The Sunshine,Moonlight,Good Times & Boogie(board) Tour Day14

[mkingdon]

Previously on this tour...

Introduction
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
Day Five
Day Six
Day Seven
Day Eight
Day Nine
Day Ten
Day Eleven
Day Twelve
Day Thirteen


Day Fourteen 2nd September 2007

Right people, we are in serious “fun having” mode now. The time for messing about has passed, we are at the strange stage of every holiday, the last full day. You always hope that it turns out to be special, and looking back on ours….well, I’ll let you decide.

Today has to see me through months (maybe years) of non Disney time, and the thought of those dark dreary Monday mornings in the winter literally chill me to the bone. I am determined to soak up every second of today.

So with that in mind, I am up and about at around 8am, and being the last day I thought it would make a nice change if I made breakfast for everyone. We had no real firm plans for today, apart from doing World Showcase this afternoon and ending with ROE tonight. So the morning was up for grabs.

I dangle new and exciting experiences before the kids, letting them choose what we shall do on our last morning here.

So we go the pool!!!

No, no, I’m happy with that. We don’t have swimming pools back home do we, so best make the most of this one. We can always visit that theme park in Manchester which is just like Disney can’t we!!

As a protest, I stay in the room for a bit catching up on my notes, whilst the females go down to the pool. Amazingly they do not get lost without my close supervision.

As I reach the pool, I find Louise prostrate in the blazing sun, and the girls similarly positioned in the water. I lie in the sun for a while reading some of those American trash magazines…you know…Wheelie Bin Weekly…that sort of thing.

The lure of the cool water cannot be fought any longer and I join the girls in the pool. To continue the novelty theme of this morning, they insist we play Monsters…which translates into me carrying them round on my back and then trying to throw them off.

This game worked well when they (and I) were younger, but now, two of them versus one of me, usually ends in tears…mine!

As a distraction I tell them we will never be able to afford to stay at the Boardwalk ever again, and they should make full use of the slide whilst they can, as I don’t think camp sites in Morecambe have water attractions of this standard.

I watch them come down the slide a few times, and then break the news that we need to make a move now, and go to Epcot. So I drag them from the pool to get dry so we can leave.

They are slightly less upset by that news than Louise, who I have drag away from her sun lounger, with her nails scraping the concrete.

She likes to sunbathe!!

The girls grab a strawberry slush (they were just left there on the table, so why not) as some sort of compensation for leaving the pool.

So we head back to the room, for showers etc, and this take us on to around 12.30, which means we now need some lunch to set us up for the afternoon.

I had hinted to Louise of a challenge I had heard of, where you had to have a drink at every country around the World Showcase. She seemed mildly interested, and so needed a decent lining on her stomach beforehand.

We wander down the Boardwalk and decide to get a slice of pizza for lunch. This sounds nice and simple, but we find what seems to be our four hundred and second CM who is “Earning her Ears”. I don’t know about her ears, but she didn’t know her a*se from her elbow if I’m being honest.

I keep the order simple, three cheese slices and one pepperoni. A sprite, two diet cokes and Louise starts early with a Sangria. So I pay, and stand away from the window to let someone else order. The CM needs help from someone else (with a bigger badge and different uniform, so obviously very senior) to transact this order, as it involves counter snack credit stuff from the Dining Plan.

Several parties order, pay and get served so I wander back to the window, and have to really convince them that I haven’t had any pizza yet. I wave my receipt and let them listen to my stomach as it growls in desperate need of some calories.

Eventually we are served and seated.

A wedding passes us as we eat.

I tell the girls to make a mental note. Weddings = Disney….not Bolton Social Club!!

Louise also points out that this bride was quite clever as she seems to have found very ugly bridesmaids, which is only good news for how she will look on the photos in comparison.

Pizza gone, we start the walk to Epcot.

I can sense everyone’s amazement that we have had a, one, singular slice of pizza, and seem to be done eating at that point. Bear with us big boy….you ain’t seen nothing yet!!

We enter Epcot through International Gateway, and I take a photo of Louise and the girls whilst she is vertical and free from vomit stains.

We are to start our journey around the world in France, and end, many hours later in the good old UK. This version of France is perfectly acceptable, as it contains very few actual French people, and the ones that are there as CMs, paid to be nice to me.

In all our visits, mainly due to the kids been very young with a low boredom threshold, we haven’t ever spent a lot of time in the countries of Epcot. The greatest travesty of that is, that we have never tried the bakery in France, and that is where I am headed.

There is some confusion from the others in the party, as they wonder why I seem to be heading to the perfume shops, but all is clear as we enter the “treasure trove”.

It takes us a while to choose what we want, and Louise does a fine job of staring at someone until they vacate their table for us.

Louise has a Napoleon.

Rebecca chocolate cake.

Emily has THE most sickly chocolate mousse on the planet.

I’m afraid I’d already eaten mine at this stage.

Continued...

 

[mkingdon]

So feeling much better now after our top up, we wander the cobbled streets of France.

The girls start their mask, determined that this time they will finish it. Previous years has seen them fall short of the full compliment.

Most kids are drawing hearts and flowers on their masks.

Emily makes hers look like Pete Wentz, and Rebecca writes MCR across the top of hers (My Chemical Romance). Where did my little girls go?

OK, time for the alcohol to begin. We approach the wine stall,

and we both choose a Kia Royale. I’ve had a Kia Sedona previously which was pretty good, but this was my first try of this variety.

Cheers!

As we wander and drink, we see Beauty and the Beast…which was a surprise as I thought Jakki and Steve had already gone home…….but it turned out to be these.

As is the norm, as my two reach the front of the queue, the Beast has to go in for his tea, so the girls are left with just Belle. I suspect this is some sort of ploy for Belle, to get me alone.

See how she gives me “the eye”.

She goes for men who turn into raging beasts I believe.

Disappointing another Disney princess, we wander on to Morocco.

and we wander through the shops.

See how Emily expresses her joy.

Continued...

 

[mkingdon]

There is some traditional trying on of silly hats…I do wonder if they have ever sold any of these.

The girls pick up their “tag” for their mask….

You may have noticed the lack of alcohol in Morocco. This isn’t due to their religious beliefs, but more the belief that if we had another now, we would produce some interesting pavement art.

It was so hot, and that Kia Royale had gone straight to our heads. The Moroccan tipple looked like Castrol GTX, so we gave it a miss.

Japan appears, and we avail ourselves of their restrooms.

That isn’t the restroom….even I don’t take photos of them.

We wander the shop, buying some bits and bobs for gifts, including a Hello Kitty nightdress for our Niece.

I also get Steve (DVC kind person at work) some sugar sushi. We buy them something else later too....we aren't that tight!!

We eventually find the mask stop thing in the Tin Toy Museum.

I have a giggle that Mickey’s name is Nobou in Japanese. Look, it is my last day, I’ve had some alcohol, and I’ll giggle if I want to alright!!

We leave Japan, stopping only for a photo in front of some bloke on a horse.

Continued...

 

[mkingdon]

Onwards now to America, which for some reason, has a pavilion about four times the size of all the others. As Sam Eagle says, it is a glorious three hour tribute to all countries….but mostly America!!

That will make sense if you have seen Muppet Vision 3D at MGM. If not, just ignore me.

We find that the Voices of Liberty are due to start in ten minutes so we take a seat on the floor, and wait for them.

One of the women has a voice that only dogs can hear…either that or she is half dolphin.

They sing many patriotic songs like –

America is dead good

The US has considerably more bombs than you

America is super smashing and lovely (written by Jim Bowen)

And Old McDonald….didn’t quite get why that one was performed.

They finish with something like Proud to be American, and we look slightly out of place as the only people not to be singing along.

I ask if they know anything by ChumbaWumba, but it appears not.

These are a talented bunch, and please do try to catch them if you can.

As the crowd disperses, the performers mingle and chat. The poor soul who chose to talk to the girls quickly realizes his mistake.

“Oh God, they are British” is written across his face.

The girls are of course mute, and manage a nod and half a smile, before Louise jumps in to try to rescue him. He quickly moves on to some precocious brat from Arkansas who talks in a voice that can burst eardrums at thirty feet.

As we leave we see lots of characters, but of course as they see it us, they all decide they have to go in. So I randomly snap away and manage to take this famous character. You know…whozit from whatzit.

Italy is next. The girls get their masks updated.

The female CM seems confused here.

There is no more dangerous combination than Louise and a chargeable room card in the shops in Italy. I try my best to stick with her, but she uses young kids, and ageing yanks to break away and purchase stuff.

She buys yet more shiny stuff, from a young CM called Brune. I join Louise at the till, and Brune recognises the accent and tells us how she loves the English accent.

What do I have to do to get away from these women. I would change my aftershave, but I’m too tight to buy any.

I take advantage of all the free aftershave samples and apply a different one to each part of my body. I smell lovely, and still do. I haven’t had a wash since…no point wasting all that expensive smelly stuff.

Germany is next, and having excelled at German at school, I regale the girls with my extensive grasp of the language. Three years of study, and all I have is.

Ich mochte ein stuck schwarzwalderkirschtorte bitte.

It won’t surprise you to know that this phrase involves asking for cake.

Emily, who has started to study German, is amazed at my skills.

I am fearful of getting too close to this CM, as if she knows I can speaka di lingo, there will be no escape.

Now we come to the outpost thing, which looks like Africa of some description.

There are adverts for the new AK DVC villas here, with some cracking looking bush!!

Continued...

 

[mkingdon]

We need a drink now, and Louise gets back off the wagon with a beer. I stick to the soft stuff, and the girls just have a short. They don’t want to overdo it too early.

We sit by the lake, discussing plans for my 40th birthday trip in about seventeen years.

To do everything I have planned we will have to arrive just after my 39th birthday, and sell the house to fund it.

We take some snaps as we wander on.

Refreshed, we enter China.

The girls sort their masks out, and the bloke tells them he has written their names in Chinese on them. In truth he could be writing anything.

We don’t stay too long in China (but soon after we leave, we feel like we want to do it again…always the way with Chinese).

Norway is next, and those pesky blonde Norwegian CMs who will not stop undressing me with their eyes.

Maelstrom has a wait too long to be worth it, so I get a fastpass for a little later. We wander the shops in Norway, and marvel at the incredible prices for jumpers your granny might knit.

Continued...

 

[mkingdon]

The girls do their thing again.

Mexico is next, and I have heard the ride has changed here so this is a must do. I check if the restaurant here has anything for later. Not a sausage…not even a fajita. Fully booked.

We guessed it would be, so it looks like popcorn and slushes for tea.

First the girls get their masks sorted.

Then we do something we have never done before, and that is queue for the ride here. That itself is quite a novelty, but after about ten minutes we get on the ride.

Yeh, don’t bother taking photos on this one…look

The ride features Donald and two other characters who I don’t know. Is it better than the old one? Well, hard to say. Much of the charm of the old one was that it was so dated and…how do you say….crap.

Now, there is some sort of storyline, but you can’t hear what is being said, and too much is going on, so it just turns into a lot of noise really.

It is OK.

Leaving Mexico, we wander back to Norway to ride Maelstrom with our fastpass. We are trapped at the end for about five minutes, before the doors open and we run straight through the cinema bit.

We try China for dinner. No room at all. Despite some average reviews I’d read, we decide to risk the Lotus Blossom Café as it seemed a better option than nothing at all.

There is no queue, and the young CMs on the tills greet you very heartily as you enter the door, and tell you to step up to the till to order. Trying to study the menu in about three seconds flat, I panic a little and order enough food for the Waltons. I see the young chap on the till looking behind me for my twelve kids, and it takes the entire acrobat team to carry all my trays to our table.

The food was pretty good really. The kids both found enough stuff they liked to eat their fill, and I mopped up what they didn’t like. The rest was packed into a container to solve the third world famine problem once and for all.

Feeling very full, we can only manage to stagger into Reflections of China, and we see the end of the acrobats show. Incredible. They can’t eat what I’ve just eaten!!

We even watch the film in China. A first for the girls.

We then wander back past Mexico, and grab a bench with a brolly and people watch for a while. There are a few spots of rain, but our brolly keeps us protected, and we sit there digesting our food mountain for a good half hour.

Behind us, a rabbit comes out to play.

Goes dark quick in Florida you know.

Rested, and ready to walk on, we head across past and through the shops, on our way to Canada.

Now, O Canada has been a bit of a standing joke with the girls, as they were less than enthralled with the film last time they saw it. It has even been used as a threat when they are getting on my nerves!!

So after buying a couple of presents from the shop, we tell the girls we are going in. To mixed reactions!!

I have to say, with no word of a joke or exaggeration, this was one of the highlights of the trip. Even the girls loved it.

The film has been updated, and is hosted by Martin Short. The music is updated too, with the song now sung by the winner of the Canadian X Factor or Pop Idol…one of the two.

Go see this. It is great fun.

Exiting the film brings the girls to their penultimate mask stop.

and we are soon nearing the UK in the dark.

In the distance we hear some voices raised, and wonder if one of the street shows is on.

Unfortunately not. I’m afraid to say that the area outside the pub was inhabited by a group of chanting Brits. Complete with pint pots and England football shirts, they “entertained” the passing crowds with songs that I have to say made me ashamed to be British.

There “men” were old enough to know better, with their wives and kids with them, and I would hate to think what impression the other visitors got that night of the UK.

Please, if you are reading this, stick to Magaluf where you belong!!

Continued...

 

[mkingdon]

We sneak by into the shops, trying not to speak to give away our nationality, and we find the last in the series for the girls.

Alice is holding court in the shop too…or is she just following me again….

We make our way to the bridge near International Gateway, and take our positions for ROE.

As much as Louise looks like she’s had a drink in each country, she hasn’t. It has been a long old day, and we’re all feeling it a bit now.

You can’t beat this time of night in Epcot. Lovely and warm, dark, with the torches lit and the music playing.

We’re too tired to fight for a front row view, so we just stand back and enjoy the show.

The fireworks start, and I realize why my new camera was so cheap.

One final big bang and it’s all over. Story of my life.

It is truly a pleasure not to have to walk all the way out to the trams and car parks, and we slowly stroll back to the Boardwalk.

As ever, it is tinged with sadness as we leave Epcot for the last time, but we still have a fairly full day tomorrow as we don’t fly till quite late.

As I said at the beginning of this day, you always hope your last full day will be a good one, and I have to say, this has been one of our best ever. A lovely relaxing stroll, and a good time had by all.

We are back in our room by 9.30, and not long after fast asleep.

See you in the morning

Day Fifteen is Here

 

[florida sun]

Great last full day at my favorite park - Epcot

 

[mark&sue]

The photo of the thing in Japan looks like it is moving towards you as you scroll down. It is really good

It is great to stay at an epcot hotel and do either mgm or epcot.

World show case afternoon was our best bit this year too.

Thanks again for another excellent report with loads of photos


susan

 

[Minniespal]

Lovely photos.

 

[SusanEllen]

I've been so enjoying your reports, I'm growing a little sad at your vacation coming to an end. Thanks again to you and all your girls for sharing your good times.

 

[KayleeUK]

Louise also points out that this bride was quite clever as she seems to have found very ugly bridesmaids, which is only good news for how she will look on the photos in comparison.

LOL

I am so sad your trip is coming to an end

 

[wee-haggis]

Really enjoyed your reports and photos, thanks for doing them.

 

[mandymouse]

Brilliant last day

Mandy

 

[TinkTatoo]

......As we wander and drink, we see Beauty and the Beast…which was a surprise as I thought Jakki and Steve had already gone home…….but it turned out to be these.

...

You can go off people you know

 

[jockey]

Great day!

 

[arieljasmine]

Great last day. Loved you quoting my favourite line from Muppets 3D!

Laur's

 

[CHEK]

Another great day!, I have loved reading your reports , I have laughed out loud so many times my DD's keep asking if I'm ok