Day 4: Epcot
The plan for our third park day was to sleep in a bit and get to Epcot around 10 for a Mission Space FP, and standby for Test Track. However, because we’d stayed out later than expected for the MVMCP, we were slow getting started. I had a 9am FP for Spaceship Earth which I was 100% prepared to miss. I thought we’d make MS, though. By the time we’d gotten up and ready for the day, and eaten something at the Contempo Café, it was after 10. It took us a while to take the monorail over to Epcot, so I knew we’d never make MS.
What that meant, though was that we could slowly stroll into Epcot for the first time in forever. We stopped to pick up a sorcerer’s hat for DS, and a couple of Chip & Dale Scavenger Hunts. It was cold that morning, so we were very bundled up. Jackets and hats at least part of the day, plus tennis shoes for me. Good thing they’d dried out after the rain yesterday. However, little known fact about me. I have one bad pinkie toe that tucks under the others. I’d put band aids on both toes, which usually works to keep them apart and pain-free. Really, the best solution for me is to wear sandals. But again, it was COLD. More on that later.
Once we were in the park we started making our way over to Norway, since our first fastpass was now Frozen. We took a long way around, since I got turned around, and ended up going past Test Track. The wait was already posted at 75 minutes. Glad we weren’t really trying to ride it. After Frozen – which was quite fun – we started searching for Chip & Dale. We looked and we looked. Finally, I convinced DS to ask for help from some pin traders. They said it was “near a troll” which was good enough for us! Finally, our first wreath. Once we knew what we were looking for, it went quicker for us.
We had a lunch reservation for Biergarten so started working that way but stopped in China to look for Chip & Dale. We were unsuccessful but knew we’d have time to come back. In Germany we searched and searched before lunch and finally found the wreath. I loved all the decorations here.
We checked in for our lunch reservation and only had to wait a few minutes. We were seated with two couples who were great company. One couple was on their first trip without kids. I told them my parents were sad the first time they went to Disney without us kids. She said “Yeah, that’s what we’ll tell our kids, too” HAHA! DH and I ate a ton of food (the cabbage stands out for me, for some reason), DD ate pretty well – sausage, green beans, pretzel bread, and tastes of some other things. DS again ate… nothing? A couple brownies? Why is he considered a Disney Adult?! We ended up sitting through two of the musical shows and it was a quiet, warm, relaxing break. DD and I snuggled for a while and I could tell she was ready for a nap. While sitting there, I snagged fastpasses for the 4 of us for Soarin’ – right at the time I’d hoped!
After we peeled ourselves away from Biergarten, we went back to China and found our wreath, and then worked our way around the rest of World Showcase. We stopped for the Voices of Liberty, who were amazing, as always. I had to choke back tears.
Then, on to Japan where I picked up some chopsticks. That was the one souvenir I’d wanted a couple of years ago and didn’t get. We were getting better and better at finding the Chip & Dale Wreaths, so some of the later countries went quickly. Since DD was tired and whiny, we stopped for the movie in France. I’d hoped she’d nap, but no luck. I think DH did, though!
I’d wanted to see some of the holiday cheer meisters (the holiday who-by whaty?) in Italy, Norway, and France, but we were never there at the right time. By the time we left France, DD was in full meltdown mode because she wanted to ride rides. She and I sat for a while on a curb in the UK while she cried. My one foot was killing me by that point, so sitting for a while was a relief. I’d tried to explain to her that we were walking to a ride, but it was far away. That didn’t sink in very well, though. While she cried, DS and DH went over to Canada to get the “last” wreath. We hadn’t done Mexico, but by the power of deduction….
I finally got DD calmed down, and piggy-backed her out of WS and back to a store, to turn in the Chip & Dale stickers. We’d hoped for pins as a reward, but it was only a pack of holiday cards. Disappointing. It got the kids into each country, if even for just a few minutes, though. We practically sprinted to a bathroom, and then over to the Land pavilion for RIDES!
We were a few minutes early for our Soarin’ FP, so we got in line for LwtL, which I love. After a short (less than 10 minute) wait, we were on and enjoying the greenhouse. They had some cute Christmas decorations. I don’t know why I like that ride so much, but I really do.
Then over to Soarin’ which we all loved, too. This was the first time I noticed the scents, and now it will forever be “the ride that smells like elephants” to my kids. I asked for “B” too early and got the “B” concourse instead of the “B” section. Whoops. So, we were off to the side a little, but not all the way. It was noticeable, but my family was already rolling their eyes at me, so I didn’t ask to move. While in that line, I picked up fastpasses for Spaceship Earth – for 45 minutes later. Yay!
After Soarin’ we slowly made our way over to Spaceship Earth. We went up to the photographers at the front gate for a few pictures. The kids were kind of into it at this point. Once our fastpass window opened, we hopped in line for Spaceship Earth. Standby was still 30 minutes. I felt bad for the poor saps who were waiting in line, in the cold, and could’ve grabbed a FP for RIGHT NOW. DS loves Spaceship Earth. He probably would’ve rode again, but there were new rides to ride!
DH and the kids headed over to Mission Space Orange, next. They were all excited about that one, but DD was nervous. I had no interest in orange, since I’d get motion sick, so I stayed behind to try to figure out a missing ride photo from a few days earlier. After a little searching the CM (who had just taken our pictures in front of Spaceship Earth), found them and it was all figure out. I limped over to Mission Space and thankfully sat down for a rest. I took a quick look at my foot but couldn’t tell what was going on with it.
While waiting for everyone to come out, I saw a dining reservation for San Angel, for about an hour later. We’d planned to eat at the Mexico QS, but I was hesitant to do that because it was so cold. That’s all outside seating, so after an OK from the family, I booked San Angel. They kindly offered to ride MS Green with me, since I’d never gotten to experience it before. It was … fine… but I don’t feel the need to do it again.
We hiked over to the Mexico Pavilion and did a little shopping and rode the boat ride. Everyone, especially DS, was getting hungry at that point, so I checked in and we sat down to wait. It was a surprisingly long wait. Really, probably 10 minutes. DS was hangry, though, so he was going towards a meltdown. I suppose, he hadn’t really eaten anything all day, since he didn’t bother to eat lunch, and we never did stop for snacks. He decided he didn’t like anything on the menu, so I picked something for him that I thought he’d like. DD picked quesadillas. She ate them, but again she really preferred my dinner. At one point she was two-fisting tacos. This was just an OK meal. The food was fine but not memorable. At least it was inside and warm, though. I wouldn’t go back since there are better options at Epcot.
I’d planned for us to hang around for a little longer for the fireworks. However, everyone was tired and just DONE for the day. We left and got on the monorail for a quiet-ish ride back to BLT. I’m sad we didn’t see the show but a good night’s sleep was more important. We saw other fireworks as we made our way home.
When we got back, I took my shoes, socks, and band aids off. I had a HUGE blister on my toe. OUCH. So, even though it was cold, I knew I could no longer wear my tennis shoes. I guess I’d gotten the band-aid in the wrong place and it did more damage than good.
Notes for next time:
- I’d like more time at Epcot. More snacking and enjoying World Showcase. More time for the exploration after rides
- A midday break is hard, here, but would be nice to get out of the park for a while. Maybe just two partial days?
- Never go back to San Angel Inn. It was slow. Tables were too close together. The food was just OK
- Force snacks on the kids if they’re behaving badly
We decided to go check at 7DMT and see if they could tell us when our FP would convert. She was oblivious. She couldn’t understand what I was asking. So, I gave up.
