Day 4: Epcot

Day 4, which was Thursday the 26th, we headed to Epcot.  I remember going here as a kid, but of course, most things had changed. 

Getting our picture taken in front of the large "golf ball". 

Inside of that large ball was a ride called, Spaceship Earth.  It's basically a ride in a "time machine" from the cave man era all the way to the future. You kind of learn how each generation of mankind has paved the way for the next.  Towards the end of the ride, there is a quiz of sorts on the touch screen computer in your machine and you can decide how you want to live in the future--whether in the city or country, and how you will work/play etc.  It then takes the pictures of the people in your machine and puts in on the screen to show what your future will be like.  It was cool; after my kids got used to the idea of being in the dark, they kind of liked this ride.

We found Daisy outside and had to get our picture with her.

We did a little souvenier shopping (mostly for hats), and then split up.  Garrett took Maggie and Lydia on Test Track, which is a high-speed vehicle simulation ride.  Kind of like you are the crash test dummy and you go through all sorts of tests, and then they send you around this race track going about 60 miles per hour.  I went with the girls after Garrett and it was a kick in the pants.  So fun!

While we were waiting for Garrett, Maggie and Lyd, we found some grass where the smaller three could run free and just play. They really needed that. 

Then we went over to ride "The Seas with Nemo and Friends".

Here, we got to ride in a "clam-mobile" for the ride. 

In this same building was a "show" called "Turtle Talk with Crush" (from Nemo).  This was really cool!  It's a live show where the kids sit on the floor in front of this large aquarium (large screen) and can have a conversation with Crush.  They can ask any questions and Crush answers them back.  It was quite entertaining. 

We then headed over to the World Showcase Area that features all the different countries. But, we ran into Belle first and had to stop for pictures.

We stopped in the Mexico Pavillion first and had a late lunch/early dinner. Linner I guess. Then we went into this pyramid modeled after an actual Aztec Temple of Quetzalcoatl. 

Inside was a sit down Mexican restaurant and a cute little marketplace and a ride called, "The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros".  The little kids liked it because they had to keep searching for Donald Duck.  It was cute.  It was pretty much like "It's a Small World".

Norway was the next country and they had this ride there called "Maelstrom".  You rode in a viking ship and sailed through Norway during viking times and encountered trolls and polar bears and even go down a gentle waterfall.  It was pretty fun and crazy enough, Noah slept through the whole thing on Garrett's shoulder.  What's even greater, is that we laid him in the stroller when the ride was done and he slept like another hour. 

After this, Garrett, Maggie and Lydia headed back over to the other side of the park because they had tickets for the "Soarin' over California" simulated ride.  It supposedly simulates a peaceful hang-gliding flight over the Golden State of California. I chose to not ride on that one, because those rides get me totally sick. 

So, Paige, Bella, Noah and I strolled through the different countries...

LOVE This!

Us in China

While in Germany, we met Snow White.  While we were waiting in line, Bella fell asleep in the stroller, so Paige was the only one to meet her.

In Italy

While in France, we met up with Aurora.  Bella was awake by now, but didn't feel like meeting Aurora.

We passed this cute cottage in England and dubbed it The Seven Dwarfs cottage.  Right after this, we caught up with Garrett and the girls and went to Canada to watch a movie called, O Canada.  It was a film in Circle vision 360, which meant the movie was shown in a round theater and you could watch it all around you.  It was cool, but wouldn't take time to see it again. 

It was about time for the park to close, but they had to put on their big show first.  We found a spot and had to wait for about 20 minutes. 

Noah in his new Mickey hat goofing off and being cute.

Their big show is called, "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth" and it features lasers, lots of fire and fireworks. We didn't have the best seats, so it was hard to see what the fire was all about. 

This is the description that the website gives about it.  IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is a spectacular 14-minute, live pyrotechnic show that brings together the past, present and future of our planet and its colorful nations.  Featuring breathtaking fireworks, brilliant bursts of fire, laserlight effects, dramatic fountain barges, a stirring musical score and the world's first spherical video display system—the 350,000-pound Earth Globe—IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is an inspirational nighttime spectacular bursting with surprises for the entire family.

Regardless, it was pretty awesome!  Another great day at Disney World!