~ The Man Report ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~2007~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~King of GAT~~~~~~~
Due to the 2-hour flu bug
coupled with the drunken pre-adults from the night before, I made the command decision on Day 2 to sleep in.
Its Monday now & I know deep down Im just asking for trouble.
Its Spring Break for Florida high schools, the weather is nice, and the parks are going to be PACKED!
However, since I didnt plan this trip months in advance like I usually do, plus I made the commitment to sleep in whenever we felt like it, I simply turned the alarm off, rolled over and grumbled to Lin, Go back to sleep.
Lin aint a big morning person so staying in bed wouldnt be an issue for her. She made some sort of muffled grunt which I took to mean fine by me.
All we really had to do today was get to Epcot by 11:30 a.m. for our only planned meal with the children. The reservation is for Garden Grill located in the Land Pavilion. This is the same building that Soarin is located.
We get out of bed around 9:30, have a cup of coffee and get ready to leave for Epcot. I made the decision late last night that
Secret Experiment #1 needed to be shelved for a later date. My delicate constitution wasnt ready for that type of diet and may never be. The healthiest thing I could find to eat for breakfast was a day old glazed donut so I chowed it down.
Before going to Epcot, I load up all our swimming gear, pool toys, and life jackets in the trunk of the car. Today is the day to test out
Secret Experiment #2.
We arrived at Epcot around 10:15 a.m. This is the first time that I can ever remember not showing up at a theme park at the
rope drop. Even with all of our years of experience, we are not ready for the horrors of showing up late to a very busy Epcot.
Unlike the morning before, we parked somewhere north of the Magic Kingdom and began our commute towards the big golf ball. Ive never been on the parking lot tram at Epcot before so it felt awkward and weird.
We finally arrive at the security check point where they go thru your bags and its mass chaos like youve never seen before. There are
egg-timers everywhere. Anyone showing up at Epcot at 10:30 a.m. during spring break probably falls into one of three groups:
1). WDW Rookies
2). Victims of the deadly 2-hour flu bug.
3). Canadians
There are about 10 lines for the security bag check point but you cannot distinguish any of them. Theres just a huge cluster of about 500 people all standing around looking very confused. Many of them are 7 across, looking at park maps, then looking at the big golf ball, then back to the park map.
They just cant seem to figure out whats going on. I go into full GAT mode,
and yell back to Linnie to follow me! She nods her understanding as we implement Operation Forward Motion.
The procedure from here out is clear to the entire family. Buzz will be GATn like a mad dog and the family just needs to try and keep up. If I lose them, its considered
their fault.
I snake our way thru the throng of humanity, stepping on toes, elbowing the elderly, and constantly making forward progress towards the security tables. I know that getting to the middle lines is key as most people will migrate towards the outside line as they really dont even know whats going on at all.
All the rooks have no idea its a security line as there are so many people you cant even see what the hold up is let alone the security sign or personnel.
I do a series of brilliant GAT maneuvers that place us right at one of the middle security tables. We unzip our backpacks, are quickly inspected, and then off like a shot to the
FAR turnstiles to enter the park.
After security, most people now go to the VERY long line which is the middle set of turnstiles and closest to the security tables. By going to the far turnstiles that say
Cast Members & Guests you can gain entry to the parks a lot faster as most people think its for Cast Members
ONLY. We walked up and there wasnt a single person in line.
By the time we got our stroller, I glanced at my watch and read
10:45. It only took us 15 minutes from the time we parked until we entered and obtained our stroller.
That was simply incredible!
We hurried thru the mass crowds and got to Test Track. We knew we wouldnt be riding it, but wanted to get Fast Passes for after lunch. The return time for Test Track was 3 p.m.!!! I knew there was no way in heck we were going to still be in the parks at 3 p.m. but I got the fast passes anyway.
We then bolt over to the Garden Grill restaurant which opens at 11 a.m. and see if theyll seat us early. They oblige and we are the first people to be sat in the restaurant for the day. I didnt like our original seats at a table with chairs so I requested to be moved to a booth along the outside of the rotating restaurant.
They move us to the booth which just happens to be the booth for the Garden Family of the Day. Yaa hoo! Its us!!
They inform us that well get to meet the chef, all the characters will come meet our family as a group for pictures, and that well get some other special treats and so forth.
This is the second time weve received something special because of the Year of a Millions Dreams celebration. In October, we received Dream Fast Passes. Now you know why Epcot is our favorite park.
Lunch is great but very expensive. Its over $80 for four of us and I only had ONE beer! The kids loved interacting with Mickey, Pluto and Chip & Dale. I like how the different characters actually ACT the way theyre supposed to. For example: Chip & Dale were mischievous and threw food, drank our beverages (pretending) and snuck up on us. It was really cute.
After lunch the chef came out, had a sign-in book, then offered us fast passes for any ride we wanted! Perfect! It was only noon now and I wanted to hit Test Track for Moan Boy then leave for the day and implement
Secret Experiment #2.
Next Up: Secret Experiment #2
One thing Buzz did not mention is the duck actually skimmed the top of my head. I felt something touch the top of my hair and looked around, confused. Then I saw the duck and Buzz said, “Yeah it hit your head.” Why me??? 
It was live birds flying around the audience! 
Eek!!Am I jealous though, I have a wedding dress to get into which has = slim fast meals for months. The moment I start the honeymoon full gluttony begins! I love the pool sequence and btw, I'm terrified of birds also from watching The Birds as I kid. My heart goes out to you Linnie!
Maybe they won't leave you alone because they like you 
I didn't do anything too weird on this trip.
)
