and tried to orientate ourselves. I was a little discombobulated because there was no place to pick up maps or time guides right there. Making our way farther into the park it was time to test Tour Guide Mike's information. Would we really be able to walk on rides late in the afternoon on a "green" park day? The first ride we came to was Spaceship Earth of course. The wait time? It was as quickly as we could walk up the ramp and get on. That held true for everything we went on that evening. Adam and Daisy rode in the first car, then Aunt Pat and I, and Joey and David behind us. We all though this was a cool ride and the interactive part at the end had us laughing hysterically. Well at least 4 of us were, David and Joey had done something deemed inappropriate during their photo and it was deleted.
After Spaceship Earth we managed to find the maps and time guides. I found Future Worlds lay out to be rather confusing both times we were there. We walked over and got Fast Passes for Test Track.
Then back tracked a little to Ellen's Energy Adventure. I really wanted Joey to see this one because he loves dinosaurs. We walked right in to Ellen's, the pre-show had just started. Once we were loaded into the seats and the lights were off the long red eye flight start to catch up with me. I felt myself start to drift off to sleep a couple times. I looked over and Daisy was fast asleep next to me. Joey did love the dinosaurs though so this ride did get a thumbs up.
After Ellen we wandered though the park, we passed the upside down waterfall which was cool. We peaked at World Showcase but it looked really far away to our tired eyes.
We then made the unwise decision to ride Journey Into Imagination, followed by the Clammobiles. I thought my children were going to revolt against me after putting them through those two. Seriously people actually wait any amount of time to ride them?
After that we explore The Seas a bit. The manatees were really cool and David spotted a hidden Mickey in the aquarium.
The CMs were begging people to come into Turtle Talk with Crush but the kids didn't want to. I think Journey into Lameness and the Lamemobiles had scared them. Instead they climbed around on the shark for awhile.
At this point everyone was tired and hungry. We kind of forgot to eat lunch. We were just killing time until our 5:30 ADR at Coral Reef.
Coral Reef is tucked into an out of the way corner of the park, but we found it without to much trouble.
I went to check us in, suggesting that everyone else wait outside. I wanted to check on the diver I had requested as a surprise for David. I was assured all was a go with the diver and given a pager.
When I went back outside Joey was in the middle of a meltdown having to do with not seeing anything on the menu he wanted to eat. Now a Joey meltdown is one of the more pathetic things in the world, he gets all quiet and sad looking. I decided there was nothing I could do for him and left him in the capable hands of his dad and Aunt Pat.
Adam and I went inside to wait.
We found a spot to sit on the bench, it was empty when we walked in, but it soon filled up with a large extended family. It was fairly quiet and peaceful sitting there. I loved the under the sea themeing and atmosphere. The lights were so cool!
While we were sitting there I told Adam about the diver so he would know to keep a look out once we were seated. Adam then promptly fell asleep on me. Shortly after that Daisy, Aunt Pat, David and Joey came in. I don't know what transpired outside, but Joey was his cheerful self again.
Sitting in the waiting area of Coral Reef on that first night in Disney World is one of those burned in my brain memories of the trip. I just felt so happy and was relaxed and just being in the moment of togetherness with my family.
We totally want to stay at Beach Club next time! Daisy goes to public school, my aunt home schools the boys. She taught public school for 30 years.
I'm scared for when she is officially a teenager.
I've actually done it...much better than the benches.
