After an abbreviated night's sleep of only 5 1/2 hours, I was awake at 6:30. It was going to be another hot day in the low 90's with a slim possibility of thunderstorms this afternoon.
Today was the start of Star Wars Weekends and I was off to MGM to get one or two pins. I arrived about 9:30 and the crowds were already moderate. By 10:30 they were bordering on ridiculous. I checked out a few of the displays. There were people dressed up like SW characters for meeting and lessons on how to use a light saber. Then I went on Star Tours which was a walk on. The big line was going into the store at the end of the ride. I hoped to avoid it by doing the ride and then just walking into the store but no such luck. If you wanted the limited edition pins, it was out to the line you went. Some 40 minutes later, I was buying the 2 pins I wanted the most. One had Star Wars Weekends on it with a picture of Mickey and Yoda. The other one spins showing C3PO on one side and the SW logo on the other. Seems Disney could have handled the crowds at the store somewhat better.
By now it was 11:30 so I went to the ABC Commissary for lunch and then decided to scooter over to EPCOT via the pathway. I had missed the guest stars parade (Anthony Daniels and Billy Dee Williams) at 11 a.m. because I was waiting in line at the store. I saw several colorful turtles on my drive over to EPCOT in the canal. The sun was really blazing down on me. By the time I got there, I needed air conditioning ASAP so I went to France to watch the movie. IMHO it's the best of all the movies at EPCOT and the music is wonderful.
Then I decided to go back to the hotel. On the way I got a Flower and Garden T-Shirt that is really beautiful and a print of a drawing of EPCOT for a friend. The people who do these prints are located in the merchant's area of the F&G show. There are many different views of the various countries. They are working on sketching every country at WS.
While out at the bus stop, I noticed a car in the parking lot. Someone had written EPCOT or Bust on the back window. A true EPCOT fanatic!
Back at the hotel, I slept for 90 minutes and then got ready to return to EPCOT to see the Turtles. It seemed even hotter. On the way to the bus, I saw the cormorant again. I've been trying to get a good picture of this bird since I arrived with no luck. I went over to the marina area to get closer. Then, right in front of me was a mother mallard and 5 little babies. They were so adorable. I got some fish food and they came right over and ate from my hand. They even let you touch them. A little boy of about 2 came over while I was there and he was all wide-eyed looking at the babies. I shared my fish food with him so he could feed them too.
After another too long bus wait, I was heading down to the American theater. I had brought my pins and pictures but no one was displaying any pins. I have some really old photos of EPCOT including one of the SE under construction. I brought the pictures over to the CM's at the pin station and before long 3 or 4 were checking them out. Next I stopped at JIYI for another ride and then picked up a FP at TT. That worked out well as my return time was 8:10-9:10 and that's when I would be leaving. Just as I was heading down to WS, my song played at the fountain so I zipped over to hear it. I got a seat at the theater and walked over to see the Japanese drummers. It was there I first started feeling somewhat odd. Light headed and queasy. I watch the Turtles perform. It was OK but certainly not the same caliber as Paul Revere and the Raiders. By the time it ended, I was feeling down right awful! The heat? Maybe. Then it dawned on me that it was 7:30 p.m. and I hadn't eaten since 11:30 a.m. I probably hadn't been drinking enough water either. So I went to the food area in America and got supper. That helped a bit.
I began to head out but did use my FP at TT. We were at the part of the ride where it looks like you're going to hit the truck when the ride broke down. Even though we were stopped, we kept hearing the glass breaking and the screech of the tires. It wasn't as bad as being stuck in IASW but it got pretty annoying after the first few times. After about 5 minutes, we were moving again. There was also another mini stop at the end of the speed area too.
I rolled back to CSR about 9:20. Got some ice cream to see if that would perk me up and then passed out at 10:30.
High Points: The turtles in the canal between EPCOT and MGM. Getting 2 LE SWW pins. The F&G T-shirt. Hearing my song at the EPCOT fountain again. TT at night. The hot air balloon over CS in the morning.
Low Points: The heat. Forgetting to eat. Feeling like I was going to pass out at EPCOT. The line at the Star Tours Store.
Weird Point: All the non-CM's dressed up like Star Wars characters at MGM.
Best Point: Feeding the baby ducks at Coronado Springs!
Photos of 5/15 and 5/16.
http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid2191207
Roberta
Today was the start of Star Wars Weekends and I was off to MGM to get one or two pins. I arrived about 9:30 and the crowds were already moderate. By 10:30 they were bordering on ridiculous. I checked out a few of the displays. There were people dressed up like SW characters for meeting and lessons on how to use a light saber. Then I went on Star Tours which was a walk on. The big line was going into the store at the end of the ride. I hoped to avoid it by doing the ride and then just walking into the store but no such luck. If you wanted the limited edition pins, it was out to the line you went. Some 40 minutes later, I was buying the 2 pins I wanted the most. One had Star Wars Weekends on it with a picture of Mickey and Yoda. The other one spins showing C3PO on one side and the SW logo on the other. Seems Disney could have handled the crowds at the store somewhat better.
By now it was 11:30 so I went to the ABC Commissary for lunch and then decided to scooter over to EPCOT via the pathway. I had missed the guest stars parade (Anthony Daniels and Billy Dee Williams) at 11 a.m. because I was waiting in line at the store. I saw several colorful turtles on my drive over to EPCOT in the canal. The sun was really blazing down on me. By the time I got there, I needed air conditioning ASAP so I went to France to watch the movie. IMHO it's the best of all the movies at EPCOT and the music is wonderful.
Then I decided to go back to the hotel. On the way I got a Flower and Garden T-Shirt that is really beautiful and a print of a drawing of EPCOT for a friend. The people who do these prints are located in the merchant's area of the F&G show. There are many different views of the various countries. They are working on sketching every country at WS.
While out at the bus stop, I noticed a car in the parking lot. Someone had written EPCOT or Bust on the back window. A true EPCOT fanatic!
Back at the hotel, I slept for 90 minutes and then got ready to return to EPCOT to see the Turtles. It seemed even hotter. On the way to the bus, I saw the cormorant again. I've been trying to get a good picture of this bird since I arrived with no luck. I went over to the marina area to get closer. Then, right in front of me was a mother mallard and 5 little babies. They were so adorable. I got some fish food and they came right over and ate from my hand. They even let you touch them. A little boy of about 2 came over while I was there and he was all wide-eyed looking at the babies. I shared my fish food with him so he could feed them too.
After another too long bus wait, I was heading down to the American theater. I had brought my pins and pictures but no one was displaying any pins. I have some really old photos of EPCOT including one of the SE under construction. I brought the pictures over to the CM's at the pin station and before long 3 or 4 were checking them out. Next I stopped at JIYI for another ride and then picked up a FP at TT. That worked out well as my return time was 8:10-9:10 and that's when I would be leaving. Just as I was heading down to WS, my song played at the fountain so I zipped over to hear it. I got a seat at the theater and walked over to see the Japanese drummers. It was there I first started feeling somewhat odd. Light headed and queasy. I watch the Turtles perform. It was OK but certainly not the same caliber as Paul Revere and the Raiders. By the time it ended, I was feeling down right awful! The heat? Maybe. Then it dawned on me that it was 7:30 p.m. and I hadn't eaten since 11:30 a.m. I probably hadn't been drinking enough water either. So I went to the food area in America and got supper. That helped a bit.
I began to head out but did use my FP at TT. We were at the part of the ride where it looks like you're going to hit the truck when the ride broke down. Even though we were stopped, we kept hearing the glass breaking and the screech of the tires. It wasn't as bad as being stuck in IASW but it got pretty annoying after the first few times. After about 5 minutes, we were moving again. There was also another mini stop at the end of the speed area too.
I rolled back to CSR about 9:20. Got some ice cream to see if that would perk me up and then passed out at 10:30.
High Points: The turtles in the canal between EPCOT and MGM. Getting 2 LE SWW pins. The F&G T-shirt. Hearing my song at the EPCOT fountain again. TT at night. The hot air balloon over CS in the morning.
Low Points: The heat. Forgetting to eat. Feeling like I was going to pass out at EPCOT. The line at the Star Tours Store.
Weird Point: All the non-CM's dressed up like Star Wars characters at MGM.
Best Point: Feeding the baby ducks at Coronado Springs!
Photos of 5/15 and 5/16.
http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid2191207
Roberta
