The day started early as Emily and I got up to go to Hollywood Studios for the morning. Emily hadn't been yet since we arrived and it was time to fix that! We arrived about an hour after the park opened, and headed right to the Toy Story Mania ride, a 3D target shooting ride. It's easily the most popular ride in Hollywood studios with the fast passes often sold out before noon. When we arrived at 10, the fast pass come back time was already after 3pm. The wait was 70 minutes, so we didn't stay (although I did grab a fast pass for my collection!)
Emily wanted to see Beauty and the Beast (which I was completely okay with!) and I thought that there was a showing at 10:30. Turns out I was wrong, so when we got there and so that the show was not for another hour+, we stopped to get delicious cinnamon rolls at a cafe called 'Starring Rolls'. We walked to One Man's Dream and went through it (the museum-ish of Walt's life) and both teared up during the video. What a guy, Walt Disney, what a guy.
By the time our bellies were full of cinnamon-y goodness and our eyes had no tears left, it was actually time for Beauty and the Beast! We walked over, got nice seats on the left close to the front and settled in. The show was excellent, as per usual. The Belle was finally a different girl, fourth time's the charm? She was excellent. Her singing sounded much more like I imagined Belle to sound :) Gaston was excellent as well.. and had real biceps to spare... he wore no muscle suit and I'm pretty sure the girls fainting wasn't faked ;)
After Beauty and the Beast we got lunch at Pizza Planet and then It was time to make our way out of the park because Emily had to work for the afternoon. We got our photopass picture taken in front of the hat and I can't wait to see how they turned out when I look at them tomorrow!
We split up at the entrance around 1:15pm - Emily took the cast bus back to housing, and I got on the boat to Epcot! I hadn't done the World Showcase at all yet (Except for mine and Sam's whirlwind adventure) and I decided that it was high time I enjoy my park. Canada, UK, France, Morocco, Japan, America, Italy, Germany, China, Norway and Mexico!
I started with Canada - there isn't a whole lot to do there unless you have dinner reservations at Le Cellier... which I did not ;) I looked in the small store for a few minutes, laughed at all the stereotypes and made my way to the UK. The stores were full of "Keep Calm and Carry On" and The Beatles and Doctor Who. It was lovely to look around! I happened upon a short line for Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, and so I jumped in to meet them! I got a hug from them both and started my afternoon off feeling great :)
On the way to France I saw both Alice and Mary Poppins, but didn't stop to say hello, because I had picked up a time's guide for the day... and I knew that Belle would be in France shortly. I waited for her buy looking through the shops (I can't feel justified buying anything! I've never been to France!) and by meeting Aurora! She was wonderful, and told me she'd come visit me in Canada sometime :)
After I met Aurora, I went to stand in line for Belle. She's one of the more popular characters, and so her line gets quite long even before she shows up. I had a beautiful view of the lagoon while I was waiting though! And it was totally worth it to meet her! When it was finally my turn, she told me that we could be twins! I was wearing my new green dress and she pointed to both our hair and eyes saying we looked so alike! She wondered if my family would notice if we switched dresses and took each other's place for the afternoon! I told her I'd just met Beast recently and she wanted to make sure he'd behaved like a gentleman, I assured her that he had. I told her she's been my favorite since I was a little girl and we took several pictures including one where we made a heart with our hands (I hope they turned out good)! I was just so thrilled that the conversation was more than 'how are you', 'what kingdom are you traveling from', and the normal princess conversation. I think Belle has more free rein with that sort of thing anyway because she's got more personality than anyone else (at least in my opinion! ;) I'm a little biased though!).
I was on cloud nine as I walked through the shops in Morocco! I could have waited to meet Aladdin and Jasmine, but I can see them another time :) Morocco is full of bright colors and beautiful decor, but didn't hold my interest for too long. I soon moved on to Japan, where I watched them crack open oysters for the pearls as guests chose the oysters they wanted. I saw one girl get a rare silver pearl from her oyster... so rare apparently, that all the Japanese cast members even crowded around to see! The Japan shop consists mostly of cartoon merchandise, tea, and cool swords!
The American Adventure is next around the showcase. From teh direction I was coming, the first stand is a funnel cake stand... because what says 'America' better than deep fried batter topped with sugar and sold alongside beer? ...I think that pretty much covers it. As I was taking a photo of the funnel cakes sign, one of the guys inside called out, "Why don't you take my picture while you're at it!" So, I did! They laughed, I wished them a good afternoon and I moved on. The best part of park hopping by yourself is that you can move on or stay at your leisure... you don't have to worry about anyone else!
This came in especially handy when I ended up the next pavilion; Italy. I wandered through the shops and checked on the reservation I'd made there (July 11th is my parents 26th anniversary, and we're eating in Italy)! It is very authentic and true to many pieces of the country that I saw before I came to Florida! The merchandise shops have Venetian Masks and glass, the buildings have the right architecture and the restaurant serves authentic Italian pizza. The 'gelato' is not real gelato... it's ice cream instead. However, my strawberry concoction was still fabulous. I enjoyed it while sitting outside in the Italian Piazza and listening to the Italian soundtrack they had playing. It was wonderful! It made me miss my family something fierce though!
After Italy comes Germany, where I didn't spend much time; enough to see the shops and then meet Snow White! She was lovely as well, but I preferred the Snow I met at breakfast the other day! Ah well. A photo and then I was done. I waited hardly anytime at all in the line, so it was still worth it! After Germany is the outpost. Where Africa used to be until it was moved to Animal Kingdom, it's become sort of empty. There is a stand there called Cool Post where I work sometimes, and rumors are flying that Australia/NZ might be going in, but right now it's just mostly empty.
China is beautiful. The architecture is especially brilliant in the Chinese pavilion, and if you're there at the right time of day, you can meet Mulan :) I was not, but I had fun looking through the large shop that is there; much like Japan, cartoons, tea and cool swords were prominent... as were pandas and anything sparkly. I spendt a while looking at all the jewelry and wishing I had somewhere to wear it!
Norway felt very small in comparison... I think this is partially because it is, and partially because I know that a lot of the Norway space is taken up by the character dining I attended a few days ago, and a ride that I didn't get on. So, the shop is quite tiny. It also didn't have much interesting merchandise, and so I was done with Norway very quickly.
Mexico was the last stop on my list; the first stand is a margarita stand... don't worry, I didn't get anything, but I thought it was funny ;) What looks like a restaurant on the left and a temple on the right that make up the entire pavilion is very deceiving. Inside the temple, they've created a 'nighttime' Mexican market place which is a lot of fun to look around in. Another restaurant and a small attraction are also inside, but I didn't stay. The clouds were darkening before I'd gone inside and I wanted to get home before the rain.
I got back home around 7pm... what I'd thought would be a short, sweet, afternoon trip around the world had taken five hours... and I hadn't even noticed! :)
I was able to facetime Loo for a while when I got home! It was so good to talk to her!!! I think it was the longest we've talked since I've been down here (that's pathetic Becca, we should fix that). I then skyped with my parents, grandparents and brother! I miss you guys!
When Emily got home, we went to the grocery store to restock our food... I didn't need much except for milk and I still managed to come home with a full backpack and another bag. Its so easy to see what you don't have when you are already there and hungry!
Finally home, I made cookies, took a bath and am fighting my eyelids to finish this post. Back to work again tomorrow! Night!
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