Continuing on through World Showcase, we stop next in China to watch those amazing acroba- wait- they're not here. Apparently, they've packed up for good. That's a shame, because they were great, but I suppose they have homes and families, too.
So instead, we head on into the small shop outside of the pavilion. Emily is on a mission to find a fan that will be her very own, and Kristin is on a mission to find a fan that will keep Emily from wanting to borrow hers all the time. The go inside, but aren't thrilled by the color selection. Dylan, on the other hand, IS thrilled by these spinning plates:
Ok, so he hasn't quite mastered it yet. But it's still fun. Nearby, I spot this odd creature:
Half doctor, half monkey. Or, actually, it looks more like 18% doctor and 82% monkey. 100% bizarre! Is this some character I would know if I lived in China? Or was the creator simply on <insert name of hallucinogen here so I don't have to get yelled at by the moderator>?
Whatever it is, we're not buying it, even if it IS awesome. The girls exit the store with no fan in hand, so it's off to the bigger store closer on the other side of the walkway. A few shots on the way:
We go inside...jackpot! Emily finds a dark green one that she loves, and the CM who checks her out writes Em's name in Chinese on it. Bonus!
We do some more shopping as the kids hit up the KidCot table. The attending CM is also extremely nice, and since we can't find any good hats to put on the kids for the autograph book, we get her to pose for an alternate shot instead:
Meanwhile, Kristin and I spot something Emily would LOVE - Secret Message Dolls, which are little wooden figures capable of housing fortune cookie message-sized strip of paper that you can write secret messages on. Emily's definitely getting one, but the catch is that Kristin has to, too, since you really need someone to swap with. No pics of these dolls for some reason, so you'll just have to Google them. Or check them out in the park yourself. The box Kristin's came in said, "I like coconuts and Monty Python," which prompts the obvious "who doesn't?"
Well, Kristin for one. She likes coconuts, I believe, but can't stand Monty Python. Or most British comedy, for that matter. She has trouble with the accents. I try to tell her it's easier to understand the more you watch, but I don't think the humor is up her alley anyway.
So what were we talking about? No, not Python - oh yeah! China. There's a movie here, y'know. And we're off to go see it!
Outside the theater building, the CM asks the kid if they'd like to Pin Trade. Never thought you'd ask! This guy seems to love Pin Trading, and I know this not because he has a pin that reads, "I (heart) Disney Pins", but because he and the kids proceed to block the entrance to the building while the trade commences.
What is it about Disney that the employees in the parks are MILES above those of other parks when it comes to being friendly and personable? Is it because the guests are generally low maintenance? Is it that they just love WDW so much that they love to share their joy? Whatever it is, it shows, and it's a big reason why we keep coming back. I'd bet it's a big reason you do, too.
Meanwhile, I get some more outside shots:
We finally head inside, stopping briefly to say "hello!" to the echo chamber, and then sit down in preparation for the theater doors to open. Only two minutes! Dylan and Emily take this moment to catch up on some fighting that they didn't get to finish earlier. I don't ever recall what it was over, but I'll take a wild guess that it was over nothing important. It's cut short, however, by the opening of the doors, and inside we go.
Emily is really whiny for some reason, and wants one of us to hold her. I put down the 50 lb backpack and hoist her up, but she won't sit still. And she's complaining that she doesn't like movies. I tell her I'm going to put her down if she doesn't stop moaning, and eventually, it's back to her feet. Then immediately over to Kristin.
I love this movie, and really all of the non-Norway movies in Epcot. China looks beautiful, but it'll be a while before I go there.
On our way out, my Mom finally returns my Mother's Day call from California, where she's visiting my brother and his family. Meanwhile, Kristin asks if Mulan will be in the area soon, and it turns out she's in the area NOW. So over we go, and we're second in line. Great! No, wait - not great! We're not ready! We have portable misters to set down, cardboard Duffys to stow in the bottom of the stroller, and cameras and PhotoPass cards to get out of bag. Ok, we're ready.
NO, WAIT!! We don't have the autograph books out!
(Pssst! Come here! Let me tell you a secret: we didn't actually forget the autograph books, but this TR needs SOME drama)
The books come out, we scramble to find the "Mulan" pages, and are set in the nick of time.
Snap, snap, and we're on our way. As we pass the nearly pointless African Outpost, we let the kids go in and have at the bongos. I get out the video camera, and Dylan gets camera shy. I do catch this shot:
He's taking percussion in school, so he SHOULD know what he's doing. He's not bad, either. Neither is this one:
Although she's more into the performance part. Kristin opens a few of those coke friges, but none of them seem to be doing anything. I forget what they even DO do.
Alright, so we visited a small area dedicated to Africa. Nice. But we visiting a MUCH larger area the other day, in Animal Kingdom. The kids played the bongos there, too. So there's really no reason to have this here. Dylan gets a frozen coke, and off we go.
After AO, it's over to Germany. There's a line forming near the well, so that could only mean one thing: Dylan complaining about having to stand in another line to meet another Princess.
We talk a woman in line from Florida, and she asks her husband if he's hot in his black t-shirt. He replies, "it is what it is", and BOOM - I just stole another saying. Tuck it away, but it will come out again, I'm sure!
I head over to get a beer, and I'm not digging the selection. I got the Altenmunster Oktoberfest, which was decent, but I miss the Franziskaner Hefe on days like this. The kids finally meet Snow White (again):
Afterwards, it's over to do some shopping in Germany, where we find another hat picture op:
More KidCot for those two as I go looking for another Martin Gross (the guy from the Biergarten) CD to play when I brew beer here at home. I talk to my Mom again (since the last conversation was brief), but then it's pack to the Showcase. We've got more countries to do, and Kristin STILL needs to get a drink. Doesn't she?
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I trust that she will come around. 
. Those empanadas look yummy!
):
) and I think it is the perfect time of year to visit. 
