We braved the 4th!!! AND the rain...and the crowds??? 7/1-7/8 BOOKED NEXT TRIP!!!!

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

We were really feeling out drinks when we left and stumbled into the back of Italy to try to get a sneak peak behind the wall! (At this point the wall was still up for construction on the new restaurant, and from what it looked like then, I can't even believe that it is now open, just a month later!) This was my first drunken attempt to take a picture over the wall...

Not so good.....

Then I had the brilliant idea to stand on the Trevi fountain and lift the camera over the wall! I actually got it this time!

...except there really wasn't anything to see!! I didn't realize that the wall was WAY in front of where the actual restaurant would be! So when I looked at this picture, I thought they still had a LOT of work to do! But even behind this wall, the restaurant was STILL hiding!

Then we took this picture! See you can sort of see the wall on the left side where I raised the camera to take the picture.

I feel like we spent a good 20 mins just hanging around that area, and at some point, I was designated the picture taker because I think I took family pictures for about 4 or 5 groups of people! I was probably so drunk and happy that I offered, or maybe even insisted that I take everyone's pictures! Who knows! But it was fun!

Then it was time to keep walking...

We found a photopass photographer outside of Germany, almost in the exact spot we got engaged! So we had her take a picture!

Then we made our way to China...

By the time we got to Norway, the same photopass photographer that we saw in Germany, was now here! So we got another picture!

Uh-Oh!! Look what time it is!!!!!!!





Margarita Time!!!!

Of course, once we had our 'ritas, we had to keep going around World Showcase! So onto Canada one more time!!

Hehe, here's a funny video I took as we entered the other side of WS once again!
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0QctnDFo2bsmQM

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

After we passed Canada, we saw the secret doors were open and there were random characters hanging around!!

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0QctnDFo2bsmQu

After our character pics, we heard some music and decided to check it out!

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0QctnDFo2bsmQd
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0QctnDFo2bsmQ_

How cute are these kids?
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0QctnDFo2bsmRI

This was the first time we ever stopped to listen to Off Kilter and I can't wait to see them again!

Then we made our way to the UK! On the way, I saw this crazy crew! I LOVE seeing the CMs having fun! So of course, I asked him if he was the king! Since he said he was, I HAD to take a picture with him and the princesses!

I've seen hopscotch in the UK for years, so this day...I was doing it!
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0QctnDFo2bsmRZ

Then a couple asked Tom to take their picture in the UK phone booth and did the cutest pose! So we asked them to take our picture and we stole their idea!

Then it was into the pub!! Our 'ritas were long gone, by this point!

We kept on walking, and of course, took a photopass pic along the way...

I didn't get a beer at the pub, so we had to stop in France to get me a delicious frozen beverage!

Here I am trying the Grey Goose Slushie for the first time!
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0QctnDFo2bsmRq

Once we both had our drinks, we made our way to the International Gateway. For some reason (I guess because it was in the laminated itinerary) we decided to leave the land of drinks and culture and go to DHS. Boooo! That was the stupidest thing we did the whole week!

But who was there for some pics?? Donald!!

When you take a picture with characters, you are asked to set down your drinks. But this Donald was sooo funny! He was pretending to pick up our drinks and was making slurping sounds!

When Tom went to get our drinks, Donald wouldn't let me go!

We took the boat and it was the hottest, longest transportation ever! Plus, because we were out of drinks...we were starting to crash!

Soooooo....we finally got our World Showcase afternoon!! It was such a fun day and if it wasn't for the rain, we would've had many more like it!! Fortunately, we had the next day (our last day) to do it all over again!! But for now, we had DHS AND a surprising, unplanned late night trip to the MK!!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Hi Nikki!

We were there around the same time. We were there July 5-8. It was a last minute trip planned. We said the same thing about SE. We thought that maybe it was when they took down that hand that used to be there. But we were there before after they took that down and it was fine. I'm loving reading your trip. We were at MK the night of your dessert party too with the rain. Can't wait to read more!

Oh I'm soooo glad you noticed Spaceship Earth too! It was so obvious to me, I couldn't believe nobody else seemed to notice or care!

Wasn't the rain so crazy that night! Fortunately, that was the last of it!

 

[pinkpixie0920]

Oh I'm soooo glad you noticed Spaceship Earth too! It was so obvious to me, I couldn't believe nobody else seemed to notice or care!

Wasn't the rain so crazy that night! Fortunately, that was the last of it!

Yeah that night was our first night. From the looks of your pictures I wish we were there the couple days before the 4th not the days after. Oh yeah we def. noticed the dirt on SE. We talked about it the whole time.

 

[ronnmel]

I read your honeymoon trip report last year, and I've been following this one too, so it's about time I come out of lurk mode! Love it, especially your afternoon drinking in world showcase. Hope to try those Margaritas and Grey Goose slushie on my honeymoon next summer! I'm a teacher like you, so though our wedding is in May we have to wait for sumemr to go to Disney. Reading your trip report helps make the time pass a little bit faster. Started my own PTR for that purpose too.

 

[Dancegrl624]

My DD is absolutely determined to meet Marie next month (she's loved her since she was an infant). The character in the purple dress is June from Little Einstein's (my DD used to watch that show) and she's a ballerina!

Love all of your videos from around WS. Isn't Off Kilter great?! We sat and watched them for a bit last year and really enjoyed them. So happy that you guys got some quality time over in WS. So much fun.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Finally, a day that you could REALLY enjoy minus the rain and the rain bag! I have to ask, what is the building behind the secret doors? When we were there, we saw the infamous tour kids dressed up and lined up to enter it like a night club!

 

[PopArtGal]

Awe you got to see Bolt!! I love Bolt!

Wow you did a lot of drinking. I can'T hold much. I would have been so done! lol

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Yeah that night was our first night. From the looks of your pictures I wish we were there the couple days before the 4th not the days after. Oh yeah we def. noticed the dirt on SE. We talked about it the whole time.

Why, because of the crowds? We did notice the crowds pick up the last few days. I really think it had to do with the weather. There was no other explanation!

I read your honeymoon trip report last year, and I've been following this one too, so it's about time I come out of lurk mode! Love it, especially your afternoon drinking in world showcase. Hope to try those Margaritas and Grey Goose slushie on my honeymoon next summer! I'm a teacher like you, so though our wedding is in May we have to wait for sumemr to go to Disney. Reading your trip report helps make the time pass a little bit faster. Started my own PTR for that purpose too.

Yay!! Thanks for coming out of lurkdom to post!! I'm going to check out your PTR to read about your honeymoon plans. I definitely recommend both the margarita AND the grey goose slushie. A lot of people on the DIS are big fans of the Grand Marnier slush (I think because Samantha Brown featured it on her show) but I think it's not that good...the Grey Goose is MUCH better!

My DD is absolutely determined to meet Marie next month (she's loved her since she was an infant). The character in the purple dress is June from Little Einstein's (my DD used to watch that show) and she's a ballerina!

Love all of your videos from around WS. Isn't Off Kilter great?! We sat and watched them for a bit last year and really enjoyed them. So happy that you guys got some quality time over in WS. So much fun.

I really liked June. She was so pretty! We did a ballet pose together! Off Kilter was awesome! I wish more people were dancing.

Finally, a day that you could REALLY enjoy minus the rain and the rain bag! I have to ask, what is the building behind the secret doors? When we were there, we saw the infamous tour kids dressed up and lined up to enter it like a night club!

No rain bag! Wooo Hoooo! It really was a wonderful day! Quintessential Disney!

Okay, let me see if I got this...I think that they used that building for some sort of Millenium thing? I also know that they use it during Food and Wine for the Party for the Senses. I'm sure they use it for a variety of other things throughout the year but I have NO idea why the tour group would be lined up outside it! Hmmm....

 

[PopArtGal]

I can't seem to see where those doors are.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Awe you got to see Bolt!! I love Bolt!

Wow you did a lot of drinking. I can'T hold much. I would have been so done! lol

We were SHOCKED to see Bolt! It was very exciting!

Believe it or not, I don't really drink much at all in my everyday life. Occasionally, we'll have some wine or a few beers but for some reason, we just have to do it in WS! And it seems like we drank a lot, but it was over many, many hours. But believe me...it caught up to us, especially with that boat ride! Wait until you see our photopass picture at DHS! We both look shot!

I can't seem to see where those doors are.

Look at an Epcot map. They are right between Canada and UK.

http://allears.net/tp/ep/epcotmap2008opt.jpg

See where it says "World Showcase Events Plaza? The path that leads to that building has doors at the head of it (not on the map).

 

[PopArtGal]

Oh ok, I see it now. Weird I never noticed them.

 

[disneybarbie]

Looks like a perfect afternoon in Epcot!
I love all the video clips you're posting too... it's like a 'live' TR!

I would love to meet Marie on our next trip, she looks so cute!

I can remember going in that World Showplace pavillion during the Millennium celebrations, there were loads of little countries in there and an Israel ride, it was like a simulator/magic carpet ride?!

Emma x

 

[onelilspark]

So I've looked into Disney Weddings. You can have your reception in the Rotunda at the American Pavilion, but the bathrooms you use are the ones outside. Those bathrooms are dirty everytime I've used them. I couldn't imagine using them while wearing a Wedding Dress!!!!!

 

[MarieTheCat24]

I AM SO JEALOUS THAT YOU MET MARIE. I have STILL yet to meet her. It's getting to the point where I'm pretty sure that Disney just wants to mess with me so they hide her away whenever I show up.

That picture is making me crave the chicken schnitzel so bad. OMG. That stuff is so good.

And you're so right, the boat to MGM takes FOREVER and it's unbearably hot. We did it a few years ago and vowed to never do it again.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Oh ok, I see it now. Weird I never noticed them.

Yeah, if you're not looking for them, you would never know they were there!

Looks like a perfect afternoon in Epcot!
I love all the video clips you're posting too... it's like a 'live' TR!

I would love to meet Marie on our next trip, she looks so cute!

I can remember going in that World Showplace pavillion during the Millennium celebrations, there were loads of little countries in there and an Israel ride, it was like a simulator/magic carpet ride?!

Emma x

I've never been in the World Showplace pavilion! That was the closest I ever got to it!

So I've looked into Disney Weddings. You can have your reception in the Rotunda at the American Pavilion, but the bathrooms you use are the ones outside. Those bathrooms are dirty everytime I've used them. I couldn't imagine using them while wearing a Wedding Dress!!!!!

Oh the American Adventure Rotunda was my DREEEEEAM venue! When we first got engaged, I was looking into a Disney wedding and I would have LOVED to have a wedding there! It's so me! Using the outside bathrooms sounds kind of weird though! I can't believe there isn't a bathroom in the building that, at least, the bride could use!

I AM SO JEALOUS THAT YOU MET MARIE. I have STILL yet to meet her. It's getting to the point where I'm pretty sure that Disney just wants to mess with me so they hide her away whenever I show up.

That picture is making me crave the chicken schnitzel so bad. OMG. That stuff is so good.

And you're so right, the boat to MGM takes FOREVER and it's unbearably hot. We did it a few years ago and vowed to never do it again.

I know that last summer when we met Marie, it was sooo rare but since then, she's been out a lot more often. So sorry you didn't get to see her!! The chicken schnitzel at Beirgarten is.....ok. I'm spoiled though because we have an AWESOME German place near us that has the most delicious chicken schnitzel ever and it was the first, and only other cs I've ever had so comparatively.....

Screw that boat ride! And screw DHS! We never should've left WS!

 

[Nermel9]

I'm so happy you finally got a nice sunny day with blue skies, it's about time!

I love WS! I knew that picture of the bathroom was America, it's such a loooong walk when you really have to go!

I know what you mean about having to drink in WS! I don't drink a lot in every day life either, but when you are in Epcot, you have to, there are so many amazing things there that you wouldn't normally have the option of drinking! And yes, it catches up with me too! And my DH (I don't think you read my Disneymoon TR from May, but he drank so much one night he made me miss MK extra magic hours...ughhhh...I was SOOOO mad!!!! )!

Off Kilter looks like fun! I never bother with them for some reason but a lot of people love them!

 

[brookelizabeth]

The stone bench deal - owie, owie, OWIE!!!!!!!!!!! I can see the huge bump on your leg even just a few days later. How long did it take to heal?

Your pictures from Biergarten are wonderful!!! We loved our meal there this past December.

Those are some very, very random characters behind the secret doors. June and Bolt?!?! Weird! I wonder why they had them out...?

 

[Robmom]

Nice that you met Bolt. My DS loves him, he would have loved to meet him. Maybe next time.

 

[kent285]

I feel like we spent a good 20 mins just hanging around that area, and at some point, I was designated the picture taker because I think I took family pictures for about 4 or 5 groups of people! I was probably so drunk and happy that I offered, or maybe even insisted that I take everyone's pictures! Who knows! But it was fun!

That is too funny...I wonder how those pics turned out!! I LIKE the way you do Epcot...