Four go Wild in Florida (US Edition) - Day 5 - Epcot and MK

[SpottyDog]

Really short version of a long day.

Full drivel here - Day 5 - Where's the plan ? !!

Day 5 (Tuesday) - Where’s the plan !

If you refer back to the print out of yesterday’s report,you’ll be in a state of panic as we’d lost the plan, not to mention the plot! Well, we hunted high and low - top of the chest of drawers and under the bed - and couldn’t find the bloomin thing. Now being a clerk, I understand the importance of making and keeping backups. Our whole holiday adventure and value for money is tied up in that minute-by-minute itinerary. Thank God I’m one of life’s planners and took the precaution of preparing two copies of the plan. Where’s the second copy? In the blue ,button down, folder with the trip reports and the original copy.

So tired and confused (even then), I drifted into a fitful sleep.
“Where’s the plan?”
“Where are we meant to go tomorrow?”
“How will I ever pay for this holiday?” - I tossed and turned all night.
Alarm set for 6.30, I woke at 5am. I’d spent so long preparing for this holiday and switching the plan to accommodate priorities - PS’s and early entries - it shouldn’t be too hard to piece together some sort of plan until the real document(s) turns up , I asked V if she was asleep?
“No some fat bloke’s prodding me!”
She hadn’t slept either. We figured as it was early entry at Epcot, that must be where we were headed. If it’s Epcot, then we must have PSs at The Ice Cream Social at 3pm. That’ll do for starters, now for coffee etc. let’s get this day on the road.
It’s amazing the medicinal effect coffee has for the memory. Two cups in and me clerical orderly mind kicked back in. The folder was in the logical place –at the bottom of the spare case under the fleeces brought to ward off those evening chills. Plan restored to owner we put the spare copy in another safe place lest the original should ever wander again – yes I lost it!
On the bus at 7.10, we headed for Epcot. Me and G stood for 90 minutes for our one and only Test track ride last time and we were determined to take full advantage of Early Entry to get a go this time without the tedious garage tour. Remembering the actual ride to be quite tame, we insisted on the girls coming on this coz they always back out of anything the slightest bit intimidating and don’t know what they’re missing. V tried Splash Mountain in 99 and was terrified all the way round –
“This is different, dear. It hardly moves and is much slower than either of us drive at home.”
“ Julie, you’re just scared of your own shadow and need to be led onto the safer rides so you get the most out of all I’ve paid for you to come on this holiday.” “Yes, my call about T3D was a little out, but this is safer than going shopping with your Mam!”
We got into the briefing room without any noticeable delay and the girls were noticeably nervous – wimps, showed me and the boy up! Onto the ride and guilt slapped me in the face and called me names all the way round. It was much more bumpy and pacier than I remembered. I knew I was in big trouble . I think it cost me the Minnie in Kimono for that one ! Valerie felt nauseous for a couple of hours and me little Princess lost all faith in me judgement for everything except the greatest football team the world has ever seen – which just HAS to be so.
We headed for the Wonders of Life pavilion next to let the kids play on the interactive thingies and so I could wander about like a lost soul considering the error of me ways. They made me touch the hot and cold pipes over and over again and I got the feeling I wasn’t the most popular Dad in the world at that time. Gary had enjoyed TT but chose one of the bikes that didn’t work – so he was able to join in and blame me for that too ; which was nice.
Universe of Energy was next port of call. I’d wanted to do this in 99, but didn’t have time, so I was really looking forward to this one. Julie was anxious, as a CM had said there was a dark part and a brief explosion – thanks pal! As the preshow ended, it was obvious J was becoming increasingly worried and I took her outside – saw the chance to push meself back into her good books and just dove right in there. “It’ll take more than that Dad, can I have an ice cream , please?”
V & G rode the thingy and we skipped off hand in hand (she had her ice cream now) to Innoventions West and the ultimate sacrifice. Her face lit up when she found the featured playstation game was WDW Magical Racing Tour. This is her favourite game of all time and she is absolutely unbeatable , well for a Dad anyway.
“ Can I beat you mercilessly, Dad?”
“ Of course you can , pet. I’m in the doghouse, after all.”
Luckily, there wasn’t much of an audience at that time of the morning but all those who passed could be heard whispering to each other “He must have forced her on Test Track!”
We headed back to find V & G and they were sitting in the shade eating ice creams – well, V had been on TT and G’s bike hadn’t worked. Still early, me and Gary headed back to TT for single rider manoeuvres – the girls didn’t want to come for some reason. An hour and 2 goes later we returned to the girls who were recovering from their ordeal by way of chocolate and ice cream – there are times when even I know when to give in.
It was approaching 11am now and we set off for World Showcase. I was enjoying myself and begun to smile but Julie caught sight of me and I bowed me head in the shame I deserved – this was going to be a long day!
Entering WorldShowcase, the plan was to do every other country today and the rest another time. This would allow us to get round and back to Canada for Off Kilter at 1.30 and The British Invasion at 2pm. This would give us time to get to The Garden Grill for our Ice Cream Social via the Sega room for another whopping on the Playstations. V suggested we buy J a passport as we entered WS and I was too far in the wrong to argue about the cost ($10.55). We started in UK and I was impressed with the passport stamping system and the look on J’s face was worth the equivalent 4 bottles of beer she was getting validated.
Morocco next and we enjoyed walking round the authentic shops – well me and V did. The kids kept themselves amused wondering where the Moroccan computer games were. The CM there was particularly good with J, showing her how they write ‘backwards’ in Arabic.
Germany was all steins and cuckoo clocks and the Becks was $6 so I had a ‘cheap’ Bud at $4.50.
Pushing on, we ‘did’ China in a hurry. The temple thingy housed a ‘band’ who were playing British pop variations – weird. In a hurry to get to Canada, I never did find out if there was a takeaway.
We arrived at the Off Kilter stage just as they were tuning up. Lovely day, everything on track, planwise, and a live band. What more could we want ? It’s obvious – rain. Lots of it. The heavens opened and the audience fled agreeing they would have to do Off Kilter another day.
After 2pm by now, we went into The Land and made our way to The Garden Grill. This was our first experience of a PS, never mind a character meal and we were all looking forward to the experience. The kids were delighted to be given the beeper to call us when our booth was ready and I took the opportunity to tour the area with me VC to collect some much needed “and this is…” footage. The art of boredom is not dead in Spennymoor.
Julie vibrated and giggled all at the same time and we figured it must be time for tea. Got to say the ice creams weren’t as big as I’d expected for $7 – but then I expect a lot for $7 – but they were very nice and well presented. The characters – Farmer Mickey, Pluto and Chip and Dale made lots of rounds and missed no one out – even a fat, disgraced Dad ( I’m sure I heard Chip tell Dale “yep, he took her on Test Track”)
They all made a fuss of J and she loved it. It was delightful the way they made each child feel special and interacted in an individual way – Chip took J’s hairband out while she was distracted and Dale put it back for her. A little thing but a special event for a little girl who forgot her street cred for that magic moment. Gary, of course, looked on bemused and hoping they’d just go past and leave him alone! Mickey ruffled his head (we had no hair as we’d been shaved for the holiday) and Pluto licked him , which nearly melted him with embarrassment. That was nothing! Dale got him out of his chair and showed him the sunflower wallpaper.
“Very nice, but what?”
Dale stroked the wallpaper flower with his furry finger and Gary’s eyes scanned the room twice looking for the Candid Camera people.
“What?”
Dale took his adolescent little finger and scratched the flower – scratch and sniff. “No!?”
Gaz was embarrassed, confused and amazed to be standing there talking to a five foot chipmunk all at the same time. Dale pulled G’s head towards the flowers and held him there for a full minute while he ‘took in the aroma’. I have it all on VC and am now the proud recipient of breakfast in bed for the rest of me life. For some reason he races to the door whenever his mates come to call and they are never invited into the house anymore!
All in all the ICS was a great success and a good introduction to CMs and, at $28 plus tip, a cheap way to meet some prime characters.
…It was still raining so we headed home for a bit kip and a beer for Dad then headed down to MK E Night for 9pm'...
...as we exited the Kingdom another ‘ why on site is magical’ hit me. It was almost deserted as we passed Crystal Palace and the beauty of the shimmering lights and music hit me like no other time. I could have stood and sucked in that moment and resolved to come back and capture it on video another night to bore someone with at will.

Day 6 1/4 is already posted (if you're interested)
Day 6 1/4

 

[snuggles]

Sounds like yall had fun! Isn't it funny how it aways rains at Disney.