Will I ever actually get there??? A first-time trip to WDW (3/10 - 3/16 2024)

[Keladry84]

8b. Day 6: MK/Epcot
My alarm sounds to end my break in the room. I get up to go to Epcot. It will be my last park of the trip.

My luck with the buses holds out and I am quickly on my way.

Inside the park, I stop first for a couple of photopass pictures I hadn’t seen before. I get the Epcot 360!



Woohoo! I also find the super Zoom, but not sure how to post the “video” from it here.

Quick stop for a shot with Spaceship Earth!



A different photographer nearby gives me St. Patrick’s Day balloons!



And a 3rd one holiday confetti!



All 4 of these photographers were standing only a few feet from each other. While I felt a little silly going to each in such proximity, it was worth it for the different magic shots that they had!

I head over to the Nemo ride. It is cute, although one of the rooms makes me super dizzy and I have to close my eyes to be able to keep from being nauseous.



I think I got followed when I left the ride!

Walking through Epcot, I head towards Figment. I really enjoy the ride! There are small bits of humor throughout, combined with good complementary effects!

I can see why Figment is popular, and wish I could have experienced the original story back in the day.

I make my way towards World Showcase. I plan to try the Cauliflower again, but first a photo stop!



This was a popular spot and one of the longer Photopass lines I had to wait in.



Another fun magic shot! The line to wait here was in the sun. I am looking forward to sitting in the shade to eat.

The cauliflower is just as good as the other day, and I am glad I got it again! I also got the frozen lavender drink from one of the stands nearby. I dislike it, but drink it all as it is cool and helps with the heat.

Next stop: Canada! I get there and purchase maple popcorn to take home with me. I explore the pavilion, finding the Kidcot station tucked in the back. I really like the waterfall and small “trail” that goes by it.

The next pavilion is the UK. I find an old friend – I think he might be hungry!



But all the food I have is the maple popcorn

I keep exploring, meandering through the pavilions. At the international gateway I exchange the eggstravaganza hunt for my “prize.” I only ever saw 2 eggs personally while I was there, and had to use the internet to properly place the stickers. Oops!

Coming back to France, I explore properly. I only peek into the perfume store, as I can’t do the smell. I have a DAS for Remy that is ready, but the LL is way too long so I skip riding again. I do however re-do my magic shots and the results are a tiny bit better:



The next and last pavilion for me to explore is Morocco. I realize I should eat more and make an unplanned foodstop and get the chicken kebab and saffron cake.



Both of these are so, so, so good!!! I can’t believe I almost missed out on these! With the exception of Satuli Canteen, it is my favorite meal of the trip.

Picture limit: Continued in next post!

 

[Keladry84]

Done with World Showcase, I continue meandering around World Showcase, stopping for photopass photographers when I see them.

First stop is Japan.



I am hoping next year to go the World’s Fair in Osaka. While in the country, I of course will need to visit Universal Japan and the two Disney Parks! It will be interesting to see how they compare to the US parks!

Next up is Italy:



Such a cute Mickey! This is actually my second time at this Photopass - I stopped here earlier in the week, but didn't like my expression. Now that I know who will be in the pot, I can react better

Then I make a pit stop in Germany. I still haven’t bought my souvenir, so the shirt I saw the other day will be mine!



It’s perfect for a German teacher to wear, although I do wish the character on the shirt were Mickey instead of Minnie. I briefly talk to the CM behind the cash register in German, asking about how he got to Epcot and his plans for staying. It was interesting to learn about!

I slowly make my way out of the park, making a pit stop in the China pavilion:





I wish I could have gotten this passport magic shot for all of the pavilions! But sadly I wasn’t able to catch a photographer at all of them. This might be something to try for on a future trip!

As I leave World Showcase, the sun goes down quickly. I stop for a magic shot with the Epcot ball lit up in the background.



The photographer catches the monorail as it goes by!

As I leave the park, I wave goodbye to Epcot.



But I’m not done yet. I have one last thing to do: The Monorail.

Instead of heading straight back to the hotel, I take the monorail to Magic Kingdom. While on the train, the Magic Kingdom fireworks are going off and it is a neat vantage point to watch them from. At the TTC, I ask for a transportation card and am in luck – I get one with the monorail on it. Yay!

I arrive at the park just as the fireworks crowds are leaving. It’s medlam! I briefly consider entering the park for a couple of last rides, but I’m completely done in. I join the mass of people leaving and head to the bus stop.

Just as I am arriving the bus to POFQ pulls out. I’m stuck waiting over 20 minutes for the next one….guess my mid-trip luck with transportation is at an end…..that doesn’t bode well for my travel day tomorrow!!

A bus finally comes, and I make it back to my resort and crash into bed.

 

[awrites]

Sorry you missed out on Remy, but it looks like a great time at Epcot regardless! The saffron cake and kebab look delicious.

Hope the delay with the POFQ bus isn’t a harbinger of travel woes in getting home! You had more than your fair share flying out.