So when I last left off…
The Minions had finished their pool time so we headed back to the room and got ready to get back to Epcot.
We headed off to the nearby bus stop across the street from The Paddock and looked at the name to remember to get off at that one and not the designated one for our area. Luckily the Epcot bus came by quickly and we were off.
The plan was for Mom and Bre to go off to the WS and hit up Mèjico
because Mom wanted a Margarita and use a CS at Cantina San Angel. Meanwhile the Minions and I were gonna see if we could ride TT and MS before they closed. Well the bus took FOREVER

to get to Epcot and it was nearing 7pm already, which sucked 'cause then we may not be able to get our ride on; we got there cutting it way close and as soon as we passed the turnstiles the Minions and I said goodbye to Mom and Bre and were off!
Here's my action shot of us returning to Epcot:
I checked the Soarin' wait time to see if MAYBE Mom could ride it again, but it was a no go 'cause it was already closed. Oh well, sorry Mom!

We ran all the way to MS and they were still open and had no wait so we ran up to the CM and they asked us Orange or Green? Huh?

Uh, what's the difference?

(None of us have been on MS and I was a bad DISer and didn't know about the 2 sides).
The CM says the Orange is the Intense side and the Green side is less intense. So we all say Orange! I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I'm a thrill ride lover baybee so it can't be that bad right? Right?
We head over to our respective waiting queue. Lt. Daaan (said in my best Forrest Gump voice) -- err, I mean Gary Sinise, or Capcom according to IMDB, gave us a rundown of our Mission and sent us on our merry way. We each went to assigned jobs; I can't remember who I was, I think it was the Navigator though. Anyhoo and loaded our pod -- uh ship. So being a newbie (and not having DIS knowledge) I didn't know what to expect. We strapped in and then the ride started and our console/control panel thingy moved toward us (which was a good thing because I was wondering how we would reach while strapped in).
All I have to say is OH MY GOD!!! They were not kidding when they said this was the intense side. I literally could not move my head and got a lovely face lift. It was such a weird feeling and I was SO glad they had that A/C blasting right in my face or else I think I would've thrown up

'cause I felt like I was having hot flashes. It was so fun though and we all laughed the entire ride through. Of course after we got out Minion #3 said "Let's go again." Unfortunately we couldn't 'cause I wanted to try and get TT in since they were apparently still open too. So we ran to TT and got in line.
Then it started.
The rain had returned.
Noooooooo!!!!!!
After about 5 min. the dreaded announcement comes on that due to the weather TT was temporarily closed. D'oh!
We decide to wait it out in hopes that the rain would let up. I don't remember what time it was but I know it was nearing Illuminations time. We wait some more and the rain is not letting up, but getting worse. Ugh! Finally they announced that TT was closed, but they were giving away FPs or Swap Pass thingies that could be used at any time, they expired at the end of June. So we got ourselves some of those just in case we made it back to Epcot.
We left the TT queue and it was pouring outside and everyone was standing under the teeny tiny awning of TT. The boys and I decide to make a run for it, because of course I had left my ponchos that I had bought in April back home.

We get to another covered area and proceed to do so until we get to the Innoventions breezeway area. All of a sudden I hear the BOOM of Illuminations so we continue towards WS, but are immediately blocked by the sea of people.

We were stuck under the monorail and decided to just stay there and watch Illuminations from there. I put Minion #3 on my shoulders so he could get a good view and we all stood there watching Illuminations under cover of the Monorail and a tree. Of course as Illuminations ended so did the rain.
So if anyone has been keeping track

this is my 2nd set of Fireworks whilst in Disney that I've stood in the rain for to watch (the first being Wishes in April).
As soon as Illuminations ended the horde of people started flocking our way and we head to Mouse Gears to wait for Mom and Bre who I hope got to watch Illuminations fine. I call Mom and ask her where she is and she tells me they're leaving Mexico (good, at least they made it) and are on the way out. I tell her I'd wait for her by the exit at a store in front of the water fountain called Mouse Gears and describe it for her. The Minions go inside to buy candy with their snack credits. We finally meet up with Mom and Bre, I ask them if they saw the fireworks and they said they did and they got to Mexico right when it started raining. Mom didn't have her Margarita

, I don't know why and they didn't eat either, I guess the place was packed.
So I said maybe if we got to the resort on time we could eat at the food court. We bid goodnight to Epcot, but not before I made the Minions stand in front of SE and water fountain.
Unfortunately it didn't come out great and I have no idea where Ivan was looking.
It took forever for the bus to arrive and we ended up catching one that was going to OKW and SSR so they dropped off the OKW people first then us and that was the worst bus driver. The guy seriously had problems with the brake 'cause every time he would brake he'd slam on them and everyone would lurch forward.

Luckily it wasn't a full bus and most of the people were seated, but sheesh this guy seriously needed to get bus driving lessons again.
When we got to our stop I used the phone by the elevator to see what time the food court closed and they told me it had already closed. Ugh!

They sure closed early because the ASMu one was usually open late. Whatever, I'll check to see if I could find some place to eat when we get in the room.
I checked everywhere and everything had closed by 10pm. Minion #3 had fallen asleep on the bus, but the rest of us were starving. Mom and I got in the car to see if we could find some place to eat or we'd drive out to the city and find a fast food place. First though, I decided to check the humungo McD's over by ASMu that I remember passing back in April. Luckily it was open and we bought our $30 worth of food to feed the clan. I don't know if it was because I was hungry or what, but that McDonald's burger tasted sooo good. After the rumbly in our tummies were no more we were off to Never Never Land.
Up Next….Happy Birthday to Mom!
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