Day One: Epcot (Carrie)

It’s 8:00 Friday night, and we are back at our hotel room. We just picked up a turkey sandwich and grapes to share from the POP food court. In a little bit, I think we’re going to hit the swimming pool.



Today was an excellent Epcot day, even if we’re missing Illuminations. We decided it’s more important to maintain our energy and sanity than to see a fireworks/laser show that we’ve both seen before.




Anyway, the morning started with us rising at 6:45 to get to Epcot a little after 8:00. We were first in line at one of the turnstiles. Awesome! During the 45 minute wait before entering the park, we chatted up a Dream Team member and traded pins with him. At 8:45, we were allowed into the park, where we waited at a rope near Innoventions West. Again, we got to chat up some cast members and Porkchop was hugged and high-fived by many cast members.



Our first stop after the rope drop was picking up Soarin’ fast passes. After that, we rode Test Track and Mission Space (green team). After Soarin’, we ate lunch at the Seasons Grill (seared ahi tuna salad and a fruit tart for me) and then rode Living with the Land.

Living with the Land is definitely my favorite ride at Epcot. I love the crazy horticulture projects! Tomato trees, giant hanging pumpkins, and squash grown in the shape of Mickey ears!



Before heading to the World Showcase, we also did the following:

• Had a character picture taken at Innoventions. Since we have a Disney Visa, we were able to get a free 5x7.




• Sampled sodas of the World at the Coke pavilion place.



• Scoped out the Flower and Garden festival displays. Very nice living topiaries.





• Rode the other usual rides, such as Spaceship Earth, Journey into the Imagination, and Universe of Energy.


• Saw Turtle Talk with Crush. I didn’t expect to enjoy it so much, but I did because of the live improv, interactive performance.

So…the World Showcase…

The World Showcase always disappoints me. It makes me embarrassed because of the superficial look at different cultures. I don’t want the international cast members think that I just want to buy their goods. Overpriced goods at that. For example, the Japanese candy is WAY overpriced (no surprise), but why would I spend $5.00 on candy that I can get for a $1.00 at the international grocery in our neighborhood?

Anyway, the World Showcase makes me feel weird.

We did, however, catch an acrobatic performance at China, and it was the best thing ever.




Also, last complaint about the World Showcase, it’s always really HOT over there. And crowded.

After “visiting” Mexico, Porkchop and I decided to skip Illuminations and head back to the hotel. But before leaving, we stopped back at Innoventions and took a Segway for a spin. So much fun!

Two Memories
This is where I reminisce about a previous trip to Disney World.

When the Disney bus pulled into the Epcot parking lot this morning, my mind flashed back to pulling into the same parking lot with my dad and sister back in 1993. My dad is someone who doesn’t think rules and regulations apply to him, even simple etiquette guidelines. If there is a rule to break, he will do it. If you’ve ever driven to Disney World, you might recall that Disney staff members guide you into the parking lots so that the furthest spots are filled first. My dad decided that wasn’t going to walk across the parking lot to the tram, so he pulled out of the line of cars and piloted us to a closer spot. As we were walking to the tram, staff members were chasing us and yelling at my dad.

It was embarrassing.

Things improved once in Epcot. You might remember that Spaceship Earth was once sponsored by AT&T. If you used a lot of long distance minutes like my parents did, you received some special promotional things, like getting to ride a secret elevator inside Spaceship Earth and enjoying light refreshments in a secret AT&T reception area. Afterwards, you were ushered down to the part of the ride where people were exiting the cars. So, you were already seated in a car when it came up to the loading area. Awesome!