Trip Report A Not So Splashy, Very Dashy, Somewhat Sleepy and A Little Frisky, Uplyfting Sept 2018 TR (Completed!)

Figment Forever · Jan 28, 2019

Day 10 Saturday September 15, 2018

Today was one day I wanted everyone to wake up early because we had a 9:00 breakfast ADR for Chef Mickey’s. While I was up and ready, my family was dragging. We managed to leave POP at around 8:30.

I made the mistake of suggesting a Lyft – but Ross would hear nothing of it. He was still recovering from the fact that not only did I use the service, but I didn’t sign up under my Jet Blue card and therefore didn’t get the points for my rides.

As we walked through security at MK, we had a small episode with security. Up until now, we had a system going through security. Almost always, we were asked to walk through the metal detectors, so we had to figure out how to go quickly with Hope in her stroller. So Julia would take Hope in the stroller and walk around while Ross and I would walk through and meet her on the other side. Earlier in the week, security told me that Julia did not have to go through the detectors. So that had been our strategy. Today however, as Ross and I were getting ready to walk through and Julia was going around with Hope, a security guard started to scream at her to get back in the line and go through the detector! Now, I have no problem with her or Hope going through, but please don’t be nasty about it. She actually was taken aback and got scared like she did something wrong and froze. He started to yell at her again! By this time Ross walked over to get her and Hope and brought them over to where we were still waiting to go through. When we all reached the front of the line, Julia walked through first, then me and then I walked back around to Ross to walk Hope around so Ross could go through the detector and the same guy yelled at us again! This time he told us to leave the stroller, with Hope in it on the side while we all walked through and then go back to get her! Ross obviously had some words with him, and even though I usually prefer him to keep his mouth shut, this guy was just rude and nasty!

We headed toward the monorail.

Figment Forever · Jan 28, 2019

We made it to the Contemporary. Today was Hope’s Disney birthday and she LOVES Chef Mickey’s!

Food was good and even though the characters rushed through, it was a great time.

We sat next to a family from Louisiana who we chatted with. Ross asked how they liked Chef Mickey’s and the dad said it is his absolute all time favorite meal of their trips. Ross asked him what he enjoyed so much and the dad replied that they always eat breakfast at CM before they head home, so it always meant the trip was over! They were a really sweet family and we wished them a safe journey home.

Figment Forever · Jan 28, 2019

Figment Forever · Jan 28, 2019

After breakfast, we hopped on the monorail and headed over to Epcot.

I wish they would make it so you don’t have to go through security after getting off the monorail. This would be our third time going through security. But at least no one yelled at us here. Ross did mention the earlier episode to one of the guards who said Julia can be asked to walk through, but not in the manner we experienced.

Our first destination was The Land.

LWTL was a walk on, so we rode there first.

As we were riding, I noticed Ross checked his phone and was responding to a text. I knew something must be wrong because he HATES when people talk or text during the rides. I asked him what was up and he said the guy that was running his route for him was having trouble with the door of his truck. Apparently, the door went off the track and the guy couldn’t get it to open. I could see he was very nervous but called and talked the guy through what he had to do. Luckily, it worked!

Figment Forever · Jan 28, 2019

Problem solved, we went on Soarin and managed to get seat in section B row one!

We had a PF for TT, so we headed that way next, but when we arrived, it was down. The weather looked a little iffy, and they said their was a storm system close by. We decided to head towards WS and walk around a bit – especially if it was going to rain later on. We had a return time for FEA, so we rode.

Hope wanted to meet Mulan, but we had missed her, so we said we would return later. Hope wanted to look at the Coco stuff in Mexico, so we turned around and went there. We had watched Coco a few weeks before our trip, so Hope really liked seeing it all. And since we were in Mexico, we also rode Donald’s boat ride. Originally, we had wanted to walk around the countries, but since the weather seemed uncertain, we decided to head back over to FW.

We stopped in Club Cool for a cool drink. The lady working behind the counter saw Hope’s birthday pin and gave her a slushy! She offered one to Julia too, but Julia declined because she said it wasn’t her birthday.

krisri18 · Jan 29, 2019

Figment Forever said:
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Love how happy Hope looks!

Spash007 · Jan 29, 2019

That's awful about the guards. I'm 30 and I still get flustered if a guard shouts orders at me! I couldn't imagine being younger, with a younger sibling and having that happened.

I do have to commend you though on Julia and Hope's behavior though. We all see *those* kids who get away with everything and anything, and I know a lot of TRs have had bad experiences with those types of kids, but yours seem the exact opposite. There's been a few times in this TR I've thought this, but the latest is Julia's honesty about it not being her birthday and turning down the slushy.

And I also need Ross' Scar shirt, even to wear to work under my work shirt haha

Figment Forever · Jan 29, 2019

krisri18 said:
Love how happy Hope looks!

Disney is her happy place!!

Figment Forever · Jan 29, 2019

Spash007 said:
That's awful about the guards. I'm 30 and I still get flustered if a guard shouts orders at me! I couldn't imagine being younger, with a younger sibling and having that happened.

I do have to commend you though on Julia and Hope's behavior though. We all see *those* kids who get away with everything and anything, and I know a lot of TRs have had bad experiences with those types of kids, but yours seem the exact opposite. There's been a few times in this TR I've thought this, but the latest is Julia's honesty about it not being her birthday and turning down the slushy.

And I also need Ross' Scar shirt, even to wear to work under my work shirt haha

Awww thank you! I'm very proud of my girls. Poor Julia was quite spooked by her experience with the guard and didn't feel comfortable walking Hope in for a few days.

Ross LOVES his shirt and wears it all the time! He gets lots of comments for it! lol

Figment Forever · Jan 29, 2019

Time to visit our favorite purple dragon! I suppose it's imminent that this pavilion will get an overhaul soon, but as horrible as this version is compared to the original, I love Figment, so I'll be sad to see him removed. With all the Figment merchandise, I hope their new vision, will include him in a prominent role. But until then, I will enjoy this version as best I can.

I was surprised that Julia did not ask any of the CM's if she could get a peek upstairs. I think since its been changed to a DVC lounge, she knows her chances are zilch. Every now and then she asks me if Ross and I will buy DVC. Right now, it wouldn't work for us. With the new announcement of the new DVC where River Country was - she is really hopping we'll give in to temptation! lol

After the ride we played for a while before heading into the gift shop.

While we were in the gift shop, Hope said she needed the bathroom, so we walked out the store. As we stepped outside, it had gotten very windy and it was apparent that a storm was coming soon. I grabbed Hope’s hand and RACED around the building to the bathrooms! I encouraged Hope to go as FAST as she could! And then, we raced back around and made it into the Pixar Film Festival just as the drops began to fall! I find it so funny that you can watch the same cartoon collection on Netflix and yet, we still must have seen this show during every day in Epcot!

When we emerged, it was still raining so we threw the stroller cover over Hope and dashed back into the gift shop. We walked around a little. Hope got a few Tsum Tsum’s and we just hung out for a while. When the rain had mostly stopped, we headed out.

Figment Forever · Jan 29, 2019

Then it was time to find Nemo!

So nice to see Hope smile on this ride!! After we found him, we walked around and then went to the next show of Crush.

We rode Spaceship Earth. I rode with Hope because this ride still bothered her and Julia rode with Ross. Ross has a terrible time dealing with Hope when she is having a sensory issue and usually, he makes the situation worse - not intentionally, he just has a tough time dealing with her. So I will almost ALWAYS tell him to go with Julia and I will handle it.

I was so hopping we would make it through the entire ride without stopping, but no luck. We were stopped for a couple of minutes, which Hope did not enjoy. I was hoping that Ross would not hear her fussing because it would make him upset, but I didn't have to worry - Apparently, Ross fell asleep on the ride. As we were exiting, Julia had to wake him up. At first I thought he was joking, but he was not!

We stopped to play some games.

Figment Forever · Jan 29, 2019

Soon it was time to blast off.

Hope and I took a spin around the earth, while Julia and Ross went to Mars. Julia liked the orange mission much better, but Ross admitted that he did not. I missed the Mars mission and considered for about 5 seconds if I should go on, but remembering my horrible experience a few years back, I knew not to take a chance!

I let Hope play a bit in the playground at the exit of the ride while we waited for Ross and Julia.

Figment Forever · Jan 29, 2019

Soon it was time for dinner so we headed back over to the Land. Dinner was at the GG.

This is one of Ross’ favorites. It used to me a favorite of mine too, but with the menu changes, it slipped off my list. However, for what lacks in the menu, makes up by the characters. Chip and Dale are fabulous! And all the characters take so much time with people. I don’t think we have ever felt rushed here.

Figment Forever · Jan 29, 2019

Hope was happy with her food.

I always feel like we waste too much food here- they give you so much!

Figment Forever · Jan 29, 2019

Ross made friends with our chef.

Hope had her birthday celebration!

We all attempted dessert - again, they give soooooo much!

With our bellies stuffed, we all waddled off. We didn’t go far, we had gotten a return time for Soarin before dinner, so we headed there.

Figment Forever · Jan 30, 2019

Julia wanted to go check out the festival center and see the remains of the energy pavilion, so that’s where our next destination was.

I love the chocolate displays!!

This made me think of you guys @dizfan917 and @bee

Figment Forever · Jan 30, 2019

Now please forgive me, but I have to confess something that bothers me. I get that Food & Wine Festival means lots of drinking, and I enjoy reading TR’s with all the pictures of different drinks that people enjoy. I don’t see anything wrong with that – that’s not what I’m talking about - so please don’t take me the wrong way. However, I really think some people take it a bit too far. As we were walking into the Festival Center, a woman was walking while carrying two beer flights as her little boy was pushing her little tot in a stroller!

A short distance away, kids were running amuck up on the hill near the festival signs totally being ignored by their parents.

And… as I walked around Epcot I was struck with a multitude of people wearing tee-shirts regarding drinking in Epcot. For example:

“Sip, Sip, Hooray!”

“Drink Drank, Drunk”

“Drinking Squad”

“Making Pour Decisions”

“Just The Beer Necessities”

“”Drinking Around The World” This particular one was worn by a very large group including little kids probably Hope’s age, which I thought was a little, I don’t know, wrong – IMHO.

Maybe it’s because I really don’t drink that it makes me feel uncomfortable, but it seems like Epcot is getting the “drinking” reputation and I just think that’s sad. On several occasions, we witnessed very loud and obnoxious groups of people who obviously were drinking way too much and behaving badly in addition to parents who were just ignoring their kids. We even saw a couple of people who sitting/laying down on benches who looked almost passed out. Somehow, I don't think this was Walt's vision for his community of tomorrow.

Okay, rant over. Lol

Figment Forever · Jan 30, 2019

Test Track was up and running so we walked over and joined a rather long FP line, probably because it was closed a large part of the day.

By now we had to decide if we wanted to stay and watch Illuminations or skedaddle before the fireworks crowd. We chose to leave and head down to DS so off we went to catch a bus.

Figment Forever · Jan 30, 2019

There was no wait for a bus and soon we were on our way.

This picture was from earlier in the day.

Figment Forever · Jan 30, 2019

We arrived at DS and walked around and shopped a little bit.

Of course we can’t go to DS without stopping for ice-cream!

We also found these guys to be quite the entertainment, but we couldn’t get Hope to smile.

Finally, we headed home and crashed. No talk of Crocs today.

Up next: The BEST Milkshake EVER & Ross’ Strategy Is Set In Place!

Trip Report A Not So Splashy, Very Dashy, Somewhat Sleepy and A Little Frisky, Uplyfting Sept 2018 TR (Completed!)

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