Chapter 5 – Saturday, 3/24 – World Showcase, Grown-up Style
Ah…the yummy, yummy nap. At this very moment, I’m in the midst of what looks to be a blizzard and I’m wishing a nap was on my agenda for today.
We woke up around 4:30 and the girls wanted to be on their own. Away from the uncool ‘rents. Do kids still say ‘rents? Probably not if it’s part of my vocabulary. They wanted to go the MK which had evening EMH.
Me: Wow, the MK sounds like fun. Why don’t we go, too, Alex?
Cait: Mom, can’t you find somewhere ELSE to go?
Me: Sheesh, it’s a big park. You probably won’t even see us.
Cait: Oh, I’ll see you.
Alex and I got to talking and I realized that there was no alcohol at the MK. I’m not a big drinker but I am fond of a drink in the evening when I’m on vacation. And a frozen margarita sounded like just the ticket. We could also do some more World Showcase touring.
And, lo, it was decided that the girls would go to the MK and Alex and I would go to Epcot.
The girls took off around 5:00 and Alex and I soon followed. I was still getting tired easily and it will take a lot out of you to walk around the world in just one evening so we took the boat.
It was a beautiful night but a bit windy so I wore jeans and took a jacket but still had my banned books t-shirt on. We made it in through the International Gateway and strolled through the U.K. We debated a bit about whether to have fish and chips for my British husband or go to Mexico because both of us love Mexican food. We both lived in New Mexico for a long time and we tend to be picky about our Mexican food. The Mexico pavilion does not give you a choice between red and green but is still better than the Mexican food in Michigan AND they have frozen margaritas which makes everything a little better. I may have whined but I was with Alex so he let me win.
Just past Canada, we heard La Vie en Rose again. And we weren’t even in France. It seemed like every time we walked this stretch of sidewalk, we heard La Vie en Rose again. Good thing I love that song.
(OKAY, MM, here’s your big debut, my friend!) I did have one little mission before dinner. This would be easy. My pal and yours, MickeysMommy, had asked me if I could pick up something for her on my trip. A Mickey travel coffee mug—no, wait, a crackle blue finish Mickey freezer mug. They had them at both of those little stores as you enter the WS. Easy peasey. We entered the first one with me trying to explain what the heck we were looking for to Alex. He tried to help, bless his heart. He’d pick up any glass he saw. Nope, not a shot glass, honey. Nope, not a coffee mug. This is a glass that goes in the freezer. We checked it out and couldn’t find it anywhere so we tried the second store. Nope, nothing here either. This was going to be more difficult than I’d thought. I’ll save some time here—Alex, Caitlin, Jenn, and I looked at just about every store in WDW. We checked the World of Disney at DTD. We checked the Emporium at the MK. We checked Mouse Gears. I even checked the
Disney Store at the airport before we left. Freezer mugs were just nowhere to be found. You’d have thought with summer coming on this would be a marketing bonanza for Disney. It was a mission for all of us and we failed. Miserably. So, I went back to poor MM’s original request for a travel coffee mug and that’s what she got instead. Or she will eventually, whenever I can get to the post office.
Oh, well, I thought, I’ll just look around for one later. Silly me. As we left the store, two gentlemen stopped to ask me about my shirt. I explained it quickly and we continued on to the Cantina in Mexico. I got my frozen margarita and some tacos al carbon (chicken tacos with black beans) which was really good. Alex got a burrito. We found a table by the lagoon and sat chatting and people watching. As I was wolfing down my food—I have a tendency to wait until I’m too hungry and then I just scarf it down—a bird landed on the railing next to me. Alex burst out laughing when I turned to the bird and gave him my stern look. This is the same look I give our dog when she gets too close to me or others while we’re eating. Apparently, it works as well with birds as it does with Sunny because the bird nervously hopped a bit further away from me down the railing.
We decided to get up and walk off some dinner before I went back to sleep again. As we passed Norway, Alex got very excited. “Norway is here? I never knew Norway was here!” That’s because we’ve always run past it at warp speed on our way to the Biergarten.
Alex is very interested in Vikings and such. He spent a big chunk of his childhood in Yorkshire and is convinced that he’s descended from Vikings.
Here he is all happy by one of his ancestor’s boats:
Right about that time, Caitlin called.
Cait: Mom, we’re at Buzz Lightyear. How do I get to Cosmic Ray’s?
Me: Well, I’m not sure. It’s been a year since I was at the MK and since I wasn’t allowed to go back tonight, I’d just have to TRY to remember and I’m kind of old. My memory isn’t the best, you know.
Cait: Come on, Mom, just tell me.
So, I did. In the hopes they’d have something besides cotton candy for dinner.
We checked out the church and the stores and we were debating about Maelstrom. I mean, I’d read Kay’s trip report before I left. Even though there was a line, I didn’t dare get a fast pass. I mean, Fast Pass, My Axe. I’d never hear the end of it when I got back. Alex was really excited about trying it, though, so we got into the deceptively empty line. Deceptive because it looked empty until you turned the corner and saw a sea of people waiting to sail with the Vikings. We were committed now, though, so we carried on. Not in a Viking manner, though, because that would have meant knocking everyone down to get on the next boat. All Alex's childhood training in England means he is a world champion at standing in a queue.
As we approached the boats, the Norwegian lad who was letting people onto the boats asked how many were in my party. Which is not unusual but he was staring at my chest. Or rather, my t-shirt. I’m not used to men not looking me in the face and I just wanted to say, “Hey, buster, look at my eyes!” Alex got a good laugh out of that one. It's kind of a shock for us non-well-endowed girls.
We sailed forward and backward with the Vikings. It was cute. No fast pass, that’s for sure. I was glad we’d done it, though, it made Alex so happy.
I wanted to see the movie in China so we headed thataway. As we arrived, the acrobats were just wrapping up so it was a little crazy trying to get back inside the pavilion. Some people were complaining that the counter service there was closed. As we went through the display, we saw these:
I’ve watched a bunch of specials on the terracotta soldiers so I found this very interesting. Yeah, we’re History Channels nerds.
I also loved the waiting area for the China movie. The little benches to sit on are so much more civilized than crowding around the door like in other countries that will be nameless. Okay, France. And Canada.
They had two little Chinese-American girls introduce the show. They were adorable. The movie was beautiful. And not crowded which was a nice change.
After the movie, I was hungry again. Big surprise. I talked Alex into getting some crepes in France. There was a huge line and I was surprised that 80% of the people in line were getting ice cream. Ice cream? When crepes with chocolate and strawberry preserves is the other option? Deux crepes, s’il vous plait. And they were GOOD. We found a bench and devoured them. Luckily, our bench was under a tree because it started sprinkling. Just a bit. But enough that I wouldn’t have wanted it falling in my crepes. It stopped just as we finished.
After we ate, I was honestly ready to go back to the room even though it was only 15 minutes to Illuminations. Alex told me it would be silly to leave so close to the fireworks time and I knew I’d regret it if we didn’t stay. We leaned against a tall wall just before the bridge to the UK. I knew it wasn’t the best view but we were the only people there and the ledge was tall enough that I could lean against it and rest my head and arms on top and doze. It was a beautiful evening and Alex woke me up for the fireworks. Here are a few pictures:
I love Illuminations. But I love watching it from a balcony at the Dolphin even more. Curse our latticed window.
After Illuminations, we headed out of the park with 7 zillion of our closest friends. Luckily, most of them were headed for the main entrance. I’ll never figure out why so many people complain about the International Gateway. It makes it so easy to go home from Epcot—I love it.
I was too tired to walk and the line for the boat wasn’t long so we opted for that. I called the girls to see what they were doing and Cait was very cranky. Apparently, as they were trying to leave after Wishes, some guy with a stroller kept hitting her in the legs. She finally had turned around and told him, “Sir, I can’t go any faster than the thousands of people in front of me. Could you please quit hitting me with the stroller?” I guess he backed off then. She was also annoyed with the lines for the bus.
As I was listening to her rant, a lady came up behind me and asked if I’d mind untucking my shirt so she could read the rest of it. After she was done, she told me, “That shirt is AWESOME.” See? Conversation starter.
By the time the boat arrived, there was quite a line behind us. They got them all on the boat, though. Luckily, we were close enough to the front to snag seats. Because I sure don’t think I could have stood for the duration.
I dragged myself back up to the room and crawled into bed. I called the girls at about 10:15 and asked where they were. Caitlin said, “Quit calling me so much. I’m standing right outside the door.”
We were all exhausted (even the girls) and we all crawled into our Heavenly beds and crashed immediately.
Items crossed off my to-do list today:
Movie in China
Maelstrom
) the first time he saw the front and didn't know there was a back (which says, "I read banned books").
Although I enjoy them at home on the weekends, as well.
now for me, I just found out on Monday night that my mom is in the hospital with a blood clot in her lung!!!!!
What the heck? Now I am hoping she is well and at home before we leave.
I could use one of those vacation naps right about now!
this week. So thanks for making me laugh!
I am quite certain you haven't forgotten about my enormous Alex crush. 
I am happy that you have been excited for us! Someone had to carry that torch for us the past few days
friend Rhonda you talked about earlier, but I am also 43 (gasp). My girls are younger, one about to be twelve (thinking she's going to be 18) and the other 8 and a stuck to my butt kind of girl.
to you and your family!!!
I'm so glad you're enjoying it! And thanks so much for replying. I love hearing from readers!
