Yecats & mom, Day 8 (part 1) 11/18/04 - Goodbye Epcot

[yecats]

Day 8 (part 1) - Thursday,November 18, 2004:

CAST OF CHARACTERS:
MOM - (k/n/a Donald Duck) 57 year old somewhat disney nut.
ME - 34 year old DISNEY NUT who has had to wait one full year for her Disney fix.


TODAY'S AGENDA:
1. Epcot
2. Magic Kingdom
3. Liberty Tree Tavern with those darn squirrels (he, he)

7:30 Ringy ding dong. Stitch and the darn mouse had woken up mom once again. She was in a relatively good mood so Donald didn't wake up with her this morning but would make an appearance later on in the day.

We spent about an hour packing most of our stuff up this morning as we are checking out tomorrow morning. Both mom and I are sort of sad because its the last day for the visiting parks and then one LOOOOONNNNNGGGGG drive home. In one sense I always hate this part of the trip because I know today is going to fly by, we'll collapse in bed and then leave without really knowing when we'll be back. I always dream that I'll be back around the same time next year if circumstances allow (and sometimes they don't work out that way but the last few years have, so I pray that I have many more to come). Mom on the other hand, although she loves Disney, feels guilty putting her animals in the kennel (for longer lengths of time) and due to some money issues is happy to go about every 2 to 3 years but wishes she could go more often (sometimes the vet bills are higher than what we pay for our hotel rooms). Honestly, I dream that I go to Disney 3 to 4 times a year but money and the fact that I have bills keeps me from doing this so I hope that I'll get back to Disney sometime next Oct., Nov. or Dec.

Anyway we are packed up and ready to leave. At this point we have stopped toting our rainproof bag of goodies and other items as we are just plain tired of the extra weight and renting lockers. I have my bag with a small videocamera in it and a few other items which will tide us over.

We ate breakfast and headed on over to Epcot via the Friendship boats. I have to admit they gave those boats great names (Friendships) - I will really miss those daily commutes over to Epcot. We arrive and walk to FW taking note and a few minutes of film at the various gardens (we also wish we could get our garden to look this good - why don't those darn gardenineers come over to my house to help out). Well we watch HISTA one last time, did TT one last time, headed over to Maelstrom for a brief ride one last time then of course Donald chimed in as we had to sit through Ellens Energy Adventure one last time (I do like the ride but just like iratating mom about it). Then we rode SSE for what we thought was the last time. Mom on this ride took note of plenty of things because we know that there are rumors that this ride may eventually be replaced and you really never know when the last time you'll truly see it will be.

As we began to walk out towards the monorail to MK (around 12:30) we were stopped by a CM who did a 10 minute survey. She is a very kind lady in her early 60's (her husband of many years recently passed away but she has a wonderful spirit and is making the best of it). The survey is dealing with the food options at the park, pricing and so on. Being that I am all knowing on some Disney items I did chime in when it was inquired about how they could improve with the fact they need more food options than hamburger, hot dog, chicken and pizza. I also stated that of course the food is ridiculously pricey (had to get this one in). So apparently Disney is looking into its food crisis at Epcot. She thanked us and we thanked her for her great attitude after all that happened to her this past year (husband's passing and hurricanes). It truly is the CMs who really put on the show that make this place work.

Two monorail rides later and were at MK walking under the railroad tracks and into the show. I'll always remember the tour that we began the week with. Think I am now Nostalgia nuts. Told you I get this way at the end of the trip. Anyway we ate (mom hotdog from Casey's, I had some fries, then popcorn - really healthy lunch isn't it?). Then rode JC, PoC, Sp Mtn, BTMRR, Philharmagic, Stitches Great Escape (note, this is the one and only time I intend to ride this - I believe I'll skip it from now on). Then onto TTA, Sp. Mtn (yep one last ride) and then mom's favorite, CoP. This one really almost did us both in as we usually go when CoP isn't open as it is closed seasonally. For some reason when we go and see it closed it sort of leaves a cold spot in our hearts because simply we know what's behind the doors, can sing the music but can't ride it. Mom also is afraid that one day they'll take it out of commission and to her that is almost like taking Walt out of the park.

Anyway it is nearing our 5:10 ps for Liberty Tree Tavern. Now mom wanted to eat here again as she loved the restaurant earlier in the week. This experience is completely different from the last one earlier in the week but I'll leave that for part 2. In fact as yesterday and today's iteneraries were changed (Crystal Palace and Le Cellier were cancelled as parks had to be switched around for parade schedules) which is another reason we decided to come back to LTT. Anyway we had 20 minutes before out ps so we walked directly into HM (at this point there were barely any waits at all in the parks). The crowds that were there for the last weekend dwindled down by Tuesday and the parks have been great to run around ever since. Anyway, we exit HM for the last time and check in right at the 5 min. window at LTT (part 2).

RECAP:
Packing to leave -
Epcot -
MK -

Stay tuned for part 2 and an indepth look at how to irrate chipmunks!

 

[yecats]

Day 8 (part 2) - Thursday,November 18, 2004:

CAST OF CHARACTERS:
MOM - (k/n/a Donald Duck) 57 year old somewhat disney nut.
ME - 34 year old DISNEY NUT who has had to wait one full year for her Disney fix.


TODAY'S AGENDA:
1. Epcot
2. Magic Kingdom
3. Liberty Tree Tavern with those darn squirrels (he, he)
4. Epcot again - where did we get the energy

Now we were seated almost promptly when we checked in at Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner. We already now how the menu and character interaction work and love the food.

This time around we are seated close to the kitchen and inbetween two main areas to the right of the restaurant. As usual, our food, drink and service are great. The difference this go round is the troublemaker sitting across from me.

Mom can act a lot like Donald Duck. Sometimes she is clueless, sometimes complaining and then sometimes a BIG troublemaker. In the middle of the meal is when she decided to begin the troublemaking. Now we knew from the KTTK tour earlier in the week that the characters are changed every 30 minutes and we get to see them go in the kitchen and the new ones come right back out.

First victim - Hey look it's Chip (mister black nose). Mom then decides to sing the ALVIN CHIPMUNK CHRISTMAS SONG TO CHIP IN HER WONDERFUL ALVIN VOICE. Well Donald's behavior turned on my apparent turrets syndrome. I then decided to mess with Chip by first calling him Dale and asking him how he was related to Alvin. Second victim - Right after asking this Dale came over (yep now we have both of those chipmunks at our table). Dale (mister brown nose) is being called Chip as Donald is still singing the Alvin Christmas song. Everyone in this part of the restaurant was now taking notice.

Well Chip (k/n/ to me as Dale) was getting a bit aggravated and started moving all the food and plates around on our table. Then Dale (now being called Chip) decided to join in. As I was referring to them by each others name I had my hair in a ponytail up on my head and being held there by a hair clip. Well he decided to take out my hairclip and through it on the ground. That is when my turrets really went into action. I told them that SQUIRRELS SHOULDN'T ACT THAT WAY. Well then the hairband was pulled out, sugar was poured all over our table (everyone that can witness this in the restaurant is cracking up laughing). All of a sudden one of chipmunks begins pulling my chair I'm sitting in and throws me out the restaurant as far as he could get me by the door in the chair. Yes now I'M fighting with a SQUIRREL. OH WELL, IT'S A FAREWELL AS ITS MY LAST DAY. My mom is crying with laughter as well as everyone else as I drag myself and my chair back to my table.

Well the chipmunks had it with us and then began really acting up. They began to walk on their hands and then went sliding across the floor landing on top of one another and tumbling around. Pluto saw the activity and joined in so there were 2 chipmunks and a dog sliding all over the floors. The character assistant manager came over and admonished us for getting them started up this way. IN all honesty it was the funiest thing I've ever seen.

After this first incident our waitress was even cracking up as she said that no one has done that to them in a bit. She then stated that if we wanted to mess with someone call Pluto "Scooby or Scrappy Doo". Okay, I'm turrets out and have already been thrown out the restaurant once by the two squirrels. Third victim - Pluto came within sight of our table and I knew he was on his way when the words SCRAPPY DOO! came out in a nice booming voice with me having open arms (mom was hysterically laughing at this point). Well it was very apparent that I hurt his feelings as he began to cry, ran into a corner and hudled in a corner for 5 MINUTES. The character manager had to gather children in the area to console him and now I was being booed by everyone in the restaurant. Bad turrets.

As people were paying and leaving after eating, many stopped by us to say that they've never seen anything funnier than what happened there. Mom and I had laughed so hard. From that point on when that Chip/Dale and Pluto saw us, they messed my hair up and poured condements all over the table. Next time I think Chipmunk will be on the menu. The character manager came over and joking asked us to leave her characters alone as she could no longer manage them (they now had turrets and were all sorts of things).

Goofy came over and I tried to get him involved by calling him Pluto but he wasn't going for it (I think the word spread). By this time we were finishing dessert (and had already met with Minnie which by the way we never mess with). Well the park guide given to us Sunday stated that the park was going to be open till 8 pm. However, we were finishing our dessert and having a great conversation with the character manager when we could hear the Spectromagic music starting about 6:15. I stated to her that the parade wasn't for another hour and she confirmed that the park was closing at 7:00 due to low attendance. Now I felt rushed. BTW Kids don't try this at LTT now.

We paid the bill and ran out to catch the parade right in front of LTT and only missed the first 4 floats. By the time the parade had finished I told my mom that I was a bit upset because the park was closing early. I had wanted to reride BTMRR and Sp Mtn but now had to pick which rides we could run to. So we hit HM (another favorite of my moms) since it would be a while before she will return then ran over to PoC and just walked directly on. When we came out and began walking toward the hub, Wishes music began and mom decided let's run ASAP. Well we hurried through the shops to the front and as is my usual routine, I stopped under the train tressels to take one last look down Main Street with the first set of fireworks going off and said a brief pray that we get to come back one day. I always leave with tears in my eyes. We watched most of the fireworks on the monorail and while transferring back to the monorail to Epcot.

We really beat all the crowds. We weren't going to go back to Epcot thinking that we've been up and running all day, but after the adrenaline rush at LTT we felt better than ever. Mom stated that she could hang in a bit longer in Epcot so we re-entered Epcot and had to reride SSE then Test Track (for me I got to ride twice). We then headed into MouseGear for a bit of shopping (I collect antenna toppers and mom collects pens) so we stocked up. We began the walk back to the International Showcase stopping along the way at the various shops and eating Mickey head ice creams.

We made it to the Int. Gateway right as the Illuminations show began. We took one last look and got on the Friendship boat that came, once again walked all the way to the back and sat and watched the fireworks from there (they were still going off when we reached BW's dock). I once again walked to the Sweet shop for a rice krispy treat and briefly watched the entertainment on the BW.

Then we decided to go back to the room and finish packing what we could. Wow it had really been a day. Mom and I were waddling and moving in slow motion while packing and it was a bit too quiet (we were sad). We had both taken our baths and sitting in our beds enjoying water at midnight when we suddenly heard fireworks again. We opened the curtains and went out on the balcony (everyone was coming out on their balconies) because Epcot had another fireworks show going off (I know that they had a convention group using a facility there for a few days during the week so I don't know if they had a special party that was ending) but we sat there and watched the second show on the balcony. What a way to end the day.

RECAP:
MK -
LTT -
Those darn squirrels -
Scrappy Doo -
Epcot and shopping -
3 sets of Fireworks in one night -
Realizing we're leaving tomorrow -

Tomorrow I'll type up a small report about us leaving as we waited until the last possible minute.

 

[Wyndale]

Yecats,

I really enjoyed reading your reports...it is great that you have the opportunity to share these memories with your mom, (& Donald!)

I never interacted with any of the charaters, but am eager to try it on my next visit. Wish I could have been there to see "Chuck & Dave" (ref. Delswife) come unglued. It must have been a riot!

Thanks again!