Because of a change of schedule, both rooms full of people were up and ready to go a bit too early :) We made lemonade from lemons though, and took some time to look for Hidden Mickeys, answer Treasure Hunt questions... and we still made it on the bus at about 8:30am.
Unfortunately, 2 of our 4 passes were left back in the room despite all this downtime. Because we are total bus rookies, it never crossed our mind that my mom and Addy couldn't just stay on the same bus to run back to OKW. Instead, they took a LONG, convoluted trip around the World (including a special ride by a hotel "runner", etc), and eventually rejoined us at Epcot. While they were gone, Zach, the girls and I visited the Epcot Character Spot.
Next, Zach rode Mission: Space and I rode Test Track, and we got fastpasses which the other two used when they got to the park (around 10:15am). While they rode, Zach and I checked out the Food & Wine Festival Welcome Center. It was disappointing to us both in content (nothing we hadn't already seen around the park), and in that I DESPERATELY miss the Wonders of Life attractions previously housed in that building!
While we were in Future World with the Baldwin girls, we of course HAD to try and fix a previous mishap. Where we took a photo of 3 of us in astronaut helmets, except mine did not go down all the way and covered half my face. I am happy to report I got it right this time :)) LOL
And of course Zach and Addy had to recreate a little Sushi can action!
After these few rides and photo ops, we headed to the Land to get fastpasses for Soarin' and to eat lunch. It was here that the girls decided they were Big Girls and always needed utensils. Even to eat things that grown-ups would have eaten with their fingers :)
We ran into a friend of mine (Hi Erin!) and snapped a quick picture, because we realized that it was unfortunately the most time we'd likely be able to spend in the same place at the same time. After a quick ride on Livin' with the Land (which our family of nerds enjoys immensely, each trip!), Amy and Addy went to Honey I Shrunk the Audience while Zach, the (napping) girls and I went to the Art of Disney to meet one Mr. David Doss! David is the artist behind the prints in the girls' nursery, and I was so excited to meet him and get another print (signed!). He's incredibly nice, and we hope to run into him again in the future. After all, Zach and I spent several minutes during the event picking out all sorts of prints that need to go throughout our next home! :-P
Our ride back to the hotel that afternoon was late (shocking, right? ugh. stupid busses.) and we waited probably 25 minutes for a bus, AFTER the folks in front of us had already been waiting nearly 30 additional. Don't let me get started, now! We eventually made it back to the hotel with VERY sleepy girls.
* * * * * * *
Despite said girls with no nap yet today, they refused to sleep. So.... back to the parks we went (in hopes of a Cave nap), not long after arriving at OKW. The annoying afternoon got even more fun when Soarin' lines - even with fastpasses - took nearly an hour for my mom and I, and another 45 minutes for Zach and Addy. What a weird day! And oh my gosh, it would get EVEN better....
We arrived at the Rose & Crown (one of our favorite World Showcase restaurants) about 15 minutes before our reservation, like perfect guests. And found out there was an "incident" closing the restaurant (which we still know nothing more about!). No food for crabby girls. No reservations anywhere, because of the stupid free dining promotion that brings hoards of people into the table service restaurants and makes it nearly impossible to get reservations, even if you're paying for meals. No help from unfriendly cast members either at the restaurant or on the phone.
Finally, a very nice manager found us and made some sort of arrangements for us to eat at Nine Dragons in China. At that point just about anything would have been fine, so long as it provided a meal worth our money. We made the long haul around the world to China :), and were pleasantly surprised to find they were ready for us immediately. (Not that they shouldn't have been, but I digress.) The meal was outstanding other than the disgusting spa-flavored ice cream that we've had previously and hated just as much (which is actually some sort of ginger ice cream, but you'll never convince me it isn't something they slather on me at Mitchell's).
After our excellent dinner, we were all a little more refreshed from the crazy afternoon. We spent some time in the shops of China, Norway and Mexico. We rode the girls favorite ride (Gran Fiesta Tour...), and spent more than 15 minutes playing with the instruments in the beautiful Mexico pavilion.
We spent a little more time in the shops in Morocco and Japan, and found a great spot for Illuminations. The girls LOVED it, and stayed in fabulous moods somehow, despite only sleeping about 30 minutes all day. It was a beautiful ending to an otherwise hairy day.
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