keswick1uk
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2004
- Messages
- 222
<b>Monday March 15th</b>
<i>Weather. Hot, humid, cloudy and a rumbling sky. Rain showers at EPCOT. </i>
When we saw the forecast we were pleased to have a PS for Chef Mickeys breakfast. As we wouldnt be at EPCOT very early, the World showcase was our park scheduled for today.
We woke fairly early but with a PS of 10.15 didnt have to go too mad, so we made our way to the car park at EPCOT and took the monorail to TTC, then onto the Contemporary (via Polynesian and Grand Floridian). Not that you see much on the monorail but they do look super resorts. Even the Contemporary, which I always think looks like a multi storey car park, is actually fun when inside. The monorail was fairly quiet but there were people sitting up front all the time so I didnt get the opportunity to have Tom ride with the driver. (This time <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif" />)
We arrived a tad early for Chef Mickeys but signed in at the podium, had our picture taken which seemed to be automatic, and then were shown straight to a table. Goofy was also greeting those arriving and leaving but we were pretty hungry so waited until the end to meet him.
As we went to the table with our first plate of food Tom saw Pluto. He wasnt supposed to be there, so Toms favourite was so chuffed to get the surprise.
<img border=0 src="http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00425697f00000007.jpg" />
The characters were all about to go in for a rest break as we took to the table so we had a while to enjoy some breakfast before they came around to the tables again. I thought the food was really good. I was on the fruit, bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon, and Mickey pancakes, waffles and maple syrup. Tom demolished the fruit buffet as usual, Kate the pancakes, melon and hot buffet and Andy headed straight for the cooked.
<img border=0 src="http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00425697f00000009.jpg" />
Goofy came to see us just as the characters returned to the tables and the song Celebrate with Mickey started. Everyone, characters, servers, visitors twirled their serviettes in the air. It was one big party. Really, really good fun, and a completely different experience to the castle.
<img border=0 src="http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00425697f00000005.jpg" />
<img border=0 src="http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00425697f00000004.jpg" />
All of the characters came around to see us and spent time with the children. I was officially told off by Mickey Mouse! I opened Toms autograph book at the next page while Mickey was signing Kates ..but Mickey quickly showed me that he wasnt to sign on the next page. He signs the front page!
We did have a real ball here and I wouldnt hesitate to return.
<img border=0 src="http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00425697f00000002.jpg" />
The photo lady was a bit curt when we didnt want them. She didnt give us grief just a sullen face! Maybe she turns into Tinkerbell at night <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif" />
We visited the resort shop looking really for a Chef Mickey t-shirt but they didnt have any so picked up some pressed pennies before taking the monorail back to the TTC then hopping on one to EPCOT.
World showcase was open and pretty quiet so we headed off there, bought two passports, and started the childrens mask in Canada.
The kid cot stops are interesting but do cause their own problems. Firstly, the passports are a great memento. Most of the countries will write a phrase on them in their language which does add to the experience, especially in China and Japan where they write so very differently to us. But, be warned, if your child is young and does the mask as well you may find you end up sorting the passport after country one!
The masks, I understand, were originally for use by the children in the parade Tapestry of dreams. Is this still on? We saw no reference at all to it while we were there. The children collect a white solid paper mask from their first country. Then, as they visit each other country, they can colour in a bit more and are given a motif to attach. One that is relevant to that country. In China the girl wrote Kate and Toms names and Chinese year of birth on their mask too (Ill probably find out one day they translate as a fried rice and the other crispy duck but it looks good at the moment!). As for their years of birth, Ive got a tiger and a rat no surprise there then.
The kid cot stops did get busy. By half way through we were waiting at each and the tables are not very big. EPCOT world showcase does tend to become a new event in itself How fast can we get around these countries to finish our mask. We did see some of the films and I had to insist at times on them calming down. Like watching the brilliant Chinese acrobats and checking out my favourite shops, but I wouldnt say its actually made EPCOT easy with children. For parents wanting to avoid the masks though Id think it pretty difficult. Most younger children were making them. If you intend to make a mask do take a rucksack bag to put it in, especially if it rains.
We saw the films on Canada and France (or as Tom called it..Canada, with castles!). We missed the UK film (didnt even see one) but Ill have to go back as part of our office estate is apparently on it. I bought a belly dancing kit for the girls at work in Morocco, and met Jasmine and Aladdin. Met Mulan in China, and Eeyore and Pooh in the UK.
We had a bit of time, and energy left after walking the world so we went to Imagination, which is one of my favourite parts of EPCOT, and then on into the Living Seas. I bought myself a Figment which I never did in 1993.
We were pretty tired at this point and the heavens had opened while we were in Living Seas. We were never going to make Illuminations so we left the park and dropped into Chilis at the childrens request on the way home.
We ordered an appetiser but it never arrived (so we had dessert instead). Molton chocolate chocolate chocolate domey chocolate thing. Cant remember the name but it was (to a chocolate lover) heaven! We ordered two to share between four but that was too much! Yet again, great value. Everything is so reasonable at the moment. $50 (inc tip)
We popped into the Premium Mall on the way back. Well, more precisely, just-up-the-road-out-of-our-way-back to buy some jeans for Andy (two pairs of Tommy jeans £30.89 (per the credit card statement) and some running gear for me (and we bought the kids some more bits too).
We had thunderstorms forecast overnight and a similar prediction for the next 24 hours. It was starting to look like our plan for tomorrow, Blizzard Beach, would need to be changed. We all agreed on Animal Kingdom, and packed the ponchos in the rucksack
<i>Weather. Hot, humid, cloudy and a rumbling sky. Rain showers at EPCOT. </i>
When we saw the forecast we were pleased to have a PS for Chef Mickeys breakfast. As we wouldnt be at EPCOT very early, the World showcase was our park scheduled for today.
We woke fairly early but with a PS of 10.15 didnt have to go too mad, so we made our way to the car park at EPCOT and took the monorail to TTC, then onto the Contemporary (via Polynesian and Grand Floridian). Not that you see much on the monorail but they do look super resorts. Even the Contemporary, which I always think looks like a multi storey car park, is actually fun when inside. The monorail was fairly quiet but there were people sitting up front all the time so I didnt get the opportunity to have Tom ride with the driver. (This time <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif" />)
We arrived a tad early for Chef Mickeys but signed in at the podium, had our picture taken which seemed to be automatic, and then were shown straight to a table. Goofy was also greeting those arriving and leaving but we were pretty hungry so waited until the end to meet him.
As we went to the table with our first plate of food Tom saw Pluto. He wasnt supposed to be there, so Toms favourite was so chuffed to get the surprise.
<img border=0 src="http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00425697f00000007.jpg" />
The characters were all about to go in for a rest break as we took to the table so we had a while to enjoy some breakfast before they came around to the tables again. I thought the food was really good. I was on the fruit, bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon, and Mickey pancakes, waffles and maple syrup. Tom demolished the fruit buffet as usual, Kate the pancakes, melon and hot buffet and Andy headed straight for the cooked.
<img border=0 src="http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00425697f00000009.jpg" />
Goofy came to see us just as the characters returned to the tables and the song Celebrate with Mickey started. Everyone, characters, servers, visitors twirled their serviettes in the air. It was one big party. Really, really good fun, and a completely different experience to the castle.
<img border=0 src="http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00425697f00000005.jpg" />
<img border=0 src="http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00425697f00000004.jpg" />
All of the characters came around to see us and spent time with the children. I was officially told off by Mickey Mouse! I opened Toms autograph book at the next page while Mickey was signing Kates ..but Mickey quickly showed me that he wasnt to sign on the next page. He signs the front page!
We did have a real ball here and I wouldnt hesitate to return.
<img border=0 src="http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00425697f00000002.jpg" />
The photo lady was a bit curt when we didnt want them. She didnt give us grief just a sullen face! Maybe she turns into Tinkerbell at night <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif" />
We visited the resort shop looking really for a Chef Mickey t-shirt but they didnt have any so picked up some pressed pennies before taking the monorail back to the TTC then hopping on one to EPCOT.
World showcase was open and pretty quiet so we headed off there, bought two passports, and started the childrens mask in Canada.
The kid cot stops are interesting but do cause their own problems. Firstly, the passports are a great memento. Most of the countries will write a phrase on them in their language which does add to the experience, especially in China and Japan where they write so very differently to us. But, be warned, if your child is young and does the mask as well you may find you end up sorting the passport after country one!
The masks, I understand, were originally for use by the children in the parade Tapestry of dreams. Is this still on? We saw no reference at all to it while we were there. The children collect a white solid paper mask from their first country. Then, as they visit each other country, they can colour in a bit more and are given a motif to attach. One that is relevant to that country. In China the girl wrote Kate and Toms names and Chinese year of birth on their mask too (Ill probably find out one day they translate as a fried rice and the other crispy duck but it looks good at the moment!). As for their years of birth, Ive got a tiger and a rat no surprise there then.
The kid cot stops did get busy. By half way through we were waiting at each and the tables are not very big. EPCOT world showcase does tend to become a new event in itself How fast can we get around these countries to finish our mask. We did see some of the films and I had to insist at times on them calming down. Like watching the brilliant Chinese acrobats and checking out my favourite shops, but I wouldnt say its actually made EPCOT easy with children. For parents wanting to avoid the masks though Id think it pretty difficult. Most younger children were making them. If you intend to make a mask do take a rucksack bag to put it in, especially if it rains.
We saw the films on Canada and France (or as Tom called it..Canada, with castles!). We missed the UK film (didnt even see one) but Ill have to go back as part of our office estate is apparently on it. I bought a belly dancing kit for the girls at work in Morocco, and met Jasmine and Aladdin. Met Mulan in China, and Eeyore and Pooh in the UK.
We had a bit of time, and energy left after walking the world so we went to Imagination, which is one of my favourite parts of EPCOT, and then on into the Living Seas. I bought myself a Figment which I never did in 1993.
We were pretty tired at this point and the heavens had opened while we were in Living Seas. We were never going to make Illuminations so we left the park and dropped into Chilis at the childrens request on the way home.
We ordered an appetiser but it never arrived (so we had dessert instead). Molton chocolate chocolate chocolate domey chocolate thing. Cant remember the name but it was (to a chocolate lover) heaven! We ordered two to share between four but that was too much! Yet again, great value. Everything is so reasonable at the moment. $50 (inc tip)
We popped into the Premium Mall on the way back. Well, more precisely, just-up-the-road-out-of-our-way-back to buy some jeans for Andy (two pairs of Tommy jeans £30.89 (per the credit card statement) and some running gear for me (and we bought the kids some more bits too).
We had thunderstorms forecast overnight and a similar prediction for the next 24 hours. It was starting to look like our plan for tomorrow, Blizzard Beach, would need to be changed. We all agreed on Animal Kingdom, and packed the ponchos in the rucksack
