***UPDATE*** Consolidating TR
First full day and we're up and atom pretty early. We do breakfast at Contempo Cafe and this becomes a habit for rest of week. (at least the Cafe part) Strategy is to get to EPCOT for rope drop. Last time I did rope drop at EPCOT, the characters met us at front of Golf Ball with a double decker bus. It was very cute and a fun countdown. This time, Fab Five meet us near the fountain. There's a guest family in a Test Track car, Fab Five do a countdown and beeline it to the Character Shoot area. Maybe they don't want to get trampled.
Entrance picture of EPCOT with our new Sony Video/Camera. Pictures are horrible as I've just learned and video may be bad too. Wonder if I can return it? Just bought it for the trip. Very grainy.
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DD and DSIL run to Soarin' to get FP for all. We get in line and ride. We never end up using FP's. Love this ride. Cute little guy and his family are riding for first time. Fun to witness they're excitement. Brings back memories of when my gang was young.
Too bad we didn't end up riding again.
Next up was Test Track. Long wait time already and FP used up so we do single rider. Works out great and it's better timing that FP. Downside is we ride broken up. Now they have PhotoPass cards they scan for the Test Track picture and I grab one. I ended up using for several pictures and PhotoPass is the only place I get a really good family shot. May have to buy it.
I really like to browse the Chevy's after Test Track. My favorite car is there and I do a little dreaming.
By
dvc_dreamer at 2011-08-17
DD, DW and I take the Mission Space challenge. I put a brave face on for my DD because she likes all the spinning rides and no one else wants to go. If I hurl, it's her fault.
I'm surprised DW takes the chance and I'm impressed by her bravery. As predicted, I get to the edge of hurling. CM is concerned for me or he's thinking he may have to clean up my breakfast. I tell him I just need a minute to collect myself and we move on. DW then informs me that she took Bonine. Her bravery induced by a pill. She actually takes it almost every day of trip.
Oh no !!!! It's past 11am and we're not in Mexico yet.
It's way past time for our favorite spot and past time.
By
dvc_dreamer at 2011-08-17
I think I could do a whole post on Margarita's and Slushies at WDW. I think I will. LOVE THEM.
Love these guys too but we've not yet broken down and bought one.
By
dvc_dreamer at 2011-08-17
We ride boat ride and get a sample of Margarita's at inside bar. We never make it back for a full one. It's on the list for next time.
I tell everyone we better rush or we're going to get wet or possibly electrocuted. A big storm is brewing. A normal occurrence this time of year. Usually occurs in later afternoon but first part of week we got some early storms. We don't make it to Norway before the deluge and we take cover where Mexican Donald Duck usually takes pictures.
Sideways rain threatens to drench us.
By
dvc_dreamer at 2011-08-17
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dvc_dreamer at 2011-08-17
We gang up and chase that lone guy into the wild to fend for himself.
Ponchos are for whimps.
We make our way to Norway and do boat ride. I'm upset that DW does not buy a new bottle of Leila perfume. I gave her a Disney gift card for just this purpose for her birthday last month. That scent does it for me.
We do some shopping in China and head for Germany. Time for a beer and a pretzel. They've changed the beer flavors. Bummer. I liked the light and dark Beck's choices. No worries, hardly ever met a beer flavor I didn't like.
Love the Koi Pond in Japan. Interesting enough, it's was barricaded later in week for renovation. You know those walls they put up. Wonder what's up?
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dvc_dreamer at 2011-08-17
In Italy, learned that they don't have a take out for pizza. I guess only a couple months of year they do that. Weird?
Yummy treats in France. DW and I watch French movie.
By
dvc_dreamer at 2011-08-17
Check out the new British Revolution band. We like. Good set. Problem was that they play the same set at the same time every day. Becomes and issue later in week. I love to listen to bands and it's one thing I was not able to do enough of on this trip.
We hang with band after.
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dvc_dreamer at 2011-08-17
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dvc_dreamer at 2011-08-17
We catch Off Kilter. Always a favorite of ours. Got all the CD's and it seems we still have all the CDs. No new ones.
Gang breaks up. Some just can't take any more of the 'EPCOT Death March' .
By the way, tip of the post, you can ask for ice water at any counter service and they give it to you for free. Sometimes it's a small cup and sometimes it's large. Most of the time the water tasted good. One lady said we should beware of the park water. Whatever. We had one bad batch at Cosmic Ray's. Tasted like it was pumped in from Small World.
DW, DD and I tackle Imagination and Capt. EO before heading back to hotel for some swimming.
By
dvc_dreamer at 2011-08-17
We cancel our first sit down dinner. This becomes a trend. We end up only keeping three of our ADR's. Here's why I believe we do this:
1.) It's hot and I believe it saps energy and appetite.
2.) If we're not near the restaurant, little desire to hustle over to make it on time.
3.) It's more expensive and why bother if we're not excited about it.
4.) I got into trying many counter service choices. We liked Contempo Cafe. Man! I really love those home made chips. YUM !!! We used to have a russet chip around here from Cap Cod chips but they don't make anymore. I'd really like to make these at home.
Day 3 is Hollywood Studios and our first TOTW Wishes.
Gave them our cell numbers and off to MK for a stroll.
Check please!
making our way to TOT through the rain for ride number 2. A CM approaches DS and I near front of park in front of big hat. We were a little startled at first but he asks us where we're going. We say we're going to TOT. He asks how many in our party. He says that because were braving the rain without poncho's, we can have some FP's. 
