What a wonderful trip! Day 4 "Jim Caviezel is Awesome!"

[llij]

Day 4 - Monday, December 6th - Epcot

Another day up and at the parks by 9:00. We ended up not doing EE any day this week and that extra hour of sleep was heavenly! We headed off to TT first as that is one of our favorite rides.

What is this? Why it is Mickey Mouse! We can't see Mickey and not stop for some pictures. He loved the leopard print mouse ears that my dd's were wearing from AK and he made a big deal about them wearing them. Very cute. We saw a few other characters and took pictures. We were surprised about how uncrowded it was and how great it was to interact with the characters.

We headed over to TT and my DH picked up FP's but we really didn't need them. The standby line was only 10 minutes! Rode TT and then it was off to SE since my DD1 the Tink lover really enjoys that ride. After SE, we used our FP for TT and rode it once more! I was hoping that we would ride TT without a breakdown, but it was not to be. It broke down immediately after we got on it, so we sat and enjoyed each others company for a bit until the ride started up again.

It was about 10:30 so we decided to head into Ice Station Cool before hitting the WS. We tried all our favorite coca cola drinks and some of our not so favorites! Beverly, yuck! I don't know why I keep trying it on each trip. It isn't going to taste better, so I should just give it up! We decided that we loved the Watermelon (China) and the lemon-lime (Israel). After sampling many sodas, we left and watched the Epcot fountains which were orchestrated to Christmas music. How relaxing! I could sit hear all day watching this fountain show! Yes, there was not going to be "Crazy Santa" here today!

We had two goals in the WS today. One was to see as many storytellers as we could and two was to pick pearls in Japan. It is a tradition for the girls to pick pearls and they were chomping at the bit to head on over to the Japanese pavillion.

Our timing worked out great for everything today. As we headed by Canada, Papa Noel came out. His storytelling was great and he patiently took pictures with all of the children at the end. I felt bad for the poor man, as it was pretty warm today and I could see the sweat pouring off of him! He was great though!

 

[llij]

Sorry for the extra posts, I'm having problems posting so I thought it would be easier to break it up this way....

Ok, back to the trip!

After Papa Noel, we worked our way through the WS to Japan. We were hungry so we decided to stop in Morocco at the Tangierine Cafe. Yum! I will definitely eat there again! The girls were chomping at the bit, so we headed over to pick a pearl. A little background though....for the past few trips the girls have each picked a pearl and it has become a little tradition for us to do this. My youngest dd has always been very lucky and picked some sort of pearl worthy of the drum banging. (If you get twin pearls or a rare pearl, the CM's bang the drums and make a big deal out of it.) I know that it is my older dd's desire to one day pick a pearl that would get the drum banging. Well, you guessed it! It was not to be for her today. Of course, my dd2 the Tink lover picked another rare silver pearl and got the drum banging! Sorry dd1, it wasn't meant to be for you today. Just a little life lesson for you! Make sure you are happy for your sis though! She was pretty good about it, but I knew deep down she was bummed. Well, maybe on the next trip! I knew what would make everyone feel better! A Kaki Gori! We love these and now was the perfect time for one. Yummy! I have to say that Kaki Gori's are my favorite snack at WDW. Delicious!

We headed off to see La Befana in Italy and she was great. I used to live in Italy and I am familiar with her story. It was great to hear it and she was super with the kids. More picture taking and then it was off to Germany for their storyteller. More pictures and then we backtracked to America to catch the Voices of Liberty. We caught the tale end of the Kwanza storyteller and he was great. The Voices of Liberty were wonderful and they sang Christmas carols today. We always make it a point to see them on each trip. Well worth it!

It was time to see some more storytellers so off to China we went. Well, we got sidetracked in Norway b/c the girls wanted to ride Maelstrom. No wait for the ride. Where was everyone today? We haven't had to wait for anything which was great! The Monkey King in China was very funny and he did a great job involving all the children. My Lizzy lover (dd1) was brought into the show and that was fun to watch.

After it was off to Mexico to see the storytelling of Los Posadas. My youngest dd, the Tink lover, was a shepherd in this storytelling and we really enjoyed seeing all the kids act out Los Posadas. We all learned something today and we truly enjoyed seeing all of the storytellers so far.

It was time for a break so we headed towards the front of the park. Even though it was warm today, we weren't sure how cool it would get for CP so my DH ran back to the car to get sweatshirts, while we all rested for a bit. Thanks, sweetie! While the girls and my dad took it easy on a bench, my mom and I headed into the Art of Disney. I had never been in this shop before and it had some pretty neat stuff. I would have loved to purchase a bunch of prints, but I settled for postcards today. I need to save my pennies for some of that stuff.

With dh back, we wanted to check out the Living Seas before our 4:30 PS at the Rose and Crown. We were cutting it close on time and booked it through the LS fairly quickly. I would loved to have seen Turtle Time with Crush, but we need to save that for another trip b/c time was running out. I didn't want to turn into "Crazy Santa" and order my family around so we rushed through LS and booked it outta there for the WS again.

We had 4:30 PS with the CP package and we ended up being a few minutes early. The CM gave us a pager and we wandered through Merry ole' England while we waited to be seated. We were in luck b/c Father Christmas came out and we got to see him! He ended up picking my older dd, the Lizzy lover, to help him out during his storytelling and that was so wonderful and such a relief for us. I was so grateful b/c I knew deep down after the pearl incident and her sister being in the Los Posadas that she was hoping to be picked for something. Thankfully she was and there were smiles all around. Thank you, Father Christmas!!

Our pager went off right on time and we were seating outside on the patio overlooking the lagoon. Another relaxing moment for us! My dh, dad and I love the Harp beer here so we immediately ordered one and kicked back ready to enjoy the rest of our dinner. We were going to the 6:45 CP and couldn't wait. Jim Caviezel was the narrator and my dh and I loved his performance in the Passion of the Christ.

Dinner very good as usual. We always eat at the Rose & Crown and this evening's meal did not disappoint. We were stuffed as dessert was part of the package and I felt as if we literally rolled out of there! It was now 6:15 and we wanted to hurry and get in line for the CP. Whoa! What was this? The line was already back to Morocco! It moved quickly though and before we know it we were seated for the show. Of course, dd2, the Tink lover, decided she had to go to the bathroom NOW! Eek! DH ended up taking her and they were back literally right before the show started. That was a close one!

I have to say that the CP was one of the highlights of the trip for us! Words cannot describe how great it was. The singing was beautiful and Jim Caviezel was very moving. He gave an emotional narration and he choked up at times especially during the poem, "One Solitary Life." He added to that poem by saying "As we know from the Passion of the Christ, that on the third day He rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of the Father." WOW! Great! I loved it!! How fitting that the man who played Jesus is narrating the birth of Christ. His performance was so moving. I saw a few people shedding tears after that show. When I left, I saw a woman crying with her daughter at her side comforting her. She kept telling her how moved she was by this. Ok, now I am gonna cry!! Again! At the end of the CP, Jim C. thanked Disney for doing this and gave a great speech about how Disney was all about dreams and families. Ok, pass the tissue please.

We left CP and Epcot on cloud nine! Another amazing day! The CP was a highlight and Jim Caviezel was amazing. (He also wasn't too bad to look at either! )

Up next...
Day 5 - "Dad, who is that cute little girl singing to you?"

 

[HollyJoy]

Jill!
Awesome report. Now I know how to do them.. I think mine was rather, um, bare! LOL Oh well! My girls also were looking forward to the pearls, and both got pretty ones, though not worthy of the drums. We didn't like ANY of the sodas in the Chill station.. blech! Gross. We lucked out, for no rides broke down on us at all!

 

[llij]

Hi Holly!

Your trip sounded amazing too! I loved your report with the pictures. My pictures were all from my 35mm so they didn't scan too well. I might add a few pictures at the end of the report.

I still think it was so cool that you all were in the parade at AK! You guys looked great on the float!!

We joke around in our family about how we jinx the rides. I didn't put it in my report, but we certainly had our share of rides that malfunctioned on this trip!

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

CP is so awesome. We saw Rita Moreno last year and when she said "Hallelujah!" you knew it came from deep within her.

Whenever I hear Voices of Liberty Singing "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great job. They rejoiced with exceeding great joy." I get all choked up.

 

[llij]

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Thanks for the wonderful reports, I am enjoying reading them It brings back memories from our trip last month. We have been to WDW at Christmas for the past 5 years and it is so great. We do the Candlelight Processional every year and it is always so moving. It is the best way to put yourself in the Christmas spirit. We ate at Rose & Crown as our CP dinner too. We came away so full after eating all the food, but it was so good.

 

[tmfranlk]

Oh I am so jealous. Jim Cavizel's narration was the thing that I was most looking forward to before we had to cancel our trip. I have my fingers crossed that he'll be back next year.

 

[llij]

Oh I am so jealous. Jim Cavizel's narration was the thing that I was most looking forward to before we had to cancel our trip. I have my fingers crossed that he'll be back next year.

If Jim Caviezel comes back, then I am there!!! The crowd truly loved him!!! He is worth coming back for!