13 May 2001: Our First Disney Day and it was all about EPCOT
Trip information: Me?Sandy (38); My Husband?Tim (50), My nephew?Michael (8). This is my second trip (1991 and 1996), Tim?s second trip (1982 and 1991) and Michael?s first trip.
I can?t believe that it is our first real day at Disney World. I was so excited that I really couldn?t sleep last night, which meant that my poor husband didn?t get much sleep either. My nephew slept like a baby, but he was the first one up at 7:00 the next morning.
We spent our first morning having breakfast at the Concierge lounge on the 5th floor. We had a wonderful selection of cereals, pastries, fruit, bagels, and Krispy Kreme donuts. For those of you in other parts of the country, Krispy Kreme?s are probably not a big deal, but we only have one in my area and there are often long, long, long lines to get donuts. So this was a treat. It was the favorite selection of Michael.
The lounge was very crowded as there was a convention going on, but the food just kept coming. There is enough variety to keep us going all week.
We ate quickly and headed to EPCOT around 10:00. We arrived after a short walk from our hotel through the international gateway. We were just amazed at the beautiful flower arrangements, topiaries, and water art throughout the park. Michael was in no hurry to get to the rides. He just wanted to take pictures of the flowers, sculptures, and of Spaceship Earth. We had to literally drag him to Test Track and then once we rode it had to drag him away.
Mid-May is a great time to go because we only waited 15 minutes in line for Test Track. It was fun and fast and definitely the most favorite ride of the 8-year-old Michael. After Test Track, we went to Spaceship Earth and rode in two times in a row because Michael was so amazed at the story, the animatronics figures, and the ball. We went directly after Test Track to the Wonders of Life Pavilion and immediately onto Body Wars (no wait), saw Cranium Command, played on the bikes and with the sensory play area?we did all that in only 2 hrs. Had a great lunch at the Wonders of Life Pavilion and then went back to the attractions.
We saw the Universe of Energy and my husband and I really enjoyed the new story. It had changed since we were last there, keeping the moving theatre and the dinos, but updating it. Michael really enjoyed the ride and although he wanted to go on it again, we were off to Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Again, no wait?. This is my favorite 3D movie at Disney World and it was a hit with the guys.
By now, it was early afternoon and we were tired. We made our way back to the hotel with a pit stop in Canada and the UK. We had a nice swim and a nap and almost missed our PS at the Rose and Crown because we were having such a good time.
We literally had to run out of the pool, upstairs, and change. No time for a shower or anything. My poor Tim had to go ahead to hold the reservations, while I got the now very tired 8 years old dressed and moving. We made it to the reservations 15 minutes late and were seated at 7:00 p.m.
We scheduled the Rose and Crown because we wanted to see Illuminations from the patio, but knew our PS was too early. But we had a great host and server who said just take your time, enjoy the meal and you can stay for the show. We had a traditional English feast: Fish and Chips for me; Bangers and Mash for my hubby; and the Mickey Mouse Mac n Cheese for Michael. We also had a wonderful dessert and one of the most memorable evenings watching Illuminations while eating at chocolate Spaceship Earth and drinking hot coffee. Nothing could have been more magical for our first day.
We ended the day at our hotel, getting cordials at the Concierge lounge before retiring to our room to write up the day?s events and plan for tomorrow which was EE day at EPCOT and our time to ride Test Track again.
Trip information: Me?Sandy (38); My Husband?Tim (50), My nephew?Michael (8). This is my second trip (1991 and 1996), Tim?s second trip (1982 and 1991) and Michael?s first trip.
I can?t believe that it is our first real day at Disney World. I was so excited that I really couldn?t sleep last night, which meant that my poor husband didn?t get much sleep either. My nephew slept like a baby, but he was the first one up at 7:00 the next morning.
We spent our first morning having breakfast at the Concierge lounge on the 5th floor. We had a wonderful selection of cereals, pastries, fruit, bagels, and Krispy Kreme donuts. For those of you in other parts of the country, Krispy Kreme?s are probably not a big deal, but we only have one in my area and there are often long, long, long lines to get donuts. So this was a treat. It was the favorite selection of Michael.
The lounge was very crowded as there was a convention going on, but the food just kept coming. There is enough variety to keep us going all week.
We ate quickly and headed to EPCOT around 10:00. We arrived after a short walk from our hotel through the international gateway. We were just amazed at the beautiful flower arrangements, topiaries, and water art throughout the park. Michael was in no hurry to get to the rides. He just wanted to take pictures of the flowers, sculptures, and of Spaceship Earth. We had to literally drag him to Test Track and then once we rode it had to drag him away.
Mid-May is a great time to go because we only waited 15 minutes in line for Test Track. It was fun and fast and definitely the most favorite ride of the 8-year-old Michael. After Test Track, we went to Spaceship Earth and rode in two times in a row because Michael was so amazed at the story, the animatronics figures, and the ball. We went directly after Test Track to the Wonders of Life Pavilion and immediately onto Body Wars (no wait), saw Cranium Command, played on the bikes and with the sensory play area?we did all that in only 2 hrs. Had a great lunch at the Wonders of Life Pavilion and then went back to the attractions.
We saw the Universe of Energy and my husband and I really enjoyed the new story. It had changed since we were last there, keeping the moving theatre and the dinos, but updating it. Michael really enjoyed the ride and although he wanted to go on it again, we were off to Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Again, no wait?. This is my favorite 3D movie at Disney World and it was a hit with the guys.
By now, it was early afternoon and we were tired. We made our way back to the hotel with a pit stop in Canada and the UK. We had a nice swim and a nap and almost missed our PS at the Rose and Crown because we were having such a good time.
We literally had to run out of the pool, upstairs, and change. No time for a shower or anything. My poor Tim had to go ahead to hold the reservations, while I got the now very tired 8 years old dressed and moving. We made it to the reservations 15 minutes late and were seated at 7:00 p.m.
We scheduled the Rose and Crown because we wanted to see Illuminations from the patio, but knew our PS was too early. But we had a great host and server who said just take your time, enjoy the meal and you can stay for the show. We had a traditional English feast: Fish and Chips for me; Bangers and Mash for my hubby; and the Mickey Mouse Mac n Cheese for Michael. We also had a wonderful dessert and one of the most memorable evenings watching Illuminations while eating at chocolate Spaceship Earth and drinking hot coffee. Nothing could have been more magical for our first day.
We ended the day at our hotel, getting cordials at the Concierge lounge before retiring to our room to write up the day?s events and plan for tomorrow which was EE day at EPCOT and our time to ride Test Track again.
