PDA

View Full Version : kidsatheart thru and thru-parkin' it 2


kidsatheart
04-22-2008, 08:27 PM
It all seems so long ago and far away now as I stare out the windows at our wonderful :thumbsway spring blizzard. Its been snowing and blowing for 2 days. Nasty, nasty, nasty!

Now, where was I? Oh, yeah...getting ready for the day at Epcot.

To backtrack just a little bit to day 1 at MK, we had a couple of close encounters with the Dream Team. After zipping around the park first thing in the morning, we found ourselves debating whether to brave the Space Mountain lineup for a 2nd ride, or to head back to SSR. A Dream Team CM approached us and offered us preferred seating to a live concert about to begin. Unfortunately, we weren't in the mood for the a capella group :sing:, and didn't really realize our good fortune. That is, until we took a look at the line-up to get into the concert! The timing just wasn't right for us and we declined.

Later that evening, during EMH, it was a bit cool and we were heading at a break-neck pace somewhere (?); can't remember now. SIL was in the lead--she was the coldest! :brrrrrr: A CM came up to her and said, you look like you are really cold. She was so focussed on our destination that she simply replied, Yes, I am, and kept on going. I wonder, wonder, wonder what may have happened if she had stopped and engaged in conversation? Maybe the CM had something wonderful in mind? We'll never know, but after that I made sure that everybody knew to be on the lookout for Dream Team CMs and to make time to chat them up.

It didn't help. We didn't have any more close encounters with the Dream Team.

Epcot was such a surprise...1st visit for me and mine. SIL and BIL had been before about a decade ago. The F&G Festival was a treat. I loved the surf board sign.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn277/howboutnow_bucket/small_flowerssign2.jpg

Oops, must run. Snowstorm be darned--I've got to get to my massage appt. TTFN, as Tigger might say. And, oh yeah, I finally created a bit of a signature.

glypnirsgirl
04-22-2008, 11:46 PM
Looking forward to more info!

7swans
04-23-2008, 01:01 AM
Ya, what she said & don't forget to include where you ate!

harmrose22
04-23-2008, 01:43 AM
Ya, what she said & don't forget to include where you ate!

Ha, ha! Definitely add the food! Looking forward to hearing more!

kidsatheart
04-23-2008, 10:26 PM
You'll all laugh when you find out where we had dinner on our Epcot day. Who knew that forum readers were such foodies? LOL :yummy:

The massage yesterday was awesome and helped me kick a cold that's been bugging me for a few days. Shout out to Jennifer, my massage therapist! She's awesome.

There's a lot to see at Epcot and a lot of ground to cover. It seemed kinda weird to walk right past everything at the entrance area in our quest for FPs for Soarin'. We couldn't help but admire the flowers though. It'll be a couple of months before we can even begin to think about setting flowers outside here at home. Soak this up.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn277/howboutnow_bucket/small_flowersred.jpg

The Land building was congested, so we knew we had another one of "those" days ahead. Our next destination was the Test Track. SIL had a look at the cars zooming by overhead and the lineups and bid us adieu. She and BIL headed for World Showcase and a little leisurely strolling.

We got in line. Was it 20 or 40 minutes? I forget, but whatever the timing was it was exact and we took the single ride line to move through more quickly than the group line. Test Track was great fun!

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn277/howboutnow_bucket/small_image02.jpg

And, the exhibits after the ride caught our attention, especially the Richard Petty NASCAR.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn277/howboutnow_bucket/small_testtrack7.jpg

We came out expecting to head over to Mission Space, but it was so crowded! As we stood debating our options, guess what? A man came over to us and offered us 4 FPs for Test Track later in the day! :woohoodan Who needs a dream team when the guests are so generous? :)

We were close to World Showcase and fans of Mexican food, so off we went for lunch. Donald Duck was across from the CS, so we stopped to say hi.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn277/howboutnow_bucket/small_austinmexicandonaldduck.jpg

Dang..gotta run...school's out and I promised to pick up DS 2. More later! Stay tuned for that amazing ADR....

kidsatheart
04-25-2008, 04:00 AM
oh, yes...we were just about to have CS in Mexico at the WS in Epcot...I was distracted. We had 4 FPs for Test Track and SIL and BIL to hook up with at some point and just couldn't settle on how to proceed. :scratchch

First, relax...its a vacation...ok. So off to wander aimlessly for a bit to burn off time 'til FPs. I was enchanted by the Peter Pan topiaries, especially the treasure chest...

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn277/howboutnow_bucket/small_flowerstreasurechest.jpg

...and tinker bell

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn277/howboutnow_bucket/small_topiary7.jpg

We visited Minnie's Butterfly Garden, but most were still in cocoons! We didn't brave the line up for Spaceship Earth, but indulged DS's jelly bean craving...I don't think he could have gotten more in the bag. We're still eating jelly beans.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn277/howboutnow_bucket/small_crowd.jpg

Finally, it was time for the 2nd spin around the Test Track and to hook up with SIL and BIL. I was jealous...they had spent the afternoon touring World Showcase and I had barely set foot in it. Obviously, this calls for another WDW visit--sooner than later!

But we had a new mission....to get back to Soarin' and use our FPs. I felt sorry for all those people waiting in line...no wonder patience thins and tempers sometimes flare. That's a lot of waiting. Soarin' is absolutely worth it, though! What a great flight...and the smell of the orange groves as you fly over! Such an amazing sense of freedom!

Afterwards, we were ready to take a break and head back to SSR. Here's DS enjoying the Florida sunshine (LOL)!

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn277/howboutnow_bucket/small_flowersquin.jpg

Our plans were to return to Epcot that evening for an ADR at Biergarten. BIL has German ancestry, so I was thinking this would be fun for him especially. However, there was a bit of a coup at hand...:help: or maybe they were waving the red flag of surrender? We decided to cancel, stay in and order Pizza instead! We all got to put our feet up, watch the Jeff Dunham comedy videos DS had picked up earlier in the trip at the Virgin Megastore in DD, and use the Congress Park pool.

It was a good choice...the next day was DH's birthday and we had AK :monkey: planned, Cirque de Soleil, and Raglan Road Irish Pub to look forward to.

glypnirsgirl
04-25-2008, 05:12 AM
Yep _ Sometimes it is better to surrender! ENJOYING your TR - Pics are great.
Elaine

7swans
04-25-2008, 11:55 AM
Love the pic of your DS "enjoying" the FL sun I bet you suggested he wear something other than black!

Too bad about Biergarten, we had a blast there. There is always next time!

I hope you took food pictures at Raglan Road!

Thanks for sharing your trip w/us!:burn: