June 8th…Epcot just a bit late!

Jun 092012

So sorry about the lack of post yesterday, but we had more adventures and I just gave up when the internet connection was acting screwy. Lousy excuse I know.

Anyway, I am still working on the video for the parade on Thursday the 7th. It is taking a ton of time to render down the videos. I am also taking the videos off of the sidebar for a while, to get those there takes about 2 hours of additional rendering so they are on hiatus. The videos are still on the bottom of each post, and on the pictures of the day pages, as well as the all video page.

So, now that that is out of the way, on Friday we went to Epcot. We went under threat of rain, some slightly blue skies, and then rain. Our ponchos are getting a good workout; I may frame some of them like the tattered map the war hero used to get out from behind enemy lines. Ok not really. But they are getting used. I will say as well, check back after we get home, there will be more pictures when we get the professional ones from Disney.

There are photographers all over and they scan your card and then you can order the pictures from Disney later on. BUT Give kids the World has a special card and at the end of our trip we get a CD with all of those pictures on it for free. And I will post them.

English: Epcot Spaceship Earth Walt Disney World Orlando 2010 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Epcot. Our first ride was in the iconic big golf ball and was pretty darn cool. With the Give Kids the World button that Amelia has and the Make-A-Wish buttons, we haven’t had to wait hardly at all for rides, or even character signings. We have been bypassing the main line and getting real VIP service. We got in and saw Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald all in a row with hardly any waiting. I am talking like 2 minutes. Tristan was fascinated with the characters and giggling his little heart out for all of them. We had a hard time keeping him in the line as he wanted to run to the next one and the next one.

We also got to get right in to see Sleeping Beauty, and she spent several minutes talking with Amelia and signing books. Now, I know you are saying the same thing I did, “Isn’t that just a shady deal that we don’t have to wait in line like everyone else?” Well yes and no. We were willing to wait in line, but the people who are assisting the characters see those buttons and jump us right to the front. They say that Mickey or the Princesses would never want to keep one of the Wish kids waiting. And, they tell the people waiting in line who grumble about it that the Make A Wish kids come first at Disney so if they want to have a child with a life threatening disease they can get their own Make A Wish and be jumped up in line. .

That made me laugh and I don’t feel so bad about jumping ahead. We also got exclusive access to a VIP lounge area in Spaceship Earth hosted by Siemens. From what we were told this is a pretty big deal. There was a cast member with the characters who saw the pass and said to be sure and take advantage of it, people have tried to pay up to $10,000 to get into this place, but it was free to Give Kids the World families. We spent a little while in there, out of the first big rain storm, learning about some of the things the company does for Disney and playing games, and having some drinks. It was kind of neat, and now we are in this exclusive club that has been to the Club 21 Lounge at Epcot.

Image via CrunchBase

And can I just say how nice all of the people we have met at all of the Disney parks have been. If you got one of Amelia’s cards and came here I just want to say thank you again, you all are truly making this an incredible trip for us. A prime example, and an example of just how good the people who work there are follows this period. We were in the England village and Amelia accidentally knocked a cup off of a hook and it broke. Not only would they not let us pay for it, and I tried, one of the ladies gave her a coupon for an ice cream bar because Amelia was so upset. And then, Alice from Alice in Wonderland was heading out for her character meet and greet. I was sitting on the floor with Amelia and she just happened to see us through the door. She came in, took Amelia by the hand, and ran her to….well we had to find them.

They were at the other end of the long store and she was talking to just Amelia and trying to cheer her up. This was not part of any schedule, she was late to her character signing, but she took the time to help Amelia. You can’t train that into people, that is just natural.

We spent the rest of the day in and out of the countries and the rain around Epcot, finally ending up watching the fireworks and fire show that was all over the lake. Even in the rain it was something to watch.

There is not much in the way of pictures or video from today, it was wet and not as interesting as some of the other days. Still check out the daily picture page HERE. We are still having fun and will for the rest of the time. I hope it doesn’t rain all day again. Anyhow, again sorry this was late, there will be more, videos are just being slow. I will get them up for you as soon as I can!