Noah's Helper
11-10-2011, 09:22 PM
Day 1 (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=187047)
Day 2 (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=187048)
DAY 3 – Monday, October 17
Today we headed to Epcot (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/29074900030.html). We had a fun conversation with the family in front of us as we waited for the turnstiles to open. Then we headed to Soarin’ to pick up fastpasses. Coming back by the Character Spot, there was a cast member outside cleaning the windows, and we could see Donald inside teasing him. I wish I had had my camera ready! We were hoping the kids were past the point of wanting to meet all the characters because of the time it takes, but Julianna still wanted a few photos. This seemed like a good opportunity to get several character photos with minimal wait. We had fun meeting Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, and Goofy. Mickey (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/29074900039.html) loved Noah’s hair, and Donald (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/29074900066.html) greeted him with a jive handshake. Julianna received several kisses (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/29074900063.html). Donald was really cute when he wagged his tail while posing with the family ahead of us.
Next was Test Track, where we had a 20-minute standby wait. We all enjoyed the ride, and Noah enjoyed the car display at the exit too.
I had read online that the Seas with Nemo and Friends (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1754.html) would be opening at 11:00. When the park opened the tip boards showed it as closed. But after our ride on Test Track it was already open, so we headed over to see Nemo. Along the way we watched a fun musical performance by a group of chefs (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1750.html) (“Wok this way”!). I was a little disappointed in the Nemo ride itself; the aquarium displays were not as impressive as several other aquariums in the Southeast. We only saw the displays that were part of the ride, so maybe we missed out a bit. We visited Crush as well, then boarded Soarin’ with our fastpass. Even with the fastpass it seemed we waited about 15 or 20 minutes. This is one of our family’s favorite rides.
After Soarin’ we were starting to get hungry, so we headed to World Showcase to sample some of the Food and Wine Festival offerings. We started to the right, towards Canada, so I could put my tripod in a locker at the International Gateway. Our more adventurous eaters found plenty to sample, but Noah didn’t find anything to his liking. He was hoping for a crepe in France, but the festival booth did not offer them. We tried the bakery, but there were none there either. We allowed him to have a chocolate mousse instead. Then, as we were moving on, we discovered there is a dedicated crepe booth. He had so been looking forward to it, we got him one, in spite of just having had the mousse, and before his lunch. As he was eating his chocolate crepe (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1762.html), Serveur Amusant (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1762.html) began their show. We’ve seen this act before, and I don’t believe the acrobat went as high this time.
I had proposed that we make one round of World Showcase just to sample the food items for lunch, and then make a second round to see the attractions. I think we made it to Italy before most of us were full and ready to shop and watch the entertainment. My favorite items from our partial sampling were the Griddled Greek Cheese with Pistachios and Honey from Greece, the Chicken Chipotle Sausage with Sweet Corn Polenta from Canada, and the Coconut-Braised Beef Rendang with Jasmine Rice from Singapore. Noah loves macaroni and cheese, so I thought he might like to share part of the Coq au Vin sur gratin de macaroni from France, but it was impossible to separate the macaroni from the wine and mushroom sauce. He did find the cheese fondue (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1781.html) with sourdough bread to be to his liking.
In Japan, Tina asked a cast member about limonade, using the Japanese pronunciation. The CM did not know what she meant, until she explained she was looking for Japanese soda in a bottle with a marble. Then the cast member replied, “Oh, limonade!” There was some right there at the counter, and more flavors inside the shop. We shared one, which tasted wonderfully refreshing.
In Italy, we watched Sergio (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1777.html)’s entertaining juggling show. By this time the day was starting to warm up, so we skipped over to Mexico to ride the Gran Fiesta Tour. Next, Tina and Julianna wanted to see the Chinese acrobats (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1785.html). We found a good spot to wait, but Noah wanted more limonade. Tina thought there was enough time to grab one, so she and Noah went back to Japan while Julianna and I waited for the show. They did not make it back soon enough to sit with us, but they were able to watch the show (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1790.html). This was a different troupe (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1805.html) than we’ve seen before, smaller in number and all adults. The show was more lighthearted and included audience participation, but it was still impressive.
We had dinner reservations at Restaurant Marrakesh in Morocco. I’d eaten here twice before, many years ago, and loved it. This time, though, it was disappointing. The food was good, it just could not compare to Boma or the International Food and Wine offerings. After dinner we did more shopping in France, Italy, and Japan (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1826.html).
We claimed a spot (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1837.html) for Illuminations (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1842.html) on the outside terrace of the restaurant in Japan (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1839.html), and had a great view of the show (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1862.html). Afterwards I was expecting to exit through a great throng, but the crowds were thin. It may have been partly because it was a Monday, but also a light drizzle had started during Illuminations. We were not aware of the rain until after the show; we did not even realize there was a roof above us on the terrace.
We stopped in Mouse Gear and bought some souvenirs, then caught a bus back to the resort with minimal wait.
(Day 4 is here (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=187073).)
Day 2 (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=187048)
DAY 3 – Monday, October 17
Today we headed to Epcot (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/29074900030.html). We had a fun conversation with the family in front of us as we waited for the turnstiles to open. Then we headed to Soarin’ to pick up fastpasses. Coming back by the Character Spot, there was a cast member outside cleaning the windows, and we could see Donald inside teasing him. I wish I had had my camera ready! We were hoping the kids were past the point of wanting to meet all the characters because of the time it takes, but Julianna still wanted a few photos. This seemed like a good opportunity to get several character photos with minimal wait. We had fun meeting Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, and Goofy. Mickey (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/29074900039.html) loved Noah’s hair, and Donald (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/29074900066.html) greeted him with a jive handshake. Julianna received several kisses (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/29074900063.html). Donald was really cute when he wagged his tail while posing with the family ahead of us.
Next was Test Track, where we had a 20-minute standby wait. We all enjoyed the ride, and Noah enjoyed the car display at the exit too.
I had read online that the Seas with Nemo and Friends (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1754.html) would be opening at 11:00. When the park opened the tip boards showed it as closed. But after our ride on Test Track it was already open, so we headed over to see Nemo. Along the way we watched a fun musical performance by a group of chefs (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1750.html) (“Wok this way”!). I was a little disappointed in the Nemo ride itself; the aquarium displays were not as impressive as several other aquariums in the Southeast. We only saw the displays that were part of the ride, so maybe we missed out a bit. We visited Crush as well, then boarded Soarin’ with our fastpass. Even with the fastpass it seemed we waited about 15 or 20 minutes. This is one of our family’s favorite rides.
After Soarin’ we were starting to get hungry, so we headed to World Showcase to sample some of the Food and Wine Festival offerings. We started to the right, towards Canada, so I could put my tripod in a locker at the International Gateway. Our more adventurous eaters found plenty to sample, but Noah didn’t find anything to his liking. He was hoping for a crepe in France, but the festival booth did not offer them. We tried the bakery, but there were none there either. We allowed him to have a chocolate mousse instead. Then, as we were moving on, we discovered there is a dedicated crepe booth. He had so been looking forward to it, we got him one, in spite of just having had the mousse, and before his lunch. As he was eating his chocolate crepe (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1762.html), Serveur Amusant (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1762.html) began their show. We’ve seen this act before, and I don’t believe the acrobat went as high this time.
I had proposed that we make one round of World Showcase just to sample the food items for lunch, and then make a second round to see the attractions. I think we made it to Italy before most of us were full and ready to shop and watch the entertainment. My favorite items from our partial sampling were the Griddled Greek Cheese with Pistachios and Honey from Greece, the Chicken Chipotle Sausage with Sweet Corn Polenta from Canada, and the Coconut-Braised Beef Rendang with Jasmine Rice from Singapore. Noah loves macaroni and cheese, so I thought he might like to share part of the Coq au Vin sur gratin de macaroni from France, but it was impossible to separate the macaroni from the wine and mushroom sauce. He did find the cheese fondue (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1781.html) with sourdough bread to be to his liking.
In Japan, Tina asked a cast member about limonade, using the Japanese pronunciation. The CM did not know what she meant, until she explained she was looking for Japanese soda in a bottle with a marble. Then the cast member replied, “Oh, limonade!” There was some right there at the counter, and more flavors inside the shop. We shared one, which tasted wonderfully refreshing.
In Italy, we watched Sergio (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1777.html)’s entertaining juggling show. By this time the day was starting to warm up, so we skipped over to Mexico to ride the Gran Fiesta Tour. Next, Tina and Julianna wanted to see the Chinese acrobats (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1785.html). We found a good spot to wait, but Noah wanted more limonade. Tina thought there was enough time to grab one, so she and Noah went back to Japan while Julianna and I waited for the show. They did not make it back soon enough to sit with us, but they were able to watch the show (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1790.html). This was a different troupe (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1805.html) than we’ve seen before, smaller in number and all adults. The show was more lighthearted and included audience participation, but it was still impressive.
We had dinner reservations at Restaurant Marrakesh in Morocco. I’d eaten here twice before, many years ago, and loved it. This time, though, it was disappointing. The food was good, it just could not compare to Boma or the International Food and Wine offerings. After dinner we did more shopping in France, Italy, and Japan (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1826.html).
We claimed a spot (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1837.html) for Illuminations (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1842.html) on the outside terrace of the restaurant in Japan (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1839.html), and had a great view of the show (http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ebtdarby/wdw_2011/Epcot/slides/n111017_1862.html). Afterwards I was expecting to exit through a great throng, but the crowds were thin. It may have been partly because it was a Monday, but also a light drizzle had started during Illuminations. We were not aware of the rain until after the show; we did not even realize there was a roof above us on the terrace.
We stopped in Mouse Gear and bought some souvenirs, then caught a bus back to the resort with minimal wait.
(Day 4 is here (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=187073).)