Trip Reports

December 29, 1999

Cast of characters - myself -Judy - age 46 - been to WDW about 7 times since 1987 my parents - age - mid 70’s Annual Passholders for about of the past 12 years

Up until about six days ago I wasn’t sure I would get to WDW on this trip. It was supposed to be a visit with my parents, alone. No kids, no husband, just myself and them for the week between Christmas and New Year’s. I wanted to just spend time with them, and do what they wanted for the week. Usually they always do what I want when I visit. Also, my brother had been down at the Boardwalk the week before Christmas and my parents had declined visiting a park with them, saying WDW was too busy. So anyway, I was pleased when my mother mentioned that she and my dad wanted to buy annual passes, so we would go to Epcot in order for them to do that. When they first retired to Florida they bought APs every year, then my mom got sick and they weren’t able to do much for about two years. Now she is healthy and they said they miss “the World.”

We arrived at Epcot at 8:45 am, parked in the Imagination area of the lot and took the tram to the entrance. I walked in with my PH from last November. They went to buy their passes. Then my dad wanted to return to the car for something so I said that I would go over to Test Track and meet them outside of it. I guess he had quite a problem getting back to the car, because the trams were only going to the newly filled areas and picking people up. Not bringing people back to the lot. He ended up having to walk to the car and back.

Meanwhile I went to Test Track. It was around 9:30 now and TT was down. I walked around the area for about 1/2 hour and kept an eye out for mom & dad. At 10 am the ride reopened and the line was quite long. I decided to get my fast pass but then decided to ask about the single rider line. There was no one in the single rider line. I walked up the stairs, through the doorway and was right at the front. I waited about 5 minutes until I was sent to the briefing room. I was the only person in the room. It was kind of strange! Then on through and I was in the front row of the next car. The couple next to me was Oriental and spoke no English. I asked them if they had ridden it before. They both laughed. Then I said something else and again they laughed. Then I realized they had no idea what I was saying! After riding this both at night and in the day time, I enjoy the night better. It seems scarier then. But I love it anytime.

After exiting, I found my parents waiting for me on a bench. They wanted to get a cup of coffee. You will notice that this becomes a recurring theme. I guess it comes with age, and the fact that it was relatively cool out. We checked out two places and decided we didn’t want to wait in long lines so ended up going over to the Land pavilion. We first rode the Living with the Land boat ride. There was no one in line. I always enjoy this and this time the CM seemed more relaxed than the last time that I rode it. My mom and I got our coffee while my dad walked over to the Living Seas to make PS arrangements for lunch at the Coral Reef restaurant. When he came back we saw the “Circle of Life” movie. I have never seen it before and was really impressed with it. I got teary when they showed the oil-slick covered birds. All in all I thought it was very beautifully photographed and had some very touching scenes.

After this we looked at the gift shop for awhile and then made our way over to the Coral Reef. Our PS were for 12:00. We were seated in the second level up from the aquarium. Three years ago we ate here and were very satisfied with our meals. Today we realized that we should have looked at the menu before sitting down. It had a listing of meals that none of us found very appetizing. And there were no specials. I ended up having the Seafood Enchiladas and my parents had some kind of baked fish. The food was good but just not worthy of lots of praise. I doubt we will go back here. Also, our waiter was very inattentive. The day before, while resort hopping to look at Christmas decorations, we had eaten lunch at the Grand Floridian cafe. The food was great, very normal lunch menu, decent prices, and an excellent waitress. Here at the Coral Reef. the waiter seemed to disappear. My mom had to ask him for more iced tea, when her glass was empty. I have never seen a server let a glass get empty. Plus when I asked to see the dessert menu, he was gone for about 10 minutes. I was hoping for a Millennium dessert, the kind with a chocolate Spaceship earth filled with cream. They were all out. So we left, deciding to have dessert later at Norway. Now our server also had a table of about 12 people that kept him very busy, but I still think he could have showed more attention to us. The meal came to about $54.00, including tip. I was able to use my MKC card for the discount.

After lunch, we walked over to Canada. We listened to the Santa Claus tell about Christmas in Canada. Then we went to the Millennium Village. I had not gone in it when I was here in November. We were going to try the Israel ride, but it had a long line. We decided to skip it. We walked around looking at the different exhibits and all of the things for sale. Then we went through the exhibit from Sweden. My dad was born in Sweden, so it was really a “must do.”

After this, we left the village and decided to walk over to Mexico, with our destination being the Norway bakery for dessert. There was absolutely no line for El Rio del Tiempo. I remember last Dec. 31 when the line was outside of the pavilion, and I waited in it! I really enjoy this ride, especially the fireworks scene at the end. And I enjoy watching the cliff divers. An old friend of mine is married to a man who used to do that. I always think of her when I see them. We looked around the gift shop area for a little while and then decided to head over to Norway. It was about 1:30 now. There was quite a line for Maelstrom. I have only ridden this once, way back when it was new. I don’t know when I will ride it again as I never want to wait in the line. There was a man in the gift shop here selling his signature perfume. I am allergic to perfume so was absolutely not interested. I checked out the Fossekellan tapes and decided to maybe get one another time. I will probably have my parents pick one up for me. Now on to the bakery for our much anticipated coffee and treat. We were not let down here! I had their Millennium dessert. A sort of hollow cake cup filled with chocolate mousse, with the 2000 logo on the sides of the cake. It was very good. And not too chocolaty. Too much chocolate these days gives me a headache. As we were eating, Fossekellan started their 2:15 show. After we finished eating we walked out to watch and listen to them. I saw them on my trip last December for the first time. I really like their music. I video taped quite a bit of their performance.

We then started walking over towards France with some vague idea of watching the movie. On the way we stopped at the American Adventure, only to find that the show had just started. I looked around the gift shop while my parents sat on a bench and talked with a man from Massachusetts. I could see that mom & dad were tiring so I suggested that they skip France this time and maybe we should start heading back to the entrance. They took the boat back and I walked. I always stop in Germany for some Haribo candy for my son. It has become a tradition with each trip. I found mom & dad outside the gift shop, near where the boat ramp is at the gateway.

We looked around the gift shop there for awhile. I talked with a CM who is from a town about 20 miles from me. I had been looking for the Norway beanie, but when I found it, I didn’t like it at all. I ended up buying the England Mickey instead. My mom was looking for a shirt with the 2000 logo on it, but really didn’t find what she wanted.

At this point mom & dad told me to do what I wanted as far as rides and they would sit and wait. I took them up on it and went back over to the Living with the Land boat ride. Again there was no line. I had the front seat. And again the CM seemed relaxed, not in a hurry to get her spiel finished. After this we were going to leave, but I wanted to check out Ellen’s Energy Adventure. There was no wait so I went inside. I think this ride is best viewed early in the day or else when you are rested, I was tired at this point, and had trouble keeping my eyes open in parts. It seemed long to me. I think I would like to see it again when I am more awake.

My mother suggested I ride Test Track one more time before we left. I went and looked and the line had a 2 hour wait. Even the single rider line was very long. Forget it! I can do it next time, whenever that may be.

Well, we finally left. My parents enjoyed being back after missing it for the past few years. I was thrilled that I had also gotten to return so soon after my last visit.

Thanks for reading.

Judy Fallon

JFallon864@aol.com

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