Day 4, Part 2
We arrive in Epcot and our first sight is the huge Spaceship Earth attraction. I knew this was closed for refurbishment and was kinda gutted. Body Wars was closed as was Cranium Command and The Making of Me.
You can see the crane is still there:
I took this pic of Steven before we went on:
We decided it would be best to head over to The Seas first but stopped to take a pic of the beautiful fountain:
Again it hardly does it justice.
We had just eaten and Steven didnt think it would be a good idea to immediately go on Soarin plus it wasl already a 30 min wait.
I was curious about the attraction The Seas with Nemo and Friends and I thought my mom would like it, especially the clamobile.
It was pretty hot already and it was only 10.15am, the queue was pretty big but fast moving, so we were in it for no longer than 10 minutes. Most of it was in air conditioning so we were relieved. I didnt know if a clam would hold all of us until we reached our clam, it was pretty clear that we would be way too squashed sitting together so I asked mom if she was okay going in her own clam, just ahead of us. She seemed fine with it, and I felt a pang of guilt as I sent her on ahead of us. I know, I know, she was clearly visible from our clam, but I felt she expected me to go with her, but I was adamant I wanted to go with Steven. After all this was our wedding/honeymoon trip and it didnt seem right to have Steven on his own for everything that was paired. I told mom not to bother taking any pictures and it stated no flash photography was allowed. I hang my head in shame when I report that throughout the ride there was intermittent flashing, and yup, it was my mom. Steven sighed and said to me that none of those pictures would come out and although I knew this, I wasnt exactly going to shout down to her clam and let her know this. We settled back and just enjoyed each others company, it was the first time other than during sleep we had been alone, it felt great and I was surprised at how drained I had been feeling with my mom always there.
Before we left for Florida, I had seen my mom every day for a week; we had shopped and been in each others company a lot. I think I was beginning to feel smothered and I desperately wanted some quality time alone with my husband to be. During the ride we barely paid attention to the screens, we lay back in our clam and remained quiet the rest of the ride; it was nice to just be peaceful.
Upon exiting the ride, my mom exclaimed that she managed to capture great
pics of Nemo and Dory, I just agreed as it seemed pointless to say otherwise.
We slowly walked around The Seas Main Tank and Exhibits saw the beauty of a dolphin, and visited many other tanks with assorted fish:
I love manatees and got this shot:
I tried to get a pic of a dolphin but it didnt come out well and decided I would wait for Seaworld to get up close and personal.
We spent half an hour or so doing this, before my mom stated she required the restroom. We had finished our viewing of the tanks so we all left to find one for her. While my mom was away I suggested to Steven that it might be better if we asked mom if she really wanted to go to Victoria and Alberts. My mom was not one for fancy food and I couldnt imagine her sitting for a 3-hour meal. We were due to get pictures taken with Randy after our meal so it would mean not getting back to the resort until midnight. As we would be up at 5.30am on the day of the wedding I thought my mom might be too tired to enjoy the meal anyway. On a side note the meal was costing us $160 per person and if my mom wouldnt enjoy it, it seemed silly for her to go. I felt guilty, as I knew I should want my mom to come, but we would be having a Wedding lunch at Citricos and my mom had already shown that she tired very easily and didnt eat fancy food. Steven agreed that it would be best to ask her and make it clear to her exactly what Victoria and Alberts was and how long she would have to be up for. I decided to wait until after lunch to broach the subject, it gave me time to figure out how I was going to do it.
We moved on to Honey I Shrunk the Audience:
Steven and I had done this in
Disneyland before and although I didnt think it was among the best 3D movies Disney had to offer, I knew mom would like it. We had to wait 5 minutes for the next show, but we only waited 2 before we got the pre show.
We picked up our 3D glasses and watched the pre show. I never have the patience for these things, I always just want to see the attraction, Ive noticed I have become more impatient as I get older but people around me seemed to enjoy it, so maybe its just me!
We entered the theater and again I held back to see where the best seats were. I settled on 6 rows back, and again managed to get the middle of the row by quickly scanning the crowd entering the row.
The show was as I remembered it, and I wasnt sure if I had received a bum pair of glasses but sometimes I saw 2 Rick Moraniss. I found myself squinting to make him become one and at times the 3D aspect was too small. My mom enjoyed it, which was the main thing, and we exited and headed straight to Soarin.
It was nearing midday and I thought that as the World Showcase was open now, the queue for Soarin might have depleted some. It stated a 25-minute wait, which seemed okay. I knew it had those queue games installed as a trial so I hoped to try them out. As we approached Soarin a CM handed my mom a red card and asked her to hand it to the 3rd CM before she boarded the ride. The queuing area was very long and winding, it took several minutes to reach the end.
I had told mom about this ride dozens of times. As we were waiting in the queue, my mom asked if we really boarded a hang glider. Huh? I explained the concept again to her and she then asked if we actually went outside and in the air. Huh? Again I explained the concept.
The bird game appeared on the screen and it ran through the instructions. Telling us all we had to move left, right, back and forward to make the bird move in the direction we wanted him to. We started our training and I think some people in our section were too embarrassed to train our bird. Some stayed completely still while others, including our group joined in.
We started our race and the competition set in. Most moved left and right in unison, sometimes hitting rocks and trees and getting bashed back to the center of the screen. It was clear that our opponents were beating us to a pulp and many stragglers gave up in our section. We lost, badly, and my mom turned to me and said loudly, that we lost because of Steven and I not playing. Huh? WHAT? I informed her that we hardly lost because of 2 people not participating but for her information we were playing, and damn well too!!!
We moved on to the next section of the queue and the game commenced again, this time we had the winning bird from last time and I think everyone opted to participate this time. We all trained our bird well and he glided rather than jerked when we wanted him to change direction. We flew over rocks and around the fallen trees, dipped under icicles and above the snowy peaks, our bird was a winner and the loudspeaker confirmed this 10 minutes later. We all cheered and my mom cheered the loudest of all.
We passed the first CM and my mom told him she had to give him the red card because the woman at the beginning told her too. He told her to give it to the 2nd CM before she boarded. So not the next one but the next one, you see where Im going with this?
It was time for our section to move on where there were no longer birds to keep our attention, woo hoo, we were almost on Soarin.
The addition of the game is a brilliant idea. The queue in California was long for Soarin and very boring. I didnt notice the wait at all because of the distraction.
We waited a few more minutes and we saw the next CM, she asked us how many were in our party and waved us through, not before my mom stopped her and relayed the info she had been given about the red card. She told her to pass it to the next CM she sees at the ride entrance.
My mom complained that no one wanted the card and she didnt know what she was supposed to do with it, that she was just going to give it to the next CM she saw, and they better take it!!!
I had to laugh, if I didnt I would have broken down in a fit of tears and began whacking myself over the head. Steven saw my reaction and I could see vessels I didnt know where even there, pop out all over his head. I grabbed his hand and he squeezed mine really tightly, I squeezed his right back, even tighter.
We eventually came across this long awaited CM and my mom briefed her on her mission. She accepted the red card and my mom seemed pleased she had performed her duty. Thank god!
We were told to move to row B on the first glider and we were way over to the left hand side. I was happy enough with our row but had hoped to be positioned in the center glider. Never mind, we would ride this again so hopefully we would have a better seat next time. The dude from Family Guy appeared on our screens and explained the procedure. This was the best pre show I saw before any other attraction. It helped that I love Family Guy but it was also entertaining.
We were ushered in, we found our seats and I removed my flip-flops as requested. Within minutes we lifted off and the screen began showing California in all its beauty. I loved this ride in California and it didnt disappoint. I cant seem to remember Disney appearing in it, the castle, fireworks and of course Tinkerbell, but if it wasnt there originally then it was a good addition to have. My favorite part is over the ocean and then the valleys. When you first come out over that beautiful scenery, the fall colors are stunning. The only down side is when you are positioned where we were you could see feet above you and you can see where the screen stops. To truly be immersed you must be in Row A and in the center glider. That aside though it was still an amazing ride and by far one of my favorites of all time. I wish it were longer cause it all seems over so quickly. We quickly descended and I collected my flip-flops, and as promised by Joe, they were exactly where I had left them.
My mom loved this ride and spoke about for a while after. I knew she would like it so was glad to hear her praise.
As most of you know I researched everything before we left. As my mom had had a heart bypass several years before I knew there would be many restrictions on the rides she could go on. Steven and I had decided in advance that we would only go on the rides my mom would like during her stay. We had 2 weeks alone when she departed so any other rides that would be too much for her would be left until then. It seemed a good idea as it meant she was never left standing on her own. The first week of our trip, as I think you may have already gathered is not very ride orientated. Steven and I did do loads more when my mom left.
We moved on to Living with the Land, the queue was small so I thought why not? We boarded in 5 minutes and I was pleasantly surprised with this ride. It was much longer than I thought it would be and actually very informative. I loved seeing the huge vegetables but unfortunately there were no Mickey pumpkins on display, all were earning their ears!
We were hungry by the end of this ride and I had thought it best to eat at Sunshine Seasons:
I had read about the huge selection here so hoped there would be something for us all to enjoy.
We all wanted a sandwich so Steven and I decided on Salami on Rye with onions and a sauce. My mom liked the look of a Cuban vegetable sandwich. For dessert my mom chose a fruit cup as did Steven and I wanted the Peanut Butter Brownie Mousse. We all got diet cokes.
We paid for this using our CS credits and sat down to enjoy.
My sandwich looked really nice, it was a bit big, and so I cut it in half. I bit into it but immediately didnt like it. I had no idea what sauce was on the onions, but the sandwich tasted wet, the salami was wet, the bread was wet and it dripped down my arms as I held it, eeewww! Steven agreed and only ate half of his. I tried to scrape off the onions, but the bread was still soggy so I gave up. My mom tried her Cuban sandwich and said that she didnt like Cuban Veg, I asked her why she ordered it and she said that she thought it was normal veg. She looked at it and said that she couldnt recognize any of it. I told her that there was zucchini and avocados in there and she told me she disliked all of that. It had been clear from the picture that this is what the sandwich consisted of yet she ordered it anyway. I told her she needs to look more closely before she orders things or this would happen all the time. I offered her the second half of my sandwich; this is the way the conversation went.
Here, have the other half of my sandwich, I dont want it
No, you want it, Im fine
I dont want it, I will throw it out if you dont want it
No you want it, you ordered it, and youre hungry
No, I have my dessert to have and I dont even like it, but you might, take it
No, you do want it
I
do
not
want
it
honestly, TAKE IT
Are you sure you dont want it? I am hungry
Do you want it?
She nods her head quickly
Here then, I really dont want it
Well if youre sure, are you sure?
I sigh
Yes
She dives into the sandwich as if I might change my mind and exclaims its beautiful through muffled speech. Oh well then at least its not wasted.
I continue on to my brownie, which is gorgeous, peanut butter and chocolate, what a combination! I am aware that I am getting married in a couple of days and worry overcomes me and I put down half of my brownie. I push it away and announce I wont eat any more of it because of my wedding dress. I ask Steven if he thinks I could take it back to the resort and maybe have it later, you know, spread out the calories, but he says that it would melt during the day. I pout but know that hes right and do actually leave it, although send it longing looks as we leave the table.
Coming up
Trekking round World Showcase, loads of pics, and my favorite flip flops break in Mexico.
hahaha, but whatever you decide to do - definitely have one bound for you - it will be a priceless keepsake of this most special time in your lives!
By the way, I'm going to look at your pictures now 
I think I'd be a little upset by that too. Did they ever figure out your menu stuff???
I think that the most important thing to remember is that no matter how "starry-eyed" in love you are 
- there are going to be tough times. There may be times that you aren't even sure you like each other very much! But if your love is deep and your commitment is strong, you will ride out those rough spots and it will be the most WONDERFUL journey! 
