The way We do a Disney Re-Do ~~ Beach club Aug 13-22 - FINISHED!!! 1/20 About This Page:

[mcc0313]

SO glad to hear that everything is ok. We are here whenever you get a chance to update or just to say hi

[debrabrown]

I'll be here too when you're ready!

[DonaldGirl1]

Glad to hear everythings ok! We'll be here when you're ready to start posting!

[B.M.]

Glad to hear all is well!

[gorsh]

Totally understand! Just didn't want you to think you lost your readers

[benjiboo25]

Thank you al for the support! My BFF just returned from her first family WDW trip. She started reading my first TR...and then started on this one. Last night I got a text letting me know I need to get moving....So more is coming next!

[benjiboo25]

We got to Epcot shortly after it opened. We had no specific plans this day-We wanted to do some of our favorites and explore the countries.


Once again, we walked through FW while it was practically deserted. Still amazing!


Our first stop was to Test Track to gather more FastPasses (we could not use Hannah’s GAC since she would not get over the robots, and our little daredevil needed another chance to ride TT!).


Hannah then announced she wanted to meet characters. The other kids wanted to do more rides. Since it would be hours before the Visa Meet and Greet would be open, I took Hannah to the character spot while DH and the other kids took in some attractions (no idea what they chose…). He would also keep up with grabbing the fastpasses as often as possible…


The character line was pretty long, but still early in the day it was manageable for us. Hannah got through all the characters—except Goofy of course—who she waved to as we exited…







DH and I talked and decided to meet up in WS. Along the way Hannah and I found a photopass photographer in front of the Mexico Pavillion.





A small disappointment here….We asked for magic shots, and the photog offered to do the fairy wings. She took a few shots and exclaimed that we will be so happy at how they turned out! The next day, I checked our photopass account and they were not there. I went to a photo center and talked with a CM…the pics were kicked out by quality control managers because the wings were not an authorized option in front of the Mexico pavillion. Big Bummer!!!


DH and the kids were still in FW, so Hannah and I went to the Three Cabellaros. We had not been on that last trip. Hannah was really glad to get to ride it since one of her favorites (“small world…”) was closed for refurb during this trip.


It was just past noon but it was HOT HOT HOT.


~Weather Report~ Thursday August 19: HOT. 96. 108 heat index. Sun with fluffy clouds all day.


We decided it would be good to go back to our resort to swim and rest before coming back to Epcot later for our 6:30 ADRs at the Tokyo restaurant. So we did…

[benjiboo25]

We had plenty of time before dinner, so we trekked back to WS where I brought Delaney and Ben on Test Track while DH took Hannah to spaceship Earth. ( I think some part of our family experienced this 6 or 7 times during the trip--it often seemed like a great escape from the heat!!)

Delaney was very excited just to be waiting in line for Test Track!


Here is our ride shot.




Remember how Delaney often says, “Let’s do it again!” when we exit a ride?

This time, she was passing a cast member as she squealed it. The sweet CM asked her if she liked the ride. Delaney jumped up and down and said she “Loved” it.

Then the CM asked Delaney if she wanted to do it again. More jumping…And so the cast member motioned us to follow her as she said, “let’s go!”


I looked at her confused. She said she could take us through again. Now I was jumping up and down! The CM asked if there was anyone waiting for us outside…I said yes but that they could wait a little longer!!


We were given a special lanyard and led to the first waiting bay. Within seconds, we were loaded into the front seat of our own car and off we went! Wow!!


Here is our picture from the second time through…





It looks like this picture was taken in a more “exhilarating” point in the ride...Delaney and I both seem to be holding on for dear life! I cannot figure out where they snap the picture. I think it is funny that we both had out arms up in the first photo and hanging tight in the second. Do they take the picture at different points??


By the time we got to the photopass screens, our first photo was gone. But a CM advised me they could search for it at the camera counter--so we did. I love the first pic but the second is reminder of a great memory!!


Here is Ben trying out a car




And the kids hanging with a crash test dummy

[B.M.]

Glad to see you updating! Sounds like a great day at Epcot....

[Colexis Mom]

What a great update and a great moment at TT!

[benjiboo25]

After TT, we met back up with DH and DD and headed towards WS for our dinner. On our way, we stopped for another set of photos.













Next up: ADR at Tokyo...

[Colexis Mom]

More great pictures!

[benjiboo25]

We next headed toward the Tokyo restaurant at Japan. This was an ADR made late in our planning—after the free dining has been announced and none of our top choices were available when we needed to make a change. I tried, for a brief while, to get a different ADR, but then I started looking forward to Tokyo. It seemed like one of the few places where our dairy-allergy daughter would be able to order a “normal” meal from the menu. DH and I are also very fond of sushi and DD(6) loves any kind of seafood.


Overall impressions of this restaurant--I loved the ambiance. It was calming and beautiful. This was one of the only ADR’s that we had at the height of the mealtime crowds, but it was so calming that I did not notice any “sensory overload” from DD. The kids were all excited by the warm wash cloth brought at the start of the meal as they had never been to a restaurant where that was provided.


I would definitely visit here again, but I did not think this was a good use of the dining plan. I wanted sushi, and most of the sushi items were not considered “entrees,” nor would they allow me to substitute a sushi item as my entrée. So in the end, we ordered some ala carte sushi, and ordered entrees with the meal plan.


The only one who was not happy here was DS (8). DD(6) loves seafood and ate through all of her tempura shrimp plus mine! DD(3) loved the white rice and took all of DH’s.

Fun with chopsticks and crayons:


(HOW come the youngest was the only one who could actually use them?)

Not the plate an 8 year old boy gets excited for:



Love that tempura shrimp!



Yummy rice!:



Our yummy sushi options:






DH’s plate:

[benjiboo25]

After dinner, we explored the shops of Japan. Hannah was very sad that she had already spent all of her souvenir money. She REALLY wished she could buy a kimono. To this day, she talks about how next time she will “know better” and save all of her money for a kimono!




This fall, I found a kimono at a second-hand shop—and she adores it. (No picture available of that….)


As we left the Japan pavillion, the skies were turning ominous. In MN, skies like that would signal some major "cover-taking in the basement" weather, but no one else seemed concerned and the weather app on my phone was not showing anything beyond rain. So we pushed ahead.


Our only goal left that evening was to hit the America Pavillion and see the show. DS was hungry (he did not eat much at Tokyo) and we had been looking forward to a funnel cake. We got some more Kaki Gori along the way.

Unfortunately, the rain started before we had finished our treats, and we had to throw them away before going into the American Pavillion. So sad!


Our DS is a very patriotic lad. Whenever he sees a flag he salutes. He enjoyed the historic pictures in the American Pavillion.




I did not get to take in the show in great detail. Between the squirmy three-year-old and DD who could not stop kicking the (empty) seats in front of her, I had too many distractions. DS liked it. DH said he was tired and may have fallen asleep.


After the show, we decided to make our way back home. The rain had stopped, but the air was now steamy and thick.


Illuminations started as we made our way around WS. It was nearly over by the time we were in front of France's bakery. I was the first one through the door after Illuminations, but it filled quickly! We chose a couple French bread baguettes and pastries for the morning. Yummy!


We were back “home” before 10pm.


We hoped to get an early start the next day, as DH’s sister and her family from southern FL would be joining us at MK.

We were hoping the crowds would be as good the next day as they had been throughout our trip.

Touring plans had MK rated as a “6” the next day, the lowest rating of the week (including our Sunday at MK where we felt we had the place to ourselves much of the time.)

Our DN is just a few months younger than our Delaney, and from the first time Delaney they met, when they were both babies, our DD was smitten with her cousin. We see each other only 2-3 times a year, but Delaney cannot stay away from DN! She, especially, was looking forward to meeting up with our family.


Would Touring plans be right??? And how would the weather be for our last park day of the trip???

[B.M.]

Glad (most of you) enjoyed your meal!