Tuesday – 29 November EPCOT
Our second park day was at EPCOT. I don’t have a lot of pictures to share for this day. Jack didn’t bring his camera and Gene’s decided to bring his back to the hotel.
The plan was for everyone to meet at EPCOT in the morning and tour Future World. In the afternoon, the grandparents would take the little ones in the car to Animal Kingdom while the remaining adults can explore World Showcase. We would meet up with them later that evening back at EPCOT.
I drove the car in the morning to EPCOT and everyone else took the monorail. I would meet them past security but before the turnstiles.
Well, the drive from GF to EPCOT was quick as I got there before 8:30 AM. I got a parking spot almost in front of the entrance and actually had to wait for the rest to arrive at 9:15 AM. So, I’m doing a head count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, wait…we’re missing some folks…Jack & Christina…the late risers.
Everyone that arrived headed to the Seas with Nemo, I would wait for Jack & Christina to arrive. By 10 AM, the crowds at security check are massive and I haven’t seen them, yet. About that time, I get a text…Jack & Christina are with the main group. They decided to take Uber. EPCOT had opened another security point way on the far left (as your facing the entrance) and that’s where they entered.
Future World was empty. The CL was projected to be a 6. Was everyone going to FEA? The morning schedule was light, Seas with Nemo, Turtle Crush, Soaring and an early lunch at Coral Reef. I almost messed up, I texted them to go to Turtle Talk for FassPass that was about to expire but it was actually for Seas with Nemo. Fortunately, the CM at TTwC straightened them out and I caught up with them at Nemo.
From Nemo to TTwC was a quick walk and we made the second seating. The kids got front row seats but from my vantage point I couldn’t see them. But Mom and Dad said both kids enjoyed it immensely.
We had split our Tier 1 Fass Pass between Soaring and FEA. Joan, Gene, Jack and I did Soaring before lunch and Grand mom, Christina and the two kids will do FEA in the evening. For two months, the best we could do was snagging four FEA FassPasses with a 6-7 PM window. I believe @haylekk and our group was there at the same time but didn’t get a chance to meet up.
Lunch at the Coral Reef was fantastic. We had a great waitress who was from China. My son-in-law Gene and her discussed…I don’t know, it was in Chinese…something about how American’s love General Tso’s chicken…or sumptin’ like that…
Although we were seated at the furthest table from the aquarium, I did have plenty of time to carry both children in my arms and walk them along the aquarium. There were one or two empty tables they used to get good views of the fish as they swam by.
We left Coral Reef at 12:45. The Big kids went to World Showcase and we took the little kids in the car to Animal Kingdom. Once more, we got parking real close to the gate at about 1:15 PM.
On our afternoon schedule was Safari, Lion King, Flights of Wonder and 5 PM dinner at Rainforest.
Our first stop with the kids was the Safari. It was a very bumpy ride but the children seemed to enjoy it.
Of all the times I was on Safari, this was the best picture of a lion I could grab from the ride.
I’m am hoping this wasn’t the same bird on the menu at the California Grill for Thursday night.
The highlight of the afternoon was attending the 3PM show of the Lion King. This was Irene’s idea and it was a good one. She knew what they would like. When the animated animals came out their eyes were as big as saucers but when the “jumping monkeys” (as Lucas called the acrobats) came out, you couldn’t divert their attention. Both pair of eyes was riveted on the monkeys. Guess it looked like play time on their beds.
All the excitement of the day took a toll on them. By the closing moments of the show, their eyes were heavy and we had to carry each out in our arms. We didn’t want to wake them so we missed the last show of Flights of Wonder. They took a quick nap in their strollers but when they woke up, we treated them to a tour thru the AK souvenir shop.
On the way there we stopped for a picture.
In the meantime, the Big kids got some photo’s done…Joan works for Siemens, we wanted to get a photo in front of the World with the Siemens logo but they couldn’t accommodate her.
The Fish-eye effect looked a little weird to me but they liked it and that is all that mattered.
Gene was able to get a night and day pic of his favorite Disney Character.
We changed our original 6 PM Rainforest AK reservation to 5 PM so we have enough time to return to EPCOT for the FEA FP window. We got seated quickly and glad too because the kids were really hungry. Both grand kids are very picky eaters, completely opposite of us two who ate anything our Mom’s cooked or had to deal with Dad. The waiter was very accommodating as Ava discovered a newfound love for Orange slices.
He kept bringing them; she kept eating them.
Even Lucas discovered a new food…twisty Mac N’ cheese…
It took us a little while to get our check but we had plenty of time to drive back to meet everyone at FEA.
We just got back to the car when we get another text from Jack. He and Christina are in a 60 minute line for a Meet & Greet with Elsa at EPCOT but the line is moving fast. “When are you getting here with Ava?”
We are about 20 minutes away, its evening now and we have to park back at EPCOT about a dozen rows back. By we time we get outside the M&G, Jack and Cristina are next; we grab Ava and literally throw her in the arms of her dad at the entrance and he runs her up to get her picture taken.
I am now headed for a beer in Germany when I realize, I HAVE AVA’ S MAGIC BAND!! Since day one, her band kept falling off so we decided to hold it for her instead of letting her wear it. Bad move. In the rush to give Ava to Dad, I forgot to give him the MB. I give my band to my daughter to get me a beer…RAN BACK to the Meet & Greet…but couldn’t find them….somehow, Jack talked his way in and they were already outside, picture taken…Geez…
The big picture moment!
It was just after 7:30 PM so the girls and kids went to FEA while the rest of us spent the next hour in Germany drinking and catching up on the day.
Jack and Chris took Ava back to the hotel, cancelling their 8 PM Tokyo Dining reservation and had dinner at the hotel.
Gene & Joan stayed for an 8 PM reservation at Nine Dragons to talk to more Chinese waitresses and watch Illuminations. Now, he has seen fireworks before but when I asked him what he thought of Illuminations…all he could say was WOW.
Thanks…reading about all the new announcements and others reports makes me want to start planning for another trip…
