Lisash
Knows all the words to 'It's
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2005
- Messages
- 1,994
Cast Members
Me: Finally beginning to relax
DH: Excited about riding Soarin again
DD: No shopping for 2 days so breaking out in a rash
DS: On a Blue Powerade Day
Monday 26th December
Don't know whether it was the time difference or whether I was still wound up about the previous day but I was wide awake from 4.30am. We were all up showered and ready to go by 7.30am DH wanted to call the local Virgin service centre as soon as it opened at 8am so we hung aroung the hotel and grabbed some hot chocolate and cinnamon buns from the Starbucks in the Hotel lobby for breakfast. He got through to Virgin immediately, who called the hotel and straightened everything out so we could finally relax properly.
We were quite wary going out as while we were in the lobby we had seen people wearing varying degrees of clothing. From shorts and vests to scarves, gloves and hats! As it was the required amount probably fell somewhere in the middle. It was a crisp, chilly morning but we were fine in jeans, t-shirts and a lightweight fleece.
We arrived at Epcot at around 8.30 and were pleased to find the crowds at that time quite light. We headed straight for Soarin with the intention of just getting a FP for later but as queue time was only 10 minutes we queued and got FP for later as well. Bit disappointed that we ended up on middle row as the feet do spoil it a bit but enjoyed it a much as ever.
We then headed across to DS's favourite Mission Space, again queue time was only 5 minutes so was soon on (probably as well because I really hate this any longer and I would have probably changed my mind) as it was it didn't seem as bad as I remembered, but that's probably only because my breakfast had gone down. Then it was across to Test Track (quite a different experience that outside bit when it's chilly) which is a big family favourite.
By this time it was getting more crowded and queues had begun to build up so we decided to give Universe of Energy a miss and headed back over to the Land where we grabbed a quick coffee & pastry (you will see a theme developing here) before our FP to Soarin. We got row 1 the second time so were really pleased.
DS wanted to do Honey I've Shrunk The Audience so decided we'd join the 40 minute queue. I got really annoyed that they were letting large parties accompany wheelchairs & PCV's in ahead of everyone else (a party of 9 went in while we were waiting). I will gladly let genuine people go ahead of me every time but over the holiday it became clear some people were abusing the system. We saw people swapping over into wheelchairs to get onto rides on a number of occasions over this trip. Then we got straight onto 'Journey' with Figment (wish they'd change that skunk smell for something nicer)
Then we decided to get away from the crowds and move on to World Showcase where we started with Canada where we saw Papa Noel. How strange is it seeing Father Christmas and hearing Christmas songs when it's warm and sunny. I always have to go to the UK to laugh at how much they're charging for a packet of chocolate hob-nobs ($5) and DH was pleased to find they had printed football scores off internet and posted them for guests to look at.
DD & I tested a few perfumes in France and she tried out her best French on a rather attractive shop assistant. Then we sat in the sun for a while and watched the guy with the chairs (are him & the guy he gets from the crowd brothers because we think they look alike) DH surprised us with lunch reservations so it was 'croque monsieur' et pommes frites all round.
We flew through Morocco & Japan mainly because DS knew he was approaching America and his favourite thing in Epcot Funnel Cake (told you there was a theme). America had a beautiful tree trimmed mainly in red. There was already a sizeable queue for the Candlelight Processional which we decided to pop back and catch later.
We managed to catch the storytellers in Italy and Germany both of who were charming. DH was pleased to catch the acrobats in China a show he always enjoys. Then after a quick stop at Norway it was off to Mexico (my absolute favourite) where I took even more video to watch on cold Winter evenings at home.
We caught the boat back across the lagoon to catch some of the candlelight processional. It had already started when we got there so we just stood at the back and watched. Then we took a leisurely stroll back to Future World where we ended the day with a ride on Spaceship Earth (which for a change didn't stop once)
We went back to International Drive for dinner at the Olive Garden. I had chicken in a marsala sauce with garlic mash the rest of the family had spaghetti & meatballs. Then made a quick stop at Walgreens for some essentials (Twizzlers, Twinkies, Tootsie Rolls etc) and off back to the hotel to test up for ...... Islands of Adventure
Me: Finally beginning to relax
DH: Excited about riding Soarin again
DD: No shopping for 2 days so breaking out in a rash
DS: On a Blue Powerade Day
Monday 26th December
Don't know whether it was the time difference or whether I was still wound up about the previous day but I was wide awake from 4.30am. We were all up showered and ready to go by 7.30am DH wanted to call the local Virgin service centre as soon as it opened at 8am so we hung aroung the hotel and grabbed some hot chocolate and cinnamon buns from the Starbucks in the Hotel lobby for breakfast. He got through to Virgin immediately, who called the hotel and straightened everything out so we could finally relax properly.
We were quite wary going out as while we were in the lobby we had seen people wearing varying degrees of clothing. From shorts and vests to scarves, gloves and hats! As it was the required amount probably fell somewhere in the middle. It was a crisp, chilly morning but we were fine in jeans, t-shirts and a lightweight fleece.
We arrived at Epcot at around 8.30 and were pleased to find the crowds at that time quite light. We headed straight for Soarin with the intention of just getting a FP for later but as queue time was only 10 minutes we queued and got FP for later as well. Bit disappointed that we ended up on middle row as the feet do spoil it a bit but enjoyed it a much as ever.
We then headed across to DS's favourite Mission Space, again queue time was only 5 minutes so was soon on (probably as well because I really hate this any longer and I would have probably changed my mind) as it was it didn't seem as bad as I remembered, but that's probably only because my breakfast had gone down. Then it was across to Test Track (quite a different experience that outside bit when it's chilly) which is a big family favourite.
By this time it was getting more crowded and queues had begun to build up so we decided to give Universe of Energy a miss and headed back over to the Land where we grabbed a quick coffee & pastry (you will see a theme developing here) before our FP to Soarin. We got row 1 the second time so were really pleased.
DS wanted to do Honey I've Shrunk The Audience so decided we'd join the 40 minute queue. I got really annoyed that they were letting large parties accompany wheelchairs & PCV's in ahead of everyone else (a party of 9 went in while we were waiting). I will gladly let genuine people go ahead of me every time but over the holiday it became clear some people were abusing the system. We saw people swapping over into wheelchairs to get onto rides on a number of occasions over this trip. Then we got straight onto 'Journey' with Figment (wish they'd change that skunk smell for something nicer)
Then we decided to get away from the crowds and move on to World Showcase where we started with Canada where we saw Papa Noel. How strange is it seeing Father Christmas and hearing Christmas songs when it's warm and sunny. I always have to go to the UK to laugh at how much they're charging for a packet of chocolate hob-nobs ($5) and DH was pleased to find they had printed football scores off internet and posted them for guests to look at.
DD & I tested a few perfumes in France and she tried out her best French on a rather attractive shop assistant. Then we sat in the sun for a while and watched the guy with the chairs (are him & the guy he gets from the crowd brothers because we think they look alike) DH surprised us with lunch reservations so it was 'croque monsieur' et pommes frites all round.
We flew through Morocco & Japan mainly because DS knew he was approaching America and his favourite thing in Epcot Funnel Cake (told you there was a theme). America had a beautiful tree trimmed mainly in red. There was already a sizeable queue for the Candlelight Processional which we decided to pop back and catch later.
We managed to catch the storytellers in Italy and Germany both of who were charming. DH was pleased to catch the acrobats in China a show he always enjoys. Then after a quick stop at Norway it was off to Mexico (my absolute favourite) where I took even more video to watch on cold Winter evenings at home.
We caught the boat back across the lagoon to catch some of the candlelight processional. It had already started when we got there so we just stood at the back and watched. Then we took a leisurely stroll back to Future World where we ended the day with a ride on Spaceship Earth (which for a change didn't stop once)
We went back to International Drive for dinner at the Olive Garden. I had chicken in a marsala sauce with garlic mash the rest of the family had spaghetti & meatballs. Then made a quick stop at Walgreens for some essentials (Twizzlers, Twinkies, Tootsie Rolls etc) and off back to the hotel to test up for ...... Islands of Adventure
)))).
