Balancing work and play!

Today, I was up stupid early (again) and off to Epcot for my 'Discovery Day'! I learned a lot about Epcot and how it was imagined at first. It was Walt's dream, and unfortunately, he never got to see that dream come true as he passed away soon after he started planning it. The Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow (EPCOT) was meant to be a place where all the newest technologies could be displayed and all the not-yet-invented-ideas could be thought up. However, Walt also wanted a World Showcase. And there wasn't enough money to do both. So, now we have Epcot (no longer an acronym) which is both in one park! We went as a group around Epcot so they could show us around, some other great fact about Epcot were shared, we rode Spaceship Earth as a tour group (the ride inside the Epcot ball), and the secret thing happened. I had to swear on Mickey Mouse not to tell anyone, so I won't say another word, but now I will remember that it happened :)

Instead of having to walk around the World Showcase, we were blessed ot be able to take a boat! It is not a normal tour they do, but there was an extra boat and the captain very kindly allowed us on board before he officially opened for the day :) We learned some things about each showcase location and were back around the lagoon before we knew it!

After the tour and orientation was finished, I got my piece of paper with my costume look on it! I was both relieved and disappointed that my costume is not wacky - it's a red polo, beige shorts and white shoes and baseball cap. Staples has followed me to Disney! It's a good thing I look good in red ;) ! I met some new friends who are also working ODF, Kirstie and Jess, and took the bus home with them.

When I got home, I worked on this blog a little bit, and got ready to go back to MK again! Even though I had just spent 14 hours there, I couldn't wait to go back :) Sam and I went together, and other than our quick see Wishes rush the night before, she had never been! We went to the long store on Main Street and I was able to Facetime my dad for a few minutes before the internet (and sound quality) went wonky. As we made out way up the street, there was a character show going on in front of the castle that we stopped to watch. My family doesn't usually stop for these kinds of things, so it was fun to see :) I messaged Natalie to tell her where we were, as she was coming to meet us. She arrived just as the parade on Main Street started, and the three of us had a perfect seat on the curb to watch the characters and dancers go by. Sam was over the moon about being able to see a parade and a show on her first day in MK!

The three of us went into the shops on the other side of Main Street and found the hat store! We had a great time trying on hats and ears until we decided to go to Tomorrowland for supper, and eat at Cosmic Rays. On the way to Tomorrowland, I got a message form Emily saying she was also on her way over! So the three of us too a small detour and got on the PeopleMover; a slow moving ride above Tomorrowland. It was Sam's first ride, and it gave her a great view of all the rides and such in that part of MK. Halfway through Space Mountain though, the ride suddenly stopped and you could hear all the scream from people on the roller coaster... Sam says, "I want to do that one!" Natalie and I have no problem with that! But we decide to wait for Emily before we get fast passes so that all four of us can do it together :)

We were starving so when we got off the PeopleMover and get to Cosmic Rays, we didn't wait for Emily to order dinner. I had another bacon cheeseburger (yummmmmm) and when Emily finally got there, we let her eat and left her with Sam while Natalie and I took all four of our park passes and when to get fast passes for Space Mountain. Natalie and I think very much alike and knew as soon as I started suggesting that Sam wait at the table that the next thing I was goingt o suggest would be splitting up and getting fast passes; turns out both of our moms commonly say, "Alright everyone, go get in line and I'll go get fast passes" on Disney trips. Thanks Momma!

After dinner we still had a while to wait before our fast passes were valid, so we wandered up towards Fantasyland. We took our picture by the Merida character spot and realized that, while visiting a foreign country, we somehow found all Canadians to hang out with!

The first ride you see as you enter Fantasyland from our angle is the Teapots! The line wasn't very long and so we had a time and a half trying to fit four grown women into one teacup! We made it though, and I think one of us has a picture of all four of us shoved into it!

Found it! Sam's camera :)

Natalie loves spinning, Emily; not so much ;)

After the teacups, Natalie and I showed Sam New Fantasyland; Emily waited outside because she wanted to wait to see it with her sister! So as we hurried through, I found Gaston's chair! A fixture I hadn't noticed when I went through Gaston's tavern the last time. I had to get a picture, and I wanted so badly for the song to be playing - but alas, it was not. Next time, maybe! ;)

We took a very quick stroll by Ariel's castle but didn't stay long because we knew Emily was waiting. When we reached her again, we decided that Sam needed to see an original Disney World ride - Small World. It has hilariously bad animatronics, and almost scratchy record quality; but it is a classic, and you only have to do it once :) Sam actually loved it and I'm glad we showed it to her!

After Small World, I was anxious to do Mickey's Philhar Magic again! It's in the same area, doesn't take long and our fast pass time was still about a half hour away. I was very hyper and excited and so was Natalie. We both decided that dinosaurs is the best way to be, especially in 3D. The actual show was just as fabulous as I remember, and I could still see the 3D stuff, which was even more awesome this time around. Natalie loves the show any way and both Sam and Emily thought it was cute so it was a good choice for all of us :)

MnNah.

When we got out it was time for Space Mountain! The fast pass lane was moving quickly and we were ready to get into our seats before we knew it. I got the front seat, which was very exciting for me - the front seat on Space is my favorite place to be! We decided that we'd play dead for the camera, and the picture turned out fabulously! Both Sam and Emily's first roller coaster of the trip was a success!

We got off Space Mountain just as the Electric Parade was going to start - and Natalie and I knew that this would be the best time to see the wait times for Thunder and Splash. Sam and Emily however, wanted to watch the parade and make sure we had good seats for the fireworks. The beauty of having four people, is you can split up and still have everyone with a buddy... so that's what we did. Natalie and I knew we were going to have to cross the parade route in order to get to Thunder, so we raced to the other side of the castle plaza to get to the road before the parade got there. We made it just as the lights were going out and the ropes were going up! We ran almost all the way to Thunder, and when we got there the line was next to nothing. We only waited 10 minutes to get on a train! When the ride was over, we looked up as we were getting off and realized that we would be able to just walk on the ride if we lined up again... so we did! We still had a half hour before fireworks, and that was plenty of time!

Even in winter, the ride lineup isn't this good!

When we got off though, Natalie wanted to do Splash, and the line was only a 25 minute wait. So we jumped in that line too, hoping we'd be done before the show. A text from Sam told us where they had gotten firework-watching space, but we got on the ride anyway. The first little dip in Splash Mountain is hardly a dip at all - and you don't really get wet on this ride until the very end hill. Unless, of course, your boat happens to be timed exactly with the sprayer that is at the bottom of the first tiny hill.

Yup, you guessed it. One minute into our eleven minute ride, and we were soaked. We laughed until our sides hurt, and didn't even get that much more water on us at the giant hill at the end. As we rounded the last corned though, we saw the fireworks that we were missing through the Splash Mountain peaks. Oops. We're here all summer, we'll see them again!

We made our way through the crowds, soaking wet, to the main gates. We met Sam and Emily at the bus stop, and giggled the entire way home. These girls are my family here. It feels so good to have them with me. Thank you ladies, for making me laugh until I'm blue in the face. Much appreciated :) <3