The Big Disney Birthday Bash Trip Report Updated 11/30 - Day 5 - 11/9/05 -EPCOT! About This Page:

[PrincessSharon]

Great update and pictures! Can't wait for more!

[whoSEZ]

Well, other than the boxing match, it sounds like a great day. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Ready for more! Please??

[Colexis Mom]

Another great update [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Love the pictures!

More please [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[lablady]

Sounds like great fun! Had to laugh at the fist fight! Kids can only be angels so long.....

Can't wait to hear more![img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[KandJluvdisney]

love your tr so far - keep it coming

[Luv4My4]

Sorry everyone, I couldn't figure out where to cut this one in half so it's a long one with lots of pictures!

Day 5: November 9, 2005 - EPCOT

I set our wake up call for 8:30 a.m. but was awake about a ½ hour before that. The kids woke up at around 8:15 a.m. and waited for the wake up call - it was Molly’s turn to answer it today and she really loved hearing Stitch and Mickey in the phone [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]!! I immediately started getting the kids bathed and ready since I wanted to get to EPCOT as quickly as possible to get Fastpasses for Soarin’. Then my Dad came in around 9:30 a.m. and said he and my DFIL & Carol were going to Publix for some groceries. I got the kids ready and we waited and waited, I would have left without them but I felt bad for Cathy who was waiting for her Mom in my parent’s room and it was Carol & Cathy’s last day and they were really enjoying Disney with my kids so I felt bad leaving. Anyway, they didn’t get back from Publix until around 11:05 and we didn’t get to EPCOT until 12:05 [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Of course I took the usual pictures of Spaceship earth and the girls in front of the Food & Wine Festival sign







Then we went to find the Leave a Legacy tiles that DH & I had bought on our trip without the kids last January.




Finding our tiles


Sorry the tile is a little blurry it was so sunny it was hard to see if the picture was good

When the kids got through looking at our tile (they were not as excited as we thought they would be [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]) we headed towards Soarin’ to see if there were any Fastpasses left (I knew there wouldn’t be but my Dad didn’t believe me). Of course I was right there were no fastpasses and I was a little annoyed because I had told my Dad repeatedly how early they are gone [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] My Dad promised to go to EPCOT early on Friday morning to get Fastpasses for everyone so I got over it especially since the standby wait was 300 minutes, we found out later that one of the screens had broken and that was why the standby wait was so long.

After being disappointed at Soarin’ we walked towards Mission Space since Erin wanted to try it. My DMIL went on with her because no one else was able to go on. I found out the hard way in January that I am somewhat claustrophobic and there is no way I can ever go on that ride again, Jimmy got sick in January because he kept looking at me to make sure I was ok, so he wouldn’t try it again. (I had a panic attack when I pulled the restraints over my shoulders and started pounding on the door to get out like a madwoman, the poor little girl who was on this ride with us is probably still traumatized [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/blushing.gif[/img]), my Dad is claustrophobic as well (I guess that’s where I get it from) and was afraid to try it after I described it to him and my DFIL has a pacemaker/defibrillator so he was also unable to go on. While we waited we got fastpasses for Test Track and then decided to try Universe of Energy because Shannon really likes Ellen Degeneres. We almost left when we realized that it was a 45 minute attraction but in the end decided to go on. My DMIL called while we were there and said they were done on Mission Space and my DFIL was going to take Erin on Test Track while they waited. Shannon loved Universe of Energy she really thought it was interesting so it was well worth the 45 minutes – at least she enjoyed something that was educational! When we got out of Universe of Energy everyone was pretty hungry so we started towards the World Showcase and the Food and Wine Festival. It was about 2:30 p.m. when we got there and I was starving since I hadn’t eaten much that day in preparation for stuffing myself with food from around the World. I really wanted some Cheddar Cheese Soup in Canada but it was just too hot. Unfortunately the first half of the Food and Wine Festival was filled with food that I won’t eat (lamb, venison, moussaka, sushi & Indian food of any kind, the smell of curry makes me sick) so I was still hungry for awhile. Jimmy, my Dad and DFIL had no trouble finding food, wine and beer to sample. In fact when we got to Great Britain Jimmy and my DFIL went into the Rose & Crown pub and stayed there for awhile. We (minus Jimmy & my DFIL) stopped to watch a show about King Arthur in Great Britain


The girls watching Camelot

then doubled back to Canada to see Off Kilter. This is the first time I managed to catch them (not for lack of trying [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]) and they are just awesome!! Molly fell asleep in Great Britain and somehow managed to sleep through the noise of Off Kilter





We caught up with Jimmy & my DFIL in Great Britain and continued on to France where I ran in to see if Belle and Beast were there but no luck so I took a picture of their window



for the kids. BTW I don’t like snails either so I didn’t manage to eat anything in France either. When we got to Morocco we stopped to listen to Mo Rockin but then Shannon spotted Princess Jasmine and so we got in line for pictures and autographs with her. Molly’s love of Princesses continued and she ran right up to get in the picture with no one holding her.


Shannon, Katie & Molly with Jasmine

After Morocco we went to American Adventure where I got the kids chicken nuggets and fries because Shannon informed me that there was no way that they were eating that weird World food [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] My parents, Erin, Carol & Cathy went inside American Adventure to see the show and Jimmy, the girls and I and my Din-laws sat at the tables in American Adventure for around an hour just relaxing and people watching. While we were there we watched the Fife and Drum Corp perform twice and Shannon & Katie got their picture taken with them (Molly wanted nothing to do with them I think the hats scared her)

Some pics of the Fife & Drum Corp





Shannon & Katie with the Fife & Drum guys

and the kids sat by the fountain for awhile





Finally we made our way to Italy where the kids watched Romeo & Edna and I finally got something to eat. I tried the Ziti something, it was all right, it had almost no sauce and lots of cheese but it also had something like prosciutto and I wasn’t crazy about that part of it. I ate about half of it and then went back and got myself a chocolate mousse dessert – that was delicious!!

The girls watching Romeo & Edna [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]





When we reached China there was a huge crowd watching a balancing act so we pulled over to watch. The next thing I knew I couldn’t find Shannon!!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] She was there one minute and gone the next. Katie said she had gone into the crowd in front of the acrobats but I couldn’t see her anywhere. I told my DF & DMIL and we all started looking for her, I turned around to find a CM or security person and saw Jimmy over by the China food stand on his cell phone (he didn’t even know that Shannon was missing because he was off getting more food). Jimmy started waving to me so I ran over to him and he told me that someone had found Shannon and she told them about the label she had inside her shirt with our cell phone numbers on it and they were bringing her to us. It turns out that she did go into the crowd in front of the performers but it was so jammed in there I couldn’t see her and she couldn’t find her way back to us. She saw a woman with some kids and told her that she was lost and she had a tag inside her shirt. It turns out that the woman’s husband was an FBI agent, Shannon definitely chose the right people to help her!! Thank God for that label and honest people – it was one of the scariest things ever (at least until we lost Molly on Saturday but that is a story for another day)

Keeping a firm grip on Shannon we continued around the World Showcase so I could get a Chicken Quesedilla in Mexico. This was so delicious I had to get another one! Then I took Molly inside the marketplace for a quick look around and she insisted on trying on some sombreros.





After leaving Mexico we took Shannon & Katie to Test Track and waited in the standby line (posted 40 minutes but didn’t take that long) Shannon was a little nervous but I told her it wasn’t any worse than driving on I-95 with her Dad so she went on and really enjoyed it! Katie loved it too! After Test Track we had about an hour to kill before Illuminations so we went on Spaceship Earth. This is an old ride but such a classic I always enjoy it!!

Some pictures of the girls running and dancing on the lighted tiles near Spaceship Earth




It was almost time for Illuminations so we met my parents, Erin, Carol & Cathy to watch Illuminations – they were spectacular as always. I am so glad that the kids are finally over their fear of fireworks and that Molly loves them.


Molly and Erin waiting for Illuminations to start


Molly waiting for Illuminations to start


Katie getting ready to block the scary sounds

Pictures of Illuminations















Katie & Erin watching Illuminations


Happy Shannon





After Illuminations my Dad mentioned that Soarin’ was open until 10:00 if we wanted to check the wait time so we ran over there and the wait time was only 50 minutes so we decided to go on since Carol was leaving the next day. Cathy, Jimmy, Erin, my DMIL (my DFIL had left earlier he needs to take frequent breaks because of his heart condition) and of course Molly stayed off because they were too tired to stand in line (and obviously Molly was too small) but Carol, Shannon, Katie, my Dad, Mom & I all got in line. All I can say is WOW!! This ride is fabulous!! It is so realistic, when we dove down towards the guys in the boats on the river I realized I was lifting my feet so I wouldn’t kick them in the head LOL!! I also admit that I actually started to cry a little when I saw Disneyland and Tinkerbell and the fireworks, Shannon started screaming Tink Tink again (she really loves Tink) it was so special!! I think after 10 years my favorite ride Tower of Terror might have been replaced (or at least tied for first [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img])

When we got off Soarin’ we finally left EPCOT exhausted but happy. My Mom and Katie were obviously exhausted too since they both fell asleep in the wheelchair on the way to the parking lot.



When we got back to the room we found our trusty dolls waiting up for us!! (Did I mention that I loved our Mousekeepers!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img])



The Weather Today was: Gorgeous again, we couldn’t have asked for a nicer day!

The Best Thing was: Soarin’

The Worst Thing was: Losing Shannon

The Most Magical Moment was: Seeing Disneyland on Soarin’ and having Shannon get all excited again and yell Tink, Tink!! Ahhh I just love Disney Magic!!!

Next: Day 6, Part 1 - November 10, 2005 - Erin's 16th Birthday

[Colexis Mom]

Another great update Stacey [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] How scary losing Shannon and glad she made it back okay (what nice people)!

Great pictures too!

[whoSEZ]

Wow, scary moments when you lost Shannon, but you've obviously taught her well -- she trusted her instincts enough to pick the right person and give them the info they needed to help her. Way to go, Shannon!

Love the pictures! More, please.

[PrincessSharon]

Great day, except for Shannon getting lost - that's scary! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] Glad she knew what to do and you found her again so quickly! More, please! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[BabieeMelly]

I just got all aught up, Stacey, and I'm LOVING your trip report! The girls are all unbelievably adorable, and I can't believe how much they look like you! I'm glad you guys are having fun so far. The sad picture of Katie with the pin sticking her was the cutest thing ever, sometimes kids just do the funniest things. And the thing about Indiana Jones forever ruining movies for Shannon was hysterical! Off to thread 2!