Epcot

We awoke reasonably early. Well if you can call 4:30 A.M EST reasonable. All of us, especially the kids woke (which meant we were woken up). Decided to go and have a good breakfast. Went to Bob Evan's - just down the road. The choice was amazing. Both Nita and I had big breakfasts, but we came across a little problem. Neither of the kids enjoyed the breakfast, indeed Lauren hardly ate anything. Andrew had a couple of pancakes but he said he preferred Mum's!! (It would probably be worth noting here that both Lauren and Andrew have peculiar tastes when it comes to food. Unless they recognise what is placed in front of them - they will not eat it.) Another thought, you've never eaten pancakes until you've eaten Anita's. (It might have taken a little time, and a few pans, but she can really toss one now!)

Our first port of call once breakfast was consumed was off to Downtown Disney, and the Virgin Welcome morning. Russell said don't go to the actual meeting, but what we had to do was book our tickets for the rest of the stay. The tickets that weren't covered by our parkhoppers, places like Seaworld, Universal, and the nighttime events that we were to go to. The representative was very good and in no time we had our tickets.

With the tickets booked, we had to decide what we were going to do with today. Already the temperature was heading for the mid eighties and it was only 10:30 in the morning. By mutual consent we decide to go to Epcot, which is one of the major Disney parks. All eight of us jumped into the Dodge (A-Wagon) and we were away.

As you arrive at Epcot you view what can only be described as a very large golf ball. Andrew asked where the club was and if a giant was going to hit it. (A chip off the old block that boy - Oh did I hear someone mention a sand wedge - good for GOLF chips! - OUCH!). You have to park your car in the enormous car park (which they charge you for - as well as charging you to go into their park. Thank goodness that has not occurred over here - well can you imagine going to Legoland, being charged $10.00 to park and then $50.00 for a family ticket. Believe me it just wouldn't wash with the Brits.)

You then take a tram from your car to the entrance. A driver and a guide control the trams. The guides normally have a good spiel and can be very funny. (This comment was written after our two weeks so more information later!!).

At the entrance you queue to get in, passing your ticket through the machine which records that you have used one day (of in our case nine). We then walk into the park. We are greeted by the sounds of a band playing Happy Birthday for someone.

Off we trek - but when you view the map it is very difficult to decide where to go. We were spoilt for choice. There is so much to do. The golf ball (actually it's the world's largest geosphere!) houses the Spaceship Earth ride. This is a sit down ride, which follows the history of communication. A quite stunning ride, which was both fun and informative. We will always remember this ride as the first one we had in Orlando!

We take in the show "Honey I Shrank The Audience", which is a 3D show. We have to wear the glasses (you know one red eye and one blue or some such). The kids are not too sure over this - what with the cat coming out of the screen at them, changing into a lion and roaring! Then with the mice running about, under our feet - all down to jets of air under the seats methinks. There was also a snake, which the kids got really frightened over. We told them to take off their glasses so as not to make it 3D. Finally there was this big dog which sneezed at us. What a great show, if a little damp at the end. Journey into Imagination is another of the very informative elements of Epcot. This ride is narrated by the Dreamfinder and his helpful dinosaur Figment. A very silly and wonderful ride at one and the same time. When the ride is over you are in the Image Works, which is a great hands-on place for the kids - and us, the adults too.

The real great ride in Epcot is the Universe of Energy ride, which stars Ellen Degenris. This ride is all about the uses of and needs for energy. You appear to be in a cinema, but half way through the show the auditorium changes and the seats "break-up" into carriages and you are taken on a ride into Energy. The kids loved this one, especially the dinosaurs, which seemed real. Something I leant about this ride afterwards is that it is powered by the large solar panels that are on top of the building! Personally I don't go a great deal on a plastic dinosaur that sneezes at you, the kids might have enjoyed seeing Dad covered, but I didn't.

Most of the shows are very informative, like Body Wars, which is a show like Innerspace or The incredible Journey films, and The Making Of Me, which is a good short film starring Martin Short. It follows how babies are made. Not expecting a Birds and Bees experience we were a bit taken aback, but being Disney it was all done in the best possible taste and the kids seemed to take it in their strides. Afterwards Russell said he hadn't thought about this show, until he was sitting in it, and then it was too late. Still least the kids know a bit more about it now (as if, (quite likely?) they didn't know that much previously. Another highlight was Seabase Alpha, where you appear to travel under the sea by lift and then view lots of sea animals. A little story about this one - It's true so I'm told. Apparently one of the Disney's visitors decided to sue Walt due to her hearing being impaired by the pressure change, when the lift goes down. Only thing is - no lift. You go through one door, into the "lift" and leave by another - without actually going anywhere. She lost!

It was fairly unfortunate that they were working on this exhibit at the time we were here. What it meant was that the water was very murky, very, very murky, and filled with strange men in underwater gear. You couldn't see anything in the tanks! Well apart from the divers and clouds of murk!

There was one thing that the kids did which made a good video moment. There was a kid's play area which consisted of a series of water snakes, well actually they are water jets which appear to jump around. There is a big fountain in the middle, which explodes every-so-often. Andrew very quickly picked up the idea that when four of the jets all fire at the middle - the explosion occurs. We let the kids into the area, minus various bits of clothing, as it was so warm. They had a brilliant time. There was one moment, which we didn't video, which would have gone to "You've been framed". As Lauren came over to she sneezed, and a large lump of... well you know what I mean landed at her feet. The adults just fell about the place. It took absolutely ages to stop laughing, but I guess you had to be there.

The other side of the park is the world showcase. Here various countries are represented. One of the better ones is Norway, with the Maelstrom ride, which is a rollercoaster, which at one point makes you think you are going over a cliff, backwards. (I wasn't too sure when we turned around and started to go backwards, but the kids loved this one. Also a goody is Mexico with a very pleasant boat ride as the major part.

England was a disappointment - the "pub" not overly authentic, but we had to try it!

Whilst we were downing a couple of pints Andrew and Lauren with the help of Anita and Brigitte were colouring in a couple of flags. They are now part of the kid's diaries for the holidays.

We continue to view the countries, but as we are walking about it begins to rain. Believe me when it rains in Florida, it's like nothing we ever get in this country. It tips down for about twenty minutes, and then stops. Within a few minutes you cannot see that it has rained at all!

As the sun began to set, we stayed for the evening event, which is called Illuminations. A firework and laser and light display around the lake. The lasers and lights are pointed onto the water fountains, as the fireworks explode in the sky, with a musical background. It is really breathtaking. An absolute fortune must be spent every night. A brilliant piece of Disney magic to finish off our day at Epcot.

You might remember that I mentioned the trams, which you have to take to get from your car to the park, you also have to take from the park to the car park. The comments are just as good and funny, but if I hear the words "please follow the signs to our one and only exit" I think I may cry (Oh - except that we intend on returning during the millennium year.). Every single time we left one of the parks this is what we heard. I now really miss those words, as well as "please don't try to disembark until we have come to a complete and final stop".

We returned to the hotel and very quickly the kids were asleep. Russell, Chris and I decided to try the bar. It was very expensive to drink here, and the small shop in the hotel was also expensive. Fortunately virtually next door to the hotel is a 7-11. So we go and buy a case of Budweiser, which is split between the three of us and placed, in our respective rooms in the fridge. The plans for the following day were discussed with the other parties. Anita and I settled down to a couple of drinks in the room before also falling asleep.

Andrew, Lauren, Russell and Brigitte at Epcot