Where Pixie-Dusted Birthday Dreams Come True! A July Trip Report! PTR Link! Pg. 116

[teedee]

I'm loving the updates. As my trip gets closer I get more into the trip reports and this is a great one.

My daughter went back for pre-planning in July, which makes her crazy. She doesn't like going back so early.

Terri

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Wasn't that location just great!

Loved. It. In my opinion even better than the 'preferred' locations.

 

[praisehisname]

I am glad you enjoyed the pictures! Did they mention when the movie was coming out?

IMDB shows 2011, but no month. Probably Memorial Day or Christmas?

 

[pooh'smate]

I am glad you enjoyed the pictures! Did they mention when the movie was coming out?

Pirates 4 is scheduled to be released on May 20, 2011.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I'm loving the updates. As my trip gets closer I get more into the trip reports and this is a great one.

My daughter went back for pre-planning in July, which makes her crazy. She doesn't like going back so early.

Terri

Ah, thank you so much!!! I am glad you are enjoying it! I love writing about our trips! It helps prolong the magic a bit longer.

We were supposed to go back July 30 until they had to cut some days off our calendar. I just think it is so wrong to go back in July -- August at least sounds better.

Loved. It. In my opinion even better than the 'preferred' locations.

I agree! Nothing beat walking over the island with that music playing!!!

IMDB shows 2011, but no month. Probably Memorial Day or Christmas?

Pirates 4 is scheduled to be released on May 20, 2011.

Hurray!!! What a great way to kick off our summer next year!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

July 19, 2010: Part One

Before going to bed the previous night, I had set the wake-up call for 6:00. Through the haze of sleep, I heard Charles answering the phone, announcing “It’s Mickey!” and promptly hanging up.

Who hangs up on Mickey Mouse???

I slept for another thirty minutes and then forced myself to get up, get ready, and wake everyone else up. We all grabbed a quick breakfast of either Pop Tarts or granola bars.

While I was waiting on everyone else to get ready, I took some early morning in the Caribbean shots.

Where were we headed today?

Another day at Epcot!

Originally I had planned today as our first Epcot day, but when Leslie (Lady Lallie) was helping me with our park plans, she convinced me it would be better to have a day and a half at Epcot instead of two full days. I was so glad we did, but I had to keep today as an Epcot day because we had a Le Cellier dinner reservation. No way was I giving that up.

We drove to Epcot again but parked in the front parking lots. No guilt for Connor this morning!

Chelsea and I got into the crazy long bag check line while Charles and Connor slipped through the Guests Without Bags entrance. One day, I want to be one of those guests.

As you can imagine on a day towards the end of July, it was already hot, hot, hot, hot with the sun beating down on us while we inched forward ever so slowly. It might not have been so bad if the people behind us weren’t the type of people who seem to think everyone wants to hear their conversations. I learned more about their political views and personal prejudices than I really wanted to at 8:45 in the morning (or any other time for that matter). Needless to say, I did not turn around and make friends while waiting.

Finally, we were through the bag check and the ticket turnstiles, and we all breathed a sigh of relief.

Good morning, Spaceship Earth!

The original plan was our tried and true Epcot rope drop plan. The kids and Charles would head to Mission: Space. I would head to Soarin’ for Fast Passes, take a quick turn through Mousegears, and meet up with them as they disembarked.

In actuality, this was the beginning of Charles having very set opinions on what we should do and when. Who would have predicted he would become the Park Nazi???

As we passed Innoventions, I suggested we duck in and grab Connor’s Fast Pass for a Kim Possible mission for this evening. Connor loves these missions to the point where I think it borders on obsession.

Now, for those of you who have been to Walt Disney World recently, do you remember what is directly opposite the Kim Possible station in Innoventions?

Why, yes, it is Storm Struck.

Raise your hand if you know my worst fear.

Yep, tornadic super cell thunderstorms.

I am a Weather Channel Junkie with the best of them!

The siren call of the Storm Struck Cast Members wheeled in Charles like a fish caught on a hook, and before I could even blink an eye, we were standing there waiting for the next show to start.

In the back of my mind, I was thinking, “But wait! We need Soarin’ Fast Passes! You need to be riding Mission: Space! The wait times are growing by the minute!”

And then, my mind answered back, “We’re at Disney! We’ve never done this before! Charles is actually wanting to do something. Who cares about the plan?”

Besides Jim Cantore was on the television talking about the destructive power of storms.

Now, keep in mind that during my internal monologue with myself, my children were apparently mistaking the panicked look in my eye over not following the plan to being scared at the prospect of an interactive show about storms. Picture if you will, my children stroking my arm and telling me it would be okay.

I had to laugh. I wasn’t the least bit worried. I was looking forward to seeing it, and I knew I wasn’t going to end up huddled on the floor in a ball crying for my mother. Again, did I mention Jim Cantore was doing the intro?

The show was neat! Although I will confess that my heart skipped a beat when the tornado siren starts at the beginning. I held it together, though. If you haven’t done Storm Struck definitely give it a shot. It was a lot of fun, and the Cast Member in charge was very dynamic and made the whole experience so enjoyable.

As we exited Storm Struck, we continued meandering through Innoventions when what to our wandering eyes did appear but The Sum of All Thrills -- the roller coaster designer and simulator.

I had told Charles all about this attraction before we left and being the video game fan that he is, he was all about it. When he saw there was no wait for it, he insisted we do it right then and there.

Again, the momentary panic in my mind at the thought of those wait times, but I am so glad we did it when we did because later in the day the wait time was sixty minutes.

I paired up with Connor since he wasn’t tall enough to design a roller coaster that went upside down, and Chelsea and Charles paired up.

After you design your roller coaster (or bobsled or jet), you go up some stairs, stow your stuff in a locker, board your simulator, and try out your ride.

As we exited, Charles kept saying over and over again that this was the BEST thing at Disney EVER -- hands-down, no contest! Now, I wouldn’t go quite that far, but it was really, really neat! It is a must-do as far as I am concerned!

So, did we head to Mission:Space next? Nope. Charles needed coffee (I did, too, but I could have waited) so we got frozen cappuccinos at the kiosk by Mission: Space. Chelsea tried her first frozen cappuccino and split a chocolate croissant thing with Connor.

We sat and enjoyed the view.

Chelsea took some pictures as well. (Remember that for later).

At last, Charles and the kids headed to Mission: Space to ride. However, I did not go get Soarin’ Fast Passes because Charles said we should just grab Test Track Fast Passes since we were right there. Okay. Fine with me. I grabbed those and browsed through Mousegears. I couldn’t resist buying a couple of odds and ends. I picked up a magnet, a deck of Haunted Mansion playing cards, and a postcard.

Afterwards I grabbed a spot in the shade and called my mom to chat. Soon after the rest of the family found me, but Chelsea discovered her brand-new camera was not in her bag!!!

A complete feeling of dread filled me…

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

A complete feeling of dread filled me…

An aura of foreboding?

On a serious note, OUCH! A lost camera so early in the trip.

I hope it turned up.

 

[hlrababy]

A frozen cappuccino sounds soooooo good right now!

Oh no.....I am hoping Ms. Chelsea found her camera!


I can't stand it when you have those types of people who talk very loud behind you. It's hard for me not to say something...lol

 

[disney<333]

What a beautiful morning! I'm sure it must of been hot, though! Wow, no run for Soarin'! I completely understand why you went to Innovations first, though! It must of felt nice to get out of the heat!
Isn't Sum of All Thrills great!? The girls LOVED this.
Do you know how many scenarios I have going through my mind about the lost camera?! You can not leave us hanging.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

I love getting up early and taking resort pictures. Thanks for sharing.

I sure hope that the lost camera showed up!

 

[Poolrat]

Doesn't it feel odd when you deviate from your regular plan?? I know I would have to bite my tongue hard not to do the Soarin' fast pass run.

It does sound like you made some great alternate plans. I think sum of all things is still a bit of a secret first thing in the morning because when I went, I was all by myself. I had a CM all to myself.

I am looking forward to hearing how great Disney Lost and Found is.

 

[MaryAz]

Fun update. good fpr ypu for "letting go"

 

[IluvXU]

Good for you for going with the flow...I think all the innovations stuff will be fun to explore someday, when we have bigger kids!

Great update, two EPCOT days in a row sounds pretty good to me!

 

[micandminforever]

I started to worry about the lost camera. Then I remembered we have pictures Chelsea took in the car on the first day, so you found the camera or have two memory cards. I am hoping you found the camera, but until your next update I will be .

I think it is great that you started the EPCOT morning with two new experiences. The Stormstruck and the Sum of all Thrills sound like fun.

 

[charming23]

Great updates. I hope Chelsea's camera is found (although I have a feeling that it was).

 

[AKL_Megs]

Lurker, but darn, I want to know what happened to that camera!!!

 

[*dreamit*doit*]

Now, keep in mind that during my internal monologue with myself, my children were apparently mistaking the panicked look in my eye over not following the plan to being scared at the prospect of an interactive show about storms. Picture if you will, my children stroking my arm and telling me it would be okay.

Soon after the rest of the family found me, but Chelsea discovered her brand-new camera was not in her bag!!!

A complete feeling of dread filled me…

I lost a camera at Silver Springs when I was a child...we ultimately found the camera, but not the film (old 110 film, does anybody remember that??) I've never gotten over it. I have a feeling Chelsea's camera resurfaced, but I'm sure not before some panic ensued.

 

[mermaid764]

Your epcot day sounds like it was off to a great start.

Innoventions sounds really neat and the sum of all thrills sounds like an interesting attraction.

Looking forward to more

 

[MeMom]

In the back of my mind, I was thinking, “But wait! We need Soarin’ Fast Passes! You need to be riding Mission: Space! The wait times are growing by the minute!”



The Sum of All Thrills -- the roller coaster designer and simulator.

I love Disney World palm tree pictures.

Sum of All Thrills and Mission:Space.
I would have just died on the spot...in two parts.
Half dead on the roller coaster and finished out on Mission:Space.
Between slow death and knowing that Soarin' wait was growing by leaps and bounds, it would have not been a good start to my day.

I'm glad it worked out for you guys, though.

I will have faith that you did get to soar later in the day.

I look forward to seeing what missions Connor was able to do. We're still 'mission failed' on getting around to doing one of those, even as many times as we have said we are going to!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I'm glad the day and 1/2 worked out at Epcot. I was worried while you were gone you could back hating me and the help I gave you on your plans.

Sometimes you just have to go with the flow at Disney. If your family is having fun then it's worth it to tweak the plans.