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Big Mack
 United Kingdom
176 Posts
Joined: 27 Feb 2003
Status: offline |  Posted - 06 Oct 2004 : 17:39:22  
| Sunday September 12th
Well here it was at last, our first real taste of the Disney experience. My carefully planned Itinerary declared that today was EPCOT day. I have to confess here that I did get some help planning our itinerary from a website run by a former Disney VIP tour guide, it cost something like 12 pounds and was chock a block with excellent hints and tips about how to tackle all of the Disney parks. (If anyone wants the address give me a shout and I will send a DM)
So after a light breakfast (I never seemed to be hungry in the mornings in Florida!) we set off early for EPCOT. Our villa owners had told us that Osceola parkway was the quickest route to Disney and so we paid our 75 cents and away we went. Somehow, despite the huge Disney signs everywhere we managed to miss the cut off for EPCOT and ended up at Animal Kingdoms Gates! The smiling Disney worker in the booth pointed us in the right direction with a look that said this happens at least a hundred times a day!!
We followed the disabled blue line and parked up right outside the entrance. Just seeing the big golf ball (What…. that’s what it looks like to me!) got us all excited. We quickly got through the turnstiles and security search and were standing with a fairly large crowd just under the golf ball waiting for the park to open. Suddenly an old-fashioned double decker bus appeared with a whole bunch of characters on board, you should have seen our faces, even I was screaming, and then the park was opened.
We quickly made our way to the Test track and Mission space area. We got some Fastpass’s for Test track and then rode it via the stand by line. The plan was to ride it once, ride Mission Space and then ride Test track again with our Fastpass. (I know it sounds complicated but being a meticulous planner is one of my many faults!)
My in-laws were left with the bags and the rest of us headed in to the ride, straight to the front, as there was no line and straight into our car. We all thought Test track was superb and as we came to a halt my kids were shouting “Again, again”. There was still no line and the Cast member told us to remain seated if we wanted to go again, so that’s what we did. We spent a bit of time in the post ride area where my son went daft over the shiny new Hummer that was there, and then it was off to Mission space.
This one was not suitable for my daughter much too her disgust and so the four of us that could go on headed in with a bit of apprehension. Again no line whatsoever so we went straight in to the briefing room. I must admit my nerves were not being helped by the amount of times they warned us “If you suffer from claustrophobia or motion sickness you should not ride!” Finally we entered our simulator and my fears were realised when they pointed out the sick bag!! Only problem was…. there was just one!!
This ride was fantastic, although if it had lasted a second longer I would definitely have parted company with my light breakfast!
We all came off looking a bit green about the gills, except for my son he loved it.
As I sat down to recover the kids did some shopping and got Disney pins and straps to put them on (By the end of the holiday these straps were to be chock a block with pins, my kids really took to them) My stomach did not feel up to another Test track session so we did not use our Fatpass’s, but to be honest the park was that quite that we would not have needed them.
On the way out of the Mission Space shop I got talking to a cast member about hurricane Ivan (See I hadn’t forgotten about him!) She assured me that he was going to stay out well west of us and that Disney had already crossed him off of their list. This made me feel a whole lot better and we had an extra spring in our step after that news.
Well with the two “thriller” rides done I relaxed a bit, we did Honey I shrunk the audience which was brilliant. I have a slightly wonky eye, which means I do not always get the full effects of the 3-D shows but this one was brilliant. More than once I caught myself reaching out to touch the professor in his flying saucer thingy. As we were about to go into Figments ride my kids spotted Mickey and Chip giving autographs and having pictures taken. They got Chips but Mickey was just leaving. This was to be the first of many autographs and pictures with characters, I think by the end of the holiday they got just about everyone.
We did the living seas pavilion and then we headed to the world showcase section.
Remember the tatty old scooter I told you about, well it was just about now that it started to make a rather disturbing sound. Needless to say we had too push it on more than one occasion after that.
We decided we better try to reserve some seats for dinner and with a couple of fusspots in our party I opted for the Rose and Crown. With our priority seating set up we set off at a nice leisurely pace (well as leisurely as you can pushing a b****y scooter!)
I thought world showcase was lovely but not a great deal for the kids. We did the Maelstrom boat ride at Norway a couple of times and before we knew it we were at the other end of the showcase. Girls did some shopping and the kids got to meet a lot more characters when we discovered the double decker bus at the Showcase Plaza.
We heard some commotion coming from Canada and so headed over to find a folk/rock group called Off Kilter playing a show. They used Bagpipes during their show which I loved as I have been a piper since I was a boy. Before we knew it, it was time to report to the hostess at the Rose and Crown.
We got a very nice table just outside and I got an even nicer souvenir half yard glass full of ice-cold beer. We had a very nice meal although like a lot of Disney eating places the menu was not exactly extensive. I liked the way all the servers were from the UK, oh and I also liked the way they refill your half yard glass for about $7.
Then it was time to take up position for Illuminations. I absolutely loved this time of night at the parks when it is not quite fully dark but all of the lights are on, it just looked so beautiful. One of the cast members selling light up toys made my kids night when he let them have a sword fight with what looked like Star Wars light sabres, he then very kindly pointed us too a great vantage point in front of Canada where we could watch the show.
Well Illuminations, what can I say that has not already been said. Suffice to say there were seven jaws trailing on the ground when the end finally came, absolutely astounding, brilliant, and superb. If you have seen it you know what I mean, if you haven’t go see it NOW!!
With weary legs but light hearts we left EPCOT, cast members lined the exit waving goodbye. How can anyone fail to love this place? On the way out I could not help noticing so many areas that we had not even touched yet, great another reason to go back again.
My one mistake this day was to sit in the back of the bus on the way home and let my wife drive and her sister navigate (what was I thinking!!!). I know it is not an excuse but in my defence a whole yard of ale tends to cloud your judgment!! I realised something was wrong when I heard them saying “Yeah. Orlando, that’s where were heading”. We were on the I4 heading totally in the wrong direction. I managed to get them too come off at the Sea World exit and after a nice employee in a 7/11 gas station pointed us in the right direction we found our way home.
Back at the villa I surpassed myself by managing a whole half a beer before having to call it a night.
We all agreed that EPCOT was brilliant, we loved the thrillers but we also loved the way it is not such an intense park, you can wander about at your leisure just taking in the sights and Illuminations provides a spectacular end to the day, first class.
Rest day tomorrow… not many of them in my itinerary!!!! 
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E. Cosgrove
 United Kingdom
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Joined: 26 Apr 2004
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Liam_Sandie
 United Kingdom
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Madabouttigger
 United Kingdom
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Ray&Sarah
 United Kingdom
10599 Posts
Joined: 11 Nov 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 06 Oct 2004 : 18:58:53
| Absolutely brilliant report Mack. Really brings the place alive and makes me wnat to give it another try as we went years agp and were not overly impressed. |
Sarah
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LiesaAnna
 United Kingdom
11841 Posts
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 06 Oct 2004 : 20:38:38
| think i was just there for a few moments..........
its the way you tell em...............
never really fancied Epcot but think i may just change my mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Big Mack!!!!! |
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floridadreamvilla.co.uk
 United Kingdom
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LesleyB
 United Kingdom
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MTP
 United Kingdom
1433 Posts
Joined: 17 May 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 06 Oct 2004 : 23:18:37
| Hi Mack,
I have just tuned in this thread. Great reports, keep them coming.
What is the restriction on Mission Space (I know I could find it out, but I just thought from the report that you may know straight away). |
Edited by - MTP on 06 Oct 2004 23:20:11 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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MaggieAllan
 United Kingdom
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huckleberry house
 United Kingdom
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Kiddie001
 United Kingdom
250 Posts
Joined: 13 Sep 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 07 Oct 2004 : 09:02:29
| Thanks Mack,
we are off in 10 days (for the first time) - you now have me salivating!
One thing I was wondering - I recently read a news report about the tigger character being accused of groping. His defence was that the gloves are too big and thick to even know what and where you are touching someone.
If this is true how do they sign autographs? Do your kids have a book full of X's?
keep the reports coming!
cheers
Ian
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Edited by - Kiddie001 on 07 Oct 2004 09:03:50 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Daybreak
 United Kingdom
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LiesaAnna
United Kingdom
11841 Posts
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 07 Oct 2004 : 16:37:48
| quote:
Originally posted by Kiddie001
Thanks Mack,
we are off in 10 days (for the first time) - you now have me salivating!
One thing I was wondering - I recently read a news report about the tigger character being accused of groping. His defence was that the gloves are too big and thick to even know what and where you are touching someone.
If this is true how do they sign autographs? Do your kids have a book full of X's?
keep the reports coming!
cheers
Ian
i read in a paper that he had been given the goofy or pluto costume!! so that we dont know which is which, they have a "minder" with them and some stamp your autograph books with a special stamper!!!
or they do big scribble(readable...just... |
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daisy
 United Kingdom
236 Posts
Joined: 13 Sep 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 07 Oct 2004 : 20:47:41
| | hi mack, am waiting with anticipation for the next installment am going for the first time next year and reading your report is great.keep it coming |
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KirstieLou
 United Kingdom
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Lynne S
 United Kingdom
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Big Macks First Trip Part Four
More please.
