November 27th Part Five: More Epcot
After that exciting journey through food production, I A) really wanted a salad and B) decided we should go see Circle of Life.
Wed never done it (that I can remember
we might have done it a loooooong time ago) but its an environmental fable with Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa so it should probably be everyones top must-do.
The theater reminded me of an old college lecture hall. It even smelled like an old college lecture hall. Considering Simba spends most of the film lecturing us about how terrible we are, that is appropriate. Gosh, Simba, when did you become such a buzzkill? Who cares about the environment and the majestic herds of wildebeest and stuff? I WANT TO LIVE IN HAKUNA MATATA ALL-ELECTRIC LAKESIDE DISCO VILLAGE!
Next up, we hit Journey Into Imagination. It may not feature footage from Earth Day 1990 (Circle of Life reeeeeally needs to be updated) but its one of my most favorite things in WDW.
Everything about this ride is just the best. The randomness of it all cracks me up. I laugh and laugh and laugh. This time, Moms hair was hilariously windswept thanks to the Imagination is a blast! blast and I cried from laughing so hard.
Figment is my hero.
We ventured to World Showcase next.
We started in Canada which was looking extra festive for the holidays.
Thats where Canadas Holiday Storyteller does his thing, I think.
The UK also got in on the poinsettia action.
My parents were craving some fish and chips, so thats what they had for dinner. They both enjoyed it. It smelled good.
We hung out down by the water while they ate.
For my dinner, we continued on to Morocco. I had a date with some hummus at Tangierine Café.
Heres the Chicken Shawarma Platter:
Its chicken served with hummus, tabouleh, a couscous salad, and bread.
This is delicious, you guys. Fresh, flavorful, filling (but not so filling that you feel sick after eating it). I highly recommend it.
We sat at a table outside and could hear (and sorta see) MoRockin perform. Sitting there enjoying the food, the music, and the surroundings was definitely one of those I am totally and completely content right now moments.
Once I finished eating, we moved over to the good old U-S-of-A.
We chose this night to check out the Candlelight Processional. Since we didnt do the dining package and the standby line for seats was predictably long, we were fine with just standing in the back.
America gets its own massive Christmas tree. Its extra special like that.
It started raining lightly while we were waiting, so we (and a billion other people) darted under the entrance to the American Adventure lobby. Ick crowds.
Thankfully the rain didnt last long and we were able to mosey right up to some standing room only spots.
If youre willing to stand, this is not a bad way to experience the Candlelight Processional. Its not the greatest view, but you can hear everything just fine.
Neil Patrick Harris was our narrator.
He did a great job. Really funny and charming. Typical NPH.
Overall, I thought the Candlelight Processional was neat. I wasnt super blown away, but my parents loved it. For me, the whole thing mainly brought back a lot of high school orchestra memories. Both good and bad. Our Christmas concert always ended with the full orchestra and choir performing the Hallelujah Chorus so I was having weird flashbacks to rehearsals and desperately trying not to yell KING OF KIIIIIIINGS in random tourists faces.
After that, since we were right there, we decided to see the American Adventure. The Golden Dream montage at the end gets me every time. Chills. Goosebumps. Tears.
We finished off our night with Illuminations from the spot between Mexico and the Duffy store. I was really glad to find that the Pre-Illuminations Techno Dance Party hadnt been Christmasified like everything else. I think we all know how much I love the Pre-Illuminations Techno Dance Party. Nothing gets me pumped for fireworks quite like Busindre Reel.
Anyway
fireworks!
Can we talk about how amazing the Peace On Earth holiday tag is? Because I LOVED it omg. Illuminations always makes me feel things and adding that to the end made me feel things 10x more. I was thoroughly heartwarmed.
Red and green. Because Christmas.
That finale, man. When you can feel the fireworks inside of you, you know its a good finale.
After Illuminations, we headed to the exit with the masses. I love leaving Epcot.
Wait. That sounds wrong. I dont love leaving, but I do love walking out of Epcot at night. Its so peaceful and the Fountain of Nations smells wonderful and there are fiberoptic sidewalks. Why cant the entire world be paved with fiberoptic sidewalks? Have yall seen the video Disney posted about the plans for Avatar? In one of the pieces of concept art shown, the ground is lighting up as a family walks on it. I screamed. I was pretty Whatever about Avatarville or whatever were calling it, but all the new art/info pushed me into the Yep. This is good. I want this. category. I have no interest in the movie, but if Pandora has light up sidewalks, I want to go to there.
Anyway, I think this was the night where our bus back to Pop Century had to take a bit of a detour because of roadwork. We couldnt make the left turn into Pop so we had to drive all the way to Wide World of Sports and turn around so wed be approaching from the other direction and thus able to turn into the parking lot. At first I was like Who schedules roadwork at the same time as park closing? but it turned out to be a godsend because the Ghostbusters theme started playing as we drove past and I got to hear the whole thing. If I had to get off the bus before the initial OH MY GOSH ITS GHOSTBUSTERS!!! wore off, I would not have been happy. Teasing people with only part of Ghostbusters should be illegal. There are a variety of situations in which Ghostbusters should be called and we need to know them all. Its really a matter of safety. Plus, Dont You Forget About Me (which follows Ghostbusters in the loop) makes for a much better triumphant exit from the bus soundtrack.
Pop Century Bus Music Loop, youre the best.