Meet me in the Land of Hope and Dreams -DAY 8- Epcot, Pool and DTD

[walt4it]

You're back again! Thank you for keeping with me and for so many comments - they do make it all worthwhile.
Today was our first test of FP+ during an Extra Magic morning, not long before I wished I had traded for a late start, some swimming and some retail therapy followed


Day 7 happened previously click here

The whole trip report is listed here

For anyone interested in more of our travels the 2013 trip report is here



DAY 8 -Tuesday 5th August 2014

After a late night- an early morning We are now officially on holiday- I got up earlier than I do for work and was ready first urging others to do the same

We got the bus and arrived at Epcot for EMM - "should be a great opportunity for some ride time before the masses arrive" I hear you tell yourself.
NO!
:angry::angry::angry:


We were held in a queue that had no purpose whatsoever for 15 mins and that wasted the first 15 mins of that hour.

No info given by anyone but I'm guessing the computer had gone down - don't have a photo as I had not had my morning coffee to kick my back side into gear!




So frustrating - Bring on Test Track

We rode twice and having missed the photo in the first ride ( cameras not working yet)
We got one the second time with company in the car!



Noted that Memory Maker is not going to work very well for us on this ride unless we all get to right hand side of the car!

We headed for a coffee and then to Soarin' for an early FP, then living with the land.
We did the Nemo ride before our Turtle talk Fp ( not really needed)






And then to Spaceship Earth



Finding a great Tour d'France pic for Joe.

Aware that we had missed so much of this and having started in Yorkshire we were glad of the reminder!


We had picked up a bit of pace today and we were not going to over do it!
We headed back to Saratoga Springs for lunch around the Paddock pool - swam, played around and then got the boat to DTD.
In it's current state it was a surprise anyone would want to go there - a building site and a total sight
It was a not good- we knew it would be bad as we had read plenty of other threads on the Dibb stating so- it just came as a surprise when you felt like cattle being herded down some very narrow paths.

We had intended getting back to SSR for the pool and film but the weather looked iffy so we went for the retail therapy option!
AMI was beautiful but a lack of retail options meant my hand had remained in my pocket ( result!)

Lego , World of Disney and all the other places inbetween were visited but not spent in . I hasten to add We then made our annual stop at a place not many people know about


Just beside customer relations is a photopass studio/ sorry Memory Maker - it is hidden and you need to simply ask if they will take your photo ( they won't ask you!)


2011 saw this one.



and this year saw




and this family one too -we have used each photopass and now memory maker session to take some brilliant family photos ( no Disney background and really useful for Christmas presents for family)


It really is a hidden gem when using memory maker and one that lots of people miss.

We ate at Woflgang Puck express - near the buses - and once again the day ended as it had started.
Server behind the counter asked Joe's age?
Why ?
Because he wanted an adult meal and looked young!
Having stated he was on an adult dining plan without success I told him he was short for his age and 10

Not sure what this was about and it was the only time it was ever called into question -given what happens in the next few days this was just someone who had not got their head around the fact the Disney would credit their company MORE! He was not for having it!

Anyway - we enjoyed the food, it is well worth a visit got the bus back to Saratoga Springs and actually saw our room for the first time before crashing out.

See you tomorrow for some more Extra Magic!

DAY 9 - We found Nemo is here

[caj]

I was hoping to see the 'this year pic'. I've tried to get mine in there but they were not obliging!
you had fun today!

[mick]

A good day with. Good mixture of parks/swimming /shopping and eating

Joan

[KittyBlackDog]

Yay and ouch for those 15mins of wasted time. We've put dd on an adult DDP too (she will be 9), so interesting to hear your comments pros, cons and issues etc.

I'm really hoping DTD won't be quite so bad for cattle herding this year.

Looking forward to reading about tomorrow. Keep them coming... "if you write it... they will come"

[Taffy1959]

Another good day, agree about DTD we only went once in October and we only lasted about 30 mins

[walt4it]

Originally Posted by caj

I was hoping to see the 'this year pic'. I've tried to get mine in there but they were not obliging!
you had fun today!

See more...

That is such a surprise we have had a photo in there through many a Dibb Photopass share and now with Memory Maker - hope it is not a sign of things to come

Originally Posted by mick

A good day with. Good mixture of parks/swimming /shopping and eating

Joan

See more...

Was a good say thanks for reading Joan

Originally Posted by KittyBlackDog

Yay and ouch for those 15mins of wasted time. We've put dd on an adult DDP too (she will be 9), so interesting to hear your comments pros, cons and issues etc.

I'm really hoping DTD won't be quite so bad for cattle herding this year.

Looking forward to reading about tomorrow. Keep them coming... "if you write it... they will come"

See more...

Just for you - I have typed Day 9 tonight/ this morning

Originally Posted by Taffy1959

Another good day, agree about DTD we only went once in October and we only lasted about 30 mins

See more...

We were so much the same - too cramped and just an unpleasant place to be - more DTD moaning to follow in future days

Thanks for all your comments everyone

[KittyBlackDog]

you are too kind sir, too kind!

I'm off to read it

[loobz]

thanks for the tip about the Memory Maker place - note added in book for 2017 trip! Can't see why it matters what age someone is if they have paid for the adult package - it's probably about time they realised that not all children want to live off chicken nuggets. That said, we had the opposite problem in 2013 with our DD as she still wanted the children's menu most of the time. Most places were accommodating (they didn't seem able to judge her age and didn't ask outright). On our next visit we all be adults (DS will be 13 by then and probably eating enough for 2 adults!).

[jobelly]

Don't know for sure but they may have asked at Wolfgang pucks because disney don't differentiate between a child CS and an adult CS but it's apparently frowned upon and not talked about (I once got shot down on the dis when I mentioned it) to get a child an adults CS so that may have been what they thought you were doing. Really should have taken your word though when you said he had the adults.
We actually did it the reverse, my son was 10 and had the adults meals but wanted the kids!

[Reetser]

A nice 'classic' split day of theme park fun and retail/swim therapy!

Great tip on the MM 'private' studio time