So I fell off the radar there for quite awhile! Work has been so busy the last few weeks and making me miss our trip even more than normal. I think I stayed away to ward off that post-Disney depression. But I am going to try and finish this! After all, I've got another trip coming in just a few months!
01.22.18 | Epcot
Epcot is my favorite and has been as long as I can remember going to Disney. I may have mentioned this before but the original Imagination Pavilion is where some of my earliest memories took place. I remember being fascinated with everything and especially the floor that lit up when you walked on it! Once I was older I just loved how different the park felt compared to the others and I genuinely love the 80s vibe the place has always had. While Epcot certainly isn't in the midst of glory days right now, I still love it and am excited for the changes to come (unless they take away Spaceship Earth or remove Figment entirely).
Anyway, onward to the day! Hopefully the details aren't too fuzzy!
For whatever reason on this trip we could not manage to get to the parks for rope drop this trip except for our day in AK. Any other day we seemed to arrive at the bus stop at the same time as everyone else! Especially this day- the bus was packed and the lines for bag check were massive! It was my turn to go through with our backpack and I swear it was the longest we waited all trip. Eventually we made it in and were greeted with my favorite view! Naturally we stopped for a few pictures.
As we made our way inside we reviewed the plan- we had FPs for Frozen Ever After, Spaceship Earth, and The Land. Our goal was to hit Soarin' first and use the single rider line at Test Track that afternoon. So we peeled off toward the left side of Future World and Soarin. By the time we got into the pavilion the wait was already up to 45 minutes (at around 9:15am, I believe). We weren't excited about waiting that long but knew it likely wouldn't get shorter anytime soon.
This was our second time on the Around the World version (the first being at DCA in 2016). We both like it but having come right off of Flight of Passage the day before, it wasn't quite as impressive as it once was. I also tend to think that the California version felt a little more special? I'm not sure what is missing from the update but I think something is.
After our trip around the world we were both quite hungry and it wasn't quite time for our first fastpass (SPE), so we headed for Starbucks to burn more of our gift card. The line was quite long and I contemplated getting a cupcake for breakfast but eventually settled on a breakfast sandwich and latte. We had our little breakfast while seated on a planter enjoying watching the hustle and bustle. Epcot felt much busier than we were expecting that morning so we were a bit disappointed and were thinking we'd need to plan for a break at the resort again.
Next up was Spaceship Earth!
I love this ride. It's my absolute favorite and the thing I would be saddest about Disney ever getting rid of. I know nothing is truly safe but I have everything crossed hoping that this one is. Daniel doesn't quite understand why I love it so much but he goes along with me anyway.
After our trip to the past we needed to head back to the Land for our next fastpass- Living with the Land. This is another favorite of mine (and Daniel too, this time). Basically anything that resembles "classic" Epcot is my favorite, in case you hadn't figured that out yet. We are hoping to try the Behind the Seeds tour on a future trip- maybe this Fall? My parents did it on their last trip and really enjoyed it.
World Showcase was fully open by the time we got off and Future World was still overwhelmingly busy, so we headed that way. We stopped at Mouse Gear and the first couple of Festival of the Art booths on the way.
I will say they have some nice photo opportunities for this festival! This was our first festival experience together and my only other time was a brief day at Flower & Garden in 2013 that I only vaguely remember. We really enjoyed looking at the art and the food options!
We wandered through the pavilions slowly until we got to Norway. It was time for our third fastpass of the day- Frozen Ever After. This was a new one for both of us. Daniel doesn't remember Maelstrom as it was closed when we visited in 2015 and his last Epcot day before that was when he was 10. I got to ride it in 2013, thankfully.
I do like the village portion of the queue and the ride is quite cute...but it isn't Maelstrom (#ripmaelstrom #foreverinmyheart). Having no real attachment to Maelstrom, Daniel thought it was okay. He isn't the biggest Frozen fan though. I'm glad we rode it but I think we will go back to using our top fastpass for Soarin' or Test Track in the future.
While we were waiting for FEA we also attempted to get another fastpass. There really weren't any great ride ones left so we opted for the Illuminations one. As I've mentioned, it is my favorite show and I knew it would be gone soon. We'd never used the fastpass section so decided to give it a whirl.
Next up was lunch at Via Napoli! This was based on a recommendation from my sister (who is also a vegetarian and usually gives me good advice). We split a pizza and enjoyed it well enough. Our server was very nice and we had a very nice chat with the woman next to our table who was solo dining. It was at lunch we decided to forgo our resort break. We both were just having too much fun (hence the lack of pictures) to go back.
After lunch we wandered the other half of the showcase, eventually ending up at the mural! My family had worked on the Figment one the week before and now a new one was in its place (completed picture later in the week, if you haven't seen it).
Test Track was our next stop- for the single rider line. I want to say the wait was just over an hour for standby? Or maybe it was closer to an hour and a half? It was longer than we are willing to wait anyway. Our wait in the single rider line was one of the longer ones we've had but still quicker than standby! And we ended up in the same vehicle.
The family we rode with was SO sweet! They had never been on before so we explained what it was like and their kids all loved it. I love talking with new people in the parks- and especially being able to share knowledge from our visits. Test Track is really a fun one though I definitely prefer the Radiator Springs Racers at DCA (but that probably isn't a fair comparison).
The rest of our afternoon included rides on The Seas and Journey into Imagination, crying about Universe of Energy, shopping at Mouse Gear, and watching one of the festival performances. Daniel also bought one of the screen printed shirts and it has become one of his absolute favorites to wear.
Our plan for dinner was to eat at the festival booths. This worked really well for Daniel and less well for me (seriously, where are the veggie options?!). Not to worry, I supplemented with a Mickey pretzel now and then. The two standouts were the Tacos de Puerco (for Daniel) and the Taiyaki Dessert (for me). I seriously could eat that dessert every single day. I think I had three of them over the whole week. Now I really wish I had one!
We wandered the World Showcase some more and watched the broadway performance. Daniel was so shocked at how big the interior of the Mexican pavilion was- he'd never been inside before. He also wants to eat there next time we go (but that will be during Food & Wine, so we shall see). We took a spin on the Gran Fiesta Tour- which is a ride I somehow always forget about! Not this time though! I will admit I would love to see a Coco overlay here in the future. Absolutely LOVED that movie.
With that we headed over toward the Illuminations fastpass line about an hour early. It was pretty short at that point but then we got to spend the next hour telling folks that the end of the line was down to the right! The ladies we sat with were pretty feisty in fending off the would be line cutters (and there were so many). Eventually we got to enter! But much to my dismay my MagicBand was gone. The CM let me in with Daniel (yay) but I was pretty sad. My lovely husband was determined to find it so he exited and scoured the spot we stood in line- and he found it! We figure it must have come off when I put my sweatshirt on. I was so happy! Only three days in and I was already very attached to my purple band.
Finally it was time! We had a great view! We stood right along the back of the reserved section and had zero obstructions. I cried. Daniel laughed. It was a good time. Seriously, I love Illuminations so much. I am really hoping it is still there when we go again in November. I'm fine with them replacing it if they keep the spirit of the show but I am afraid they won't.
And now time for our Memory Maker bonus photo of Illuminations-
Then it was off to the bus (which ended up being a non-Disney charter bus) and sleep. Tomorrow was a day of rest! Oh the plans we had.
