We left in the afternoon though Dad did not want to! And Dad dropped us off at Aruba to get showered and changed. We planned to meet at Norway in Epcot.
For going into the parks for dinner I only had the bare necessities a little bottle of sun screen and some tiny lip gloss attached to my lanyard along with my wallet and itinerary card! Such a dork!
While waiting for the bus at Aruba we realized how much hotter it is NOT being at the water park. I really cant stress enough how much fun the water park is at Disney it is really a refreshing option in the summer!
First stop for us was Club Cool.
And then straight to World Showcase where DSis had planned to purchase a Duffy. The CM there was really helpful and helped DSis know which size bear for which outfit.
We then hopped on the friendship boat to go over to Germany. I hadnt planned this but saw the boat docked and just about to leave but a man in a wheelchair held them up because they had to lower a special ramp so we and a few other lucky folks who had good timing got to board from the front. And we were off in no time.
While on the ride DSis dressed Duffy for our first stop
Germany!
And this heavenly place
We thought we would have mom and dad help us pick our remaining Snack Credits, but then the more we thought about it the more we realized this would likely result in mom getting anxious, some yelling at dad, dad arguing back, some uncomfortable looks from strangers, an awkward interaction with a CM or two, and a horribly embarrassing scene. So instead, DSis and I each picked two treats from the counter to save to share with mom and dad. Much better plan.
I picked the marshmellows covered in chocolate and caramel I had wanted this ever since I regretted not getting chocolate covered marshmellows on a stick/straw in MK. And I picked the dark chocolate cookie with caramel I thought its large size would make it easy to share. DSis went for quality over quantity by picking two candies one was chocolate covered caramel and nugget and the other was caramel and marshmellow swirled. To be honest, Germanys caramel shop is worth a Disney vacation alone. Cant wait to go back!
The caramel shop does not have cutlery, but the CMs directed me to the quick service restaurant where I could grab some knives. There DSis spotted the pretzel. Good eyes, Sis!
So we took our finds and found a table outside Norways bakery and magically mom and dad appear. They were late and had taken their Hilton shuttle to the park, which put them pretty far away (DSis and I were stupid in not giving Dad our parking pass for being a resort guess just didnt think of it). Everyone enjoyed the treats but mom and dad had NOT brought waters even though they took four large water bottles home with them from the cabana. So DSis and I had to share our precious waters with them too. Why cant parents ever plan right?
We have been on the Norwegian ride many many times. And have been the reason it broke down and after having a back stage tour past the polar bears, we didnt need to do the ride this year. We did go into the shop. Now some say the Dahl sweaters and Helly Henson apparel are expensive. And they are. But Dahl sweaters last more than a lifetime. We have some that have been passed down generations in our family. They are good sweaters. They are no cheaper in Norway and in fact four years ago one of the Norwegian cousins bought a Helly Henson rain coat saying it was half what she would pay in Norway. Kroner conversion and the strength of the dollar four years ago has to do with that in part, taxes in Norway another part. I spotted a lavender sweater in a style DSis owned in red that she bought it in Norway two years ago. But this sweater she got for $35 less because she could use her Disney Visa Card and her sister was smart enough to mention it to the CM ringing her up! DSis loves purple and loves the sliming designs in her red one, but thinks it looks to Christmassy to wear after Christmas. I had wanted to try the Laila eau de toilet and DSis didnt mind, mom and dad left, so I had a nice chat with the CM, who seemed happy with my little bit of Norwegian, and got the perfume - $5 off for using the Visa card!
We then went to Germany but not the Caramel shop to look around.
And while standing by the trains I was hopping a lizard would climb on a building for a cool Godzilla shot Dad thought the sky looked ominous. He said really loudly a thunderstorm is coming and everyone looked around at the blue sky with big WHITE puffy clouds and looked at him like he was nuts. So then he goes and get out is iPhone which he barely knows how to use and we wait 20 minutes for him to find the weather on it. And it doesnt say anything. Anyway, he thinks we need to find shelter. Now. DSis and I want to go into America because neither of us can remember going into it in all the trips weve taken to Epcot. Mom is certain she was just there, with the grandmothers (one has been dead for five years so just there, really, mom?) And afterwards agrees she had never seen the show there, that it was Halls of the Presidents in MK she was thinking of.
The show is really patriotic and everyone in the audience clapped at the end. I had wanted to clap at the end of Philharmagic in MK so I was glad to finally get my chance to clap.
We went all the way around stopping in Japan again Mom didnt want to go. She said the stores would be dumb. But again she had to admit it was a nice store and she was glad I insisted we stop in. I dont know when the switch happened but definitely we were dragging our ornery parents around, making them pose for photos they didnt want, and taking them to places they thought would be boring. But then again we were celebrating moms birthday and dads graduation.
We stopped to listen to the Canadian musicians for a moment and then went on to Mexico.
DSis stops to take a photo of the time. She's got plenty of it while she waits for me back at Main Street.
I almost stopped my Splash Mountain dash to get a picture with him, but instead snapped a shot as I trotted by.
Frontierland was empty!
