Orlando - Day 3 - Epcot

As usual, we started Epcot in the park before rope drop - this time, with Nana and Papa added to the group!

Getting to the park on time was especially important because our first stop was going to Norway, where we would visit Elsa, Olaf, and the Frozen ride. Even getting there first thing in the morning, it was a long wait. But the ride was great! And we got some big pastries afterwards, and then we got to meet Elsa and Ana.

Epcot was a little bit of a change of pace. While we did exciting things like exploring the future exhibits, blasted off into space, soaring over the USA, and built and rode in race cars.

The tour of countries was really cool. We got to eat in Morocco, watch a 360 degree movie (standing in the middle with the screen 360 degrees around) and then a street performance in China, explore the shops of Germany and other countries.

Disney characters were incorporated throughout the countries, like Belle and Aurora in France. The decor was movie-themed as well. Meanwhile, the kids followed Phineas and Ferb around the countries through an interactive game.

 

Dani and I got to re-live Venice a little bit as we toured Italy!

There were quite a few "professional" pin traders - apparently they needed special permission. They put out boards that were free to trade with and others that they would only trade for specific pins. Who knew this was such an intense thing? Many of those precious pins were certainly beautiful.

One of the highlights of the day was Club Cool - basically, unlimited soda tasting!!! There were flavors like Guarana (from Brazil - that Jared likes), Inca Kola (Peru - like bubble gum), Sparletta (South Africa - like raspberry cream soda), Vegitabeta (Japan - non-carbonated apricot and passion fruit), Bibo (South Africa - Kiwi mango), Fanta Melon Frosty (Thailand - Melon), Beverly (Italy - not sure?), and Fanta Pineapple (Greece). So exciting!

The acquarium was really cool. Kate noticed the manitees - little did she realize how much she would love them not long after!

There were a number of characters that we got to see. Pluto hung out near the front of the park - and without a long wait, even!

Kate was also especially happy to visit the Inside Out character greeting because she had a stuffed Joy - and because she is a joyful little girl!

Baymax (Big Hero 6) was kind of a hilarious character visit - he's all puffed up. The little 3 visited him and thought he was pretty cool.

We had a full day and stayed until dark, when the Epcot ball is lit up.

 

And as we were pulling up to the house, we saw the Christensens unloading to join us for the 2nd part of our our epic Florida trip!

Orlando - Day 2 - Hollywood Studios

Florida necessities - hats and sunglasses - all lined up to get ready for day 2 - Hollywood Studios!

First stop after rope drop: the Tower of Terror! Jared took Jacob, Claire, Kate, and Liam through the line. The wait involved a Twilight Zone-themed video. Jacob was pretty vocal about being nervous, but Claire internalized it and decided not to ride. It was an invigorating start to the day!

We had some time to meet Princess Sophia and Jake from Neverland. 

 

The biggest surprise of the day was when we ran into Nana and Papa! We hadn't told the kids that they would be joining us, so they were thrilled (and more than a little surprised). Nana brought with her lanyards and Disney trading pins. The kids spent a lot of the time in between rides, food, and activities checking out each others' lanyards and the lanyards that the Disney employees wore and trading pins. There were many different strategies, some trying to collect similar types of pins, other collecting random pins they liked.

There was a lot of Star Wars going on in Hollywood Studios. For example, there were storm troopers occasionally marching around the park. Liam thought it was funny when the storm troopers would try to arrest him. We visited a shop on Tattoine where the boys built their own light sabers.

  

 

The process was taking a while, and Torin was getting impatient and fussing, and an employee came over and handed him an ewok, to hold, then took the price tag off and said, actually, you can have it. Torin loves stuffed animals, so he has been holding it close ever since!

The highlight of the park was the Jedi Academy. We got there early to sign up the little padwans to go through jedi training. They got to be on stage fighting Darth Vader and Darth Maul! They were all ready when the time came! It was an exciting day for all.

 

We started the day on the Hollywood Studios Tower of Terror, which Jacob eventually convinced himself to ride. Our other favorite ride was the Toy Story Mania.

It was another great day for everyone.