granddaughter coraline

granddaughter coraline

grandson mason

grandson mason

grandson jaxson

grandson jaxson

Saturday, November 26, 2016

25NOV16 - Disney World, FL (epcot)


Friday’s (25NOV) drive to Clermont, FL, on the outskirts of Orlando was uneventful & we arrived at our RV park at lunch time.  After setting up camp we hustled over to Disney’s Epcot Center to meet Rebecca, Raymond, Jaxson & Mason (aka kids & grandkids).  Two BLOG entries ago we described Disney’s recent “good” deal for military personnel, & our decision meet them at Disney World.  See below BLOG link for 2009 visit to Disney World, along with many photos from that visit.


We met them at the Future World area & w/our Fast Passes immediately headed into the “Turtle Talk w/Crush” interactive video (still excellent).  The grandkids liked Crush, but they really loved the aquarium displays.





What are fast passes?  These are daily passes that allow ticket holders to make reservations for three shows or rides of their choice.  This insures that you will quickly board three attractions without standing in lengthy lines (some over two hour wait).  And if the ride or show has problems that force you to miss your time, you get to use it for any show or ride without reservation.

Next up was the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival - three short 3D animation films.  Dan thought the neatest was a very old B&W Mickey Mouse.  The old film has been restored & digitized.  It starts out w/Mickey chasing his foe Pete (aka Peg-Leg Pete, Pistol Pete, Black Pete) who has kidnapped Minnie.  During the chase, Mickey breaks thru the screen & lands on the stage.  Now he is in full color & 3D.  As the characters move from screen to stage & back, they change from 2D B&W, to 3D color.  Very impressive, although the grandkids did not like the 3D projections coming at them.

We then stopped for dinner at English pub “Rose & Crown”.  We would not recommend eating at any of Disney eateries unless you $$$.  For example - a soft pretzel is $5, shaped like Mickey’s head $6, & w/cheese $7.  To economize the kids had a Disney meal “plan” for one meal a day & two snacks - definitely recommended.

The rest of our time at Epcot was spent on:

---The Seas with Nemo & Friends ride - ok

---Spaceship Earth ride – slow & boring, but grandkids liked it
---photo op w/Hero 6 – note Disney characters no longer walk thru the park for pictures because of “crowd control” problems, now you stand in line at designated locations for long periods (you can use one of your Fast Pass to save time)

---Soarin ride – still the best
---Illuminations water/laser/light/firework show – excellent; crowded but not as bad as Magic Kingdom fireworks

No comments: