Let's see what this family does flying solo - the POST trip report!

[podsnel]

Subbing and coming back later to read! I'm one of MEK's buddies...

 

[NessieBird]

What a great report! Your wife and I are kindred spirits when it comes to planning. Her use of lamination is genius and I'm jealous I've never thought to do it... And I'm totally with you on slow walkers! I dodge and weave and wonder how they get to see anything when they're trudging along at a snail's pace.
I do disagree with your assessment of including Iron Maiden, not because they're not sort of rad, but because my brother had Iron Maiden posters hanging in his room when I was a kid and Eddie frightened me to my core. I still get chills when I think of him.
Anyhow, keep up the good work! Can't wait to see what comes next.
PS--I was ROLLING at the pics of Minnie trying to eat Emily. Hilarious.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Snakes at the resort? We were told to watch for gators at CSR in 2001 when we stayed there!!!

I've seen frogs, snails, geckos, and a rabbit, but no snakes. Haven't seen the gator, but I know he's there.

 

[nilla]

Your pictures of the CSR are wonderful. Would you mind if I used some the next time I have to update the CSR thread?

I would love that! I'll try to get the full-sized versions on PhotoBucket for you, too, since these are all shrunk down about 80%.

I will be reading many, many TRs once I finish this one, starting with MEK's. I promise!

 

[nilla]

I've seen frogs, snails, geckos, and a rabbit, but no snakes. Haven't seen the gator, but I know he's there.

Saw a very small gator in the lake at Animal Kingdom two years ago while eating at Flame Tree. My FIL laughed at us for thinking it was a real gator and not theming; turned out it was real.

I've also seen mice, ducks, dogs, a fox, a rabbit, cows, bears, and a cricket in Magic Kingdom, but there were CMs nearby so I think they were supposed to be there.

 

[GoofyWife]

Just found your trip report from MEK's - have read first two pages and I love your writing style and sense of humor - looking forward to reading more!

 

[Angelhalo]

anxiously awaiting more! Love your trip report so far and especially loved the subtle nod to "UHF"! Love that movie!

 

[nilla]

... especially loved the subtle nod to "UHF"! Love that movie!

More updates tonight. Probably later tonight (as usual), but tonight nonetheless.

 

[MEK]

I will be reading many, many TRs once I finish this one, starting with MEK's. I promise!

I'm holding you to that Nilla!

 

[nilla]

Stitch and Mickey wake me up at 7:00 so we can get a jump on our fifth, and sadly, last day at Epcot. Yes, there are STILL a few things we have not done here. And a few things we want to do again. This is also the day my cousin, Jill, whom I have not seen in about 20 years, is going to try to come up from Lantana to meet us. I have no clue where Lantana is, aside from "in Florida", but from what I'm told, it's a few hours away. She has an early doctor appointment, then hopes to come up after that.

Oh, and today is also the day that this whole Trip Report falls apart when I realize that things I said we did on a previous day actually happened on this day, and that this whole, crazy adventure has been one big lie. Ok, maybe not one big lie, but a couple small ones. To preserve the illusion, I won't tell you what they are.

What? Oh, c'mon! This is a lot to remember! Cut me some slack. It's not like any of you have ever written a Trip Report or anything. What? You have? Many of them? And here I am with my 150 Disboards posts talking like I'm doing something difficult and monumental? MEK actually has more Trip Reports than actual trips, somehow, and I'm here pretending to be something special. What is wrong with me?

I don't know what's wrong with me, but I DO know what's wrong with this post - too much rambling and not enough Epcot! So let's just forget the first three paragraphs of this mess and get back to the story.

We arrive at Epcot at 9:15, and it's 10 points to whoever can guess what we did first. To help you out, I'll make it multiple choice:

1) We ride Spaceship Earth, then Park Hop to Magic Kingdom to ride Space Mountain, because it's "Space Day"
2) I complain to a manager that there's too much alcohol in this park
3) Kristin, Dylan, and Emily ride Test Track while I get Fast Passes for Soarin'
4) We rent a Rascal for me so we can get into attractions via the handicap entrance

If you answered 1 or 2, you really need to go back and read this TR from the start. Go ahead. We'll wait.


...


Caught up? Ok, good. After I return with FPs in hand, I get a call from Jill, who says the woman in front of her at the doctor decided to have her baby right then (how rude!), but she'll call us back later on to let us know what's up. I get to ride Test Track, and we get another family shot:

Notice Emily's hands. Nuts, I tell ya...nuts!

Due to light crowds, I only have to wait five more minutes to get FPs for Test Track, so it's a little after 10:00 and we've got FPs for the two biggest rides in this park. Awesome! Kristin and Dylan moved on over to Innoventions nex, so they can ride Sum of All Thrills again. This time, they did the jet, with 5 consecutive loops. In the meantime, I took Emily over to the Fairy Gardens to play.

We sat there for a while, and I overheard a guy telling his family that they can ride "Fast Track" anytime from then until 12:30, to which I chime in and let him know the "Fast Pass expiration secret". He didn't sound like he wanted to know. Some people just don't appreciate good help! Dylan and Kristin returned, and it was off to ride Spaceship Earth, where Dylan wanted to do the touch screen app in Spanish. He thought it was hilarious. Ok...

We did the Power City or whatever it's called game after the ride, then headed up to Club Cool. Kristin needs her some Beverly!

 

[nilla]

We hit Club Cool, and Dylan's sole mission is to get other people to try Beverly. A girl in her early twenties is standing near us, and Dyl is in full salesman mode.

"Dad, you know what the best one is? Beverly."

"Beverly is really good, right Dad?"

"I just love Beverly so much, don't you?"

She's not biting, though. I eventually tell her what's up, and she says to him, "I've been drinking Beverly since before you were born, so you're not going to trick me!" He just doesn't get that he needs to suck it up and drink some if he wants to bait people into up. Of course, if you're Kristin or Flightless Duck, there's no baiting necessary. Wackos!

After CC, it's off to the Land for lunch at Sunshine Seasons yet again. We went Asian today, with Kristin getting the Ginger Mongolian Beef (again), and me trying the Spicy Cashew Chicken. Both were delicious! Awesome counter service place. As if I need to tell anyone this, Epcot has THEE best restaurants in WDW. Not even a competition.

Afterwards, we rode Living La Vida Loca with the Land, and got a few pics along the way:

Afterwards, we hit Soarin', grabbing row B1 again. I think another family might've been waiting for it, too, but they ended up getting seated in A1, presumably because we're cooler than they are. You've read this Trip Report, so I'm sure you understand. Got a message from Jill while we were on Soarin', and her appointment ran late so she would not be able to meet us afterall. Bummer. Looks like it's truly "flying solo" for this family this year!

We headed up to World Showcase afterwards, stopping on the bridge so the kids could cool off.

Now, I don't know this next kid, and far be it from me to post a picture of someone else's baby without their consent, but this was just too darned funny to keep to myself. He was apparently really, really thirsty. Hopefully, my efforts to conceal his identity are sufficient.

We move on to Mexico next for a photo op.

It actually took a lot of convincing to get Emily to pose for this one, as she was in mild "Bad Emily" mode at this point. Kristin picked up a "deliciously strong" pineapple margarita. I grabbed some little "luchadors in a box" gifts for myself and my friend and potential future Amazing Race partner, Don, and then we went back outside. Hey, look - it's Donald Duck! And he's all Mexicanned up! Pictures!

PhotoPass, nonetheless! We are really getting our money's worth out of that. We can thank Kristin for her dilligence in hitting up each and every PhotoPass CM, even if they are lined up 10 deep on Main Street in MK. It doesn't matter - you can't have enough photos!

We stopped in China next, to let the kids play with the toys in the outside shop.

Kristin bought a fan inside, then we walked past the Africa non-pavilion, stopping for a drum solo.

The gimmicked soda coolers are funny. Never saw them before.

We continued on toward Germany, stopping by the Wishing Well where Snow White has been seen hanging out. It would be great to get another picture with her, so we need to find out when she's coming back. Now to find a Cast Member to ask...

 

[MEK]

Another great update Nilla! Sorry your cousin was a "no-show". Looks like the crowds are practically non-existent. I guess by your 5th day at Epcot you having the touring plan down-pat! Does this mean your TR is almost over?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

3) Kristin, Dylan, and Emily ride Test Track while I get Fast Passes for Soarin'

.
.
.

Due to light crowds, I only have to wait five more minutes to get FPs for Test Track

Your Soarin' window opened already by 10AM? Wow, that WAS a light crowd.

 

[nilla]

Your Soarin' window opened already by 10AM? Wow, that WAS a light crowd.

I got them at 9:20 and they had a return time of 9:55. Unreal.

 

[KatMark]

Sorry you didn't get to meet up with your cousin. I love the photopass photos with Donald.

 

[saraheeyore]

me again with another question
does u're wife make emilys dresses

 

[littlegoth]

Great thread - Thanks for this! Heading off to wdw in August for our honeymoon - we got married in April but I'm a student teacher so I was back at school 2 days later! So a long wait but it'll be worth it. Starting our honeymoon at Sonisphere UK watching Iron Maiden, Rammstein and Slayer, among others, home for a day then we'll be taking our brand new heavy metal T-shirts to Disney with us
I love the idea of laminating plans - I know what I'll be doing in my free periods next week

Not sure what Aurora will make of it ... She's my favourite so have to get a pic. You have also sold us on the idea of a photopass - they should start giving you commission

 

[nilla]

Starting our honeymoon at Sonisphere UK watching Iron Maiden, Rammstein and Slayer...

My god! I wish I were going to that. One of those festivals has Rise Against and Overkill on it, too. I couldn't even imagine how cool that would be!

 

[nilla]

me again with another question
does u're wife make emilys dresses

She made the "cherries" on from Day 10, and the Tink one you haven't seen yet (Day 11). The princess one from Day 6 was purchased on eBay last year. She really started sewing this year.

In fact, she was offering to sew dresses for all of our friends' kids, too, in the month leading up to our trip. She needed something to take her mind off the wait

 

[kristin t]

me again with another question
does u're wife make emilys dresses

Yes I do!! There will be a really cute Tinkerbell one in a few days!