Trip Report Hurricanes, Foot Pains and “What The Crocs Just Happened?” Anniversary Tale – A Sept/Irma 2017 TR (COMPLETED)

So here we are again… Another amazing trip is over.

My original title for the is report was:

The Best-Laid Plans Of The Mouse & Men… because so many of our carefully thought out schedules & plans were completely turned upside down by Irma and other “forces” along the way.

However, Ross and Julia who do not share my love for Robert Burns or John Steinbeck vetoed that and came up with their own title.

Before I begin our tale, I want to express and offer our thoughts and prayers to all who suffered in Hurricane Irma as well as Harvey & Maria. There are times when I joke about the fact that we were in Florida during the hurricane, but in no way do I not realize the devastation that was caused to so many.

That being said... Let the Trip Report begin! Who’s in?

 

[Figment Forever]

Technology is great, until it isn't. You were all very patient dealing with this issue, not sure many people would be so nice about it.

As long as he had no issues getting into the parks, it wasn't a big deal. Once I realized he could just use Julia's extra band, it was fine and Juia decided it was good "TR" material. But it was odd how they could not correct it - or figure out what caused it in the first place.

 

[Figment Forever]

You are soooo right! He brings something special to the show.. nobody can compare to his performances!

Mmmmm Blaze! One of my favorite QS spots.

Julia and I are hoping they open a Blaze here in NY! lol

 

[Figment Forever]

After lunch in Germany, we walked over to the gift shop and picked up another bag of caramel corn.

The girls wanted to get Mulan’s autograph, so we ventured into China.

 

[Figment Forever]

Mulan had a bit of a line compared to what we had been experiencing the past few days. As we were waiting, we got to witness a fight between a man and the CM in charge of the line. The CM was informing guests that Mulan would be leaving in about 15 minutes and that she would only get to see around 4 or 5 more families. At the time we were 3rd in line. The man was several groups behind us and of course, he was NOT happy to have been waiting only to be told that he may be turned away. Now, usually, the CM’s cut the line off and do not even let guests get in a line when they know the family will not get to see the character. However, this CM was a bit “odd”. He didn’t seem to mind telling people that they may not make it.

It turns out, Mulan was returning, but it would be about 20 minutes before she returned. I don’t think the CM was explaining it very well. Luckily, we got to see Mulan and were on our way, so we didn’t get to see how the altercation ended.

After Mulan, we decided to watch the film. We have never done this before so we were all a little excited. I don’t think I have ever done a Circle vision film, and I’ve read comments that people say it feels like you’re moving. Apparently, Julia thought it was cool and I agreed it was nice, but not something I would need to do again.

We perused the gift shop – another area we had never known existed.

Then we were on our way.

 

[MississippiBelle]

So glad y'all were safe and had a great time! Hope is growing so much! I'm so proud of all she was able to accomplish this trip Also, how cool that Julia is studying Japanese!

 

[Figment Forever]

After a quick bathroom stop, we made our way into the Legacy Showcase where I fell in love with a F&W shirt with Figment on it, only to be crushed because it was a Passholder only purchase! Oh well, according to Hope, we should be moving to Florida in 9 years... so maybe I'll have an AP one day...

Aside from that, it was fun to walk around and see a little EPCOT history.

Then we were on our way to space…

 

[Figment Forever]

So glad y'all were safe and had a great time! Hope is growing so much! I'm so proud of all she was able to accomplish this trip Also, how cool that Julia is studying Japanese!

Thanks so much!! It was a very special and exciting trip! OMG - Japanese has been a nightmare this year! She is enrolled in an online class and has a CRAZY teacher who thinks his high school students are all advanced college kids! He actually yelled at one kid during the 1st semester final exam in December and told him to go get a refund - that he was wasting his (the teacher's) time! She is holding her own but sadly, he has drained much of her excitement for leaning the language. It has been quite the learning experience for her! I keep telling her it's good practice for all the crazy professors she will get in college! lol

 

[Figment Forever]

I was hoping that Julia’s first impression of the Mission Space redue was off a little… and that I would enjoy the new mission. It was sad not to see Gary Sinise – is it me or is the dialogue the same?

To me, the new mission was barely OK. I would have rather gone back to the Mars mission, but I didn’t want to chance getting sick. I didn’t want Hope to take a chance either – so we all left a little disappointed. If Hope didn’t want to ride again, I probably would not have visited again during our trip.

 

[Figment Forever]

I know Figment needs some love, but it remains one of my favorites! So we journeyed off into our Imagination.

Hope played some games and did a little shopping after. I think her Tsum Tsum count was at about 15 today. She had completed her Lion Guard and ToT collection and was on to some random ones.

 

[becca_]

Julia and I are hoping they open a Blaze here in NY! lol

Not sure where in NY you guys are but I'm in Buffalo and we're getting a Blaze near where I go to college!! Hopefully this is good news for you & it spreads to where you are

 

[12in12]

What a shame that Julia's Japanese teacher is so horrible, I hope she won't let it her ruin her love of the language. I had a French teacher tell me when I was 13, that there was no point even trying to teach me as I was just hopeless. It took away all my motivation and confidence and sadly I dropped the French lessons as soon as I was able.

 

[Figment Forever]

Not sure where in NY you guys are but I'm in Buffalo and we're getting a Blaze near where I go to college!! Hopefully this is good news for you & it spreads to where you are

Thanks for the info! We are about an hour away from NYC - but hopefully they will head this way soon!

 

[Figment Forever]

What a shame that Julia's Japanese teacher is so horrible, I hope she won't let it her ruin her love of the language. I had a French teacher tell me when I was 13, that there was no point even trying to teach me as I was just hopeless. It took away all my motivation and confidence and sadly I dropped the French lessons as soon as I was able.

Thanks for sharing! I feel bad she is struggling, but I don't want her to give up because I know she will regret it later in life. I hope she will stay with it - although I am searching for a new online class for next year.

 

[Figment Forever]

Time for something new – Hope & Julia wanted to see the Pixar Film Festival.

As we waited to enter, Ross mentioned he wasn’t feeling good.

Since we knew it would be a few minutes wait time, he ran outside to the bathroom for a few tissues and have a coughing fit. I felt bad for him. I figured he could nap a bit during the show and hoped he would feel better. He works so hard during the year to make this trip possible; the last thing I wanted was for him not to be able to enjoy it. I was hoping it was just his allergies kicking in.

We had just missed the previous show, so we sat and relaxed a little while we waited for the next one. Julia and I both enjoyed the pre-show which gave a little history of Pixar. We learned a bunch of quite facts we never knew.

Hope wanted to stay and watch it again but we told her we had a FP for a racecar!

 

[Figment Forever]

Test Track is a family favorite and it’s awesome that Hope likes it so much.

It’s funny how she wanted to design her own car this year! She was very proud of her creation!

The kids, including Ross, played some games afterwards and then we traded the open road for the big, blue sea.

 

[Figment Forever]

Off to find Nemo…

Hope was not happy and I have to admit it was so frustrating that part of her trip was different this time. I wish she could have enjoyed it more. But she did enjoy walking around the pavilion after the ride. She wanted me to take a picture of her in the shark’s mouth. I was having a problem because there was a big group of kids and they kept running into the mouth and not giving others a chance. So I had to send Ross in for support, and soon, we got her picture!

It was time for Crush’s Turtle Talk... always a fun time!

 

[Figment Forever]

Then we attempted a ride on Spaceship Earth.

Again, Hope wasn’t having it. I begged Ross to let me ride with her but he felt he would be fine -but he wasn’t. He can’t deal when she’s not happy. Of course, halfway through came the famous words… “bathroom please!” Ross got so nervous which translates to crankiness and a barrage of questions... “Why didn’t you take her before we rode? When did she go last? Did you know she had to go?” Finally I said to him, “The worst that will happen is that she will pee and we’ll clean it up – RELAX!”

I am happy to report that we returned in a dry time machine.

We were surprised to see that the energy pavilion did not have walls or anything around it, although the water was gone and this sign was here. We stopped to to say RIP. Julia was sad to see it go… she was a fan. I am sad to see the original vision of EPCOT fade away, but I welcome a new attraction here.

 

[Figment Forever]

Then we stopped to see a pavilion that I missed and Julia had never experienced. Except in its “festival” mode.

 

[disneypearl]

I hope Ross was just having a bad allergies & felt better quickly. It’s awful to not feel 100% on vacation.
It’s impressive that Julia takes Japanese! Seems like such a difficult language to learn, even with an encouraging teacher. It must be extra difficult with a teacher like that! Hopefully she will get someone more helpful if she sticks with it.
I love Hope’s determination to move to Florida! She has a plan & is giving you all time to make it happen.

 

[Figment Forever]

We had a FP for Frozen, so we walked over to Norway. Hope, once again, donned her poncho and had a great ride. I don’t know why I don’t have the picture from it.