Part 3 Tuesday 7/20, Exploring At Epcot (long, but with more pics)

[CamColt]

Just got back from a Magical trip to the World. Our Cast consists of Myself, the planner and Disney Commando, DH, doesnt care what we do, my Mother, who has come on a few trips with us now and always loves what I have planned, Cameron 7 and Colton 4. This was their 7th & 6th trips respectively so they have a good grasp of the place. I wont go into dining reviews here as I posted them on the Restaurant Board. I also went into more detail about the resorts on the Resort Board.

Tuesday
DH’s birthday was coming up on Saturday, but I had to give him his present, the Segway Tour, early because Tuesday was the only day it would fit into our schedule. We actually told him about it on Sunday at the airport when we had time to kill. I wanted him to have some notice so we could plan that morning ahead of time.

So since he had to leave before us all that day, he played the role of Mug Man and ran over to the Food Court to fill up my mug and pick up pastries to bring back to the room, while I got the kids ready and finished myself. He left early because he wanted to be sure he didn’t have a long wait for a bus to make the tour on time and he ended up getting on a bus right away. That had him arriving very early at 8:10, so he sat around and waited a while before checking in about 8:30 The tour consisted of 1 hour of inside training, and 1 hour of going around World Showcase. Once again, this was a rainy morning and they almost weren’t able to go outside on the tour. He said the tour guides sort of watched how the group was to see if they would goof off or take it slow, and they made them agree to take it slow before they actually did go outside. It started to rain more about 45 minutes into the outside portion of the tour so they just went straight through the last three countries, and probably cut the tour 5 minutes short. Had they not been able to go out at all they told him they would have refunded 1/2 the price of the tour. DH was in a group with a family of 9, older parents, and grown kids, and he said they were a fun group. He enjoyed the tour very much and was glad that he got to do it.

In the mean time after the rest of us ate, we were off to Epcot too. We arrived about 8:45(I guess DH could have come with us) and were let in the park up to Spaceship Earth, where we waited for the opening ceremony. While we waited a CM on a Segway kept us company with chit chat, and before we knew it, the characters came on the bus and opened the park.

Since my kids aren’t (or at least up until now they weren’t) big on thrill rides, we planned to hit Universe of Energy first…the one ride we missed on our last trip due to technical difficulties. While walking over, a CM yelled out “Universe of Energy, no wait” and we continued on our way. While I was parking the carriage I noticed there was no one around and a CM was putting up a rope, behind us. The reason for no wait was there was a delayed opening. So we packed up the carriage, turned around, and went under the rope to get back out.

We wanted to get Colton on Test Track this year because he hadn’t been tall enough in the past and was upset when Cam and his friend went last year. I was going to wait for DH to be there, but we saw there was no line yet and we went for it. Even with Cam saying how he didn’t like TT, Colt still went on. This was his first thrill ride…I was so excited! We had about a 5 minute wait. Colt smiled and laughed the whole time on the ride, then he got off and said he hated it, LOL! Nothing like trying to be like his brother.

By now it was 9:45 and I grabbed Fast Passes for DH & I for Mission Space. We wanted to try this and wanted to be together for our first ride on it, but with him being gone for 2 hours, I had to plan the return time of the FPs just right…plus I wanted it before lunch, just in case. The return times were earlier than I thought they would be when I checked before(before TT), but it was late enough now, 10:20-11:20 so I got them.

We tried Universe of Energy again and this time it was open. This is always such a nice “break” ride. It’s very cool and relaxing, plus the kids love the dinosaurs.

I knew DH would be calling us soon to meet up, and we needed a bathroom break, so we ducked in from the rain at the Electric Umbrella and used the restrooms. It was there we found the talking trash can. The kids got the biggest kick out of that. DH called and we had a few minutes left to make it to MS for our FP time so I told him to meet us there and we were on our way.

I was a little nervous about this ride. I don’t usually get sick on rides and I love thrill rides, but I’ve heard so much about this one, I was worried. Not only was I worried about myself, but about someone else getting sick in the capsule with us, but I HAD to do it. When we got in the capsule I was on the end with the “bags” in front of me. I grabbed one just in case. There was another couple in our capsule and the girl saw me take it and asked DH to pass her one. We then joked about it saying it’s a good souvenier. Well, thank goodness she asked DH for a bag…my worst fear came true. Midway through the ride I started hearing hacking, she was sick. OMG, I just wanted to get out of there so fast and when the ride was over I ran. But, despite that incident the ride was really cool. I still prefer TOT or RNR for the thrill factor, but Mission Space is a fun one too.

We then hit Innoventions East & West. We played around a bit, sent the picture emails home, and the kids always love making the paper. That’s a highlight of their trip.

By now we were hungry so we cut it short there and walked over to the Boardwalk for lunch at ESPN. This is one of our must dos and it did not disappoint this time. We had to make a stop in the gift shop too, before heading back to Epcot.

It was now close to 2:00 and we went right to the Land Pavillion. On our last trip the kids made cookies here and they wanted to do it again. The next time for that was 2:30 so we just hung out there and got some water while we waited. I also noticed the return time for FPs for Living with the Land was 3:00-4:00. Knowing the kids would be done with cookies by then, I grabbed some. The kids had a ball making the cookies, which made a nice afternoon snack. Living with the Land was something we hadn’t done in years so it was nice to see that again and for the kids to see it. I loved how they have the watermelons growing in the shape of Mickey heads. Of course the kids were very sad that Food Rocks is gone, but we got over it.

After that we went to the Living Seas, just to check out the fish for a while and then to Journey Into Your Imagination. Colt didn’t want to go on this at first because he remembered it as the “stinky ride” from before. I had totally forgotten about the skunk smell, but he didn’t. We got him on and he was fine.

It was now 4:45 and we headed to World Showcase for the kids to make masks. We started by grabbing a FP for Maelstrom then we went back to Mexico for the masks. After hitting both those countries, it was our FP time so we rode Maelstrom, another cute little ride. We then continued around WS basically just getting the masks done at each country, nothing too in depth. We did have to make a stop in America for Funnel Cakes though. We timed this just right to watch the drummers in Japan while we took a break.

While exiting the park we grabbed a couple ice creams and we were shocked to realize it was 7:00pm! We had been going for over 10 hours. I never thought the kids would last that long without a pool break but they did very well. We returned to ASSP, where I did some laundry & packing up before joining the others at the pool. As expected we all crashed that night too, to get ready for our early move tomorrow .

DH on the Segway Tour

The kids making paper at Innoventions

Cookie baking at the Land

This was waiting in our room when we returned

And in DM's room

 

[Minniespal]

Great report ~ Thanx for sharing.

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

That poor kid getting sick on MS. I always grab a bag too (just in case), but have never had to use it. Must make the ride seem like an eternity when you are sick.

 

[CamColt]

It wasnt a kid, she was an adult, LOL!
And you are right, it must seem neverending when you are like that. I was thinking the warnings you get over and over probably make a lot of people sick because they are too worried about it by then.

 

[Hawkeye314]

Great Report.

Just an FYI for your next trip, though. I believe you were too worried about timing the return part of your FastPass tickets. Once you get them (FP), they are good for the rest of the day. You just can't get anymore until your return time.

 

[CamColt]

Thanks for the advice. Ive actually heard both ways but I wasnt willing to take that chance, especially on a ride that I definitely wanted to do because I hadnt before. In general we werent woried at all about our timing of FPs, just wanted to do the rides asap, but MS was one that I wanted to get in and be sure DH ws there for.