The "We have one whole year to wait" Now a Trip Report

[Laura.bora]

So off we go to the World Showcase, and the first stop? Norway's bathrooms! When you gotta go, you gotta go!! We check out the Viking ship while we wait.

We get complimented on our shirts and then we check out the stave church. We had been studying Norway for schoolwork, and Leif Erikson in history, so the kids are VERY interested in this.

Now, I know I went here when I was a kid - but can I tell you I remember NOTHING of this!?! It was neat inside the church. It was a little museum. It was made all the cooler because we had been studying this.

Erik the Red (father of Leif Erikson)

Viking Ship

King Olaf who taught Leif about Jesus, who in turn brought Christianity to Norway

Leif

We wandered into the food store to scope out how to use our remaining 7 snack credits. Skool bread? Cinnamon Roll? Klabberhorn? Choices choices!

We left without getting anything, and decided we'd head back later to decide on our one treat. We head to the gift shop and what do we spy but a giant snowman!!!

Well, that's what Ainsley thought it was anyway!

Nathaniel fell in love with a Viking Sword, sheild and hat. Since he had his own money, he bought it....keep in mind, our bags are packed and we are leaving in a few hours......

On we go to Malestrom. ITs a walk on and Nathaniel LOVES this ride! IT was like a live history lesson to him.

We have our picture taken with a CM who signs Nathaniel and Ainsley's Epcot book with Happy Birthday wishes in Norwegian.

We decide to wrap up our time in Norway, so we head to the bakery where we have decided on this:

The Klabberhorn. Nathaniel and I did not like it - Ken and Ainsley loved it.

Onto Mexico, much to Nathaniel's dismay. He would have liked to stay in Norway another hour or 2. We stop at another kidcot station (which the kids LOVED by the way) and Nathaniel falls in love with the CM there. He chats up a storm with her, admires her Dumbo pin, tells her what a great time he had here etc.

We left Kidcot to do the Fiesta tour. What a bore of a ride!! 2 thumbs down. I won't waste my time here again! We realize Nathaniel left his mask at the kidcot station, and we go back to get it when Nathaniel's favorite CM stops him, said she was so glad that he came back because she wanted to give him something as a happy birthday gift. She gave him her Dumbo pin that he had told her he loved so much. I love Disney CMs!!

 

[Laura.bora]

After MExico, we realized we would need to pick up the pace if we wanted to see some more countries before it was time to end our vacation. On we went to Canada.

The kids didn't know what a phone booth was...oh boy - I'm old!

We searched out and found the waterfall. It was very pretty!

I'm still amazed at the detail Disney puts into everything! It was like standing in that actual country, walk a few feet, and you are in a new country.

 

[Laura.bora]

Once again - Mike is on the money. It's a green day in Epcot

WE searched the gift shop in Canada for a bit and then moved on. The Victorian gardens they had set up were beautiful.

The kid cot station was in here - we of course stopped by!

We sadly did not get to eat here this trip. Maybe next time!

The food and Wine Festival officially started the next day, but today was a soft opening. They were setting up shop everywhere. It looked like something we'd like to do one time.

On we walked to the UK and came across The Twinnings Company

This is my husbands favorite tea....well, it was until he discovered Adagio tea, but at this point he hadn't discovered it, so he went in for a cup of tea - Earl Grey of course!

We went into the UK gift shop and Nathaniel went nuts! Why? Because they had every type of Peter Pan thing you could think of! He finally decided on a Peter Pan figurine set so he could play Peter Pan. Ainsley discovered the book section and picked out the book Little Miss Chatterbox....how appropriate! We wander towards the Kidcot station when someone knocks me on the back of the head. I turn around and it's Tigger!!!!

 

[Laura.bora]

They pick us to start off their signing autograph day! Woo hoo! Eeyore takes Nathaniel by the hand and off we all go!

We hadn't even planned on seeing characters today, but we had been sad we missed Pooh and friends! Well, not any more! We had a great time with the characters, siad our farewells and off we went!

We came back inside the gift shop to do our Kidcot masks and get our birthday wishes signed by JP (who was so uncomfortable with little kids. The poor fellow was abit out of his elements. He and the cash register guy should have traded places! The cash register guy LOVED the kids!)

We were now realizing that we were REALLY going to book it if we were going to make it back to the Wilderness Lodge in time to catch the Magical Express to the plane!

We stopped in France and grabbed quite a few snacks - I had a yummy chocolate cake. Good stuff! We also stopped of course for the kidcot station.

We started to notice that the crowds were starting to piick up .

This was certainly the most crowded we had ever seen the parks in the time we had visited!

I think the crowd level rose because it was the soft opening of the food and wine festival.

At this point, we weren't even stopping at the countries. Just passing through and taking pictures. Our goal right now was Ken and Nathaniel ride test track and go catch the Wilderness Lodge.

As we left World showcase we suddenly remembered that we REALLY wanted to try out the sodas from around the world. We were all REALLY thirsty, so we ran over quickly.

Nathaniel trying to be brave enough to try the beverly.

The weirdo really likes it.

However the rest of us did not!!

And the weirdo who loved the beverly couldn't stand the good fruity flavored one from Japan!

After our soda break we RAN over to test track and Nathaniel and Ken used their Fastpasses to go onto the ride. Nathaniel loved it. Ken...well....the picture should explain it.....

 

[Laura.bora]

WE grabbed the monorail to the boat and headed home. We knew at this time that we were going to be late. There was no way we were going to catch the Magical Express we were scheduled for....AND we needed to repack all the stuff we just bought!! We bought christmas ornaments, swords, hats, books, toys....note to self - DO NOT go on a shopping spree after you have packed your bags!!!

They told us another ME bus was coming, so they grabbed our bags for us and we repacked the best we could!!

The cast members gave the kids TONS of stickers to keep them occupied while we waited.

I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME!!!!!!

Good bye Wilderness lodge bush buffalos.

Goodbye Disney Detail

Goodbye our wonderful lodge that we called home

I was so happy to see this sight when I first came here, but now it makes me cry "I REALLY REALLY REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO HOME!!!!"

Look at that sad face on Nathaniel

We pull away, and that is the end of our dream vacation.

It had been a really long day, and everyone slept soundly on the plane.

It wasn't long before we were back home, in reality, and dreaming of our next Disney vacation. (which will be in December 2010 if all goes well!)