Day 1 began at Epcot. Carman had made reservations months in advance for a character breakfast in the Norway land of Epcot. Epcot has always been Jeff and I's favorite of all the parks.
We left our resort at 8:50 a.m. that morning with hearts full of anticipation and excitement!
Epcot is divided into two sections surrounding a lake. The front section is the "educational" fun rides and the back half is the different lands (some with rides as well). It's the park where you do the most walking as it's spread out a long ways.
Unfortunately it was Food and Wine Week, so that meant very large crowds, especially in the "Lands" as they had numerous special food and wine booths set up.
We did buy the "Memory Maker" option. You pay one price (149.00) and all the pictures that a Disney photographer takes or pictures that are snapped on the mounted cameras on the rides, etc. are all available to you on-line once you get home and are able to upload them. Definitely worth the money! The photographer would just scan one of our Magic Bands to add the picture to our account.
The girls were dressed in outfits that matched Elsa and Anna (as little girls) from the Frozen movie 😍
We walked a mile to begin our day over to the land of Norway
Our first ride was the Frozen ride in Norway - which was so cute!
At a "dip" in the ride, the camera got our picture 😊
After the ride, the girls changed into their princess dresses for their Character Breakfast
Two beautiful little girls! 💖💖
Andy & Carman went to the breakfast at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall with them while Jeff, Shep and I did some other things.
They were first met by Belle (from Beauty and the Beast)
Princess Aurora
Princess Ariel
Princess Cinderella
Snow White
Andy & Carman said the breakfast buffet was delicious and the experience was definitely worth the cost!
Jeff and I took Shep to see Figment at the Imagination Exhibit
It's a very cute, colorful and fun ride (we rode it again later in the day with the rest of the family)
Then we met up with everyone at my most favorite ride of all the parks!
It had new sights this year. Before it was always in California, but this year it was around the world and even better!! It really feels like you are flying. Neatest thing ever!!
Jeff didn't ride for fear of his vertigo, so he stayed with Shep (who was too young to ride)
The rest of us rode it and everyone loved it!
Ellie's favorite word this week was "Amazing!" So we got her on video 💜 Sadly, my blog won't upload the video 😪 so a picture will have to do:
Then we had a photo shoot with Mickey, Goofy and Minnie
Shep was not one bit shy!
Goofy turned out to be his favorite character during the week
Shep did a lot of high-fivin' it during the week, even to strangers 💙
Shep cried when we left here--he sure did love those characters!
The Swarts have had a long time tradition of eating a meal in the land of Mexico each time we visit Epcot
So we did again this time (although it has gotten very expensive)
Inside the exhibit (restaurant at the back)
We also rode the boat ride in this exhibit that gives you a taste of Mexico
Silly girls
Then the girls got to meet the Frozen Princesses
Elsa
Another high-five!
Anna
Notice Mr. Clown standing on his head in the middle of the picture 😀
Anna with all 3
And in another place, the kids got to meet Joy and Sadness from the movie, Inside Out
Carman had made autograph books for each of the girls that were so cute.
I think they got everyone's autograph but one (Moana and she wasn't at any park this time 😪), which was quite a feat!
Princess Mulan
Princess Jasmine (from Aladdin)
Papa bought those leather purses for the girls in the Land of Mexico
We did several other rides/exhibits this day. Thankfully Jeff kept detailed notes of our activities. I'll post here for memory sake: The Land; Crush the Turtle; Finding Nemo, The American Adventure, ate supper at Electric Umbrella, etc.
The Land:
Crush the Talking Turtle
Finding Nemo
Jeff and I went to the American Adventure while Andy's family saw more of the Characters
Thomas Edison and Mark Twain (Audio Animatronics) with video give the history of America
I do really like this exhibit but I have to admit--on this day, I snoozed through it! 😴
The last thing we did before going home was ride Spaceship Earth (the big golf ball!)
The Land:
I do really like this exhibit but I have to admit--on this day, I snoozed through it! 😴
It's a ride that goes around and around to the top of the ball showing the advancements of man in communication
We headed home, tired but happy campers around 9 p.m. A 12 hour day!
Jeff's watch and phone kept track of our steps/miles.
Day 1: 18,151 total steps and 8.8 total miles!!
Whew!
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