Day 5:
We were at EPCOT early and after a quick photo of the Flower and Garden bed at the front, we headed for Test Track. The line had formed outside the building and they let us start going in a few minutes before 9am. We were just at the point of going into the design room when they announced technical difficulties. Choices were to wait it out or give up. We figured we’d give it a few minutes. So did a lot of other people and they started to sit down which pretty much blocked the way out anyway. Within 5 mins another announcement was made that it would be down for at least 45 mins. Mass exodus! Didn’t have to step over anyone, the whole room pretty much turned and walked away.
Mission Space won as where to go. Green side is all I do but I find the flight around the earth a little too tame. A return to the moon would have been nice for a replacement of non-spinning Mars. Buzz Lightyear was standing guard outside.
I had FP for Spaceship Earth again later, but with the lack of Test Track if threw off my plans. Spaceship Earth had a fairly short line so we headed there next before checking out the various topiaries on our way to Imagination. Thumper is so cute and Flower’s eyes were adorable.
Figment hanging out over by Imagination.
He brightened up the news that the ride was also down. It closed just as we got there. My luck wasn’t going so well.
This would have been a good time to go looking for this purple wall people use as a picture background. I want to find it but I don’t actually have any idea where it is. I thought it was at EPCOT, and my best guess was somewhere near Imagination but whenever I thought to look for it we were in the wrong area or too tired. So I still don’t know where it is
With time before heading to Norway for Frozen FP’s, there were other topiaries to enjoy. Kinda neat how they’re playing up the under construction theme with Pluto (took me a moment to figure out he was holding a tape measure not a piece of meat), Goofy, Chip, and Dale “helping” with tools.
Ah, my favourite, Sorcerer Mickey!
The smell of the flowers when you walked by the gardens between Imagination to the Odyssey centre was incredible. In addition to what seems like one of the few washrooms left, it's also the place for a preview of the post construction park
The projection mapping in the ad that is the EPCOT Experience is amazing! The whole area becomes a French picnic when they’re talking about Ratatouille,
then migrates to Mary Poppins and balloons all over the England area,
then goes bold for a version of what the finished product might look like.
Canada! My Canada!
but what did they do with the film!?! Invisible narrators after the previous one poked fun at them? (not to mention France has really stepped it up with their Beauty and the Beast sing along, so any invisible narrator jokes will now be coming TO Canada). A picture of Niagara Falls when they’re talking about Calgary?! It might go unnoticed except they spent several minutes talking about the falls just before they moved on from Ontario! They did keep the musical ride, but there was hardly any time spent on the Maritimes. I miss Marty
Speaking of France, I had no idea they had costumes and sheet music from Phantom and Les Mis in the lobby. Cool!
Going around the lake we found Lady and the Tramp in Italy
and Winnie the Pooh and friends in England.
We finished at The Land with a few flights on Soarin with little to no wait in the big queue, just what felt like a long wait after they sort you into theatres. One thing this festival did really well (at least for day 2
) was draw the crowds away from Future World in the evening.
In the green house I learned orchids are edible, not that I’m going to be trying them any time soon.
Magic Kingdom had extra evening hours, so we went back there. I was heading for repeat runs on Big Thunder in the dark. Even lucked out with catching the fireworks from the lift hills. Those fireworks are massive! Closer to Big Thunder than the Castle I think. I like this view from near the Tom Sawyer Island dock.
We caught the Country Bears on the way out. The cast member was amazing! She had the fairly small crowd howdy-ing, told really fun jokes (puns mostly but we were laughing), and had a whole conversation with Buff! Awesome way to end the day!
DHS tomorrow.