Day 2: EPCOT, Part 3: Chef Mickey's, We're meeting our character friends!
January 13, 2016
After finishing off our first Perry mission, we decided we didn't really have time for a second one. We turned in our Fone, remember kid's it is phone on a spelling test, as our trainer told us, and headed out of the World Showcase. I did want to explore a bit more, but we had evening plans and we wanted to make sure we would make them in time. It was around 4 when we finished Perry I believe. We had a FP+ for Test Track from 4 to 5. I had made it figuring it would be a good end for our first park day at EPCOT.
We headed back towards the hub and found a photopass photographer. Remembering my rule, we stopped for some pictures. Minion 3, was not interested in pictures, so I just got some pictures of me with minions 1 and 2 and of each of them. This was our first of many tinkerbelle shots. Minions 1 and 2 were great at their shock and awe faces by the end of the trip.
After the photopass we saw that Daisy would be in her spot soon and the line wasn't bad. We grabbed a spot in line. Since we were doing Chef Mickey's that night, we weren't too worried about seeing most of Mickey and friends, but we knew Daisy won't be there, so we didn't want to miss out on a photo op with her. She arrived back at her spot about 5 minutes after we got in line and we saw her maybe 5 minutes later. The photopass photographer who had just done our magic shots was apparently Daisy's photopass photographer so we got a new set of photos with a duck. The kids all loved seeing Daisy. Daisy was both minion 1 and minion 2's favorite character on their first park trip, I guess it was something to do with only being 5 and 7 months, but she also was great even at 6 1/2 and 8 1/2.
After our visit with Daisy we continued on our way to Test Track. On the way I noticed a small snack stand with cinnamon glazed almonds. So while everyone else moved ahead I stopped and got a bag. These were an awesome choice. They were the perfect size for a small snack for everyone. All the minions plus attriel and I enjoyed them. We bought them at least once more on the trip, because they were the perfect small sharing snack.
I then found everyone and we headed to Test Track for our FP+. At this point only Minion 1 and I had ridden. We also went through the single rider line so we hadn't experienced making a car yet. We all got in the FP+ line and were quickly queuing up for the make your car area. We all enjoyed making our car. Coming out of this area is a bit chaotic since all 4 lines of people are trying to get in front to go faster once the doors open to the second half of the queue. We were in line for a few minutes and then boarded our car. I like the changes they have made to this since our last visit in 2009. We all enjoyed the ride and the kids asked to go a second time. Looking at the time we figured we could do the 30 minutes standby and still be in time for our reservation for dinner so we headed back into line. There was no real line even though the sign had said 30 minutes and we were back in the queue to make our car shortly. We changed who sat with who this time. The first time I believe I had minion 2 and attriel had minions 1 and 3. This time I had minion 3 and attriel had minions 1 and 2. After going through the queue after making out car we were again in our car and racing our way through the track. After we were done we determined the ride takes about 30 minutes if there is no real wait, from entering the line to heading out.
We did a quick bathroom break on our way out and headed towards the park entrance. We decided it was late enough that we needed to head out. It was only around 5:30, but I wasn't quite sure how long it would take us to drive to Contemporary for our 7:10 dinner. In my better early then late mind it was time to go. On our way out of the park we stopped and got pictures at the front of the globe.
As she was taking the picture the photopass person told us to get together and act like we knew each other. At which point in time a random person we did not know jumped into our pictures and acted like she knew us and then continued on her way. It caused both me and attriel to burst into laughter and amused us quite a bit. So here is our picture with our extra person in it
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And here is the picture of us without our random stranger.
We then walked back to the car and loaded up because it was time for dinner with Chef Mickey!
We arrived at the Contemporary at 6:15 for our 7:10 reservation, oops I guess we had a bit more time then I was thinking. Since we were there we stopped in the shop about bought a new Mickey Mouse backpack because we had determined that my bag I had brought for the park wasn't the best choice as our main bag. I then sat with various kids while they explored the other store there and the arcade. Around 6:50 we headed to check in. We checked in and were told we would have to wait probably till out time to be called. We were fine with that, since really there wasn't much we were going to do in the next 20 minutes anyways. We then got in line for the plate picture.
Overall we met the characters, though I was only impressed with Goofy, and the good was mediocre at best. The kids had fun, but attriel and I decided that we were going with 1900 Park Fare for breakfast on Saturday rather then Chef Mickey's. We may go back, but probably only if the kids ask. There is more info in my
dining report on the food and character interactions. We did have some fun with Minnie when she came and danced with the kids during the napkin spinning show thing. By that point though, we were just so unimpressed that it didn't do anything to change our mind about the restaurant.
After our meal we headed back to the room. The maid had straightened everything up. Our bathroom light was not working though. We decided that it wasn't something we wanted to deal with right then since we had a very early day planned tomorrow so we decided to wait to call about it until morning. The kids were in bed and asleep by 9. Both Minion 2 and 3 went to bed mostly dressed since we knew it would be an early day for them.
I then talked to my Mom for a few, told her that we were having fun and that no I couldn't add FP+ to her and my Dad's tickets for Saturday, because we had FP+ for all the days on their tickets already. This ended up being fine with her then and even better later, since they didn't end up doing EPCOT on that Saturday anyways.
Attriel and I then packed the park bags, cancelled our Chef Mickey's breakfast for Saturday and ordered our breakfast for the morning at Be Our Guest. I also apparently checked photopass and determined everything was there, so I guess I answered my question about Mary Poppins, no photopass photographer was there. Attriel and I were in bed and asleep by midnight. And thus ends our first day at the parks. Tomorrow is a long day, we try Disney transportation, we eat at BoG, the kids see the Magic Kingdom for the first time this trip!
Our EPCOT day was a great day and actually worked really well as our first park day. All the kids loved EPCOT and really enjoyed everything we did.
My girls have not been into princesses, but I am nurturing my YDD's love for Anna to satisfy my girly side. Unfortunately, she now thinks she herself is a princess, which is getting old quick.
The three of them in the phone booth is pretty darn cute, too!
Um... alright then! 
