Amy and Sher and my other faithful readers....sorry for the delay and thanks for not forgetting me....
Ending our Trip to The World at The World
Following the leader, the leader, the leader
We’re following the leader whever (s)he may go
We won’t be home till morning, till morning
We won’t be home till morning
Because (s)he told us so
(Following the Leader – Peter Pan)
Dear readers, we have finally arrived at our last full day at the world.
The morning began bright and early with….
AD stressing about leaving and the ride home. “When should we leave, when will the car get packed, what time will that get us home, etc., etc. etc.”
Chill, bud!
Have a smoke and a pancake! (Austin Powers
)
No pancakes, just leftover “whatever-is-in-the-fridge-because-we-are-leaving-tomorrow” for breakfast.
And it’s EHM at Magic Kingdom…..so move it people!
When will they learn to: “Follow the Leader”......Julie McCoy, Jr!
We are getting really great at negotiating these signs:
So, we arrive at MK way before the opening. With a prime parking spot, steps from the T&TC! For those who do have a car, use it. You don’t pay for parking if you stay onsite. Most onsite guests now take Disney transportation so you can score some great parking spots. And most often it is much faster than taking the bus. But only if you plan on renting a car for other reasons or you drive your own. It’s not worth it to rent just to get to the parks each morning. Unless you have strollers…
Our plan for the day was to do the Triple Mountains. For DS. He was too short to ride any of the mountains last trip.
We did Space first. DS was an old pro having rode it earlier in the week. AD was going to re-live his childhood by riding Space for the first time in many years. He was very concerned about the seating, since he remembered how it was in the 70’s. Suffice it to say that in those days if the person in front of you got jolted back suddenly, and if you were male, you could get hurt!
In a way that a female wouldn’t understand!
I reassured him that Disney has changed the seating to a much more “politically correct” way.
Many Whoo-hooings were heard upon disembarking!
We hung around Tomorrowland riding our favourties, then it was off to Adventureland for more mountains.
The only lands that are opened during EMH are Space and Fantasy. I knew this because I checked. Learned my lesson well!!
We arrived at the rope drop about 10 minutes early, to a very humorous CM who entertained us until it was time.
Well, most of us.
AD was on the phone. Talking work.
This entertained me. Because of all the people who were scowling at him. I could read their minds…..you all know what they were saying!!
I find this funny. And entertaining. I love to watch people. When their looks of anger/sympathy/disgust came my way, I just smiled. I think this bugged them more than AD on the cell!!
The rope dropped. The phone shut off. And off we went.
My job was to get FP’s for Splash while AD and the kids went to ride GTM. When they returned SM was still a walk on, so we kept our FP’s and rode.
How do you do? With everyone repeating,
Pretty good sure as yer born.
Whoo-Hooty…..DS completed the Triple Mountains!
I wanted to ride Pirates again because I didn’t get a good look at Captain Jack the first time, and this is my ride.
Mad TR photo skillz……they are contagious!
We then passed by an old favourite – the Shooting Gallery! This is one of those exhibits that you wonder why they still continue to operate. Well, we like this one. I remember it during my childhood and now my children enjoy it…..thank goodness for the stash of pressed penny quarters!
I hope Michael Moore isn’t reading…..agh a Canadian with a gun!
Next we took in a bit of nostalgia – The Hall of Presidents. Again, this one I fondly remember from my first visit. Animatronics was so new and cool back in the 70’s and seeing the Presidents together in one room in their period clothing really amazed me. I always wondered (aka; Toy Story) if the presidents come alive when everyone is gone….boy would that be interesting!
As usual, the kids were bored to tears in the pre-film, but somewhat fascinated with the actual presidents.
And the crowd. The guests got a little riled!
There was a group of Clinton supporters who cheered very loudly when he was introduced. Mixed reactions from the crowd over Nixon, Bush Sr. and Reagan.
And it definitely got into a blue state vs. red state thing when the current President was introduced!
I just love American politics!. People are so passionate and it’s quite refreshing! Coming from the political snoozefest that is Canada, I’m impressed by these reactions. Good or bad!
After HofP, the AD brought us another piece of Americana, Funnel Cake!!!
Plus we had about 13 snack credits left, and we had to use those babies up!
Then it was on to another repeat….the number one nostalgia ride….IASW:
Sing along with me now….
it's a world of laughter, a world or tears
its a world of hopes, its a world of fear
theres so much that we share
that its time we're aware
its a small world after all
Sorry!! Hee-hee!
It was getting on lunch time, so we decided to try “the best counter service restaurant at MK” – Cosmic Ray’s. And it was!
Great selection and since we also had many CS credits left, we purchased a meal each, with dessert!
After only eating half of what we got and with many unopened deserts on the table, I decided to “brownie it forward” by looking around for a family who obviously were not on the
DDP (and you can pick them out by how little is on their tray!) and passed them on!
We decided at that point that we were done with the MK for the trip and took a nice stroll by the castle,
We said good-bye to Main Street and rode on the Monorail back to the TTC.
AD’s, "we gotta get packing, pack the car, when do we leave"…..stress level was raising by the minute, so we decided to take a little break and get that unpleasantness out of the way.
Plus, I had 14 more loads of laundry to finish.
I know what you are thinking…..laundry on vacation?
Yes, we are those people who actually use the washer and dryer when it is available to us. And AD likes to go home with clean clothes. Remember the “bed bug” thread??? Say no more!
We also took the kids to the OKW Sandbucket pool. No barfing clowns at this resort. A nice slide through Mickey’s head!
Late afternoon we planned to go back to Epcot to do “The World” We didn’t get to visit very many countries earlier in the week, and “doing the World” is one of DD’s favourite things. She had to commando the Kidcot Stations and get a stamp from every country, and a birthday wish. She decided it was going to be her birthday for one more day!
When we arrived at Epcot, as it does every afternoon in July……the skies opened!!!
So, we ducked into the character area and got some really nice photo’s. This was momentous because earlier in the week DS announced he was too old for the characters and wasn’t interested in visiting any, let alone pose for pictures with them.
And Chuck and Dave…..
And Around the World we go…..
Started at France for dinner!
We had a great meal…..8 thumbs way up. Wait staff was excellent!
Jacques didn’t ask if we were celebrating anything, but did notice DD’s sash, so the singing started en francais and they presented her with this:
After dinner we went to the France gift shop to purchase a gift for our neighbour’s who were looking after our house.
This is where someone got a big cash bonus!
I found out many countries later that I dropped a $50. bill
In France
On the floor at the wine shop
I know this because I purchased something there with cash. I knew I had a $50. bill and a few $1’s I remember this when I put my money back in my fanny pack! (I blame the Fanny pack….evil things!!!)
I know what you are thinking, dear readers. How could this happen?
Not wearing the fanny pack......the money!!!
American cash confuzzels us Canadian’s because our $1 are coins and as a result, I forget about the $1 bills in the US. Hence I usually have about 20 in my wallet at any given time. Plus, other bills.
And our money in Canada is coloured. Blue for $5, purple for $10, green for $20 and RED for $50. It makes our cash handling lives easier (except for those who are coloured blind…) I don’t remember dropping the 50, but do remember fiddling with a wad of ones, of which the 50 was with them.
Oh well….as they say in France….c’est la vie!
I didn’t bother going back for it, because Karma had played nice with us over DD’s Nintendo earlier in the week and I had no way to prove it was mine!
“It’s mine….that president guy is on the front!”
Yup!
My only hope was that the underpaid cashier found it and she was allowed to keep it as a bonus, or that some deserving child found it and was able to finally purchase that special souvenir that they were hoping for. Maybe Charlie Bucket??
Yes, that’s what happened to it.!
So, if you ever find a 50. In Epcot. You know who it belongs to.
The crazy fanny-pack-carrying-who-can’t-tell-a-50-from-a-1-Canuck!!!
Anyway, continuing our trek….and more characters!
And remember when I said DS kind of liked WDW, but he would better if they had Pokemon…..
Whoo-tooty!…..The Japan gift shop!
DS was in pokemon heaven. He now LOVED WDW and especially Epcot!!!!!!
When we reached Norway, we planned to ride Maelstrom. For my Viking friends.
BUT……as you all remember Maelstrom….is a fastpass?
There were no more fastpasses left…huh??
Probably some Viking took them all for their scrapbook! Who knows, all I know that we didn’t have the time to wait 30 minutes when we had a schedule to keep!
Sorry….but today Maelstrom…..was NOT a fastpass!
Here’s DS in the Norse shop……note the Pokemon on his shoulder!!
And our last stop…..our home Country…..Canada
We reached Canada about 5 minutes before Illuminations was to start.
Talk about Salmon swimming upstream!!
We had already seen Illuminations….the best way you can, so we decided to exit and beat the crowds.
On the way out we made a quick stop to purchase our $99. CD from Photopass.
Then something really strange and unexpected happened.
DS started to cry.
Not just any cry, …..full out sob cry. Shaking cry.
I asked him what was wrong…..and he said,
“I don’t want to leave…..sob, sob, sniff……I want to stay……sob, sob. I want to come here for a month. Blow….sniff, sniff. Can we convince Daddy to stay… Sniff, sniff
Or come back again soon.”
It just about broke my heart!
Except that: He is now one of us!
A full on Disney convert!!
Now, if we can only transform AD!!!
Up next: We leave the world…..but at what time???
She said there are a lot of people like that who visit the WCC, and one nice family even leaves treats for the CM’s. (Zurg’s was that you?......the CM’s really appreciated it!)
