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Friday 12th August

Epcot was our park of choice today well it has to be if our kids are anything to go by, they’ll tell the order in which we first visit them. Epcot also happens to be Poppy’s favourite park, I’m not quite sure why it is? But eh Poppy loves it here so who am I to argue.
We carried on with eating our breakfast in the room, there wasn’t a real need to be at park for opening but at the beginning of our holidays we do like to get there early just to get more rides and attractions done.

Wow it was such a beautiful morning with perfect clear blue skies, a proper Florida day. Meant it was really hot too but we didn’t mind. We arrived at 8.45 and parked in Amaze 37 which meant we could walk up to the entrance.


It was busy again at the bag check area but the lines kept moving and I was soon through. I got chosen to go through the metal detector again but this time I’d left my celebration button off just in case.

Straight through the entrance where we then set about power walking our way up to our first attraction of the day – the Character spot. But not before having a couple of photopass pics taken.



I’d read that this particular meet and greet get’s busier as the day goes on so I thought it would be best to visit here straight away to avoid the wait. There was no one waiting for Baymax so off the kids went.




An excellent meet and greet which the kids had so been looking forward to and had really relished.

We then popped over to join the small line for Joy and Sadness, a favourite of Poppy’s. Just a 5 minute wait before Poppy was walking over and getting a bit hug from the both of them.


This was a brilliant way to start our day at Epcot with lots of hugs and smiles all round. Scott took Hayden over to Soarin to obtain a return time, we could back any time after 10am. Whilst we were in the Land pavilion we couldn’t pass up a ride on Living with the land, plus there was no line for it.

Jamie started straight away looking for all the hidden Mickey’s, don’t ask me how many there are here as we don’t have the book but the kids like to look out for the really obvious ones. We do love this attraction, when Poppy was really little it was her favourite’s, again it’s thinking about those memories.


We walked back across the park but we were still a little too early for our first fastpass for Test Track. Checked out Mission Space to see what that was like as we found it tended to be quiet, and as we thought it was. Now this ride doesn’t quite work for us with there being 5 of us. Jamie and Poppy had already allocated the different roles between themselves and I didn’t factor in them! I said it didn’t matter I’d have a little walk round whilst they had their trip to Mars!



I do like to have a walk to the fountains to watch them, they are so beautiful and it was lovely to do this without the kids saying they were ‘bored’. The park was still quiet so it felt quite tranquil at the fountains, it also gave me an opportunity to have a magic shot taken in front of them.



Met back up with them and our time was now available to go on Test Track.



Poppy had nominated herself to create our vehicle and was chattering on about all the different things she would do. I just knew it would probably be something very pink lol.

The boys got on with their designs too…


Now I think this ride is just amazing, we all love the different test that your car goes through and we like to see which car is performing the best. But the most exhilarating part of the ride is at the end when you go out onto the track! Love it! Poppy was feeling mega brave again and had her arms up in the air the whole way round. Don’t worry we’d remembered to take our ears off before hand.


Spent a good half hour or so afterwards looking at the cars and playing the games in there. How we would love one of those big SUV’s, we can dream lol.


For some reason we decided to go over to the Universe of Energy, think I was just wanting to get a photo of the monorail and we somehow ended up in that area. We’d been on this a few years ago but the kids, well Poppy, couldn’t really remember much about it. They’d have been young and probably fell asleep on it! Anyway they said they wanted to go in even though I warned them we’d be in there for some time.

I was pleasantly surprised by this one, I’d half expected to be clock watching the whole time we were sat there but I quite enjoyed the ride and so did the kids. It might’ve seemed a bit dated to me but this didn’t bother the kid’s one bit. When the ride was over ,Poppy said to me that the lady sounded like Dory, lol.


Time for our next fastpass - Turtle Talk with Crush. We’d not done this one for a while either so was very keen to give this one another go. It was really busy when we arrived and I’m not sure if it helped having a fastpass but at least we entered the small theatre.

Scott Hayden and I had to sit near the back but there was still room for Poppy and Jamie to sit on the floor at the front. I think it’s so good how they do this show and how Crush actually as a conversation with the audience. It really was funny, Crush as an answer for everything.

Poppy was chosen and asked how old he was, can’t remember what he said but he did ask how old Poppy was. Some of the new characters from Finding Dory kept popping up which was brilliant too as we’d just seen the film before we came away.

It was now time for our lunch at Garden Grill – Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Harvest feast - we walked over to the Land and checked in. It seemed really quiet in fact the family at the side of me asked if there were any available tables, and they were told yes. Of course we were soon seated, I asked for a table on the lower level which wasn’t an issue as the restaurant was half empty.


Our server Geoff came over and explained how the meal worked, it was family style, and about the characters. He was very chatting and engaging with the kids. We’d been before a few years back for dinner but we knew it would be the same kind of experience. Our server brought us a big bowl of salad out and some lovely bread, he explained that Grandma had been busy all morning in the kitchen baking and preparing our lunch.


Whilst Geoff was away getting our drinks this guy came over to our table.


Wasn’t long before the other half of the cheeky duo came over to us and there were lots of cuddles and laughs all round.


We’d barely sat back down before we were back up again as Pluto came over to say hello.


Continued below

Our food came which was served family style, it was all good and we’d soon devoured the large plate between us. Geoff came back on over and asked if we wanted any more food, we enjoyed some more turkey, mash and sausages which was promptly brought to our table.


This restaurant gently rotates round and we’d seen we’d nearly done a full rotation. We’d seen Mickey on the top level of the restaurant but he’d still yet to visit us.

In the meantime though Dale came round for another visit followed by the lovely Pluto – how lucky for us.


Then it was time for our dessert. I’m not quite sure what it was for some reason I thought a fruit cobbler would come for our dessert – I was probably thinking about our meal from a few years ago. Anyway this was ok but nothing special and it was rather small for the five of us. Once we’d dished it up between the kids there wasn’t much left, never mind they enjoyed it.


While the kids were munching away on their fruit pudding Mickey came over…yay. I just love Mickey’s farmers outfit!


Now it as to be said that the best element of this lunch is the character interaction – they come round so frequently and get to spend a reasonable amount of time at your table. We never felt rushed and the characters signed autographs, had lots of photo’s took, and chatted in their own way to us too. It really was a lovely lunch and with us being on the dining plan was great value.

Thought it would be a good idea to go on Soarin now seeing as though it was just downstairs. Now I just love everything about this ride, the scenery, the music, the smells lol and I had purposely not looked at any clips on youtube or anywhere similar about the new Soarin around the world just so that it would genuinely new to us.



Our wait wasn’t long and we were soon in the boarding area and watching the screen which showed the countries we’d soon visit on our tour.
We were also more than delighted to see that our favourite flight attendant Patrick was still there


The flight was every bit as wonderful as before but obviously the new hd film is a lot clearer and sharper than the Californian version without any of those annoying distractions! We picked up on the new smells too and loved seeing the new countries, the highlight for me was the firework show in Epcot at the end with the hidden Mickey. The music had changed but only slightly with the more noticeable changes happening when we soared over the more exotic locations. Scott and the kids argued that the music was exactly the same…no it wasn’t lol but it was very similar and every bit as beautiful.

I know this is a bit pathetic but I had a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye when the ride finished I loved it so much. Everyone was clapping so we weren’t the only ones who absolutely loved it.

Ride over we took a quick detour over to Sunshine Seasons as I was still at bit miffed at not having a dessert.

I picked up a yummy cupcake for myself, some kind of orange cake which thankfully was every bit as delicious as it looked.


Headed over to the seas with Nemo and friends as this is usually a quiet ride. As expected there was no line and we walked straight on. Had a lovely journey through the sea, it’s a really cute and lovely ride.


Our third fastpass of the day was for Spaceship Earth, we just had a little time left before our slot finished – I’d so forgotten about. All was well though and we managed to arrive in time to take our journey.


Afterwards the kids wanted to go over to Club Cool to sample the drinks as it’s a must do as far as their concerned. I like watching the faces they pull especially when they taste the beverly one!

We then popped next door to Starbucks and used a couple of our snack credits on some frappuccino’s, of course we got the largest size.


Poppy was asking to go on Figment which Jamie wasn’t all too happy with, he thought it was a ride for little kids. I reminded him it was for everyone and that I’m sure he could endure it for all of 5 minutes!


Turns out Jamie did enjoy the ride along with the rest of us, and I’m sure he was singing along to that catchy tune as well

All of us had a play on the various interactive games as we exited the ride and a little time there before moving on next door to the Disney and Pixar short film festival.


We didn’t know anything about this but figured that there wasn’t much to know except it was a theatre showing a few short films.
They were lovely films, I especially liked the one with the young boy who goes to work with his father and grandfather - it was so sweet.
There’s no way would we make a rush to come here but if you’ve got a bit of time to kill it makes for a lovely break. When we walked back out it looked like it had been raining so that was brilliant timing on our part, we could still see the lightning in the distance.

It was 4.50 now and we decided to leave the park we felt like we’d done loads today in Epcot and it had been quite a productive day. We’d be visiting again soon so there was no need for us to walk round World Showcase yet on this occasion.


Back at our hotel I sorted some washing out and took it down to the launderette, it had changed from our last time 2 years ago and instead of using money in the machine you used a credit card.

I/2 hour later I put the clothes in the dryer and we headed over to the food court for some tea. Ended up getting the large pizza deal and swapped the drinks for 2 desserts instead. Ordered another quick service meal and shared it all, there was more than enough food for the 5 of us.

Popped back to pick the washing up which was all dry now, Poppy and Jamie wanted to go swimming in the big pool, Ol’ Man Island. Hayden wasn’t bothered so I said I’d sit with him again and we could just chill out and watch everyone swimming.

It started to rain as we made our way down to the pool I just had chance to take a couple of photo’s, how pretty does this resort look even in the rain


I was concerned that the pool might have closed but there couldn’t have been any lightning in the area as thankfully it was still open. Hayden and me sat in the bar area to keep dry until it stopped as the rain was quite heavy.


The rain eventually stopped and Hayden and watched Jamie and Poppy messing around in the pool. It wasn’t busy so there was plenty of room to enjoy themselves.


It was around 9.30 when we called time, I’m sure the kids could’ve stayed longer but I was starting to nod off on the sun lounger. We filled our mugs up with some hot chocolate before making our way back to our room.


All showered and in bed for 10.30 after another full day. My notes say it was lovely to see all the sunshine but it did tire us out a bit, in a nice way though.

Thanks for reading

Fab day.you packed so much in !

Great day! Love love Epcot

I am very tempted by Garden Grill, especially the breakfast menu The character interaction looks good fun

I am so looking forward to riding Soarin next year after its new update The old version always had me in tears at the end, so I guess there's no hope for me with the new version

Thanks for sharing

x

Another great day Julia. Before our first visit I didn't think we would enjoy Epcot but we loved it. Looking at booking garden grill so it was good to read your visit. Hmm not loving that dessert... think I would be heading for a cupcake too! And you can't beat a late night swim in the dark. POR looks gorgeous, we almost booked but decided on AKL in the end but I would happily have gone there.

Can't wait to get back to Garden Grill, one of the best meals onsite!

Great day you got lots done in Epcot. We love garden grill too.

It's shame the dessert at Garden Grill isn't the cobbler anymore, the replacement doesn't look half as good!

Another fab day! x

Another fab day - looking forward to the next day (where I spotted you) to see what you thought of POFQ! ❤

Thanks, we were lucky to get so much done

No I don't think there will be lol

Thank you for reading x




Thanks Jenny, Garden Grill is so lovely the character interaction is brilliant and it doesn't feel rushed.

AKL looks beautiful, would love to stay there one time, well I'd be happy with any of the deluxe resorts

Thank you for reading