TimNDansMom and Family's 2001 Summer Vacation - Part III - EPCOT & MGM

TimNDansMom

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Mar 23, 2000
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July 24

We got up early on Tuesday morning, had some cereals in the room and headed out to the bus stop at El Centro and after a few minutes the EPCOT bus came by. DH would get up later and head on out to the golf course.

When we arrived at EPCOT, we headed straight for Test Track and soon discovered that it was not running due to “technical difficulties”. Oh well, we were used to that by now, our 4th trip in a year to WDW. So we headed back to Innoventions and emailed some pictures to family and friends back home from the IBM kiosk. The kids had fun at the Networked Living Challenge race. Dan won all 4 of the races he was in and Tim won the ones that Dan wasn’t in with him. We then had our picture taken at the Xerox kiosk and printed out on a Xerox copy machine. We ended up spending most of our time in Innoventions going from one electronic thing to another. We finally did get on TT, but because it had been down for quite a while, the Fastpass return times weren’t until mid-afternoon and the stand-by line was very long. So we hopped into the short singles line and before we knew it, we were climbing into a car! Afterwards, the kids like to test their driving skills in the simulators as you enter the GMshowroom. From there, we examined the new vehicles on display and decided we really liked the flip down VCR screens in the big van. The only other stops we made were Ice Station Cool and the Maelstrom ride at Norway. Then the kids wanted to go for lunch, so we went out the International Gateway and got on the boat to the Boardwalk. I had told them earlier about the ESPN Club, so we decided to go there. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a table with Nintendo, but we sat by the window and watched one of the many TVs. The kids commented that there were even TVs in the restroom!

After lunch, we got back on a boat and headed for MGM. We quickly made our way up Hollywood Blvd, noting that Mickey’s big blue sorcerer’s hat was almost finished. We discovered that all the Fastpasses were gone for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster but the standby time was only 30 minutes. The line moved fairly constantly and I don’t think it took any longer than the 30 minutes to finally get to the garage. As usual, I find the ride over far too quickly! We then went right over to Tower of Terror, where there was a 30 minute wait posted and finally convinced Dan to go on with Tim and I. Fortunately, we got on the ride in a lot less time. Dan doesn’t like “drop-type” rides and he said afterwards that he wasn’t going back on ever again—I bought the picture! We ended our day at MGM at the new Who Wants to Be a Millionaire game. It was very realistic and we had a great time doing the “fast finger”.

The kids decided that they wanted to go back to CSR, so I walked them to the bus and then went to the boat dock to wait for the boat back to EPCOT. I wasn’t going to miss the Tapestry of Nations Parade and Illuminations, two of my very favourite things at WDW. This was the first time that I saw the parade in the daytime. I had an excellent spot near Mexico and after the parade, I just turned and went stood at the railing and waited for the fireworks. It turned out to be the best spot, yet, that I had viewed this beautiful show from. It was like watching a performance on a stage, as everything happened right in front of me and for once, there were no trees in the way at all!

When I returned to our room at CSR, DH was waiting to go for our coffee and pastry at the coffee bar. Afterwards, we again walked around the Lago Dorado and compared “notes” on our day. This was the first trip that I let the kids do more things on their own and since they were very familiar with the bus system by now, I think everyone was much happier!
 
Sounds like it has been a perfect vacation so far! Thanks for Posting.
 
Sounds like a great day Julie, very busy too! :)

I'm glad you got to see your two favourite things at WDW from such a perfect location. I always seem to have one of those trees blocking my view of Illuminations.

Had to get your RnR coaster fix, didn't you? LOL

I remember you telling me that RnR coaster is nice and smooth, and the fact that it's over quickly is a good thing to me! I'm going to do it when I go to DisCon ( I think), I'll let you know how it goes.

This is your 4th trip to WDW in a year??? Ever consider DVC?

Thanks Julie, I'm enjoying your reports! :)
 
LOL, I can't believe how much money the state of Florida has made off us this past year! And especially Disney! Since DH is addicted to golf, it's been fairly easy to direct him in that direction, but now he's envisioning himself sitting on a cruise ship--although I don't know how he's planning to fit golf in there!

I hope you will try RnR, Kim! I can't believe how much I love that ride and that this has led to the bigger ones at IOA and SeaWorld. I think it's the padded shoulder restraints that make me feel secure, even with the loops and corkscrew! I wouldn't be able to handle those big wooden roller coasters that just have the lap bar--I'd be afraid of flying out on the big drops. I will be writing more about our day at IOA soon.
 















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